This post was updated Aug. 31 at 7:59 p.m. Warning: Spoilers for R.F. Kuang’s “Katabasis” ahead. “Katabasis” is an intriguing book for academics but possibly a challenging journey for casual readers.

Professional book reviewers are an endangered species—but not at the Washington Monthly. The Monthly’s Kukula Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Book Reviewing is the nation’s only journalism prize ...

Living up to its title, The Dark Hours Of The Night, this book is very dark indeed, with very little light to alleviate it. A ...