24 Books to Get Lost in This Summer
The Atlantic’s writers and editors have chosen fiction and nonfiction to match all sorts of moods.
Time for Scary Movies to Make Us Laugh Again
Final Destination has nailed down a formula that other horror films should learn from.
Why a Dog’s Death Hits So Hard
I loved my mom more than my dog. So why did I cry for him but not for her?
Republicans Still Can’t Say No to Trump
The GOP has mounted little resistance to the president. His “big, beautiful bill” was another test.
The Wrong Way to Motivate Your Kid
When children fall short, many parents’ instinct is to take away something they love. That’s the wrong impulse.
‘What If I Don’t Keep Feeling Strident?’
For years, Ezra Furman’s music embraced protest and defiance. Now she’s striking a different chord.
An ‘Impossible’ Disease Outbreak in the Alps
In one tiny town, more than a dozen people were diagnosed with the rare neurodegenerative disease ALS. Why?
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Trump’s Real Secretary of State
How the president’s friend and golfing partner Steve Witkoff got one of the hardest jobs on the planet
How the Passionate Male Friendship Died
The “perfect” platonic bond used to be between two men. What happened?
The Great American Novels
136 books that made America think
COVID Shots for Kids Are Over
The FDA’s new approach to boosters could mean that kids will no longer be able to get vaccinated against the disease to begin with.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
Why So Many People Still Don’t Understand Anti-Semitism
Unlike many other bigotries, anti-Semitism is not merely a social prejudice; it is a conspiracy theory about how the world operates.
How to Make Friendships Last Your Whole Life
“Swallow your pride and make the first move,” one reader says.
History Will Judge the Complicit
Why have Republican leaders abandoned their principles in support of an immoral and dangerous president?
The Game That Shows We’re Thinking About History All Wrong
A radical tweak makes Civilization more realistic—and more depressing.
An Awkward Truth About American Work
Direct-selling schemes are considered fringe businesses, but their values have bled into the national economy.
America’s Johnson & Johnson Problem
A new book reveals how Big Pharma’s brazen behavior fueled medical mistrust.