The bowerbird, which lives on the east coast of Australia, has an abiding eye for anything blue. Solitary males travel great distances to bring back all manner of blue objects to decorate their nests. Shells, flowers, plastic bottles, and feathers are all fair game, and bowerbirds have even been known to grind up blue pigments […]
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In this Field of Orbs
“Like a good independent woman, I contain multitudes but never the ones I’ve drawn for myself.”
Queens of Infamy: Isabella of France
Married off at age 12, Isabella put up with her husband’s shenanigans over decades. Eventually, the She-Wolf of France had had enough.
Christmas on the Moon
Baby, it’s cold outside! Especially when you spend the holidays in a tent full of explosives.
Best of 2023: All of Our Number Five Story Picks
Each story we chose as our number five piece of the week in 2023, all in one place.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Alexander Sammon, Amanda Chicago Lewis, Hannah Smothers, Adam Fales, and Matt Dinan.
Longreads Best of 2022: All of Our No. 1 Story Picks
All the stories we’ve selected as number one in our weekly Top 5 newsletter.
Best of 2025: All Our Number Five Story Picks
Every story we selected for the number five slot in our weekly newsletter, in a handy digest.
Best of 2023: All of Our Number One Story Picks
Every piece we selected as our top story of the week in 2023, all in one place.
The Syrian Rebels Who Found Refuge in Books
In a town under siege from Assad’s regime, a small group built a library from books rescued from the rubble.

