Max writes often for the New York Times Book Review. He also writes reviews for Barnes & Noble.com and the Wilson Quarterly, where he is a Contributing Editor. His essays have appeared in such journals as American Heritage and The Writer as well. Among the more recent titles are "The Irish in Paris" (summer 2010), "A Brief History of an Historical Novel" and "This Is Not a Map," all in the Wilson Quarterly. The latter concerns maps of real and imaginary places in novels, ranging from Treasure Island to Winnie-the-Pooh. Max has an essay forthcoming in The Wilson Quarterly (Winter 2012), "Man as Machine." It concerns the eccentric 18th-century French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson and his amazing (and scandalous) automates. Max is also co-founder of Willowbank Books, whose newest publication is The First of Hearts—Selected Letters of Mrs. Henry Adams, now available online or in bookstores.