“I have sat inside her rib cage. And yet I know nothing about her.”
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The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Becca Andrews, DĂ©sirĂ© Nimubona, Jon Mooallem, Jesse Lee Kercheval, and Kathryn Borel.
A New Leaf: A Post-Legalization Cannabis Reading List
Five stories demonstrating how the green rush nurtured the best and worst that U.S. capitalism had to offer.
Life Goals: Power Couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird
“When two people are on the same page, and they love each other, and they’re working towards something better, you can do a lot of good things.”
Longreads Best of 2021: All of Our No. 1 Story Picks
Here’s every story that was chosen as No. 1 in our weekly Top 5 email.
The Rehab of Big Sky Country
“Daily treks in silence are an effective way to get anyone to reflect on their lives and consider what’s really important.”
‘What’s the Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done?’
In Scott Kimball, the FBI thought it had found a high-value informant who could help solve big cases. What it got instead was lies, betrayal, and murder.
A Box of Meat and $100 For Your Life
“Workers who worked Monday through Saturday without missing a day were given a bonus of $50, later raised to $100, which was accompanied by a box of meat valued at $200 to $300.”
Sea Lion Herschel: Steelhead Salmon Scapegoat
They tried every deterrent, including forced relocation, but Herschel the sea lion and his posse returned year after year to enjoy the free steelhead salmon buffet in Puget Sound.
Longreads Best of 2020: Writing on COVID-19
Our top story picks in COVID-19 reporting this year.

