All literature, says Christopher Booker, can be reduced to seven basic plots: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. Denis Dutton,"Once Upon a Time," Washington Post, 8 May, reviews Booker's The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories (Continuum).

Jews in America: Our Story is an excellent site, created in celebration of 350 years of the Jewish experience in the United States.

Gish Jen,"A Short History of the Chinese Restaurant," Slate, 28 April, is a good, short social history. Eastern European Jewish immigrants meet Chinese food and -- lo mein -- they are both Americanized.

Geoffrey Wheatcroft's"How Good Was the Good War?" Boston Globe, 8 May, identifies some of the national legends that were borne out of VE Day.

Theodore Dalrymple,"The Roads to Serfdom," City Journal, Spring, is a libertarian's look at how Great Britain has changed since World War II.

In"‘The Presidential Recordings': L.B.J.'s Chat Room," New York Times, 8 May, Eric Foner reviews KC Johnson's edition of the other Johnson's presidential tapes: THE PRESIDENTIAL RECORDINGS: LYNDON B. JOHNSON The Kennedy Assassination and the Transfer of Power, November 1963-January 1964. Edited by Max Holland, Robert David Johnson, David Shreve and Kent B. Germany. General editors: Philip Zelikow, Ernest May and Timothy Naftali. Three volumes. 2,505 pp. W. W. Norton & Company.

Casting rumors abound! Will Ron Jeremy risk his professional reputation to star as David Horowitz when Hollywood films Radical Son? Will David Horowitz take time away from the cream pie circuits to star as Krusty the Clown? Thanks to Scott McLemee, who is enjoying this too much.

Finally, Arianna Huffington's The Huffington Post is launched. Ellis Henican sees possibilities in it; Howard Kurtz is more skeptical.