Tập Đọc

This article by the late Bernard B. Fall is an account of one of the most significant battles to take place in Vietnam. A conflict between Communist Viet Minh forces and a French-established garrison, it occurred in a town called “Seat of the Border County Prefecture” or, in Vietnamese, Dien…

Vietnam sees rare political activism in support of Palestinians as war on Gaza recalls once-shared solidarity in fight for national liberation. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat inspects an honour guard with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong in Hanoi in 1999 [File: AFP] At a private venue tucked away in a narrow…

During the siege of Leningrad, a group of Russian botanists holed up in a secret vault starved to death rather than consume the greatest collection of seeds they were guarding for a post-apocalyptic world. Worse, Nikolay Vavilov, the man who had collected the seeds, also died of hunger in Stalin’s…

In this article, originally a video essay on the YouTube channel “Formscapes”, the authors delve into the intricate evolution of two monumental science fiction universes, examining the cultural and philosophical underpinnings that led to the decline of the Star Wars franchise and the emerging prominence of Dune. Through a comprehensive…

What does it truly mean to apologize and forgive? In this essay, Agnes Callard argues that both actions transcend mere expressions of regret or absolution, elevating into the realm of “social miracles” – instances where human beings achieve the seemingly impossible by navigating the intricate dance of avowal and disavowal.…

In this article, originally a video essay by the channel “Pursuit of Wonder” on YouTube, we explore the role money has in society, its affects on our individual lives, the challenges associated with acquiring it, and the paradoxes often found when using it. Do we need money in life to…

Through Nilanjana Bose’s evocative narrative, this article navigates personal recollections and societal transformations, illustrating how power outages facilitated a unique intimacy with our surroundings and each other. It delves into the nostalgia of a simpler time, where darkness was a canvas for imagination, storytelling, and the appreciation of life’s subtler…

A tool of cold tricksters or wise therapists? Whether divining ancient wisdoms or elevating the art of cold reading, tarot is a form of therapy, much like psychoanalysis. In this exploration of the history of tarot, James McConnachie explores the positives and negatives of this popular form of cartomancy. Cards…