Tutu presses Libya on jailed activist

Prominent dissident Jaballa Matar has been missing for nearly two decades

Howard Zinn’s biggest failing

Michael Kazin: Although Zinn was a hero of the left, he did not do enough to challenge the legitimacy of capitalist America

Does Catcher still ring true?

Ian Whitwham: In the 1960s, I was inseparable from my copy of Salinger's masterpiece. Today's teenagers aren't as impressed

Zinn and the art of historical maintenance

Matt Kennard: Over his long career, the US academic and activist Howard Zinn tirelessly challenged received wisdom and injustice

Palms, Kindles, Nooks, iPads – none are as cool as Gutenberg’s gadget

Simon Jenkins: For 20 years I have been trying e-books and e-newspapers – but print on paper has outlasted every obituarist

Howard Zinn’s lesson to us all

Victoria Brittain: The American historian, playwright and author encouraged younger generations to challenge the abuse of power

When book bans go bad

Richard Adams: A mix-up by the Texas state board of education bans one of America's most beloved childrens' books

Apple iPad: the wait is over – but is it future of media or oversized phone?

Apple launches netbook aiming to rob Kindle of growing ebook market and be hottest gadget in technology history

Face to faith

A religion that is based on a code of moral injunctions should be approached warily, says David Bryant

Climate change is inspiring the ultimate scary movies

Ryan Gilbey: Disaster film-makers struggling to compete with the realities of the post-9/11 world have, in global warming, found the perfect plot device

The year ahead: books

McEwan, Carey and Amis look set to make it a bumper year for the men

The banking crisis is not about Blofeld in a business suit

Aditya Chakrabortty: The rush of literature on the financial world fails to portray the systemic problems which brought about global meltdown

Amazon keeps ebook rivals guessing on Kindle sales

Despite vague boasts of record sales, Kindle figures are thought to be lagging behind early years of Apple's iPod

Give us our daily brand

Colin Horgan: In the 10 years since Naomi Klein's No Logo exposed their insidious influence, we have created our own brands

The Observer quiz of the year 2009

What links Susan Boyle and The Flintstones? Which bestselling author gets his inspiration while hanging upside down? Fingers on buzzers for the Observer's 2009 annual quiz