The Hard Crowd, the first collection of essays by Rachel Kushner, is published by Jonathan Cape. She is speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 17 August (edbookfest.co.uk)
The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon (1967)
This masterpiece of “new photojournalism” portrays members of an outlaw motorcycle club from Chicago and gives a sense of their lives in a time of great upheaval. There’s an honesty and beauty in the moments Lyon captures, no doubt on account of his commitment to understand rather than judge. Also, the women in the Bikeriders are my attitude and fashion idols. Their hair is pretty good, too. Aperture £25.95
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Angels by Denis Johnson (1983)
I write about Johnson in my latest book, and I say what I want to say about him and this dirty and perfect first novel, which continues to glow, outlasting its moment and joining the pantheon of “all time”. So I am hesitant to add much. Vintage £9.99
Practicalities by Marguerite Duras (1987)
This book of “life advice” by the queen of French letters was “told to” a friend of her son’s, then transcribed, edited and turned into a unique book. It includes bald confessions about her struggles with alcoholism and advice for other women: those who can’t do home repairs are “useless”. So, I’m useless, which leaves me more time to read Duras. Grove Press £14.47
In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower by Marcel Proust (1919)
Reading the recently re-discovered early drafts where the character Marcel first spies Albertine – strutting with golf clubs, a “moderne” and exciting and vulgarly middle-class co-ed – reminded me how much I love this volume of Proust. Penguin £9.99
Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan (2004)
So, it’s pretty dumb that Dylan won a Nobel Prize, given that musicians get plenty of wealth and fame and it’s a prize for writers. But I really loved reading this and taking note of all the singers he admired. Word is he made a lot of it up. But that’s okay. When people lie they are telling you something. Simon & Schuster £10.99
-
Nigel Farage: was he a teenage racist?Talking Point Farage’s denials have been ‘slippery’, but should claims from Reform leader’s schooldays be on the news agenda?
-
Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
-
Sudoku medium: November 29, 2025The daily medium sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
We Did OK, Kid: Anthony Hopkins’ candid memoir is a ‘page-turner’The Week Recommends The 87-year-old recounts his journey from ‘hopeless’ student to Oscar-winning actor
-
The Mushroom Tapes: a compelling deep dive into the trial that gripped AustraliaThe Week Recommends Acclaimed authors team up for a ‘sensitive and insightful’ examination of what led a seemingly ordinary woman to poison four people
-
‘Chess’feature Imperial Theatre, New York City
-
‘Notes on Being a Man’ by Scott Galloway and ‘Bread of Angels: A Memoir’ by Patti Smithfeature A self-help guide for lonely young men and a new memoir from the godmother of punk
-
6 homes built in the 1700sFeature Featuring a restored Federal-style estate in Virginia and quaint farm in Connecticut
-
Film reviews: 'Wicked: For Good' and 'Rental Family'Feature Glinda the Good is forced to choose sides and an actor takes work filling holes in strangers' lives
-
Nick Clegg picks his favourite booksThe Week Recommends The former deputy prime minister shares works by J.M. Coetzee, Marcel Theroux and Conrad Russell
-
Park Avenue: New York family drama with a ‘staggeringly good’ castThe Week Recommends Fiona Shaw and Katherine Waterston have a ‘combative chemistry’ as a mother and daughter at a crossroads
