Act Two
In 1963, Mike Nichols was a 31-year-old former comedian with no immediate prospects. Then he met Neil Simon. A new book recounts what happened next, in the words of the key players
Lauren Groff
Recommends the jewels among her preferred novels and short stories
Soul Sisters
As an exhibition on the work of black artists hits San Francisco, the academic reflects on the show’s centerpiece: a portrait of the ex–Black Panther she shares a name with
Bowie’s Top 100
Before he died, David Bowie published a list of books that changed his life. A new volume parses through all 100 titles, including a little-remembered 1842 novel
Deconstructing Ralph Lauren
A new documentary explores the life and legacy of the man behind the mega-brand
Sum of the Parts
Tracks from albums you should hear lots more of, courtesy of Bowie, Coltrane, Dylan, Prince, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, the Stranglers, and others
Before Before Sunrise
Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke on how they made their memorable trilogy
Prescription Dubs
Can you tell your pharmaceuticals from your pop stars? Really? A quiz
The Secret Lives of Patricia Highsmith
Long-hidden diaries reveal the dark obsessions and deep hatreds she drew from to write The Talented Mr. Ripley and other noir masterpieces
Murder, They Wrote
Three new mysteries
When Hawthorne Met Melville
Reliving the walk in the Berkshires that changed literary history—and perhaps kindled a great romance
Piece of Her Heart
Janis Joplin’s biographer reveals the staunch seriousness behind the singer’s free-spirited front
How to Serve Man
In 1921, the Lenin-led Soviet Union faced one of the worst famines in history. A new book details its horrors and the American effort to combat cannibalism
Natasha Stagg
The young author who has her finger on the pulse of the new New York
People-Mapping
A new book offers fascinating stats—from Viking raids to the countries living sans McDonald’s—through the lens of the world map
