This Week’s Issue: An Education While Incarcerated

Plus: Lauren Collins on Alison Roman’s messy method; Julian Lucas on writers’ devices; and Dhruv Khullar on what Omicron has changed. View in browser | Update your preferences Annals of War The Secret History of the U.S. Diplomatic Failure in Afghanistan A trove of unreleased documents reveals a dispiriting record of misjudgment, hubris, and delusion that led to the fall of the Western-backed government. By Steve Coll and Adam Entous American Chronicles An Education While Incarcerated What Eddy Zheng taught himself—and me—when he was in prison. By Hua Hsu Profiles Alison Roman Just Can’t Help Herself A food-world star’s method and mess. By Lauren Collins Dept. of Technology Can “Distraction-Free” Devices Change the Way We Write? The digital age enabled productivity but invited procrastination. Now writers are rebelling against their word processors. By Julian Lucas Comment What Has Omicron Changed? Although the initial findings on the new COVID variant are encouraging, it’s important not to place too much stock in them prematurely. By Dhruv Khullar A Critic at Large What’s So Great About Great-Books Courses? The humanities are in danger, but humanists can’t agree on how—or why—they should be saved. By Louis Menand The Theatre Two Musicals on the Perils of Aging A buoyant revival of Sondheim’s “Company” and the refreshingly off-kilter “Kimberly Akimbo.” By Alexandra Schwartz The Current Cinema An Earthier, Sweatier “West Side Story” Steven Spielberg’s film wants to fight dirtier than its famous predecessor ever did, but how much authenticity is possible? By Anthony Lane The New Yorker Live Adam McKay on How to Be Funny About the End of the World On Wednesday, the director will discuss his latest film, “Don’t Look Up,” with the New Yorker staff writer Andrew Marantz, exclusively for subscribers. Humor from The New Yorker Shouts & Murmurs Just When You Thought It Was Over . . . Peter Piper died a pauper, and other surprising aftermaths. By Jack Handey Cartoons from the Issue Cartoons from the Issue Drawings and drollery from this week’s magazine. More from The New Yorker 2021 in Review The Best Books We Read in 2021 The fiction and nonfiction, old and new, that saw us through the year. By The New Yorker 2021 in Review The Best TV Shows of 2021 Including “Love Life,” which gets the award for most improved, and “Real Housewives,” which is morphing into a true-crime hit. By Doreen St. Félix You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for This Week's Issue from The New Yorker. Was this e-mail forwarded to you? Sign up. Unsubscribe | Manage your e-mail preferences | Send newsletter feedback | View our Privacy Policy Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.