Posted inEditor's Pick

DeafBlind Communities May Be Creating a New Language of Touch

Andrew Leland’s fascinating piece in The New Yorker explores Protactile, a system of tactile communication that has evolved into a national movement for autonomy among DeafBlind people across the U.S. Still, several linguists have come to believe that, among some of its frequent users, Protactile is developing into its own language, with words and grammatical […]

Posted inNewsletter

Belting out Songs and Our Top 5

“There’s something about losing yourself in a communal experience that’s immensely appealing in this age of virtual meetings and not-so-social media. We want to see the artists we love in person. We want to believe they’re singing directly to us.” Elizabeth Blackwell, a regular commentator on cultural phenomena (check out her Reality TV and Pivotal […]

sorry, this is only available to Longreads members. To become a member, visit longreads.com/join.

Posted inNewsletter

It’s So Sublime, and Our Top 5

“​​When I listened, I didn’t know if it was something I entered, or something that entered me. If it was within me or if it was me. Do you remember being 16 and loving a song? Of course you do. It felt like that. It felt like everything.” This week, we’re featuring “On (the) Sublime,” […]

sorry, this is only available to Longreads members. To become a member, visit longreads.com/join.

Posted inUncategorized

Six Stories About a Complex Cuisine and Our Top 5

“Migration patterns, together with demographic trends and climate change, mean that the cuisine must adapt. Italian food—so rooted in tradition and adamant in its authenticity—will have to change.” In previous reading lists, Longreads contributor Clare Egan has explored a range of topics: Ireland, queer ecology, and the decision to have a child. This week, Egan dives […]

sorry, this is only available to Longreads members. To become a member, visit longreads.com/join.

Gift this article