A simple cup of black coffee may be the ultimate symbol of mundanity. Plain and pedestrian — black coffee serves as that quick hit of caffeine before a long day of work or a long night of studying. But in the reflection of the darkness of a simple cup of black coffee, Patti Smith sees a way of life — the life of an artist.

If Biden treated climate change like an emergency of the level of COVID-19, we may make some headway.

On Sunday, I walked around the Barnes and Noble in the Prudential Center with my roommate. While we were in line, I saw Hillary Clinton’s new book. It was already discounted by 30 percent (40 percent...