From The Wilson Quarterly, why are the Chinese such legendary savers? The answers shed light on why that habit is about to ­change. In search of the Swedish soul: What most defines Sweden — its welfare state, Lutheranism, sex or Pippi Longstocking? From Mohammad to Marx: Here's an intellectual history of Iran's Green Revolution. The digitisation of the oldest known Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus, could herald a library unparalleled in history (and more). History sneezed in 1969: For one weird, hot summer, events became a mad spasm in New York City. The Two P’s of Gender Inequality: Marci Hamilton on how laws against both prostitution and polygamy are underenforced to protect men and subjugate women. From Splice Today, how can you know if movie ratings and reviews are accurate enough? Make them even more quantifiable. A review of Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness by Emmy van Deurzen. You know more than you think: How to tap the wisdom of the crowd in your head. A review of Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior by Geoffrey Miller (and more and more and more). It's the future, Jim, but not as we know it: George Jetson is (or will be) a liar. Why spy for Cuba? The 2001 trial of five Cubans caught spying in Florida might provide some insight into the case of Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers.

From Edge, Don Tapscott on the impending demise of the university. Jonathan Wolff on why greed is good (sometimes) — but regulation is better. The next tropical paradise: New ideas for what to do with America's piece of Cuba. A review of Joe Scarborough's The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America's Promise. A review of Money, Markets, and Sovereignty by Benn Steil and Manuel Hinds. From CT, a review of James Fenimore Cooper: The Early Years by Wayne Franklin; and a review of The Selected Letters of Wallace Stegner; and Wallace Stegner and the American West by Philip L. Fradkin. An interview with Christopher Hayes: The Nation’s Washington editor is just 30 years old and spends his time reporting on “a very corrupt town.” Stuart Jeffries on the strange case of Mrs Slocombe's vanishing pussy. La Vie d'autrefois: Graham Lea on animal traction, French food culture, bio-agriculture, and a return to bygone days. A review of The Broken Compass: How British Politics Lost Its Way by Peter Hitchens. When Britain feared the Blackshirts: Nicholas Mosley on Sir Raymond Carr discuss about the rise and fall of British fascism. A review of Democracy: 1,000 Years in Pursuit of British Liberty by Peter Kellner. Don't swallow the scaremongering claims of the anti-GM lobby — modified foods are a rational alternative to mass starvation.

From Seed, five experts debate the roots of GM opposition, the role of big agribusiness, and whether we’ve achieved real scientific consensus; protecting the environment, some say, is a drag on economic growth — Kristen Sheeran aims to prove them wrong; and a new nanoscale storage device could preserve all the digital information you want, for as long as you want — and longer. Kids today have unprecedented access to pornography — most of them seem to know how to handle it. After "Bruno", Hollywood depictions of gays may never be the same — that's a good thing. Douglas Wolk reviews Pixu: The Mark of Evil by Gabriel Ba, Becky Cloonan, Vasilis Lolos, and Fabio Moon. The first chapter from Pythagoras' Revenge: A Mathematical Mystery by Arturo Sangalli. A review of The Empire Stops Here: A Journey Along the Frontiers of the Roman World by Philip Parker. A review of The Other Side of Desire: Four Journeys into the Far Realms of Lust and Longing by Daniel Bergner. Hemingway revealed as failed KGB spy: Notes from Stalin-era intelligence archives show "agent Argo" as a willing recruit in 1941. The pilot issue of the literary journal The New Anonymous has hit newsstands with one very striking variation: The entire production of the magazine, including the articles printed, is anonymous.

From Adbusters, an article on the creative destruction of G8 economics: A plan to shift the theoretical foundations of our global system. From FP, G-8, G-whatever: Why the G-8 should step aside for the G-2 and G-20 — as soon as possible; what if Iran got the bomb? It would be time to calm down; and here are 5 leaders who miss George W. Bush. From New Statesman, a special issue on the British monarchy. When Tim Parks began his new translation of The Prince, he wondered if Gordon Brown could learn from it. From Standpoint, John Bolton on the Post-American Presidency: The euphoria is over — it is time for a serious critique of Barack Obama’s foreign policy. From Esquire, Tucker Carlson interviews Jeb Bush, the future of the Republican Party. From Mother Jones, William T. Vollmann on "Las Baladas Prohibidas": On the trail of narcocorridos, the drug ballads Mexicans love to hate; and a reporter flees the biggest cartel of all — the Mexican Army. The sperm of one male may have to compete with those from another; how and why they do it is surprising. With scientists now claiming they can make sperm in a lab, does the world need men any more? Yes, being a man is a nightmare and of course the world would be a better, simpler, gentler, more evenly run place without us, but God, what a bore!