The Big Thing to Know About Pain
Trying to avoid suffering can paradoxically make it worse. You can train your mind to find a better way.
The Great American Novels
136 books that made America think
The Crumbling Foundation of America’s Military
The U.S. failed to produce weapons and ammunition fast enough to supply Ukraine. Could it equip its own armed forces in the event of war?
Postpone Your Pleasures
And enjoy them all the more.
The Agony of Indulging in Squid Game Again
The Netflix hit’s second season can’t quite break out of its own vicious cycle.
The Joy of Reading Books in High School
Atlantic staffers and readers share.
Star Trek’s Cold War
While America was fighting on the ground, the Federation was fighting in space.
What I Learned About Equal Partnership by Studying Dual-Income Couples
I studied more than 100 dual-income couples and found a few things in common among the ones who managed to create partnerships that felt truly equal.
The Movie That Mattered Most in 2024
Blink Twice anticipated the culture shift that defined the year.
Joe Biden’s Moral Wisdom
The president has commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row to life without parole, a historic move.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
The Carry-On-Baggage Bubble Is About to Pop
Airplanes aren’t made for this much luggage.
All Hail Dead Week, the Best Week of the Year
The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is a time when nothing counts, and when nothing is quite real.
The End of Democratic Delusions
The Trump Reaction and what comes next
Don’t Give Up on the Truth
Striking out against injustice is always right; it always matters.
The White-Savior Industrial Complex
If we are going to interfere in the lives of others, a little due diligence is a minimum requirement.
The People Who Quit Dating
Being single can be hard—but the search for love may be harder.
How Liberal America Came to Its Senses
The period of left-wing illiberalism that began about a decade ago seems to have drawn to a close. The final cause of death was the reelection of Donald Trump.
The End of News
Legacy media has a trust problem, but it’s not too late to solve it.
Everything You Know About Latkes Is Wrong
The shocking true story of a Hanukkah staple