In this issue: Historian Jill Lepore on why originalism has actually killed the spirit of the Constitution, and what that means for America’s future. Vann R. Newkirk II on the “Thrilla in Manila,” and the enduring legacy of the greatest boxing match of all time. Graeme Wood on the future of Iran, after the dismantling of its “Axis of Resistance.” And the life and comedic genius of Judd Apatow.

Plus: How Taylor Swift reshaped the world of pop. Inside the decline of dictionary publishing. And searching for the ghost of Lady Murasaki in Kyoto, in the latest installment of The Writer’s Way. 

Read these, and more, in the October issue of The Atlantic.

Atlantic subscribers enjoy 12 magazine issues every year, featuring some of our deepest reporting, stunning art and photography, and the monthly edition of Caleb's Inferno, the devilishly difficult word puzzle. Get the October issue today, along with unlimited access to all of The Atlantic, when you subscribe, starting at less than $2.50 a week.

On the Cover

How Originalism Killed the Constitution

A radical legal philosophy has undermined the process of constitutional evolution.

Articles

The Neighbor From Hell

Israel and the United States delivered a blow to Iran. But it could come back stronger.

A Tale of Sex and Intrigue in Imperial Kyoto

A thousand years ago, Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji, the world’s first novel. Who was she?

How Did Taylor Swift Convince the World That She’s Relatable?

The tidiest explanation for the pop star’s success is that she befriended an underestimated audience of girls and young women. That’s only part of the story.

Is This the End of the Dictionary?

Obsolete (adj.): no longer in use or no longer useful

The Invention of Judd Apatow

How a kid from Long Island willed his way to the top of American comedy

For Those About to Mock

Forty years after Spinal Tap, history’s most hapless band turns it up to 11 one last time.