From The New Yorker, Claudia Roth Pierpont on Florentine Niccolo Machiavelli, the man who taught rulers how to rule. American Revolutionary: Quiet Boston scholar Gene Sharp inspires rebels around the world. An article on the blessings and curses of military life. From TNR, Benny Morris reviews The Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism: From Sacred Texts to Solemn History; and Icon of Evil: Hitler's Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam by David G. Dalin and John F. Rothmann. Naomi Wolf on veiled sexuality: When a woman in France or Britain chooses a veil, it is not necessarily a sign of her repression. A look at how a topless pinup girl climbed to the pinnacle of celebrity in England while remaining utterly unknown in the United States. Kevin Smith explains how he got the imaginary poo and fake sex in "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" past those dirty minds at the MPAA. From Cato Unbound, Earth and Fire Erowid on a culture of responsible psychoactive drug use. From Culture11, Welcome to Gawkerland: A gossip site invents an imaginary Manhattan; and conscientious objector: Playing referee in the culture wars. From Smithsonian, an article on ten of the most incredible art heists of the modern era. A review of Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Mark Richardson. From Slate, a special issue on old people.
