New Yorker: Out Loud

In the current issue, Peter Schjeldahl reviews a retrospective of the work of Ai Weiwei, the international art star and political provocateur, at the Hirshhorn Museum, in Washington, D.C. Here Schjeldahl talks with Sasha Weiss and Evan Osnos, who profiled Ai Weiwei for the magazine two years ago. Also: What to do about dead cats, and David Sedaris on his stuffed dog.

This week in the magazine, Larissa MacFarquhar writes about novelist Hilary Mantel. Here she talks about why Mantel is such a remarkable writer with Sasha Weiss and James Wood, who reviewed Mantel last spring for the magazine. Also, George Saunders on his troubles keeping a diary.

This week in the magazine, John Seabrook writes about the Korean pop-music industry. Here Seabrook talks with Sasha Weiss about why K-pop is so popular throughout Asia and why he was smitten by its cheerful vocals and synchronized dancing. Also, Paul Rudnick channels Mrs. Jesus Christ.

This week in the magazine, Margaret Talbot writes about the Hollywood of her father, Lyle Talbot, who appeared in hundreds of films opposite the likes of Ginger Rogers and Carole Lombard. Here Talbot talks with Richard Brody and Michael Agger about Talbot's pre-code Hollywood films, why he never became a big star, and what it was like to grow up with a father in the movies. Also, Emily Nussbaum on "Treme."

In this week's New Yorker Out Loud podcast, the magazine's cartoon editor, Robert Mankoff, discusses the recent Nipplegate incident, in which a cartoon portraying Adam and Eve got the New Yorker temporarily banned from Facebook. Mankoff talks with Michael Agger and Mick Stevens, the cartoonist behind the offending cartoon, about the curious history of nipples in the magazine. Mankoff and Stevens also discuss the advantages of cartoon cliches like Adam and Eve, how cartoonists practice their art, and the evolution of the crash-test-dummy cartoon. Also, Peter Schjeldahl remembers Andy Warhol.

This week, D. T. Max has been writing on Page-Turner about documents and artifacts he drew on for "Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story," his recently published biography of David Foster Wallace. Here Max talks with Sasha Weiss about the challenges of writing about Wallace, and how Wallace, who once described himself as "an exhibitionist who wants to hide, but is unsuccessful at hiding" might feel about his biography.

This week in the magazine, Ariel Levy reviews Naomi Wolf's book "Vagina: A New Biography." Here Levy talks with Judith Thurman and Sasha Weiss about how this book is similar to "Fifty Shades of Grey." Also, Thomas Beller on the agony and ecstasy of parking in New York City.

This week in the magazine, Sarah Stillman writes about people conscripted by the police to work as confidential informants, often at great personal risk. Here Stillman joins Evan Ratliff, who has also written about confidential informants, in a conversation with Nicholas Thompson about why law enforcement relies on C.I.s, and what kinds of oversight and controls are needed to ensure their safety. Also, tips from Paul Simms on how to win a conversation.

This week in the magazine, Oliver Sacks looks back at his experiences with drugs in the early nineteen-sixties. Here Sacks talks with John Bennet and Sasha Weiss about some of his drug-induced hallucinations, how his interest in neurology connects to his experimentation with drugs, and how one drug experience led to his writing career. Also, Jeremy Eichler on the violinist Christian Tetzlaff, and Ian Frazier on the origins of The Cursing Mommy.

In the August 13th & 20th issue, Adam Gopnik looks at the history of Mormonism and its place in American life. Here Gopnik talks with Sasha Weiss and Avi Steinberg, who is currently writing a book that explores the Book of Mormon by visiting sites from the Mormon story. They discuss the history of Mormonism, how the church has managed to move from a fringe religious movement into a more mainstream position, and what Mormonism can tell us about Mitt Romney. Also, Lauren Collins takes advantage of Olympic hospitality.

In the July 30th issue of the magazine, David Remnick profiles Bruce Springsteen. Here Nicholas Thompson talks with David Remnick and Kelefa Sanneh about how Springsteen reconciles his songs about working-class struggles with his own success, and why Springsteens nostalgic brand of rock and roll has aged so well. Also, Sarah Payne Stuart answers questions about her home town of Concord, Massachusetts, and excerpts from a coming-of-age story by Simon Rich, as told by a condom.

In the July 23rd issue of the magazine, Jack Hitt reports on the increasing use of forensic linguistics in criminal proceedings. Here Hitt talks with Sasha Weiss about what forensic linguistics can tell us about how we communicate. Also, Joan Acocella discusses violence in fairy tales, and Michael Cunningham reflects on why there was no Pulitzer Prize for fiction this year.

In the July 9th and 16th issue of the magazine, Dexter Filkins reports from Afghanistan as the U.S. prepares to withdraw. He joins Steve Coll and Nicholas Thompson to talk about what went wrong and why the future looks so grim for Afghans. Also, Deborah Treisman and Peter Canby explain why the magazine fact-checks its fiction.

In the July 2nd issue of the magazine, Elizabeth Kolbert explores why American parents are spoiling their children. Kolbert joins Michael Agger in a conversation about helicopter parents, getting your kids to clean their rooms, and the importance of ignoring your child. Also, David Remnick talks with John McPhee about printing swear words in the magazine, and Patricia Marx explains the University of Chicago's epic scavenger hunt.

In the June 25th issue of the magazine, Ken Auletta writes about the e-book pricing battle taking place between book publishers and Amazon. Auletta joins Leo Carey in a conversation with Sasha Weiss about the effect of e-books on the publishing industry, writers, and readers. Also, Sasha Frere-Jones answers questions about noise music.