Longreads

As chosen by Brendan I. Koerner A selection of all-time favourite articles from Wired contributing editor, former Slate and New York Times columnist, and the author of 2 excellent books, Brendan…

Have Keith Theodore Olbermann spend a few seasons working at your television network and see how you feel. Sort of like Kansas after a twister. If Olbermann hadn't been so brilliant and talented, few would have put up with him. But Olbermann has a talent that can't be taught. He can relate to people on the other side of the camera and, indeed, relate to the camera itself in a way that comes across as second nature. And yet he once told an interviewer that on some level, he's always making fun of television: "Like, 'Look how ridiculous this is, me sitting here and you sitting on the other end, watching me—what are you doing that for?' I think that's always been my attitude."

We spend a lot of time reading very dense, very long magazine pieces. Weve become very good friends with the pillar near the magazine racks at Barnes Noble. Well, less so recently.…