First, change the subject. Does the book under review—Whittaker Chambers: A Biography by Sam Tanenhaus—focus on the lives of Communist spies in high places and a historic trial that altered the course of American history? In that case, you had better change the subject to sex. Communist spies in high places is old hat, and today’s New Yorker doesn’t traffic in yesterday’s fashions. Sex is always sexier than politics, anyway—even the politics of prominent traitors. Besides, nobody remembers what happened in the Depression era and the Cold War. It was all so long ago, and Stalin doesn’t matter anymore. Stalin lost his chic before you were born. Sex is always chic.

Next, invent a scenario based on a false parallel. Did the discovery of Communist spies in high levels of government induce an atmosphere of political suspicion, anxiety, and distrust? No problem. You need only fin ...

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