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Communion

How a lonely man in his 30s found welcome and community in an unlikely place: spin class.

by Raleigh McCool

Illustration with grid of white bicycles, with a lone yellow bicycle. Bicycles are against a black background, connected with two-sided arrows in between them.

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Love Wins

“Two women promised they would see the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time once they were together. They had no idea how long that would take.”

by Longreads September 10, 2024September 11, 2024

Danger on the Divide

“If I’d felt more confident on the route, if he hadn’t made that comment, if we’d been communicating more, would I have pushed for another day off? If, if, if.”

by Maggie Slepian August 15, 2024August 16, 2024

A Journey of 6,000 Miles

Layan Albaz is one of thousands of Palestinian children who have lost limbs in Israeli air strikes—and one of the very few evacuated to the US for medical care.

by Longreads August 6, 2024August 5, 2024

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Weekly Top 5

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Highlighting stories from Evan Malmgren, Thea Lim, Beth Raymer, Kasey Butcher Santana, and Nico Madrigal-Yankowski.

September 20, 2024September 19, 2024

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Recommending excellent stories by Alexia Fernández Campbell, April Simpson, and Pratheek Rebala; David Gambacorta; Michael Soffer; Jarod K. Anderson; and Claire L. Evans.

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Featuring stories by Michael Lewis, Patricia Wen, Ted Chiang, Katie Thornton, and Sarah Smarsh.

September 6, 2024September 5, 2024

Editors’ Picks

Gold Treasure Worth a Fortune Was Just Hidden in a Forest. The Hunt Starts Now

Joseph Bien-Kahn | Wired | September 19, 2024 | 4,071 words

“For years, Jason Rohrer put out bizarre, beloved video games. Now, with Project Skydrop, he launches (yes, today) the real-world treasure hunt of his dreams.”

The Divorce Tapes

Beth Raymer | New York | September 10, 2024 | 6,334 words

“My family knew that my father had been tapping the phone lines. Only later would I discover the secrets the recordings contained.”

Fear and Hope in Springfield, Ohio

Aymann Ismail | Slate | September 18, 2024 | 3,122 words

“After Donald Trump repeated rumors that immigrants here are eating cats and dogs, I came to town for the weekend. Proud Boys greeted me.”

Why Does Yellowstone National Park Turn Us All into Maniacs?

Drew Magary | Outside | September 5, 2024 | 2,674 words

“Petting bison, cooking food in geysers. Ride along with our writer on a wild trip to our nation’s most iconic national park at the height of tourist season to see…

One Man’s Journey from State Prison to a Revered San Francisco Restaurant

Nico Madrigal-Yankowski | SFGATE | September 14, 2024 | 2, 118 words

“Even more importantly, Salazar believed in Thomas as a man—a good man.”

The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age

Thea Lim | The Walrus | September 17, 2024 | 3,294 words

“Why are we letting algorithms rewrite the rules of art, work, and life?”

This Is the Secret System That Covers Up Police Misconduct — and Ensures Problem Officers Can Get Hired Again

Katey Rusch and Casey Smith | San Francisco Chronicle | September 17, 2024 | 5,294 words

“Behind locked drawers of file cabinets, in police departments all over California, sit documents no one is supposed to see.”

Contraband Marginalia

Kasey Butcher Santana | Split Lip Magazine | September 14, 2024 | 2,004 words

“When I checked in the books, I was supposed to look for notes or objects hidden inside.”

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Essays and Features

The Great Debate: Recorders vs. Notebooks

On how one narrative journalist decided never to use a tape recorder in his reporting—and why it matters.

by Longreads August 20, 2024August 16, 2024

Predator or Prey

“I still want to feel each meal, each touch, each body I absorb into mine.”

by Diana Saverin July 25, 2024July 23, 2024

Open to the Outlandish: A Conversation with Rebecca Renner

On getting that first draft down, the importance of a strong editor, and how a story evolves from pitch to publication.

by Longreads July 23, 2024July 19, 2024

How to Run 314 Miles After a Traumatic Brain Injury

After a horrific accident, doctors told Todd Barcelona that he’d likely never race again. So he and his wife decided to run farther than they ever had before.

by Longreads July 9, 2024August 1, 2024