A surreal train ride between Chicago and New Orleans proves that Amtrak still has a lot to offer. (Not including speed or the food.)
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He, She, One, They, Ho, Hus, Hum, Ita
Amia Srinivasan on language and pronouns: “Language is a public system of meaning. No individual can unilaterally decide what a word means, or whether any given word, according to standard usage, truly describes them. And yet the definitions of words – as any lexicographer will tell you – depend on patterns of actual human usage, […]
Disbelieving What You Cannot See: A Reading List on Ableism and ‘Invisible’ Disability
Start your unlearning here.
The Substance of Silence: A Reading List About Hermits
Humans are social creatures, and loneliness can be debilitating — yet, many have discovered solace in the solitary life.
The Function and Language of Ancient Sexual Texts
A fascinating look at so-called obscenity, then and now.
“The Anger of Women is an Earth-shattering Thing”: Lidia Yuknavitch on Resisting the Hero Narrative and the Body as a Generator of Stories.
“I’m going to say a blasphemous thing, which is we are so fucking done with the hero’s journey. It has been to our peril.”
Where ‘Strangers Whisper Secrets in Your Ear’
“Is there anyone who doesn’t sometimes imagine an audience for even the most unremarkable moments of her life?”
On Racism and Epithets
Essaying on the way white supremacy shapes life.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Maurice Chammah, Jeff Weiss, Rasha Elass, Danielle Tcholakian, and Lila Shapiro.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Wesley Lowery, Sarah Bellamy, Shawn Yuan, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, and Gabrielle Bellot.

