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.
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How the Brontës Came Out As Women
When Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell burst onto the literary scene, everyone wondered who these mysterious men could be—and if they could even really be men.
The House Where You Live Forever
The reversible destiny of Madeline Gins.
‘We Have to Resist’: A Conversation with Rebecca Solnit
The difference between hope and optimism, and the dangers of activism without a plan.
A Brief History of Solitary Confinement
Dickens, Tocqueville, and the U.N. all agree about this American invention: It’s torture.
Home Is Where the Fraud Is
At the height of the housing crisis, one woman’s bureaucratic odyssey to discover who really owns her home leads her to startling revelations about the housing market.
This Is How Uber Takes Over a City
A chronicle of Uber’s intense battle to conquer Portland, as well as Uber’s political fight across the nation.
The 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. Unclimbable Eva Holland | SB Nation | May 21, 2015 | 31 minutes (7,907 words) Eva Holland explores what it means to […]
The Nation’s Shame
Mandatory drug sentencing has long been criticized as oppressive and ineffective, yet tens of thousands of nonviolent offenders continue to languish behind bars.
Against Confession: On Intersectional Feminism, Radical Catholicism, and Redefining Remorse
Laura Goode investigates her Catholic identity—the radical, feminist, social-justice-oriented version she discovered upon encountering the mysteries of marriage and motherhood—years after her departure from the guilt-stricken, conservative Catholicism of her upbringing.

