The Big Ideas: Who Do You Think You Are? Developing a sense of self can be an exercise in figuring out who you are not. By Judith Butler Professor Butler teaches in the humanities. This essay is part ...

The wrong question can sour the whole mood of a gathering with family or friends. Some questions are boring or intrusive or too ambiguous; others are meant to provoke—or are asked with no real ...

Readers intent on enlightening me often send me books and essays written by them or, less often, others. Now and then one of these offerings grabs my attention before I hit “delete.” A recent example: ...