The Best of The Atlantic
20+ most popular The Atlantic articles, as voted by our community.
Exploring the American idea through ambitious, essential reporting and storytelling. Of no party or clique since 1857. http://theatlantic.com
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Nutrition Science’s Most Preposterous Result
Studies show a mysterious health benefit to ice cream. Scientists don’t want to talk about it.
There’s Exactly One Good Reason to Buy a House
Owning a home won’t make you happy. Filling it with love will.
The Myth of the Broke Millennial
After a rough start, the generation is thriving. Why doesn’t it feel that way?
American Madness
Thousands of people with severe mental illness have been failed by a dysfunctional system. My friend Michael was one of them. Twenty-five years ago, he killed the person he loved most.
The Billion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme That Hooked Warren Buffett and the U.S. Treasury
How a small-town auto mechanic peddling a green-energy breakthrough pulled off a massive scam
The Atlantic on Elon Musk
Elon Musk Is Bad at This
The Musk era of Twitter has so far been defined by unhinged tweets, fleeing advertisers, and botched layoffs.
Why Elon Musk Is Blowing Up Twitter’s Business
The new owner says he hates advertising. That’s a problem because it provides 90 percent of his social-media platform’s revenue.
The Atlantic on Friendship
The Atlantic on Happiness
If You Want Success, Pursue Happiness
Many people chase achievement, assuming it will lead to well-being. They should reverse that order of operations.
«The first thing to remember is that happiness requires balance. No matter how much you enjoy your work, overwork will become an obstruction to well-being.»
The Seven Habits That Lead to Happiness in Old Age
Your well-being is like a retirement account: The sooner you invest, the greater your returns will be.
«“How to Build a Life” is a weekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness.»
The Atlantic on Marriage
The First Lesson of Marriage 101: There Are No Soul Mates
A course at Northwestern University teaches students about what makes a healthy relationship.
What You Lose When You Gain a Spouse
What if marriage is not the social good that so many believe and want it to be?
The Atlantic on Parenting
Why Rich Kids Are So Good at the Marshmallow Test
Affluence—not willpower—seems to be what’s behind some kids' capacity to delay gratification.
The Atlantic on Relationships
The Six Forces That Fuel Friendship
I’ve spent more than three years interviewing friends for “The Friendship Files.” Here’s what I’ve learned.
«I’ve come to believe that friendship doesn’t always have to be about presence; it can also be about love that can weather absence.»
What the Longest Study on Human Happiness Found Is the Key to a Good Life
The Harvard Study of Adult Development has established a strong correlation between deep relationships and well-being. The question is, how does a person nurture those deep relationships?
«Loneliness has a physical effect on the body. It can render people more sensitive to pain, suppress their immune system, diminish brain function, and disrupt sleep»
The Atlantic on Religion
Why So Many Americans Are Turning to Buddhism
The ancient Eastern religion is helping Westerners with very modern mental-health problems.
What Happens When the World’s Population Stops Growing?
Africa will be the most populous continent. Islam will be the most popular religion. And there are going to be a lot more old people.
The Atlantic on Society
We Are Living in a Failed State
The coronavirus didn’t break America. It revealed what was already broken.
Why You Never See Your Friends Anymore
Our unpredictable and overburdened schedules are taking a dire toll on American society.
The Atlantic on Trump
How to Build an Autocracy
The preconditions are present in the U.S. today. Here’s the playbook Donald Trump could use to set the country down a path toward illiberalism.
The First White President
The foundation of Donald Trump’s presidency is the negation of Barack Obama’s legacy.
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Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?
More comfortable online than out partying, post-Millennials are safer, physically, than adolescents have ever been. But they’re on the brink of a mental-health crisis.
Your Career Is Just One-Eighth of Your Life
Five pieces of career advice, shaped by economics, psychology, and a little bit of existential math
«By the way, beware this inverse relationship, as sometimes the most attractive titles are reserved for the most soul-destroying labor.»
Why a Tylenol Can Help With Hurt Feelings
Emotional and physical pain share neurological roots, and the same substances can blunt them.
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