review

Culture
Want Better Sex? Try Socialism.
In "Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism," Kristen R. Ghodsee argues that economic independence for women not only helps all of society—it improves heterosexual relationships too.
Jane Miller
Culture
War for the Planet of the Apes Lacks the Courage of Its Convictions
Koba should've won.
Eileen Jones
Culture
Big Data Isn’t Just Watching You—It’s Making You Poorer
Cathy O’Neil's new book, Weapons of Math Destruction, shows mathematical models aren't free of ideology.
Pankaj Mehta
Culture
Austerity Is Stranger Than Fiction
Filmed in Portugal in 2013 and 2014, Miguel Gomes' new documentary Arabian Nights tries to make sense of life under IMF rules.
Michael Atkinson
Culture
Fall In Love with Your Job, Get Ripped Off by Your Boss
Miya Tokumitsu's sharp new book exposes the "Do what you love" fairy tale for what it really is: a means of exploitation.
Joanna Scutts
Culture
The Climate Change-Induced Dystopia of ‘The Water Knife’ Is Not Just Sci-Fi—It’s Already Here
The climate change-induced tragedies The Water Knife chronicles are already happening today; they’re just not happening to us—yet.
Jessica Stites
Feature
Why So Many Celebrities Are Scientologists: Going Clear, Revealing New HBO Doc, Holds Clues
One explanation is hidden in plain sight: the way the cult mirrors the star-obsessed, profit-driven culture of Hollywood.
Eileen Jones
Culture
Nymphomaniac: Lars Von Trier’s Masturbatory Fantasy
The two-part film feels like the work of teenage boy.
Michael Atkinson
Feature
What Would Lynne Tillman Do? Wouldn’t You Like To Know
Tillman's essay collection displays her profound distrust for the way society's stories betray our lived truths.
Jude Ellison Sady Doyle
Culture
Downton Abbey, Season 4, Episode 1.5: The 10 Most Boring Characters
Let's drop the pretense. Does anyone really care about Rose?
Jude Ellison Sady Doyle
Feature
‘Her’ Is Really More About ‘Him’
Spike Jonze's new romantic drama is undoubtedly sexist—but critics haven't seemed to notice.
Jude Ellison Sady Doyle
Culture
Hard Times, the Sequel
George Packer on the disappearance of the American Dream.
Catherine Tumber
Feature
Orange Is the New Black, Episode 6: Democracy Fail
In the end, the guards run the show.
Jude Ellison Sady Doyle
Feature
Orwell’s Defeats
A new book of letters offers a glimpse at the man behind the reputation.
Kristian Williams