Sunday reading on nybooks.com: In the latest issue, Elizabeth Kolbert reviews three books about animal cognition, and G.W. Bowersock explores the grandeur of the ancient city of Pergamon. On the NYR Daily, Elizabeth Drew reports on the state of the campaign, and Christopher Benfey looks at the folk art collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman. And from the archives, Iris Murdoch writes about swimming.
He Tried to Be a Badger
Elizabeth Kolbert
It’s obviously a lot easier to justify—and to stomach—humans’ treatment of animals if we imagine them to be in some essential way unlike ourselves.
The Glory of Pergamon
G.W. Bowersock
An exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum provides a wide-ranging exploration of the art and culture of the so-called Hellenistic world.
Trump: The Haunting Question
Elizabeth Drew
It’s now clear that the election is something larger than just another contest for the highest office; it’s a national crisis.
Cosmopolitan Folk
Christopher Benfey
An exhibition from the sprawling folk art collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman is more interesting than even its organizers seem to realize.
Taking the Plunge
Iris Murdoch
One fascination of swimming is that the swimmer may feel himself cured of all ailments and dissatisfactions, as of all other longings. The waters of death have gone over my head, as the Bible says. Swimming, like dying, seems to solve all problems: and you remain alive. (1993)
Calendar
Signature Plays
Three vintage
surrealist shorts
surrealist shorts
Arthur Kern
A reclusive sculptor
in New Orleans
in New Orleans
Summer Music
Operatic riches
outside London
outside London
