Culture

18 Great Books That Are Out In Paperback This Month
Michelle Obama’s memoir, Andrea Bartz’s boss-babe thriller, Cathy Park Hong’s essay collection, and more.

Amy Poehler’s New Teen Movie Is Earnest But Doesn't Quite Work
Moxie tries hards to be inclusive, but it ends up being awkward.

“It’s A Sin” Simplifies The Reasons Why The AIDS Crisis Was So Devastating
The hit HBO Max miniseries is moving, but it overemphasizes the role of internalized homophobia and individual actions — rather than systemic violence — in worsening the AIDS crisis. Spoilers ahead.

The 10 Photographs That Shaped This MoMA Curator’s Career
Meister discusses when she realized she was never going to be a photographer and how it feels to “shift the stories we can tell about the history of art.”

Why Are Millennials So Worried About Moving Back In With Their Parents?
Sally never expected to be living with her parents when she turned 30 — but moving back home helped her build the life she truly wanted. (An excerpt from But You’re Still So Young.)

Here Are Some Virtual Book Events We Highly Recommend: March 1–7
Discussions with Kazuo Ishiguro, Isabel Allende, Anne Lamott, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and more.

How Gay Bars Influenced This Writer’s Life
These social spaces are sites of both pleasure and isolation in Gay Bar: Why We Went Out, a new book by Jeremy Atherton Lin.

Black History Month During A Pandemic, Told Through The Eyes Of One Family
Richard Williams wanted to know what Black History Month meant — so he asked all four generations of his family.

Netflix's “I Care A Lot” Isn’t The Movie It Thinks It Is
The Golden Globe–nominated film takes on guardianship fraud but becomes disturbingly nihilistic.

The Billie Eilish Documentary Gets The Alchemy Behind Her Stardom
The World’s a Little Blurry hews close to the Eilish mythology, yet still offers a rare glimpse behind the making of a teen pop star.

Teachers Are Being Pushed To Their Breaking Points
“At first it was, ‘Oh we love our teachers’ and now it seems like people are sick of having their kids at home and want their babysitters back.”

Introverts Only: Has The Pandemic Pushed You To Rethink Social Habits?
BuzzFeed News wants to hear from you.

"Surviving The White Gaze" Is The BuzzFeed Book Club March Pick. Here's An Excerpt.
In this excerpt from Rebecca Carroll's memoir, 6-year-old Carroll starts ballet lessons taught by the captivating Mrs. Rowland — the first Black person she, a young Black girl, has ever met.

12 Books That Helped Me Build A Healthier Relationship With Food
Books about food, bodies, hunger, and eating disorders have been so helpful as I've worked through my own unhealthy habits. Here are some of my favorites.

We Can't Get Enough Of These 10 New Books, And You Won't Be Able To Either
Stays up all night reading...again.

Lesbian Sugar Mamas And Sugar Babies Talk About Their Relationships
“Sugaring seemed fun and the taboo nature of it made it extra spicy.”

Emily St. John Mandel, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Sally Thorne: This Week's Best Virtual Book Events
Readings and discussions from Emily St. John Mandel, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Naomi Klein, Sally Thorne, and many more.

The New Woody Allen Documentary Is A Nuanced Reckoning
HBO's Allen v. Farrow revisits the stories of Dylan and Mia Farrow, providing a deep deconstruction of a ’90s tabloid obsession.

There’s No Mystery To Unravel Around Tekashi 69
With last year’s 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez on Hulu and Showtime’s new doc Supervillain, there are now more Tekashi examinations than there are things left to examine.

10 New Books To Add To Your TBR ASAP
I need them all, tbh.

13 Books That Prove Romantic Relationships Aren't Everything
Contrary to what Valentine's Day marketing would have you believe, you actually don't need to be in a relationship to be happy.

15 Romance Books To Read Based On The Trope You Love Most
Are you more "enemies to lovers" or "only one room at the inn?"

20 Super Sexy Novels Full Of Taboo, Kink, Toys, And More
Whatever your fantasy, we've got the perfect date for you.

Why Internet Sleuths Are Still Obsessed With Elisa Lam’s Death
A new Netflix docuseries about the Elisa Lam case presents itself as a study of true crime, but it mostly rehashes old conspiracy theories.

Are You A Teacher? How Do You Feel About Schools Reopening?
If you teach K–12, we want to know what you are most concerned about right now.

Which New Book Should You Read Over The Long Weekend?
If you're lucky enough to have a three-day weekend, spend those extra hours with one (or two or three...) of these.

"Call My Agent!" And "Industry" Capture The Dangers Of Mixing Work With Pleasure
The French crossover hit and the darkly sexy investment firm drama each emphasize the thrills — and the downsides — of making work your identity.

We've Got To Talk About Joss Whedon
The #MeToo movement means that allegations against men like Whedon are less likely to be written off, but I’m cynical about lasting change in the entertainment industry.

Zendaya's New Movie Isn't Good
Malcolm & Marie feels half-baked.

16 Fantasy Romances To Steam Up Your Valentine's Day
Whether you prefer hot and heavy romances, restrained Regency politeness, or love-hate relationships, these fantasy romances will sweep you off your feet and into a steamy magical world.