In addition to offering plenty of great advice for aspiring writers, George Saunders reflects on the creative process for his new novel, the interviews, notes, and scenes that once distilled become his nonfiction work, and on bold compassion as the right course of resistance under a Trump presidency.
Krista Stevens
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘What kind of a childhood is that?’
The story of Zaine, Arianna, and Zoie Pulliam — three kids under 17 living in South Charleston, West Virginia. Deemed “opiate orphans,” they exemplify a generation of children whose parents have died of drug overdoses as a result of the opioid epidemic.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Meet the Woman Who Helps Humanize Murderers
Mitigation specialist Jennifer Wynn investigates the upbringing of defendants on trial — often for their lives — to humanize clients in a bid to convince at least one juror to bypass the death penalty for a life in prison without parole. Wynn shares the stories of three of her clients — men charged with murder, […]
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
Resonant and Beautiful: The Meaning of ‘Allahu Akbar’
Mehreen Kasana reveals the many true and beautiful meanings that you’ve never heard of behind “takbir” — the expression of Muslim faith, “Allahu Akbar” — literally, “God is great.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Meaning of Allahu Akbar
An essay on the many true and beautiful meanings you’ve never heard of behind “takbir” — the expression of Muslim faith, “Allahu Akbar” — literally, “God is great.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Rumpus Interview with George Saunders
In addition to plenty of great advice for aspiring writers, George Saunders reflects on the creative process for his new novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, the mystery of the “constellation of meaning” — the interviews, notes, and scenes that once distilled become his nonfiction work, and on bold compassion as the right course of resistance […]
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
Phones Over Food: Why Mobile Phones Are More Important to Refugees
The Economist reports on how refugees prize mobile phone connection — even over food.
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
What It’s Like to Drown
Fenella Souter reports in detail on what it’s like to drown
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
Giving the Ultimate Gift: Granting the Wish to Die at Home
Andrew McMillen writes on palliative care as a critical service, and of the “power and the grace” required to care for those who are terminally ill and grant their dying wish: to die peacefully, at home.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Drowning statistics are a deadly reminder of our complex relationship with water
Fenella Souter reports in detail on what it’s like to drown, through the harrowing personal experience of a woman named Merav, who in a bid to show off to her boyfriend 40 years ago, jumped into the surf at Gunnamatta Beach in Victoria, Australia, and lived to regret it.