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British spy John Andre, after the party. (Illustration via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

'Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love,' by Thomas H. Keels

William Penn and prostitutes: All the news that's unfit to print

Rick Soisson reviews 'Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love,' Thomas Keels's 2010 catalog of our city's historic scandals and scoundrels.

Rick Soisson

Jul 03, 2016 Articles 4 minute read

Bob Levin's memoir is filled with delicious anecdotes. (Photo by Yuri Long via Creative Commons/Flickr)

Bob Levin's 'Cheesesteak, the West Philadelphia Years, a Rememboir'

A 'Cheesesteak' with everything

Bob Levin's Rememboir recalls his childhood in West Philly and is stuffed full of tales from his literary life.

Bob Ingram

Jun 12, 2016 Articles 3 minute read

Author Brian Shapiro, saying what he means, meaning what he says. (Photo via Flynn Media)

Brian Shapiro's 'Exceptionally Human, Successful Communication in a Distracted World'

Less talk, more communication

We're talking less, but Brian Shapiro's 'Exceptionally Human, Successful Communication in a Distracted World' helps us make those words matter more.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Jun 12, 2016 Articles 2 minute read

There are about 1.5 million stories in this particular naked city. (Illustration for <em>BSR</em> by Mike Jackson of alrightmike.com)

'Philadelphia Noir,' edited by Carlin Romano

Real and imagined crimes

This overlooked 2010 collection of Philadelphia neighborhood-based noir fiction contains plenty of surprises, literary flourishes, and a crazy Biddle.

Rick Soissonand Illustration by Mike Jackson

May 30, 2016 Articles 4 minute read

Abadia di San Antimo, from 'Odyssey'. (Art by Peter Kurt Woerner)

Peter Kurt Woerner's 'Odyssey,' a visual diary

The road goes on

American Institute of Architects fellow Peter Kurt Woerner uses memories and line drawings to chronicle his Odyssey. Bob Levin remembers him from Friends Central's class of 1960.

Bob Levin

May 10, 2016 Articles 5 minute read

Lee, beyond the winter of her discontent.

An open letter to Harper Lee

Mockingbird America, then and now

Racial ignorance and fear have retreated since To Kill A Mockingbird first appeared; its often maligned author deserves some of the credit.

Henrik Eger

Apr 27, 2016 Articles 6 minute read

Richard Burgin’s 'Don’t Think’

Childhood confusion, grownup fantasies

Richard Burgin’s latest story collection again shows an American master — part Cheever, part Poe — at the height of his form.

Robert Zaller

Apr 16, 2016 Articles 5 minute read

Daniel James Brown’s ‘Boys in the Boat’

The kids who (sort of) beat Hitler

Did an American crew really thrill the world by whipping Hitler’s elite rowers in 1936? Daniel James Brown’s account is long on metaphors and hype but short on persuasive research.

Bob Levin

Apr 11, 2016 Articles 5 minute read

Advice from Pulitzer winner Dave Barry. (Photo by Amazur via Creative Commons/Wikipedia)

Dave Barry’s 'Live Right and Find Happiness'

High silliness

The temptation is to simply fill up my review of Dave Barry's new book with quotations, but I won’t, even though he is perhaps the only living writer who can make me laugh so hard I weep.