“Bob Rutan is legendary among the tight-knit fraternity of Macy’s Santa Clauses. Like many of these men, playing Santa changed Bob. Profoundly. His story is one of struggle and failure, heartbreak and grace and—yes—the magic of Christmas.”
esquire
Posted inEditor's Pick
George Bell Served 24 Years in Prison for a Crime He Didn’t Commit. Now He’s Learning to Live Again.
“After a quarter century behind bars, he was exonerated for the 1996 crime and received the largest payout ever from New York City. But money can’t buy back all that time.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
I Was Diagnosed with Incurable Cancer. This Futuristic Treatment Could Save Me.
“I’ve endured numerous rounds of radiation and taken thousands of pills—but CAR-T is the most effective therapy I’ve completed yet.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
A Crushing Wave of Snow
Thirty-five years ago this July, an avalanche killed forty-three climbers on a mountain called Lenin Peak. I witnessed the disaster and have lived with the memories ever since.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Man Who Wrote “Take On Me” on the Fine Art of Not Giving a F**k
“Magne Furuholmen doesn’t care if the only reason you want to see his art is that he’s the A-ha guy. Also: You should see his art!”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Really Tell Me I Gave My Son Cancer?
“The likely next secretary of Health and Human Services scared me with a cruel and misleading statement—and that’s the danger he poses to parents everywhere.”
Posted inTop 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Notable longform stories written by David Farrier, Luc Rinaldi, Claire Gagné, Jonathan Weiner, and Dave Holmes.
Posted inFeature
Best of 2024: The Most Popular Editors’ Picks of the Year
Our readership has spoken! This list compiles the most-viewed stories we recommended in 2024.
Posted inFeature
A Year in Reading: The Wounds That Bind
On the hard-hitting, unforgettable stories of 2024.
Posted inTop 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week we have stories from Patrick Fealey, S.C. Cornell, Sterry Butcher, Robin Wall Kimmerer and Jenny Odell, and Francisco Garcia.