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The New York Review of Books
For over 45 years, The New York Review of Books has been the place where the world's leading authors, scientists, educators, artists, and political leaders turn when they wish to engage in a spirited debate on literature, politics, art, and ideas with a small but influential audience that welcomes the challenge. Each issue addresses some of the most passionate political and cultural controversies of the day, and reviews the most engrossing new books and the ideas that illuminate them.
NOOKmagazine (eMagazine)
First published June 2, 2011
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The New York Review of Books
31 books41 followersWith a worldwide circulation of over 135,000, The New York Review of Books has established itself, in Esquire‘s words, as “the premier literary-intellectual magazine in the English language.” The New York Review began during the New York publishing strike of 1963, when its founding editors, Robert Silvers and Barbara Epstein, and their friends, decided to create a new kind of magazine—one in which the most interesting and qualified minds of our time would discuss current books and issues in depth. Just as importantly, it was determined that the Review should be an independent publication; it began life as an independent editorial voice and it remains independent today.
The New York Review’s early issues included articles by such writers as W.H. Auden, Elizabeth Hardwick, Hannah Arendt, Edmund Wilson, Susan Sontag, Robert Penn Warren, Lilian Hellman, Norman Mailer, Gore Vidal, Saul Bellow, Robert Lowell, Truman Capote, William Styron, and Mary McCarthy. The public responded by buying up practically all the copies printed and writing thousands of letters to demand that The New York Review continue publication. And Robert Silvers and Barbara Epstein continued as co-editors of the Review until Barbara’s death in 2006; Robert Silvers continues as editor.
Within a short time, The New York Times was writing that The New York Review “has succeeded brilliantly,” The New Statesman hailed its founding as “of more cultural import than the opening of Lincoln Center,” and the great English art historian Kenneth Clark observed, “I have never known such a high standard of reviewing.” The unprecedented and enthusiastic response was indicative of how badly America needed a literary and critical journal based on the assumption that the discussion of important books was itself an indispensable literary activity.
From the 1960s into the 21st Century, The New York Review of Books has posed the questions in the debate on American life, culture, and politics. It is the journal where Mary McCarthy reported on the Vietnam War from Saigon and Hanoi; Edmund Wilson challenged Vladimir Nabokov’s translations; Hannah Arendt published her reflections on violence; Ralph Nader published his “manifesto” for consumer justice; I.F. Stone investigated the lies of Watergate; Susan Sontag challenged the claims of modern photography; Jean-Paul Sartre, at 70, described his writing and politics, and how he felt about his blindness; Elizabeth Hardwick addressed the issues of women and writing; Gore Vidal hilariously lampooned bestsellers, Howard Hughes, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Reagans; Felix Rohatyn made the case for a national industrial policy in an influential series of articles; Peter G. Peterson showed why the present Social Security program can’t last; Joan Didion described, in a firsthand account, the situation in El Salvador; McGeorge Bundy, George Kennan, and Lewis Thomas outlined the nuclear threat; Nadine Gordimer and Bishop Desmond Tutu wrote from South Africa on the conflict over apartheid; Vaclav Havel published his reflections from the Czech underground; Timothy Garton Ash reported on the new Eastern Europe; Mark Danner reported on torture from the CIA black sites; Ronald Dworkin wrote of how George W. Bush’s two Supreme Court appointees have created an unbreakable phalanx bent on remaking constitutional law; Freeman Dyson described the scientist as rebel; David Cole revealed how the Bush Justice Department allowed America to become a nation that disappeared and tortured suspects; articles by Paul Krugman, George Soros, Joseph Stiglitz, and Jeff Madrick explained America’s failing economy; Tom Powers described the George W. Bush administration’s fundamental shift from diplomacy to military action; Martin Filler wrote on the many makers of modern architecture; and where Bill Moyers described the threat to the environment presented by Evangelical Christians. It is the journal where the most important issues are discussed by writers who are them
The New York Review’s early issues included articles by such writers as W.H. Auden, Elizabeth Hardwick, Hannah Arendt, Edmund Wilson, Susan Sontag, Robert Penn Warren, Lilian Hellman, Norman Mailer, Gore Vidal, Saul Bellow, Robert Lowell, Truman Capote, William Styron, and Mary McCarthy. The public responded by buying up practically all the copies printed and writing thousands of letters to demand that The New York Review continue publication. And Robert Silvers and Barbara Epstein continued as co-editors of the Review until Barbara’s death in 2006; Robert Silvers continues as editor.
Within a short time, The New York Times was writing that The New York Review “has succeeded brilliantly,” The New Statesman hailed its founding as “of more cultural import than the opening of Lincoln Center,” and the great English art historian Kenneth Clark observed, “I have never known such a high standard of reviewing.” The unprecedented and enthusiastic response was indicative of how badly America needed a literary and critical journal based on the assumption that the discussion of important books was itself an indispensable literary activity.
