Enjoying a book at a park, a beach, or an open-air café encourages a particular leisurely frame of mind, @chelsealeu writes. It allows a reader to let their thoughts wander, reflecting on matters that for once aren’t workaday or practical. theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

I reviewed Helen Oyeyemi’s latest novel for the New York Times, and, well, it’s a trip. A trip to Prague, that is: nytimes.com/2024/03/04/boo…

happy 2024, everyone! if you're looking for a dose of inspiration to start fresh, Chelsea Leu has a list of books that may actually help: theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

Changing oneself is harder than perky how-to guides and self-help books suggest, @chelsealeu writes. These titles, by contrast, are honest about the difficult emotional realities that accompany personal growth—and still offer hope. theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

These books explain our world with much-needed clarity, exposing how marvels like skyscrapers, computer chips, and the global supply chain are put together, @chelsealeu writes. theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

I rounded up 8 books about the complicated engineering that underpins our world—like global shipping, or infrastructure—for The Atlantic: theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

I read Lydia Davis’s new story collection—that one you can’t buy on Amazon—and reviewed it for The Times! nytimes.com/2023/10/04/boo…

I don’t usually read horror, but I genuinely enjoyed these three horror short story collections I reviewed for the Times: nytimes.com/2023/08/09/boo…

i’m in the Atlantic today, writing about seven books on practicing different skills—like gardening, or herding sheep! theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

These books so vividly capture the satisfactions of the pursuits they describe that you might be tempted to take up gardening or long-distance running or bookbinding and enlarge your sense of your own capabilities, @chelsealeu writes. theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

for The Guardian, i reviewed Yan Ge’s Elsewhere, a jangly, eclectic collection of short stories: theguardian.com/books/2023/jul…

I'm stepping down, but it has been a total blast to have served as Rumpus books editor for the past four years. I'm so grateful to everyone I've edited—there are too many people to tag, but you all know who you are. Everyone go pitch Michael Barron!

Bit surreal to see my own name in my podcast feed. Thanks to Good Steely Dan Takes for chatting with me and Chelsea Leu about our Steely Dan fan origin story!

Katie and I had a great time geeking out about Steely Dan (and being weird teenagers) on Good Steely Dan Takes's podcast!

I’m in the Times today, with a review of Justin Cronin’s sci-fi novel about—among other things—dreams, Shakespeare’s Tempest, and coastal elites: nytimes.com/2023/05/01/boo…

Conjuring up a place is the closest that prose comes to doing a magic trick, @chelsealeu writes. The best writers can transport you to an utterly different time and location, and convince you that you can see it. on.theatln.tc/Je6aWKI

i’m in The Atlantic today! i wrote about eight great books that magically transport you to different places in the world: theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

Over at Literary Hub, I picked the best book *reviews* of the year for the fifth time — including Adam Dalva, Merve Emre, Mignon Leigh | 이민영 🍥, Chelsea Leu, @cncep, Victoria Chang, Maggie Doherty, and @nickylefe. bookmarks.reviews/the-10-best-bo…