Readings

The surveillance state reassures us that we’re all just the haystack—only the needles need worry. But what will CSEC do with all that hay? Javier Marías’ Your Face Tomorrow: Fever and Spear provides some clues.

Remembering one of the masters of the modern short story, who died today at the age of 91. The author recounts the lessons he learned from his all too brief run-ins with the expatriate Canadian writer.

In The News: A User’s Manual, Alain de Botton argues that more sensitive portrayals of criminals would lead to greater empathy. But news media doesn’t completely refrain from humanizing criminals—it just depends on their skin colour.

Every weekend Carl Wilson looks at the events of the past seven days in the mirror of art and culture. This week: extreme weather everywhere and a little help getting through it.