The Harvard Boat to Mexico is a historical and transformative novel set during the revolutionary year of 1968. It is a compelling narrative grounded in reality. The story follows three young men from radically different worlds who are brought together by their shared ambition to row for Harvard’s Olympic-bound crew—only to find themselves in the crosshairs of racial tension, anti-war protest, and class warfare that threatens to tear them, and the country, apart.

Gordie, the son of a powerful Boston family, hides a legacy of domestic violence and dysfunction behind his golden-boy exterior. Frank Luis is a kid born in Mexico and adopted by a Jewish American family. He is a radical member of Students for a Democratic Society and believes in blowing things up. Jamal is a Black kid from Memphis and carries the emotional and psychological scars of his cousin, who was killed by police. When he falls in love with Amy, a white Radcliffe journalist covering the team, their romance becomes a flashpoint in a year already on fire.

As the Vietnam War escalates and student protests roil the campus, the crew becomes a microcosm of a fractured America. On October 7th, just ten days before the Games, 10,000 Mexican students gathered in the residential area of Tlateloco to peacefully protest. Police and military shot and bayoneted 325 of them. Each rower and Amy must decide whether to continue and determine what loyalty means—to the team, to their beliefs, and themselves.

The Harvard Boat to Mexico combines the emotional tension of coming-of-age with the urgency of historical reckoning.

The Harvard Boat to Mexico is a historical and transformative novel set during the revolutionary year of 1968. It is a compelling narrative grounded in reality. The story follows three young men from radically different worlds who are brought together by their shared ambition to row for Harvard’s Olympic-bound crew—only to find themselves in the crosshairs of racial tension, anti-war protest, and class warfare that threatens to tear them, and the country, apart.

Gordie, the son of a powerful Boston family, hides a legacy of domestic violence and dysfunction behind his golden-boy exterior. Frank Luis is a kid born in Mexico and adopted by a Jewish American family. He is a radical member of Students for a Democratic Society and believes in blowing things up. Jamal is a Black kid from Memphis and carries the emotional and psychological scars of his cousin, who was killed by police. When he falls in love with Amy, a white Radcliffe journalist covering the team, their romance becomes a flashpoint in a year already on fire.

As the Vietnam War escalates and student protests roil the campus, the crew becomes a microcosm of a fractured America. On October 7th, just ten days before the Games, 10,000 Mexican students gathered in the residential area of Tlateloco to peacefully protest. Police and military shot and bayoneted 325 of them. Each rower and Amy must decide whether to continue and determine what loyalty means—to the team, to their beliefs, and themselves.

The Harvard Boat to Mexico combines the emotional tension of coming-of-age with the urgency of historical reckoning.

Megan Reynolds talks about her new book.

A comprehensive and thought-provoking investigation into one of the most polarizing words in the English language.

Few words in the English language are as misunderstood as “like.” Indeed, excessive use of this word is a surefire way to make those who pride themselves on propriety, both grammatical and otherwise, feel compelled to issue correctives.

Megan Reynolds talks about her new book.

A comprehensive and thought-provoking investigation into one of the most polarizing words in the English language.

Few words in the English language are as misunderstood as “like.” Indeed, excessive use of this word is a surefire way to make those who pride themselves on propriety, both grammatical and otherwise, feel compelled to issue correctives.

Steve Grant's “Mailman” is a warm, candid memoir in which a former white-collar professional finds authenticity, community, and resilience through rural mail delivery. By stepping into a job many take for granted, he reconnects with his home, his identity, and the unsung, essential service of the USPS.

Steve Grant's “Mailman” is a warm, candid memoir in which a former white-collar professional finds authenticity, community, and resilience through rural mail delivery. By stepping into a job many take for granted, he reconnects with his home, his identity, and the unsung, essential service of the USPS.

Rabble by Geoffrey Fox is a short historical novel set during the Paris Commune of 1871 — the brief, radical workers’ government that took power in Paris after France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

Rather than focusing on famous leaders, Fox tells the story from the perspective of ordinary Parisians swept up in the uprising: street vendors, seamstresses, bricklayers, petty criminals, and soldiers, all struggling to survive and make sense of revolutionary ideals as the city descends into chaos.

Alex Vernon writes about his new book.

Peace Is a Shy Thing traces how Tim O’Brien’s personal history—from his Minnesota roots to combat in Vietnam, and his emergence as a literary figure—shaped his major works and moral vision. It’s a richly textured, critically astute biography that captures the contradictions, art, and ethical struggles at the heart of O’Brien’s life and writing.