Lit Hub Daily: September 15, 2026

In 1889, Claude McKay was born. For those pressed for time, we've compiled an Ultimate Fall Reading List for your convenience. Gabe Bullard discusses the downside of convenience, having written a book on the subject. Emily St. John Mandel speaks with Jane Ciabattari about dystopian themes in her novel, Exit Party, questioning the significance of doppelgangers.

Youssef Rakha examines the Orientalism in Lee Cronin's The Mummy, having seen it in Cairo. The author reflects on the shift from New York to Moscow, expressing a bittersweet farewell to the city that once held a special place in their heart. Emily St. John Mandel, Leigh Bardugo, and Kate Atkinson are among the authors releasing new books today.

Madeleine Thien shares her bookshelf organization habits and other personal insights. Sun Yung Shin delves into her experiences as a Korean adoptee in the United States. Jim Shepard, Paisley Rekdal, and Emily Ogden discuss their thoughts on literary life in a roundtable interview. Kate Atkinson's latest novel, Our Noble Selves, is discussed in a literary analysis piece.

Meghan O'Gieblyn explores the thoughts of Simone Weil and Arthur Schopenhauer on the individual in a New York Review of Books article. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor reflect on Donald Trump's obsession with artificial intelligence. Wouter Kusters investigates the connection between philosophy and psychosis. The MIT Press Reader discusses the idea of using chatbots to generate fiction based on personal fantasies.

Dennis M. Hogan examines the state of improv in today's world. Finally, an article highlights potential concerns surrounding OpenAI's use of real people to review user prompts on ChatGPT.