Chattering Class


Ben Schott Expands His Vocabulary

Writer and "gentleman miscellanist" Ben Schott turned to the linguistic flexibility of German to create his own glossary of new words for very specific modern states.


Johnny Carson, Off the Air

Henry Bushkin was a confidant, lawyer, and friend to Johnny Carson - and the Carson that Bushkin knew was very different from the "Tonight Show" host's jolly public persona.


Massimo Vignelli on Design & Civility

The man who designed the New York subway map and brought the Helvetica font to the USA talks about what a designer does, why he's not an artist, and how his work civilized Americans.


"The Summit"

The Deadliest Day on ‘The Summit’ of K2

For every four people who have reached the summit of K2, one has died in the attempt. Eleven climbers died on a single day in 2008. A new documentary explores the beauty, danger, and obsession of The Savage Mountain.


The Rise and Fall of the VHS

VHS cassettes inspire a certain nostalgia for big boxes and low-res images - but they're also the only archive of many recordings made during the technology's dominance.


Baz Luhrmann Follows Tradition by Going Modern

Baz Luhrmann was perfecting the soundtrack of his life years before he created the acclaimed soundtracks for his movies. We talked to him about the role of music in film, and about his Bowie-influenced eclecticism.


Writer Mary Roach Sheds Light on the Hidden World of Digestion

Writer Mary Roach has made an art of science evangelism: her books “Bonk” (about sex) and “Stiff” (cadavers) both became bestsellers. Mary’s latest effort is “Gulp: Adventures of the Alimentary Canal,” which shines a light on the dark spaces where we process food. Mary schools Brendan in several of its fascinating factoids…including saliva-salves, blushing stomachs, […]