This week, we’re sharing stories from Sandra Upson, Helen Ouyang, Francesca Mari, Jordan Ritter Conn, and Jesse Davis.
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Why “Florida Man” Really Isn’t All that Funny
“Is Florida Man a hero, a villain or a victim? And is it still okay to laugh along?” (No, it’s not.)
OK Listener, We’ll Talk About OK Boomer
Longreads editors chat with Internet culture reporter Taylor Lorenz about ok boomer, TikTok, patriotism, and more.
The Rise and Fall of Delia’s, The Catalog That Ruled America
When malls still ruled retail, a fashion brand for young women defied pre-internet era practice: It had no brick and mortar stores, only a catalog. It became the hottest thing around, selling a lifestyle as much as products, and its business model foretold the future. So why did it fail?
Longreads Best of 2020: All of Our No. 1 Story Picks
Here’s every story that was chosen as No. 1 in our weekly Top 5 email.
‘Every Single Person Migrating Has a Story’: Caitlin Dwyer on the Emotional Underlayers of Family Separation
The writer describes her process of reporting and shaping her recent essay, “The State of Waiting,” which explores love in the shadow of war and immigration policy.
Collecting Rare Sneakers from Japan
Japan began producing limited edition sneakers in the 1990s. Now a new global wave of sneaker enthusiasts have begun seeking its rarities.
Don’t Be a Jerk to Your Online Humor Editor
McSweeny’s Internet Tendency editor Chris Monks catalogues some of the rudest responses to his rejections of humor writers’ submissions to the site.
How the Cosby Story Finally Went Viral — And Why It Took So Long
A journalist who reported on the accusations long before they went viral wonders, “What kind of profession am I in, where stories have no logical reason for unfolding?”
When Media Miscalculations Pivot Talented People Out of a Job
Pivoting to video is only one of many ways media workers lose their jobs, but it’s still a horrible way.

