Harvard Didn’t Break America
Readers respond to our December 2024 cover story and more.
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.
I Have a Huge Crush on a Writer
Should I reach out to her?
Iran’s Return to Pragmatism
The events of 2024 shifted the balance of power in the Middle East—and inside Iran.
No One Cares That the Chimpanzee Is Singing
The musical biopic Better Man is so much more than its curious gimmick.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
The Easiest Way to Keep Your Friends
It’s a little boring, a little type A, and a lot better than letting relationships fizzle.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
Where Han Kang’s Nightmares Come From
In her novels, the South Korean Nobel laureate returns again and again to her country’s bloody past.
The New Rasputins
Anti-science mysticism is enabling autocracy around the globe.
The Case for Brain Rot
The new language of the internet is both mind-numbing and irresistible.
Donald Trump’s Most Dangerous Cabinet Pick
Pete Hegseth considers himself to be at war with basically everybody to Trump’s left, and it is by no means clear that he means war metaphorically.
Not Just Sober-Curious, but Neo-Temperate
How sobriety went from a radical social movement to a tool of self-optimization
The Saint America Needs Now
Kindness has become countercultural. Perhaps Saint Francis can help.
The People Who Quit Dating
Being single can be hard—but the search for love may be harder.
The Political Logic of Trump’s International Threats
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico is a lot simpler than building the wall.
What Not to Wear
The false promise of seasonal-color analysis
You’ll Never Get Off the Dinner Treadmill
There’s no such thing as an easy weeknight meal.
The Sociopaths Among Us—And How to Avoid Them
You’re bound to come across the “Dark Triad” type of malignant narcissists in life—and they can be superficially appealing. Better to look for their exact opposite.
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.