Our top stories of the week, as chosen by the editors at Longreads.
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The Great Online School Scam
Students are performing worse than ever, but private companies are making millions.
Why Quotas Still Don’t Work for Journalism
Quotas allow superiors to blame failure on subordinates and take credit for success.
Judging Books By Their Covers
Jason Diamond analyzes his obsession with Vintage Contemporaries paperbacks from the 80s.
The Brief Career and Self-Imposed Exile of Jutta Hipp, Jazz Pianist
Europe’s “First Lady of Jazz” moved to New York in 1955, played for five more years, then disappeared — while royalty checks piled up with her record label.
Judging Books By Their Covers
Jason Diamond analyzes his obsession with Vintage Contemporaries paperbacks from the 80s.
Longreads Best of 2016: Political Analysis
We asked a few writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here, the best in political analysis.
Longreads Best of 2016: Under-Recognized Stories
We asked a few writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here, the best in under-recognized stories.
Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Below, our favorite stories of the week. Kindle users, you can also get them as a Readlist. Sign up to receive this list free every Friday in your inbox. * * * 1. Teachings Win Bassett | Poetry Foundation | May 27, 2015 | 15 minutes (3,780 words) On poetry and dying: Win Bassett reflects […]
Xenu’s Paradox: The Fiction of L. Ron Hubbard and the Making of Scientology
Alec Nevala-Lee, author of Astounding, a forthcoming book on the history of science fiction, digs into the writing career of L. Ron Hubbard, gaining new insights into the life of the controversial founder of dianetics and the origins and nature of Scientology itself.

