John Perry Barlow’s Last Words
Reading Time: 4 minutes John Perry Barlow’s last book, scheduled for June publication, was released for review the day he died. It shines a light on the life of America’s most far-out deadhead.
Will Musk’s Rocket Launch Ignite a New Space Race?
Reading Time: 2 minutes SpaceX — the corporate brainchild of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk — sent a red Tesla Roadster into orbit on Tuesday. The successful solo flight of the world’s most powerful rocket ushered in a new space exploration era driven by the private sector.
A Russian Sightseeing Tour for Realists
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Nation magazine is inviting readers to join them on an exciting sightseeing tour of Russia to experience its rich history, politics, and culture. But a few things were noticeably missing in this package. Here’s what a WhoWhatWhy tour would look like.
What Made a British Politician ‘Thoroughly Ashamed’?
Reading Time: 2 minutes In Britain, a thoroughly decent public figure makes an honest mistake, then bends over backwards to make amends. Imagine an American politician behaving this way.
Great Quotations on Power and Corruption
Reading Time: 5 minutes Droll, cynical, deliciously nasty comments on the forces that make the world go around, by wickedly witty thinkers from the past and the present.
Images of Racism in America Over the Years
Reading Time: 9 minutes In honor of Martin Luther King Day, WhoWhatWhy presents — through a fascinating collection of pictures — a brief history of American racism, a look at the kind of hatred, atrocities, and soul-searing humiliation that spurred King into action.
Legalized Pot: What States Hoping for Extra Revenue Get Wrong
Reading Time: 5 minutes Even with pot, the rules of supply and demand apply. There’s no doubt about the level of demand. It’s the supply that’s going to decide the winners and losers.
Great Quotations on the Mysteries of Time
Reading Time: 3 minutes A glittering collection of quotes on the elusive nature of time by a wide variety of thinkers, from William Shakespeare to Lenny Bruce.
A Look Back at Our Front Page Artwork
Reading Time: 6 minutes One of the things that sets WhoWhatWhy apart from other news sites is that nearly all of our articles come with their own artwork. These “panoramas” offer a visual representation of what the stories are about. Here are some of our favorites from 2017.
A Trump Treasury of Tweets, Part 4
Reading Time: 2 minutes Decades from now, students and college professors will be studying President Donald Trump’s tweets as part of their political science curriculum. Let that sink in.