Culture
Books
How did the Catholic church go so wrong?
A little-remembered gathering might have changed everything, a new book argues
Do societies need more, or less, discretion in enforcing rules?
A philosopher takes a surprising stance
It’s spellbinding! Riveting! A triumphant tour de force!
Simon & Schuster is cutting back on book blurbs. Good
Have doctors been wrong about how to treat Alzheimer’s disease?
A new book argues that dogma and bad science led Alzheimer’s research astray
Sex, drugs or chastity?
Pope Francis has written the first memoir by a sitting pope. God help us
Want to spend time with a different American president?
Five presidential biographies to distract you from the news
Henri Bergson was once the world’s most famous philosopher
He sought to reconcile science and metaphysics
What firms are for
The framework for thinking about business and capitalism is hopelessly outdated, argues a new book
Television and film
The secret to the success of “Saturday Night Live”
The 50-year-old TV show has constantly changed, but always remained the same
What explains the enduring appeal of Bridget Jones?
From spawning “chick lit” to becoming a Gen Z icon
Six of the best films about love
Tales of romance won—and lost—to stream this Valentine’s Day
Performing in a cinema near you: Bob Dylan and Maria Callas
Behind the boom in musical biopics
Fans are going crazy for Thai television shows and music
Behind the “Boys’ Love” and “Girls’ Love” craze
Why “Emilia Pérez” is loved by Hollywood and hated by everyone else
And the Oscar for Worst Picture goes to…
The arts
Why auction houses are turning to private sales
Customers want instant gratification. Sellers want price control
Fashion photography is in vogue
Museums and collectors now want what were once panned as commercial images for their walls
Paul Gauguin is an artist ripe for cancellation
Yet, as with others, controversy and talent were part of the same palette
John Sainsbury, a donor to the National Gallery, had the last laugh
A hidden letter offers an insight into disputes between artists and patrons
Can Saudi Arabia become a premier tourist hotspot?
It has sun, sea and (lots of) sand. But people are wary of visiting the kingdom
Meet the man causing cracks in the antiquities trade
Matthew Bogdanos employs unorthodox tactics to repatriate stolen art and antiquities
Food
The Michelin Guide is no longer the only tastemaker in town
How is it adapting to changing eating habits?
Tofu: never judge a food by its political reputation
Think outside the white plastic box. Here is a carnivore’s guide to tofu
Why matcha, made from green tea, is the drink of the moment
Is it really a healthy alternative to coffee? Not the way Gen Z orders it
What do feta, cucumbers and cottage cheese have in common?
Social media and the internet are changing how people cook and relate to food
The British take their crisps more seriously than any other nation
No other snack bridges the class divide in the same way
Food lovers the world over are tickled by pickles
On social media, preserved cucumbers are freshly trendy
Music
The Economist’s pick of the best albums of 2024
A musical tour through pop, rap, rock and more
Spotify’s playlists have altered the music industry in unexpected ways
A critical assessment of the Swedish streaming giant’s musical legacy
The best music written about winter
Six compositions that capture the pleasures and perils of the coldest season
The New York-London arbitrage for musicals
Can you guess which is more expensive: Broadway or the West End?
Arnold Schoenberg was one of classical music’s most important rebels
But, 150 years after his birth, he is underappreciated
How Kronos became the world’s most innovative string quartet
The group’s 50th anniversary brings new music and new members
Why Beethoven’s ninth appeals to democrats and despots alike
Since its first performance 200 years ago, few pieces of music have won such varied devotees
Latest coverage
Culture
Escapism and fear made “The White Lotus” a pandemic-era hit
Now the show about obnoxious American tourists has become a drag
Culture
How did the Catholic church go so wrong?
A little-remembered gathering might have changed everything, a new book argues
Culture
What explains the enduring appeal of Bridget Jones?
From spawning “chick lit” to becoming a Gen Z icon
Culture
Faceless influencers are becoming famous online
They are everywhere on social media. Just don’t ask what they look like
Culture
Do societies need more, or less, discretion in enforcing rules?
A philosopher takes a surprising stance
Culture
The secret to the success of “Saturday Night Live”
The 50-year-old TV show has constantly changed, but always remained the same
Culture
Does more education lead to less sex?
Trying to make sense of the sexual “degree divide” in America
Culture
Fans are going crazy for Thai television shows and music
Behind the “Boys’ Love” and “Girls’ Love” craze
Culture
How TikTok became a religious pulpit
Social media are changing people’s faith in unexpected ways