The Wonder Reader
Welcome to The Wonder Reader, a weekly guide to the new and classic Atlantic stories that will fascinate and delight you. Sign up for the newsletter here.
-
![]()
Charles Krupa / AP The Singular Wonder of October
“October is the month of painted leaves,” Thoreau wrote in 1862. “Their rich glow now flashes round the world.”
-
![]()
d3sign / Getty How Choices About Having Kids Really Get Made
It’s about a lot more than “baby fever”—and it may be about more than government support too.
-
-
![]()
George Marks / Retrofile / Getty Truth, Lies, and All That’s in Between
Spewing the truth all the time has its own cost.
-
![]()
Mauro Pimentel / AFP / Getty When Social Media Felt Real
Nostalgia abounds for the days when YouTubers filmed with grainy cameras and everything wasn’t so picture-perfect.
-
![]()
Alec Soth / Magnum When Life Feels Too Busy for Friendship
You know that’s the case when you find yourself feeling the “post-rescheduling thrill.”
-
![]()
Brian Ray / AP The Parent-Child Relationship in the College Years
Many parents stay enmeshed in their children’s emotional life in college, for better or worse.
-
![]()
Yuriy Golub / Shutterstock What Happens When You Pay Attention to Food
It’s a cliché to say that food is about much more than eating—it’s about connection, family, experience—but our busy lives make it easy to forget that.
-
-
![]()
Illustration by Ben Hickey An Atlantic Reading List on Modern Dating
Dating decisions are about determining what you really need in order to be happy.
-
![]()
Illustration by Joanne Imperio / The Atlantic. Source: … The Psychology of Money
An Atlantic reading list on the tricky links between our money and our mind
-
![]()
Image Source / Getty Sports Stories for the Sports-Averse
A collection of Atlantic articles on what makes athleticism a deeply human endeavor
-
![]()
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters The Curse of Perfectionism
Perfectionists find themselves trying to be the best, even at things for which the concept is inapplicable.
-
![]()
Str Old / Reuters The Animals Behaving in ‘Humanlike’ Ways
We may not be the only species to call one another by name or to plan ahead for our future.
-
-
![]()
Yusuke Nishizawa / Getty The Possibilities of Personality Change
Incremental shifts count, and can affect one’s happiness.
-
![]()
Illustration by Gabriela Pesqueira. Source: Dimarik / Getty. Being in the Sun
Figuring out your personal relationship with sunshine can get complicated.
-
![]()
Martin Parr / Magnum The Secrets of Those Who Succeed Late in Life
You may not be early, but you got there all the same.
-
![]()
Erik Carter A Reading List of Atlantic Profiles
Intimate studies of actors, comedians, and other cultural figures from our archives
-
![]()
Santiago Urquijo / Getty The Quest to Make Flying More Comfortable
Being on a plane is not likely to feel great—no matter what you bring aboard with you.
-
-
![]()
Getty; The Atlantic How to Decide What to Leave Behind
Preparing for death can be a way to take inventory of a life well lived.
-
![]()
Brian Ray / AP Seeing Your College Friends Grow Up
“No one’s life turned out exactly as anticipated, not even for the most ardent planner.”
-
![]()
Bob Wands / AP What Therapy Is For
Exploring what the practice is capable of—and what it can’t actually solve—may help patients better understand what they’re seeking.
