Lost in the Waves

Swept out to sea by a riptide, a father and his 12-year-old son struggle to stay alive miles from shore. As night falls, with no rescue imminent, the dad comes to a devastating realization: If they remain together, they’ll drown together.

Source: Men’s Journal
Published: Nov 9, 2009
Length: 25 minutes (6,452 words)

Detroit: Urban Laboratory and the New American Frontier

Source: New Geography
Published: Nov 4, 2009
Length: 12 minutes (3,156 words)

As Luck Would Have It …

On Friday, Oct. 16, Michael Kiernan was in his usual spot when the doors opened at 125th Street. Two court officers he knows usually get on, but didn’t, and he thought to himself that he must be the only one who’d made his connections just right. Then the doors closed, the train started, and he collapsed.

Published: Nov 5, 2009
Length: 8 minutes (2,110 words)

Grand Solution or Grab Bag?

Community colleges are being asked to provide everything from second chances to vocational education. Is America ready to help them succeed?

Published: Oct 26, 2009
Length: 8 minutes (2,044 words)

Endless Summers

Throughout his dazzling but controversial career—top World Bank economist, Treasury secretary, Harvard University president, and now head of the White House National Economic Council—Larry Summers has been his own worst enemy.

Source: Vanity Fair
Published: Dec 1, 2009
Length: 32 minutes (8,239 words)

Alec MacGillis — Why aren’t President Obama’s job-creation efforts more direct?

Source: Washington Post
Published: Nov 8, 2009
Length: 12 minutes (3,091 words)

The Surprising Lessons of Vietnam

Unraveling the mysteries of Vietnam may prevent us from repeating its mistakes.

Source: Newsweek
Published: Nov 7, 2009
Length: 10 minutes (2,598 words)

Defending the Arsenal

In an unstable Pakistan, can nuclear warheads be kept safe?

Source: The New Yorker
Published: Nov 16, 2009
Length: 6 minutes (1,663 words)

Gorbachev on 1989

Source: The Nation
Published: Oct 28, 2009
Length: 18 minutes (4,638 words)

The State of Hillary: A Mixed Record on the Job

Author: Joe Klein
Source: Time
Published: Nov 5, 2009
Length: 25 minutes (6,468 words)