Nine Books That Will Actually Make You Laugh
Serious literature is better when it’s funny.
How Deterrence Policies Create Border Chaos
Additional security may work in the short term. But migrants quickly adapt by taking alternative, more dangerous routes.
The Titanic Sub and the Draw of Extreme Tourism
Diving to the bottom of the ocean is risky. So is flying to space. But people will keep paying to do both.
Putin Talks Tough While Ukraine Makes Gains
Ukraine’s counteroffensive is on the move, but so are Putin’s nuclear weapons.
When the Unnatural Becomes Natural
Artificial intelligence will redefine some of our deepest assumptions about the makeup of the world around us.
Apple Is an AI Company Now
Lots of tiny AI tweaks are quietly taking over the iPhone.
The Real Lesson of The Truman Show
Twenty-five years later, the film’s most powerful insight isn’t about reality TV so much as the complicities of modern life.
Justice Comes for Hunter Biden
His guilty plea will not sway the hardest-core Trump fans, but it is a sign of a functioning system.
What We Learned From Autism’s First Child
Donald Triplett’s story held a surprise.
The Woman Who Bought a Mountain for God
The country’s fastest-growing Christian movement helped fuel Trump’s rise—and is gearing up for spiritual battle.
Death of an Avid Reader
Remembering Robert Gottlieb, the editor of Toni Morrison, Robert Caro, and many others, who died last week at 92
‘To Live With a Serious Mental Illness Is to Be in a Constant Fight for Your Agency’
Readers respond to our May 2023 cover story and more.
Six Essential Reads to Understand Juneteenth
Spend time with beautiful pieces of writing that highlight the fortitude of Black Americans.
The Ships of the Future Could Be Very Slippery
Less friction means less fuel.
The Bitter Truth About the Bud Light Boycott
The right-wing backlash against a promotion involving a trans influencer has cost Bud Light millions. What made America’s best-selling beer so vulnerable?
The Failure of Affirmative Action
For the Black poor, a world without affirmative action is just the world as it is—no different than before.
Chris Christie, Liberal Hero
The former New Jersey governor hasn’t caught on among Republican voters, but pundits are swooning.
My Family’s Best Friend
Romeo’s love was simple, uncomplicated, and limitless.
How to Talk to People: How to Know Your Neighbors
A commitment to knowing our neighbors can help us feel more connected—and may allow us to experiment with the feeling of being known.
The Case for Postponing Must-See TV
Entertainment musts from Maya Chung