Showcasing stories from Erika Hayasaki; A.C. Thompson, James Bandler, and Lukáš Diko; Lauren Smiley; Amanda Petrusich; and Liza Weisstuch.
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Brendan Fitzgerald
Senior Editor at Longreads Brendan’s writing has appeared at Smithsonian, Literary Hub, and The Morning News, where he wrote the “Press Pause” column. From 2016 through 2022, he was senior editor of Columbia Journalism Review. He is interested in narrative features and essays, particularly those that involve reporting. The subject could be almost anything, so long as […]
The Scientist Using Bugs to Help Solve Murders
“Magni’s first idea was to test Di Muro’s clothes for the presence of plankton to partially verify his alibi.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
In this edition: Bezos, paper, scissors; feast or famine; one reason to stay here; any way you slice it; the real Winter Olympics, and more.
Ornamental Hermits Were 18th-Century England’s Must-Have Garden Accessory
“Wealthy landowners hired men who agreed to live in isolation on their estates for as long as seven years.”
Life on Display: A Reading List on Museums
A reading list on how museums reflect culture.
She Was a Quiet Bird Expert. Then She Was Called to Investigate a Murder in Maine.
“How a mild-mannered scientist named Roxie Laybourne created the field of forensic ornithology.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Featuring stories from Margaret Talbot, Wiam El-Tamami, Virginia Heffernan, Dave Denison, and Meilan Solly.
An Icelandic Town Goes All Out to Save Baby Puffins
“Kids and senior citizens alike rally to rescue beloved young seabirds that have lost their bearings.”
A Friend Named Arthur and The Week’s Top 5
“But now I like to imagine him in Paris, sitting at a café, drinking an espresso, his notebook open, full of notes and poetry. It’s easy to picture in my mind. He’d look perfect there.” Four years ago, Kevin Sampsell lost his friend Arthur to suicide. He started writing about him three years ago—but the […]


