Via Romenesko by way of Maud, we learn that Sam Tanenhaus has been named editor of the New York Times Book Review. I am not the high brow literary type, but it seems a good thing to me (of course I may be biased in that I actually exchanged emails with him once – about this slate article, my response here). Tanenhaus is obviously intelligent and is at least willing to explore conservative people and ideas – see his acclaimed biography of Whitaker Chambers. What that will mean for the future is unclear. One thing that is disappointing, however, is that his work on a biography of William F. Buckley will be put on hold. I was really looking forward to read his take on WFB. I guess we will have to be satisfied with the autobiogrpahy coming out this summer.