Analyst of Totalitarianism—Reading Simon Leys Today

One general conclusion from reading Leys is that although totalitarian movements are immensely dangerous, that doesn’t mean we should give the theories behind them much intellectual weight.

David Adler

28 Sep 2020 · 15 min read

Author Pierre Ryckmans, who writes under the name of Simon Leys is photographed at his Canberra home 01 April 1998. (William West /AFP via Getty Images).

Keep Reading

People gathered at the grave of Romania's late communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Nostalgia for Confinement

Why are some in Russia and Eastern Europe pining for the communist system that once oppressed them?

John Lloyd

18 Apr 2024 · 7 min read

Actor Nick Offerman as the President of the US during a public address. A still from the film.

American Carnage

Alex Garland’s spectacular new film ‘Civil War’ is a warning of what can happen to democracies when civil society collapses.

Allan Stratton

18 Apr 2024 · 6 min read

Photograph of a clownfish against a background of sea vegetation

From Banana Slugs to Human Beings, There Are Just Two Sexes

An examination of 18 supposedly ‘trans animals’ disproves activist claims that we all live on a non-binary gender ‘spectrum.’

Emma Hilton / Jonathan Kay

17 Apr 2024 · 10 min read

A still of Anne Wiazemsky and Jean-Pierre Leaud in Le Chinoise. They are sitting at a table reading and smoking cigarettes.

Jean-Luc Godard in Retrospect Part II: Fanaticism and Failure (1966–2022)

After half a decade of critical adulation, Godard’s career slumped into doctrinaire Maoism, bitterness, incomprehensibility, and irrelevance. It never recovered.

Charlotte Allen

16 Apr 2024 · 36 min read

An Interview with Jonathan Conricus

Pamela Paresky interviews the former IDF spokesman about the current war and the recent accidental killing of aid workers.

Pamela Paresky

16 Apr 2024 · 21 min read

Iranian men burn Israeli flag in Tehran .

Iran Contra Israel

The Iranian missile strike against Israel marks a watershed moment in the Middle East conflict, even though it was unsuccessful.

Benny Morris

16 Apr 2024 · 8 min read

See all articles →

Latest Podcast

From the Blog

Razib Khan Answers My Most Controversial Questions About Genetics: Quillette Cetera Episode 30

23 Feb 2024

Join the newsletter to receive the latest updates in your inbox.

Analyst of Totalitarianism—Reading Simon Leys Today

Nostalgia for Confinement

American Carnage

From Banana Slugs to Human Beings, There Are Just Two Sexes

Jean-Luc Godard in Retrospect Part II: Fanaticism and Failure (1966–2022)

An Interview with Jonathan Conricus

Iran Contra Israel

From the Blog

Michal Cotler-Wunsh: “Jew Hatred Never Died, It Just Mutated”

Young Women Need to Stop Oversharing Online: Quillette Cetera Episode 32

On Confected Radicalism: Quillette Cetera Episode 31

Razib Khan Answers My Most Controversial Questions About Genetics: Quillette Cetera Episode 30

Sponsored

On Instagram @quillette