The humble dessert’s surprising role in war, organized crime, and more.
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Reading Joan Didion Taught Me How to Not Write About Hawaiʻi
“Didion depicts Hawaiʻi as a place that exists solely in the white American imagination, and, because of this, her journalism is a fiction.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
In this edition: Lost soul, copy that, missing beats, muzzled watchdogs, and a ramblin’ man.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Showcasing notable stories from Joanne McNeil, Lindsey Liles, Soyonbo Borgin, Frank Chimero, and Holly Haworth.
A Trip to Twin Peaks and the Week’s Top 5
“I’d taken for granted how strange his work is—in the defiantly non-naturalistic performances he elicits from his actors and the surreal sheen of his stories and characters—until I started trying to explain the plot of Twin Peaks to Riley on our drive to Washington.” This week, we pay homage to director David Lynch, with Katherine […]
Sleight of Hand and Other Deceptions
“People are fooled by way more than just a deck of cards.”
Space to Breathe
“I can suction while gathering my spirits, while holding out for my son’s right to exist, to be present, to take up space, to interrupt ‘usual’ life.”
The Fearlessness of Kanji
“How a simple rice dish became a Tamil symbol of resistance in Sri Lanka.”
The Kid Stays in the Picture
“Max Lowe made a big splash in 2021 with ‘Torn,’ a documentary about the death of his famous father, alpinist Alex Lowe, and how it shook and shaped his family.”
Life, Death, and Total Football
“My Dutch friend Lars taught me to appreciate the most radical team in World Cup history—and how their tactics could be meaningful far beyond the pitch.”


