Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
How Gen Z Came to See Books as a Waste of Time
Young people might be responding to a cultural message: Reading just isn’t that important.
The Most Controversial Game on the Internet
Wyna Liu, the editor of the New York Times game Connections, discusses her process and the particular ire her puzzles inspire.
Imagine a Drug That Feels Like Tylenol and Works Like OxyContin
New research points to a future in which pleasure and pain relief can be independently controlled.
The Perception Gap That Explains American Politics
Americans overwhelmingly—but, it turns out, mistakenly—believe that Democrats care more about advancing progressive social issues than widely shared economic ones.
Why Are You Still Cooking With That?
Black plastic spatulas, nonstick pans, and other Thanksgiving cooking worries
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
The Business-School Scandal That Just Keeps Getting Bigger
The rot runs deeper than almost anyone has guessed.
The Atlantic Gift Guide
The Atlantic has chosen 65 gifts for bringing more merriment, adventure, and wonder to the ones you love.
Expiration Dates Are Meaningless
Do I dare to eat an old peach yogurt? Yes, yes I do.
The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.
Even Worse Than The Da Vinci Code
Conclave treats Catholic theology as mere policy, like the membership rules at Augusta National.
The Trends Atlantic Writers Love and Hate
Six answers to the question: “What’s a trend you wish would come back, and one you wish would go away?”
What Pete Hegseth’s Nomination Is Really About
Revenge on the military is just the start of it.
Always a Girlboss, Never a Tradwife
A new Netflix documentary explores the cost of Martha Stewart’s chase for domestic perfection.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
Moderation Is Not the Same Thing as Surrender
Democrats do not, in fact, face a choice between championing trans rights and completely abandoning them.
Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula
It’s probably leaching chemicals into your cooking oil.
My Home Is a Horror of Unfinished Tasks
Why can’t I get anything done?