For several years, I have had a hunger to write this piece about the arrival of the Library of America … More

Women are more correct and more with-it: A piece inspired by reading Matt Gordon’s primer on the work of the … More

My Humanities essay on the rise of cool, the American slang term that took on new life beginning in the … More

I am not an acrostic afficianado, but was delighted to learn there is a type of crossword that is used … More

I wrote an article about the history of the term redskin for Lexicon Valley, the language blog on Slate. (Lexicon … More

When it happens I feel as if I have stepped into a Far Side cartoon. I am a magazine editor, … More

Last week I drove to historic Chestertown to talk about The Story of Ain’t with a nonfiction reading group at … More

(from the April 30, 2012, Weekly Standard) “You’re going to Spain with or without your kids?” That was the question … More

(From the April 25, 2005, Weekly Standard) AN OLD WOODEN DESK SITS in my basement, on which I write and … More

(From the April 12 – April 19, 2004, Weekly Standard) I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE shopping for women’s clothing. And on … More