To be the writerly son of a writerly father is not always the easiest vocation. When that parent is as famous as Andre Dubus, it must be doubly difficult. But who knows: Maybe it can make for great art? One might ask Andre Dubus III.

Jimmy Buffett was noted for his many silly pop songs in obituaries after his death on Sept. 1. But his music wasn't always just a matter of rum and flip-flops.

Pope Francis mentioned Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., at the close of his Mass in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday. Might this mean the great priest-paleontologist is finally being recognized by the Vatican for his genius?

Saint Augustine still captures our imaginations 16 centuries after he lived. What is it about this theologian, philosopher, preacher and memoirist that makes him such a perennial favorite?

The dog days of August are also the first week of school for millions of students, parents and teachers. Want some advice on how to handle it? Generations of America contributors have had thoughts on the subject.

A Reflection for Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, by James T. Keane

Over 27 years beginning in 1947, Moira Walsh wrote over 750 movie reviews for America—each one possessed of an invincible authorial voice and informed by an encyclopedic knowledge of film history.

Why don't we have fallout shelters anymore? It’s a long story, but an editor at America had something to do with it.

With 'The Sparrow,' Mary Doria Russell imagines an alien world in intimate and fascinating detail—and then sends along some humans with deep questions about faith, God and the universe.

America's editors on some books that might catch our readers' fancy in these final weeks of summer.