A New York Times Insider piece takes readers beyond the public persona

David E. Sanger's essay on reporting the advance obit for Henry Kissinger offers insights into the "odd dance" of interviews with power brokers

By Jacqui Banaszynski • December 1, 2023

Former U.S. Secretary of State and controversial career diplomat Henry Kissinger, who died this week (Nov. 29, 2023) at age 100.

Jennifer Senior follows a personal trail to undo the erasure of her disabled aunt

The Atlantic writer uncovers the painful truth behind the treatment of a generation of Americans warehoused in asylums and denied by families

By Carly Stern • November 29, 2023

A “gratitude alphabet” as writing practice

The editor embraces a columnist's invitation to use the alphabet as a meditation on gratitude and a celebration of words

By Jacqui Banaszynski • November 28, 2023

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“…last straws and camels’ backs…”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

November 8, 2023

Charles P. Pierce (paraphrased) on college basketball coach Bobby Knight

“History is a merciless judge.”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

November 2, 2023

David Grann in his nonfiction book "Killers of the Flower Moon"

“Now is the winter … “

By Jacqui Banaszynski

October 6, 2023

Name that source: Subversive literature in a raunchy, slapstick comedy

“Are you writing this down?”

By Polly Basore Wenzl

July 26, 2023

An 11-year-old in Wichita, Kansas, challenging a journalist

“… it’s not terribly unusual to see grown men crying …”

By Erik Ness

June 2, 2023

Cynthia Barnes of Denver Westword in her obit of a local bartender

“…just how astonishing this particular moment really is.”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 31, 2023

Peter Baker of The New York Times on the indictment of former President Donald J. Trump

Divining the “fantastical sea creatures” on the political horizon

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 23, 2023

New York Times chief political analyst Nate Cohn on the possibilities of indictments against Donald J. Trump

“…cutting the viewer to the bone.”

By Trevor Pyle

March 7, 2023

Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz on actor Tom Sizemore

“…the stories it told … were not someone else’s but one larger story of which they, too, were a part.”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 1, 2023

By Jacqui Banaszynski As I read Celeste Ng’s most recent novel, I couldn’t help but think of George Orwell’s “1984” or Margaret Atwood’s “A Handmaid’s Tale.” Nor could I avoid echoes to discordant times in real life in recent years. Novelist Celeste Ng… Read More

One Great Moment

“… how the persons with jobs do the jobs and all the living as well.”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

February 1, 2023

From the novel "Room" buy Emma Donoghue, which is written entirely in the voice and perspective of a 5-year-old boy

Tommy Tomlinson on Herschel Walker in his football prime

Story Craft

A New York Times Insider piece takes readers beyond the public persona

David E. Sanger's essay on reporting the advance obit for Henry Kissinger offers insights into the "odd dance" of interviews with power brokers

Strictly Q&A

Jennifer Senior follows a personal trail to undo the erasure of her disabled aunt

The Atlantic writer uncovers the painful truth behind the treatment of a generation of Americans warehoused in asylums and denied by families

From the Editor

A “gratitude alphabet” as writing practice

The editor embraces a columnist's invitation to use the alphabet as a meditation on gratitude and a celebration of words

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