Authority: Essays is a 2025 collection by Andrea Long Chu that examines the evolving landscape of cultural criticism in the context of perceived crises of authority. Bringing together a range of essays—spanning topics from musical theater to science fiction—Chu interrogates what criticism means in an era where traditional gatekeepers are contested and everyone can be a critic. The 🏷️#book includes her influential essay “On Liking Women” and offers a historical perspective on criticism’s authority, tracing its roots from Enlightenment debates to the digital age. Throughout, Chu questions the supposed decline of critical authority, challenging critics such as Maggie Nelson and Zadie Smith, and explores how art and politics remain deeply entangled. Authority: Essays ultimately proposes new ways of thinking about criticism amid pressing contemporary issues such as climate change and rising authoritarianism.
