The Myth of a Loneliness Epidemic
Americans may not actually feel more desolate than they did in the past.
The Anti-Social Century
Americans are now spending more time alone than ever. It’s changing our personalities, our politics, and even our relationship to reality.
America Needs to Radically Rethink What It Means to Be Old
As 100-year lifespans become more common, the time has come for a new approach to school, work, and retirement.
Something’s Fishy About the ‘Migrant Crisis’
The federal government’s dysfunction leaves immigrant-friendly cities feeling overwhelmed.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
Is Moderate Drinking Okay?
“Every drink takes five minutes off your life.” Maybe the thought scares you. Personally, I find comfort in it.
Biden’s Middle East Legacy
Donald Trump inherits a Middle East that looks dramatically different from the one his administration left in 2021.
My Last Trial
I’ve been fighting this charge for half my life.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Read These Six Books—Just Trust Us
Each title richly rewards readers who come in with little prior knowledge.
Why Reading Lolita in Tehran Holds Up
A new film vindicates Azar Nafisi’s humane literary ethos.
The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
DNA Tests Are Uncovering the True Prevalence of Incest
People are discovering the truth about their biological parents with DNA—and learning that incest is far more common than many think.
Seventy Miles in Hell
The Darién Gap was once considered impassable. Now hundreds of thousands of migrants are risking treacherous terrain, violence, hunger, and disease to travel through the jungle to the United States.
Evangelicals Made a Bad Trade
Hitching the evangelical wagon to Donald Trump has meant unhitching it from the life and teachings of Jesus.
I’m Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is
What’s happening in America today is something darker than a misinformation crisis.
Capitulation Is Contagious
When fear spreads in a society, powerful people who know better are often the first to show their weakness.
Americans Need to Party More
We’re not doing it as much as we used to. You can be the change we need.
The January 6er Who Left Trumpism
Not every Capitol rioter was a card-carrying seditionist; some have regrets, and a few are even refusing a pardon. Jason Riddle is one.
A Sea Story
One of the worst maritime disasters in European history took place two decades ago. It remains very much in the public eye. On a stormy night on the Baltic Sea, more than 850 people lost their lives when a luxurious ferry sank below the waves. From a mass of material, including official and unofficial reports and survivor testimony, our correspondent has distilled an account of the Estonia’s last moments—part of his continuing coverage for the magazine of anarchy on the high seas.