Two knotted cords, one in blue, one in yellow, on a black background.

Our favorite stories of 2024.

A collection of top Longreads originals and editors’ picks from across the web.

The Twin Bandits

“The police couldn’t figure out how the perpetrator ripped off two banks at the same time. Until they discovered there wasn’t just one robber but a pair of them: identical twin brothers.”

Weekly Top 5

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Featuring stories from Ed Park, Rachel Kushner, Will Tavlin, Michaela Cavanagh, and S.C. Gwynne.

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Showcasing stories from Oliver Whang, Shannon Mattern, Niko McCarty and Xander Balwit, Josh Dzieza, and Sam Parker.

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Recommending stories by Christina Cooke, Tim Neville, Nate Rogers, Linda Kinstler, and Sandra Beasley.

Editors’ Picks

The House on West Clay Street

Ian Frisch | Curbed | January 9, 2025 | 6,878 words

“Tabatha Pope thought she’d finally found an affordable place to live. It was the beginning of a nightmare.”

“I Have Lost Everything.”

Asia Fields, Nicole Santa Cruz, Ruth Talbot and Maya Miller | ProPublica | December 27, 2024 | 2,730 words

A record number of Americans are living outside. Cities have responded by removing encampments from public spaces, a practice commonly referred to as “sweeps.” In the process, workers often take…

Eastern Promises

Dylan Levi King | The Baffler | January 6, 2025 | 5,215 words

“In a Tokyo of tourists, the citizens have become strangers.”

Scent Makes a Place

Katy Kelleher | Nautilus | January 3, 2025 | 2,751 words

“How the desert taught me to smell.”

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Essays and Features

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Reading Lists

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