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The article reports on the new books on atheism and the media attention they are getting. Sam Harris's "The End of Faith" and "Letter to a Christian Nation," Daniel Dennett's "Breaking the Spell," Richard Dawkins's "The God Delusion," and Christopher Hitchens's "God Is Not Great" represent a bestselling atheism that is a relief from the marginalisation atheist and agnostics have experienced over the past few decades.

Presents several letters to the editor on socialism. Discussion on the enlightenment project of human equality in the United States; Effect of revolutions on socialism; Comparison of socialism with Marxism.

The article points out that U.S. atheists, agnostics and secularists could be a significant influence in the 2008 U.S. presidential election if they are able to become organized. U.S. Democratic candidate Barack Obama is courting the evangelical and Catholic vote, and is mentioning religion in his speeches. According to the author, Democrats have learned the importance of appealing to devout voters and have ignored secular voters. The author suggests that secularists need to get mobilized.

The article focuses on the need for American Democrats to embrace a Socialist ideology as a viable alternate to the Republicans. The foreclosure of certain ideologies as unthinkable is discussed, along with examples that support the fact that non-capitalist ideologies are still seen as viable options in the world. The fall of the Soviet Union signaled to many that socialism was dead, a point contradicted by figures such as Bolivian President Evo Morales and President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

Several letters to the letter are presented in response to the article entitled "New Atheists," by Ronald Aronson, which appeared in the June 25, 2007 issue.

Presents letters to the editor of "The Nation" regarding articles found in previous issues of the journal. Response to the article "The Avenging Angel," regarding John Brown; Discussion of the article "The Other 1905 Revolution," regarding Joshua Foer's review of the reissue of the Born-Einstein letters; Response to a review of the book "Courting Conflict: The Israeli Military Court System in the West Bank and Gaza," by Lisa Hajjar; Discussion of the article "Tangled Up in Bob," regarding singer Bob Dylan; Discussion of the article "The Impermanent Revolution," regarding a biography of Leon Trotsky; Others.

The author argues that the left needs to learn how to say what Americans believe and to do so in the heat of arguing with the right. It should start by listening to those on the right who have been defeating them for twenty years. That means not only studying their tactics but also what they have been saying, especially about moral values. Right has come to base itself on a shared sense of right and wrong. One of its most brilliant moves was the creation of a coalition between conservatives who support free-market economics and minimal government and social conservatives who seek a larger role for religion and "morality" in U.S. life.