– Fight! (A reminder that critics are frequently wrong, and this is a good thing.)

– One of the best articles we’ve read all year: supposedly a book review of The History of White People,* it frames the history of race in America with examples from Fox News, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Sandra Bullock’s Oscar-winning role.

– As books die a slow death, or emerge as digital butteflies, or whatever, here are some hilarious (?) reports from the field:

Caleb Crain on poaching.

Keith Gessen on freebies (from 2004).

Jonny Diamond on suicide.

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