“In an experimental program, 5,000 Chicagoans received monthly cash payments from the city for a year, no strings attached. Here’s how the money changed one woman’s life — and how it didn’t.”
Chicago Magazine
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Last Gamble of Tokyo Joe
“Ken Eto rose through the ranks of the Chicago mob, and then it tried to kill him. The underworld would never be the same.”
Posted inTop 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
As January draws to a close, our favorite stories this week included a stirring critical essay, a paean to the world’s greatest boxed meal, a rethinking of psychedelics’ impact on the planet, a profile of a craftsperson at his peak, and an eye-opener about how humpback whales use air in some unexpected ways. 1. Corky […]
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Violin Doctor
“He’s trusted to repair some of the world’s most fabled — and expensive — instruments. How does John Becker manage to unlock the sound of a Stradivarius?”
Posted inCrime, Highlight, Quotes
It’s a Lovely Day for a Bike Ride
He robbed banks. A lot of banks. Non-violently, with a bike as his getaway vehicle. Why? Even he’s not sure.
Posted inNonfiction, Top 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Nathaniel Rich, Ronan Farrow, Jeff Maysh, Helen Rosner, and Nick Greene.
Posted inBusiness & Tech, Highlight, Nonfiction, Quotes
Long Live the Oddly Charming Poetry of the Mail-Order Catalog
Hammacher Schlemmer, which publishes America’s longest-running catalog, still takes its product descriptions seriously.
Posted inEditor's Pick
The World’s Most Peculiar Company
How does Hammacher Schlemmer, which publishes the longest-running mail-order catalog in American history, survive in the age of Amazon?
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
Finding a ‘Prepper’ to Go on the Record Is No Easy Task
Preppers are, not surprisingly, a paranoid bunch. Locating people willing to speak with me about their habits was more challenging than finding vegans at a gun range. After emailing a dozen members of Northern Illinois Preppers, a Meetup online community whose membership has grown from about 110 to more than 150 in the past six […]
Posted inNonfiction, Reading List, Top 5
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. ***