Public Books https://www.publicbooks.org/ a magazine of ideas, arts, and scholarship Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:58:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.publicbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-favicon-2-300x300.png Public Books https://www.publicbooks.org/ 32 32 The Shape of Ménage à Trois to Come https://www.publicbooks.org/the-shape-of-menage-a-trois-to-come/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65254 “However much desire there is for the threesome to maintain its stability, the cultural force of homogenous marriage is strong.”

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]]> The Hypochondriac’s Complaint https://www.publicbooks.org/the-hypochondriacs-complaint/ Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65567 “Today, health anxiety is characterized largely by the patient’s relationship with healthcare. The hypochondriac is at once suspicious of medical authority and eager for it to advance.”

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]]> “The Pitt”: How Corny Can Crisis Get? https://www.publicbooks.org/the-pitt-how-corny-can-crisis-get/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65441 The show is chained to the social discourse beyond it, to online conversations and headlines and talking-head commentary and all the voluminous language through which we engage with social crises.

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]]> Mirta Ojito on “Deeper than the Ocean” https://www.publicbooks.org/mirta-ojito-on-deeper-than-the-ocean/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65769 “I gave her my love for Spain, and particularly the north of Spain, and particularly the city of Santander. And I gave her my fears. I too, fear the ocean.”

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]]> “The Interdisciplinary Nature of Food Is Now Un-ignorable”: Alicia Kennedy on Food Writing, Food Security, and Food Justice https://www.publicbooks.org/the-interdisciplinary-nature-of-food-is-now-unignorable-alicia-kennedy-on-food-writing-food-security-and-food-justice/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65531 “Food writing can no longer just be ‘go to this restaurant’ or ‘explain this dish or cocktail.’”

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]]> Who Gets Guggenheims? https://www.publicbooks.org/who-gets-guggenheims/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65873 Unfortunately, 100 years of data show that those whom such fellowships might represent the greatest departure from their everyday experience—that is, those not at elite institutions—are least likely to receive them.

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]]> Just Slightly Outside the Circle: Peter Orner and Sarah Wasserman https://www.publicbooks.org/just-slightly-outside-the-circle-peter-orner-and-sarah-wasserman/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65756 “You want to go outside yourself and imagine your way into some other space? Go for it. If you want to try and imagine yourself into what you think is your own space, go for it. I say it's equally as hard.”

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]]> “Courage or Foolhardiness”: Talking Aimé Césaire with Alex Gil https://www.publicbooks.org/courage-or-foolhardiness-talking-aime-cesaire-with-alex-gil/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65137 “This way of going about prophecy sadly replaces the historical fact of Black victory with a timeless failed rebellion. Too bleak, if you ask me.”

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]]> Shoptalk: Overheard at ASA 2025 or MLA 2026? https://www.publicbooks.org/shoptalk-overheard-at-asa-2025-or-mla-2026/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65658 This edition of Shoptalk asks: Can you guess which of the following was overheard at ASA 2025 and which was overheard at MLA 2026?

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]]> B-Sides: Albert O. Hirschman’s “The Passions and the Interests” https://www.publicbooks.org/albert-o-hirschmans-the-passions-and-the-interests/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.publicbooks.org/?p=65421 “The Passions and the Interests” charms the reader as it persuades. Much of that charm is about its content as well as its style.

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