What/If references the celebrated steamy genre of the 80s and 90s, but lacks its guts. Why can’t any of the new neo-noirs go all the way?
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The Battle Over Teaching Chicago’s Schools About Police Torture and Reparations
A little-known city law has educators figuring out how to talk to eighth and tenth grade students about the history of Chicago police abuse.
The Arsonist Was Like a Ghost
It was the thirtieth fire in less than two months. Who was trying to burn down Accomack County?
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories by Sarah Menkedick, Adam Davidson, Ross Andersen, Victor Luckerson, and Tara Murtha.
Stewards of the Blood
One California woman tries to understand the code of honor that young men live by in blood feuds.
Judging Books By Their Covers
Jason Diamond analyzes his obsession with Vintage Contemporaries paperbacks from the 80s.
Bundyville: The Remnant, Chapter Five: The Remnant
The Kingdom of Heaven, borne out of blood
Longreads Best of 2018: Investigative Reporting
We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here is the best in investigative reporting.
The Case for Dungeons & Dragons
I was never a Dungeons and Dragons person, but as a nerd, seems like they’ve always been nearby. I would not have expected a Venn diagram overlapping the D&D nerds I know — delightful, gentle weirdos who like elves and other imaginary creatures — with high security prisoners. Elisabeth de Cleer wrote about one such […]
Shared Breath
How does receiving a donated organ affect a person’s sense of self? Caitlin Dwyer explores the lives of organ donor recipients and their intimate relationships with donor families.

