The Monthly Digest: December 2018

Every December we present LARB’s version of the People’s Choice Awards. Below are the 15 most popular articles to have appeared on our site in 2018. As always, we are struck by the wide variety of topics represented in the list. They range from politics to science, from film to self-help, from the state of education in our nation to the effect of social media on human behavior. We take pride in this variety, which reflects the diverse interests of our readership. Thank you, dear readers, for pushing us to widen our horizons! — LARB Editorial

The Crisis of Intimacy in the Age of Digital Connectivity
The internet’s quintessential, paradoxical message is “Only Connect.”
Stephen MarcheOct 15, 2018
- Cultural Studies
- Science & Technology
Delete Your Account Now: A Conversation with Jaron Lanier
Harper Simon asks philosopher Jaron Lanier about his latest book, “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.”
Harper SimonOct 8, 2018
- Science & Technology
Straw Gods: A Cautious Response to Jordan B. Peterson
Why this controversial psychologist should not be ignored.
Guy StevensonOct 1, 2018
- Philosophy & Religion
- Politics
On Outgrowing David Foster Wallace
"Why does David Foster Wallace read differently to me now? Why am I ashamed of him? Maybe his work is limited in ways I didn’t see before." A DFW guy writes
Julius TarantoSep 15, 2018
- Fiction
Blighted by Empire: What the British Did to India
Omer Aziz indicts the Western amnesia around colonialism.
Omer AzizSep 1, 2018
The Useless French Language and Why We Learn It
Colin Marshall examines English speakers’ relationship to the French language, which is the subject of a growing number of books.
Colin MarshallAug 2, 2018
- Around the World
- Cultural Studies
The “Intellectual Dark Web” Is Nothing New
The intellectual superstars of the Trump era are not as new as they fancy themselves.
Jacob HamburgerJul 18, 2018
- Politics
Bach at the Burger King
When the music of Vivaldi and Mozart are used to repel the homeless from sidewalks and Burger Kings, does it still glorify the dignity of humanity?
Theodore GioiaMay 17, 2018
- Music
- Politics
Here’s to Unsuicide: An Interview with Richard Powers
"We came into being by the grace of trees." Everett Hamner talks with Richard Powers about his latest novel, "The Overstory."
Everett HamnerApr 7, 2018
- Fiction
- SF
A Messiah-cum-Surrogate-Dad for Gormless Dimwits: On Jordan B. Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life”
Houman Barekat questions “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” by Jordan B. Peterson.
Houman BarekatMar 8, 2018
- Cultural Studies
- Philosophy & Religion
Quasi Duo Fantasias: A Straussian Reading of “Black Panther”
Slavoj Žižek offers a Straussian reading of “Black Panther.”
Slavoj ŽižekMar 3, 2018
- Film
The Critical Zone of Science and Politics: An Interview with Bruno Latour
Bruno Latour on climate change, the earth as termite mound, and why he only drinks Burgundy.
Steve PaulsonFeb 23, 2018
Whose University Is It Anyway?
Can higher education be saved from the all-administrative university?
Ron SrigleyFeb 22, 2018
- Economics and Finance
- Education
Elio’s Education
D. A. Miller on the mainstream gay-themed movie, the Beautiful Life, and "Call Me by Your Name."
D. A. MillerFeb 19, 2018
- Film
- Gender & Sexuality
Rebel Yale: Reading and Feeling “Hillbilly Elegy”
An article from 2018 illustrates how his refusal to speak directly about “issues” made J. D. Vance, now Donald Trump’s running mate, the new pundit for white people.
Dan Sinykin, Florence Dore, J. D. ConnorJan 10, 2018
'I am what I am attached to': On Bruno Latour’s 'Inquiry into the Modes of Existence'
Stephen MueckeDec 28, 2012