Gallery: The Culture We Love This Month, From Tarot Decks to Serial
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__Italo Calvino, *The Complete Cosmicomics *__ Even 30 years after his death, Italo Calvino remains one Italy’s most beloved and prolific figures; this new collection or previous work features over 30 stories, most narrated by something/someone named Qfwfq. Yes, it's as weird as it sounds. Also great. (Expand the gallery for more details.) *—Max Ufberg*
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__Billy Martin, *Wandering*__ The drummer for jazz combo Medeski, Martin, and Wood puts down his sticks and picks up the pen in his new book. The topics of the short essays vary widely---music, dancing, carpentry, film---but the writing is always emotional and engaging. Also, the book is filled with Martin's delicate pen-and-ink drawings. $55---*Michael Calore*
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__Serial__ Forget everything you know about podcasts. This new project by This American Life investigates a 1990s murder case with all the high stakes suspense and he-said-she-said plot twists that only Hollywood’s best crime dramas can usually offer—but this time, the drama is real. *—Issie Lapowsky*
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__Taylor Swift, *1989* Deluxe Edition__ Ditch your digital library for a minute and hit up Target for the Deluxe edition of Taylor Swift’s newest hotness, *1989*. It includes three bonus tracks and three voice memos of pop’s crown princess mapping out the roughest stages of her songwriting process. Swifties (and common folk) rejoice! (Expand the gallery for more details.) *—Jordan Crucchiola*
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*In Treatment* In the wake of the *Sopranos*, HBO introduced viewers to a new psychodrama that made Dr. Melfi look like Lucy van Pelt. Adapted from an Israeli series, *In Treatment* dissected the life and patients of tortured therapist Paul Weston with the acuity and insight of a trained psychoanalyst. No co-pay required. *—Jason Tanz*
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__Amy Poehler, *Yes, Please*__ From why people cry on airplanes to reflections while shrooming, *Yes, Please* provides a glimpse into the mind of one of my favorite comedians. It's even got haikus. Plus, no one has a better author photo. *No one.* *—Alessandra Ram*
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__Blank on Blank__ This podcast has interviews with celebrities you won’t hear from on other shows—Tupac, Bette Davis, and Kurt Cobain have all been featured in the past year. The series takes lost conversations from journalists’ audio archives, pulls out interesting nuggets, and turns them into terrific, brisk documentaries. (Free, [Blank on Blank](http://blankonblank.org/)) *—Eric Steuer*
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__Neil Patrick Harris, *Choose Your Own Autobiography*__ Child star. Broadway powerhouse. Awards-show host. Content gay man (and gay rights advocate). Magician. Neil Patrick Harris is a jack of many trades. Luckily, his autobiography covers all the facets of his life—and then some. *—Angela Watercutter*
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__Wax Tailor, *Phonovisions Symphonic Orchestra*__ The symphony is boring. But put turntablist Wax Tailor in front of an orchestra and you’ll get magic: the new live album *Phonovisions Symphonic Orchestra*. It’s a French dude spinning with an orchestra. With a lady [jamming on a flute](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc_hlcVY6Gg). And it is good. *—Matt Simon*
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__Serpentfire Tarot Deck__ With Frida Kahlo as the Queen of Cups and Elizabeth Taylor as the Empress, this is *not* your weird aunt's Tarot deck. But it will take you on a psychedelic journey to your inner self—or your outer hipster affectation. *—Blanca Myers*
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__Childish Gambino,*STN MTN/Kauai*__ There's no rapper quite like Childish Gambino (who you might also know as Donald Glover). This newest project is half Gangsta Grillz mixtape, half introspective EP, but all Gambino: clever wordplay, strong vocals, and intelligent storytelling to continue his music adventure. *—Tony Vongprachanh*
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__*Dear White People*__ If the title makes you feel uncomfortable, it should. But don’t let that, or any other preconceptions you may have about this film, deter you. This tongue-in-cheek satire builds up stereotypes only to tear them down, challenges the status quo without pretending to know all the answers, and will remain with you long after the credits roll. *—Lexi Pandell*
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__David Mitchell, *The Bone Clocks*__ David Mitchell will break your fucking heart. He'll do it with his prose and his empathy-inducing characters, sure, but his favorite weapon is the section break: the character you've fallen in love with is caught offstage, and you don't see them again until much later, if at all. It's painful. But it's worth it. *—Caitlin Roper*
