The American Scholar is a quarterly magazine that covers public affairs, literature, science, history, and culture. It is published by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States. The magazine was inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous speech of the same name, delivered in 1837, which called for independent thinking, self-knowledge, and engagement with the world.
The magazine has a long and distinguished history of publishing essays, articles, criticism, and poetry by some of the most eminent writers and thinkers of their time. Among its contributors are Hannah Arendt, Albert Einstein, Joan Didion, Marilynne Robinson, Bertrand Russell, and Edmund Wilson. The magazine has also introduced new voices and perspectives to the public discourse, such as June Jordan, Ingrid D. Rowland, and Ted Widmer.
The magazine has won five National Magazine Awards, the industry's highest honor, and been nominated for awards sixteen times. It has also been recognized for its excellence by the American Society of Magazine Editors, the Columbia Journalism Review, and the Library Journal. The magazine's website features daily essays, blogs, podcasts, and videos on a variety of topics.
The magazine's mission is to foster intellectual curiosity, creativity, and civic engagement among its readers. It aims to provide a lively forum for dialogue and debate on the issues that matter most to our society and our world. It also seeks to celebrate the richness and diversity of human culture and experience.
The magazine's editor is Robert Wilson, who has been at the helm since 2004. He is assisted by a staff of editors, designers, and web producers. The magazine also has an editorial board of distinguished scholars and writers who advise on the magazine's content and direction. The magazine's publisher is Frederick M. Lawrence, the secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
The American Scholar is a magazine for anyone who loves to read, think, and learn. It is a magazine that challenges, enlightens, and entertains. It is a magazine that honors the best traditions of American scholarship and culture.
