Christopher Hitchens Embraced and Devoured with Equal Passion
Christopher Hitchens’ interviews offer a tantalizing appetizer of the breadth, scope, and urgency of the legendary contrarian’s thoughts on culture and politics
cultural criticism
‘Chronicles of a Liquid Society’ and the Best Dinner Companion for End Times
The significance of Umberto Eco's work as collected here is found not in his astonishing foresight but in his reasoning.
Catch Dave Hickey’s Collection of Criticism a ‘Perfect Wave’ and You’ll Enjoy the Ride
In Hickey's formulation, what is raw is hot. What is cooked is cool. Art and democracy are better served by cool cats, not hotheads.
‘Against Everything’ Captures Mark Grief’s Journey Towards Transformation
Mark Greif tackles the big picture in a collection of interesting, ponderous, powerful essays about music, experiences, identity, and reality in all its forms.
How Professional Wrestling Flung Itself Into the Arena of the Opinionated Class
The Mountain Goats’ Beat the Champ and TV show
![The U.S. Anti-Fascism Reader [By the Book]](https://www.popmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/img-7036.jpg)
The U.S. Anti-Fascism Reader [By the Book]
Donald Trump's rise in American politics is not a resurgence of fascism, argues professor Enzo Traverso in his essay, "Trump's Savage Capitalism" -- it is something else. Traverso's essay is published in this excerpt from The U.S. Anti-Fascism Reader, courtesy of Verso Books.
I Can’t Bear to Watch, I Must Watch: McLuhan, Postman, DeLillo, and Trump
Americans’ voyeuristic attraction for scarlet-stained murder spectacles spills over into our need for similarly doomed entertainment in our highest national political office.
Read Chuck Klosterman, Blow Your Mind, Then Put on Your Pants
Chuck Klosterman’s new book, But What If We’re Wrong? succeeds by failing spectacularly.
Our Insatiable Techno Zombie Love
The popularity of zombies indicates that powerful techno-social forces have ramped up our fear of joining or being surrounded by a mindless zombie herd.
Ian Buruma: A Voice of Tolerance and Erudition Among Liberalism’s Intellectuals
In Theater of Cruelty the politics of love, war, and popular culture define the career of one of today’s foremost public intellectuals.
Antitheism and the Art of the “Hitch Slap”
Before Bill Maher became the demon-du-jour for his satirical scorn of religion, Christopher Hitchens led the charge of rhetorical antitheism.