A hundred years on from its birth, the music continues to speak to the heart — an art form that also serves as social commentary, communal history, and cathartic release.

The present we inhabit is shaped by the mixed legacies of the past.

Ferments are found in every culture and cuisine on earth, and the history of their production is deeply interwoven with our own. 

Tom Cruise is about to turn 60 — time for a look back at the life of a master maverick.

Some of us got to stay with our moms or dads. Others did not.

Tales of odd phenomena stoke our imagination even as they tease us.

It is time now to listen. We are not going anywhere.

Six stories celebrating Stevie Nicks in honor of her birthday on May 26th.

How the pandemic made us confront what it means to be alone.

A writer traces her own feminist journey as she reflects on the forthcoming shutdown of Bitch Media.

How do you love a place that is sinking?

Hope may seem to be in short supply these days, but these stories dare to chart a course toward something better.

Ten favorite Longreads originals, as selected by the editors.

Amorphous and intangible, a vibe is hard to describe. Let these five longreads sharpen your focus.

Why it’s important to give things a sniff.

Five longreads about the iconoclastic American writer, director, and activist.

The source of glamour, sex, and transgression? Or a carefully crafted persona? A closer look at the Hollywood blonde.

Fandom gets at our most human urges: to share the things we love with others, to seek community among like-minded peers, especially at a time when we are all still too far apart.

Why do we keep what we keep — and who decides? An archivist digs and collects longreads on how objects and materials shape public memory.

Eight stories to complicate your clichéd idea of Ireland.

Stories about wrongful convictions open our eyes to systemic injustices in the U.S. court system. Maurice Chammah, a staff writer at The Marshall Project, compiles his recommended longreads within the genre.

Getting dressed isn’t a low-stakes activity.

Think it’s time to get off social media? Then this is the reading list for you.

Let’s go away for awhile and reflect on the genius of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys’ 1966 album “Pet Sounds.” Wouldn’t it be nice?

Kindling a new awareness of the outdoors wasn’t something the author predicted, but it brought a host of realizations — including the discovery of these five thoughtful longreads.

Powerful reads on which language comes first, second, or even third.

Five captivating reads on adventures you never want to have.

From fantasylands to unique cartographers (including one that’s non-human), here are five stories about maps.

Start your unlearning here.

Seven longreads on the communal pastime of puzzles, games, and crosswords.