From the 1960s into the 21st Century, The New York Review of Books has posed the questions in the debate on American life, culture, and politics. It is the journal where Mary McCarthy reported on the Vietnam War from Saigon and Hanoi; Edmund Wilson challenged Vladimir Nabokov’s translations; Hannah Arendt published her reflections on violence; Ralph Nader published his “manifesto” for consumer justice; I.F. Stone investigated the lies of Watergate; Susan Sontag challenged the claims of modern photography; Jean-Paul Sartre, at 70, described his writing and politics, and how he felt about his blindness; Elizabeth Hardwick addressed the issues of women and writing; Gore Vidal hilariously lampooned bestsellers, Howard Hughes, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Reagans; Felix Rohatyn made the case for a national industrial policy in an influential series of articles; Peter G. Peterson showed why the present Social Security program can’t last; Joan Didion described, in a firsthand account, the situation in El Salvador; McGeorge Bundy, George Kennan, and Lewis Thomas outlined the nuclear threat; Nadine Gordimer and Bishop Desmond Tutu wrote from South Africa on the conflict over apartheid; Vaclav Havel published his reflections from the Czech underground; Timothy Garton Ash reported on the new Eastern Europe; Mark Danner reported on torture from the CIA black sites; Ronald Dworkin wrote of how George W. Bush’s two Supreme Court appointees have created an unbreakable phalanx bent on remaking constitutional law; Freeman Dyson described the scientist as rebel; David Cole revealed how the Bush Justice Department allowed America to become a nation that disappeared and tortured suspects; articles by Paul Krugman, George Soros, Joseph Stiglitz, and Jeff Madrick explained America’s failing economy; Tom Powers described the George W. Bush administration’s fundamental shift from diplomacy to military action; Martin Filler wrote on the many makers of modern architecture; and where Bill Moyers described the threat to the environment presented by Evangelical Christians. It is the journal where the most important issues are discussed by writers who are them
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 17, 2026
Well, 2020 marked the fateful year that I subscribed to The New York Review of Books. I started diligently reading it cover to cover in mid-July, with an immediate drop-off in actual book-reading. Is it preferable to spend one's time reading reviews of books instead of books themselves? When you are as ignorant about as many aspects of history, geography, and politics as I am, the answer might be yes. Some of the articles are really fantastic, and I am learning a lot. It's been nice to have a bit of a breather before the first 2021 issue, though, I must say. Happy New Year, bookish people!
April 6, 2014
One can never really finish reading the New York Review of Books, because a new one comes out every week!
While the NY Review is a wonderful resource for reviews of books in which I might well be interested, it's value is greatly enhanced by the wide variety of articles on history, current affairs, and the arts. Even the advertisements can be valuable, since they may highlight books from my favorite authors, or suggest new topics of interest.
While the NY Review is a wonderful resource for reviews of books in which I might well be interested, it's value is greatly enhanced by the wide variety of articles on history, current affairs, and the arts. Even the advertisements can be valuable, since they may highlight books from my favorite authors, or suggest new topics of interest.
April 18, 2025
The NYRB and the LRB together cover the best of current trends in English language publications and new books from both sides of the pond. In the era of Trump, the LRB is becoming a safe haven for American journalists and authors to avoid the coming potential dangers of critique pieces against the current Administration. Hopefully the New York Review of Books will have the courage, like Harvard and the Atlantic among others, to stand firm against the current onslaughts and potential censorships to come. What once seemed alarmist is now fact.
They are both bi-weekly and a subscription also provides access of all back issues through their respective apps. Well worth it provided you have the time to peruse each issue for reviews and articles of interest. The print formats of each are in near newspaper size, and I still prefer to read the printed page, rather than on the app. Especially in good weather, and naughtily enjoying a cigar and an adult beverage on my porch, as in days gone past, but not forgotten by me at 73.
They are both bi-weekly and a subscription also provides access of all back issues through their respective apps. Well worth it provided you have the time to peruse each issue for reviews and articles of interest. The print formats of each are in near newspaper size, and I still prefer to read the printed page, rather than on the app. Especially in good weather, and naughtily enjoying a cigar and an adult beverage on my porch, as in days gone past, but not forgotten by me at 73.
January 3, 2024
Weird to include a biweekly magazine in my Goodreads list, but this is a substantial read that takes time each week that I would otherwise spending reading books so I’m doing it.
I enjoy the mix of articles (this week’s issue included stories on Jane Austen’s wardrobe, the Gaza conflict, and new releases in paleontology, among others), which makes for a pleasant browse with my morning coffee. And of course, I love seeing the ads for all the new nonfiction books to choose from this year.
I enjoy the mix of articles (this week’s issue included stories on Jane Austen’s wardrobe, the Gaza conflict, and new releases in paleontology, among others), which makes for a pleasant browse with my morning coffee. And of course, I love seeing the ads for all the new nonfiction books to choose from this year.
September 27, 2019
The best publication world-wide intellectuals could get.
December 12, 2020
Read Dec 3rd, 2020 edition. I liked a few of the articles but most were not of interest to me.
Want to read
April 13, 2017Read in print and on their site at http://www.nybooks.com/
December 19, 2016
Of all the publications I have subscribed to over the years, this is my favorite.
November 16, 2016
Having read many articles online, I thought I would subscribe, and it's been well worth it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews