All through December, we’ll be featuring Longreads’ Best of 2016. To get you ready, here’s a list of every story that was chosen as No. 1 in our weekly Top 5 email.
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Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
The Secretive Life of a Michelin Inspector
Sam Kashner delves into the mysterious world of Michelin stars in the new issue of Vanity Fair, talking to top chefs about what it takes to gain—and keep—the restaurant world’s highest honor. Although restaurant critics are often recognized, Michelin inspectors remain virtually unknown. Kashner spoke on the phone with one inspector (even he wasn’t allowed to know […]
Posted inFeature, Nonfiction, Sports, Story
The (Re)selling of Maria Sharapova
On the longevity of Maria Sharapova, who has built a brand beyond the bounds of her tennis stardom that has made her incredibly wealthy, but still striving for more.
Posted inFirst Chapters, Nonfiction, Story
Mourning the Low-Rent, Weirdo-Filled East Village of Old
An excerpt of Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost its Soul, by Jeremiah Moss.
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
The Newman’s Own Origin Story
In 1982 actor Paul Newman and his friend, writer A.E. Hotchner, started the Newman’s Own food company and made the decision to donate all profits to charity.
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
Vanity Fair’s New Cover Story: Caitlyn Jenner
“As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I’m free.” Vanity Fair has just released its cover image of Caitlyn Jenner—photographed by Annie Leibovitz, with a story by Buzz Bissinger. The story is not yet available online, but Jenner tells Bissinger: “If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret […]
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
Seeing Robert Johnson’s Face for the Third Time
In 2008, Vanity Fair published a story about a guitar salesman named Steven Schein, who found a photograph of Robert Johnson, the world’s most influential Bluesman, for sale on eBay for $25. The photo was mislabeled “Old Snapshot Blues Guitar B.B. King???”. Only two photos of Johnson had been publicly released. The article is about […]
Posted inNonfiction, Profiles & Interviews
The Trick to It All: A Conversation with Photographer Henry Leutwyler
Henry Leutwyler on portraiture and the magic of inanimate objects.
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
How Vanity Fair Protected Their Caitlyn Jenner Exclusive
The magazine was concerned about leaks and took security measures “every step of the way,” including on the photo shoot [where they hired security and confiscated cellphones], in the VF editorial office and at the printing plant for the upcoming issue. The story and pictures were done on a single computer that was never connected […]
Posted inNonfiction, Quote Posts, Quotes
The Rise of ‘True Detective’ Creator Nic Pizzolatto
Rich Cohen in Vanity Fair, on the rise of True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto in Hollywood, the evolution of television writer as auteur, and the HBO crime drama’s second iteration set in Southern California.
