#Essays

Critical Thinking and Books

A reader reflects on critical thinking and books in a time of rampant misinformation because words in a book aren't necessarily true.

10 Awesome (and Awful) Librarians in Literature

There are some phenomenal librarians to be found in fiction — and a few duds. Here are 10 of the best fictional librarians in literature.

Do Goodreads and StoryGraph Users Rate Books Differently?

Rating and reviewing are staple features of Goodreads and The StoryGraph. But how do these platforms differ?

Read With Caution: A History of Book Curses

Since at least ancient Babylon, we have been staving off potential book thieves with book curses. Here's a little history of how it went.

Adding Jewish Books to Your Diverse Reading

Further diversify your reading this High Holiday season with Jewish books, which are themselves becoming more and more diverse.

Beyoncé, Western Lit, and the Cowboy Renaissance

Why no, this is definitely not just an excuse for me to talk about Beyoncé. Whatever do you mean?!

Lit Where You Eat: Authors Who Work as Booksellers

Playing the field: Check out this fun essay about authors who have been, or are currently, also booksellers!

Why Do Writers Use Different Pen Names for Genres?

Why and how do genre fiction writers use different pen names? We talk to three authors about how they use pen names.

What is the Millennial Genre?

The idea of a millennial genre has been floating around for a while and seems to be here to stay. But what is it, and who does it cater to?

How Much Have Book Prices Increased Since 2019?

It isn't just a feeling. Books are getting more expensive.