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New Longreads Essays and Features

The Endless Self

Exploring animal life beyond the limits of human understanding.

When Hannibal Lecter Took Over

With “The Silence of the Lambs” hitting theaters, Orion wanted a hit. They didn’t anticipate an antihero.

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Recent Editors’ Picks

Everyone Is Stealing TV

Janko Roettgers | The Verge | February 4, 2026 | 3,687 words

“Fed up with increasing subscription prices, viewers embrace rogue streaming boxes.”

The Return of the Night Sky

Jeremy Miller | Atmos Magazine | February 2, 2026 | 1,990 words

“Artificial light is spreading faster than scientists once thought, reshaping ecosystems and human health. Now activists, designers, and city officials around the world are beginning to push back.”

Venom in His Veins

Mark Hay | Distillations Magazine | January 15, 2026 | 5,582 words

“Bill Haast, the Florida man who tried to milk medical miracles from deadly snakes.”

A Haunting in Brooklyn

Kathleen Donohoe | Psyche | February 3, 2026 | 1,757 words

“At 25, I saw my grandfather’s ghost. At 52, I think of what it may mean to be a ghost.”

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Weekly Top 5

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Showcasing stories from Andy Greenberg, Darshana Narayanan, Lauren Lee White, Sarah Stillman, and Gabriel Furshong.

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Showcasing stories from Jasper Craven, Mike Kane, Francesco Pacifico, Dorothy Guerrero and Stephen Harrigan, and Byard Duncan.

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More Longreads Essays and Features

By All Measures

Our problems are too vast, our distance from them too great. How do we navigate our derangement of scale?
by B. R. Cohen

Anatomy of Absolute Power

The people of Wilcox County, Alabama, remember a longtime sheriff as a god or a monster—it just depends on who you ask.
by Longreads

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Longreads Reading Lists

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The best nonfiction on the web, all in one place.

Each year since 2011, we’ve collected our favorite longform stories. Dive in and enjoy.

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