One of my favorite books of all time is “Oranges” by John McPhee. When I tell people this, they ask me what it’s about. “Oranges,” I say. “No, seriously; what’s it about?” “Oranges.” This is when they ...

Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021. The toilet is the ultimate venue of control. It’s where you start to ...

What’s scary? It’s often the little things. The sigh in the night. The stranger falling in step behind you. A creak. A slam. A sudden shiver. As with her last couple of books, Kane is publishing these ...

Have you ever wondered who invented the pencil? Or what led to the creation of the swimming pool? Object Lessons is a beautifully designed book series—published by Bloomsbury Academic—that explores ...