The 10 top-performing essays published on Longreads this year.
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The Fugitive Childhood of a Cocaine Smuggler’s Daughters
“When their parents ripped two young sisters from their privileged lives, gave them fake names, and took them on the lam, they thought it was because their father was in trouble with the IRS. It would be years before they learned the truth about his life of crime.”
And the Reading List Goes to: Pivotal Oscar Moments
The Academy Awards aren’t just about recognition — they’re about an ever-evolving industry in an ever-evolving society.
The Thrill of the Perfect Ending: A Chat With the Writer and Editor Behind The Atavist’s New Issue
In this excerpt from The Creative Nonfiction Podcast, host Brendan O’Meara talks to Greg Donahue and Atavist editor Jonah Ogles about their work on “The Fugitive Next Door.”
The 25 Most Popular Longreads Exclusives of 2019
The original reporting, personal essays, columns, and collaborations that were our most-read stories of the year.
Climate Messaging: A Case for Negativity
Nell Zink, Joy Williams, and a different kind of climate skepticism.
United States of Conspiracy: An Interview with Anna Merlan
“Most people in America believe in one conspiracy to some extent, but the far end of the pool … is this desire to show that you really do reject all knowable authority.”
The Laws of the Awards Podium Protest
Stars are increasingly using Hollywood awards podiums as sites of protest, but few of them are men, and even fewer are white men.
Will Amazon Finally Kill New York?
A New Yorker reads “Seasonal Associate” in the age of HQ2.
Atlantic City Is Really Going Down This Time
There’s no doubt that Atlantic City is going under. The only question left is: Can an entire city donate its body to science?
