Imaginary Kinship
Fine Art | In Dear John, John Wind C’83 fashions cross-generational connections.
Briefly Noted
May|Jun 2026
Paper Record
Tracing the history of American English, one slip at a time. An excerpt from Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary by Stefan Fatsis C’85. Plus: A Q&A with the author.
Useful Advice
Emanuel’s rules for living: Eat Your Ice Cream.
University City Stories
Insights on University City history in two new books.
Across the Great Divide
Dorothy Roberts on her parents in The Mixed Marriage Project.
Indelible Imprint
Gayle Feldman CW’73’s Bennett Cerf bio, Nothing Random.
Historian of the “Taken-for-Granted”
Whether probing the concept of common sense, mulling the role of expertise in a democracy, or examining how choice intersects with freedom, Sophia Rosenfeld is carving out new realms of cultural and intellectual history.
Back to the Office—but Make It Better
“The case for in-office work has never been stronger.”
Essayist Uncaged
Literature | A career-spanning essay collection by John Edgar Wideman C’63 Hon’86.
Briefly Noted
Jan | Feb 2026
A Daughter’s Reckoning
For most of her life, conservation journalist Artis Henderson C’02 W’02’s late father had been kept a dark secret. Then she went on an expedition to learn about his adventurous existence as a dad, husband, pilot, remote island owner, and international drug smuggler—as well as “the accident” 40 years ago that killed him (and nearly her).
Telling Stories
Ben Yagoda G’91 on his novel, Alias O. Henry.
Briefly Noted
Nov|Dec 2025
Why We Choose What We Choose
Q&A with Annenberg’s Emily Falk on What We Value.
Writer to Publisher
Daniel Akst C’78 and Tivoli Books.
Four Mothers, Four Continents
Abigail Leonard C’02’s Four Mothers.
Briefly Noted
Sep|Oct 2025
Penn’s Benjamin Nathans Wins Pulitzer
History professor Ben Nathans awarded Pulitzer in General Nonfiction.
Briefly Noted
Jul|Aug 2025
Philadelphia in 20 Canvases
Portraits of a city. Thomas Sully’s Philadelphians.
The Master of Middle Grade
Stuart Gibbs C’91 is probably your middle schooler’s favorite author.
Longing to Belong
Beth Kaplan GrEd’21 has hard-won advice on belonging in the workplace.
Welcome to Despair
Through his unorthodox courses, religious studies professor Justin McDaniel is training Penn students how to immerse themselves in literature, disconnect from their phones, build lifelong bonds with classmates … and prepare for the inevitable emotional pain life will bring.