Essay
How World War II Turned Soldiers Into Bookworms
American GIs Devoured Paperbacks on the Front Lines, Spawning a New Generation of Readers
In January 1942, thousands of New Yorkers gathered on the steps of the legendary New York Public Library, at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, wearing their Sunday best and warmest …
Essay
What Would Jesus Read?
Americans Are Obsessed With Popular Religious Books Because They Give Us What Organized Religion Can't
In the 1990s, my best friend—a brilliant historian with an “I read banned books” bumper sticker on her car—handed me a book that had changed her life. It was Thomas …
Readings
The 10 Best Books We Read This Year
Zócalo Anoints These 2014 Nonfiction Titles Instant Classics
Why bother reading new books when there are too many great classics for one person to finish in a lifetime? Because people keep writing new classics. Zócalo’s top 10 nonfiction …
Readings
Zócalo Answers One Big Question of Summer 2021: ‘What Should I Read?’
From Senator Alex Padilla to Philanthropist Tim Disney, Our Friends Share the Books They’re Diving Into
What will the summer of 2021 hold? Pods are out, but is wedding season in? Masks are no longer required outside, but when do we need them? We can hug …