Hi 👋 

We’re back again with another reading list of some of the best longform journalism across the internet ✨

This week’s edition is packed. We were well-fed last week 🙌 There were so many promising articles that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to read through all of them in time to make this list. (I almost didn’t 🤫)

But the late nights paid off!! I’m very proud of our reading list this week, which includes some of the most interesting stories and smartest essays I’ve read in recent months. Or maybe even this year:

• An in-depth look into mental health patients, the things they leave behind, and local policies that have shaped the enduring stigma against psychological institutions.

• This thinkpiece about polyamory and how its recent rise to notoriety has been co-opted by wealthy people.

• An investigation into UnitedHealth and its greedy practices, which have only worsened the life of a patient with a debilitating chronic illness.

• A really strong character-driven narrative about the most unusual bank robbery—and about how difficult it is to rebuild a life after a crippling loss.

As with last week, please let me know what you think of the list this week by voting in the poll below.

ORRR you can also fill out this super quick survey 🙏 It’ll only take a few minutes at most. I promise! And it’ll be a huge help to us in improving The Lazy Reader.

And we’re still trying to grow the newsletter! If you like what you read, please consider helping us grow by sharing it to your friends, colleagues and family! 🫶

Happy reading and see you again next Monday!

Story in Spotlight

Mining (just regular mining) has always been a bit conflicting for me.

It’s an extractive and often-abusive undertaking, typically leaving local communities polluted and sick. But okay, fine—I concede that it’s an important industry. It produces metals and minerals, without which modern society would most likely crumble.

That’s not the case for Bitcoin mining, though. At the risk of sounding condescending, it expends so much energy and power for what is essentially a make-believe currency that matters to an exceedingly small portion of society. (Okay: all currencies are technically make-believe, I get it.)

That is the central theme of this story, which recounts the harsh health impacts that a Bitcoin mining center can have on the surrounding community. And unlike regular mining—which typically hurts people through noxious fumes and water toxins—Bitcoin mining has a relatively unusual pollutant: noise.

A lot has been said about the concrete health conseuences of noise (and I suspect that so much more will be said). But when so many people suffer from seemingly unknown causes, then I think that’s more than enough reason to look into noise as a plausible health hazard, no?

In any case, the politics angle of this story is also compelling. The writer paints local officials as either being unmotivated to do anything about the Bitcoin mining center, or as corrupt as to have been bought out by the industry.

But I think that it’s equally important to question the role of the electorate. Are the authorities’ conservative, libertarian tendencies a reflection of how the people voted? And how much of their bitcoin mining problem is their own fault?

Pretty long, but very compelling. Not a difficult read at all. Maybe 40 minutes at most.

The Longform List

💰 The Desperado | The Atavist Magazine, Free

I’ve really been on an Atavist kick lately—and for good reason! Their stories are really well-written, and the magazine has this incredible knack for fleshing out very deeply personal narratives. This one, about the most unexpected bank robbery you’ve probably ever heard of, is the perfect example of that. It’s not thrilling in the way a crime story would be, but the writer did such a great job at pacing the story that it doesn’t feel slow.

Very long. I’d say 1 hour, including distractions and breaks.

🚘 Priscila, Queen of the Rideshare Mafia | WIRED, $

This was one of those big longform stories that came out last week. And I liked it so much that I thought of giving it this edition’s spotlight. That said, I do have some mixed feelings about WIRED doing a profile of a convicted criminal—and dressing her persona up in so much glamor. I understand the moral greyness of what she did (and I’d be lying if I said I wouldn'’t take her side), but I’m not sure if how WIRED did things was ethical.

Pretty long, but it flows really easily. I finished it in under an hour. That said, I didn’t appreciate how the page looked. That bright blue (purple?) background was… jarring.

👶 The Smallest Victims: Why Does America Keep Allowing Toddlers to Shoot Themselves? | NBC News, Free

Yet another story released last week that I considered making our spotlight. As someone who doesn’t live in the U.S., I have a tough time understanding the entire gun debate. I fully appreciate the need to protect yourself, your property, and your family, but then the unfortunate (and I’d say avoidable) downside of it, is that kids end up shooting themselves. This story really evokes strong emotions, so if that’s not something that you’re looking for (or prepared for), you might want to skip this.

Not too long, actually, but difficult to read. It can take more than an hour, counting all the small breaks you might need to get through it.

📚 In the Home of Alice Munro, a Dark Secret Lurked. Now, Her Children Want the World to Know | Toronto Star, Free

I’m just being repetitive at this point: I also thought this would have made for a good spotlight story—if only because it thoroughly rocked the literary world. I’ve never been a big Alice Munro fan (no shade, just not my cup of tea; plus I don’t think I’ve read enough of her books), but she’s such a huge figure that there’s no way for me to not be aware of her. So it really did shake me a bit to find out that such horrific abuses went on under her roof, and that she just let it happen.

This story also raises very important questions about fame, and what we sacrifice to achieve and maintain it. What does that calculus say about Munro, specifically, and humans, in general?

Relatively short but, as the subject makes clear, is a tough read. It’s also very infuriating. I’d say give yourself 1 hour-ish, which includes reading breaks and minor distractions.

🧰 Tales From an Attic | The American Scholar, Free

This one has been on my TBR list for months now, so I’d consider it pretty dated at this point. But it’s still one hell of a story. The premise itself is interesting enough—looking into suitcases left behind by institutionalized patients to glean how their lives were. The story takes that and runs with it, delving into local privacy legislation and projects that try to skirt around these laws for the sake of preserving the public memory. It’s a very satisfying ride.

Very long and, if I’m being honest, becomes a bit slow in some spots. Still a worthwhile read, though. But you might need to allot more than 1 hour for it, including distractions.

♾️ How Did Polyamory Become so Popular? | The New Yorker, $

I like these types of essays that seem snarky on their surface—critiquing popular culture while making an actually-profound point. This one focuses on polyamory, which I admit is not something I completely understand or appreciate. This essay helped me understand at least part of my disdain: it’s been so co-opted by wealthy circles that the self-centerdness of the concept has thoroughly overshadowed its more subversive dimensions.

Not too long and personally very compelling. I found the arguments structured really well. It took me less than 30 minutes to read through.

⚖️ The Juror Who Found Herself Guilty | TexasMonthly, $ (if you’ve burned your free articles)

Like The Atavist, TexasMonthly rarely misses for me. This one tells the story of a juror who was never really able to get over the role that she played in sending a man to life imprisonment. That’s some clever wordlplay for the headline. (Which I will say was a tiny bit disappointing, as I’d been expecting a trial on top of a trial). Of course, the research and writing are top-notch, too.

Relatively long, but that didn’t seem to be a big enough problem for me. Maybe 45 minutes.

⚕️ UnitedHealthcare Tried to Deny Coverage to a Chronically Ill Patient. He Fought Back, Exposing the Insurer’s Inner Workings. | ProPublica, Free

This was wild. And that’s coming from someone who comes face-to-face with the greed of the U.S. pharma and healthcare industries on a daily basis. I always knew that these pharmacy middlement worked solely in service of profits and shareholders, but I never thought they’d be so bare-faced about it. And be so heartless about a patient who had already been through years of pain and difficulty due to a chronic illness.

Pretty long, but I’m motivated by anger. So I finished this in 30 minutes.

🤑 Rich People Freeze Themselves, and Fortunes, for Future Revival | Bloomberg Law, Free

This, too, is a wild story—and not in an entirely different way. There’s just so much about hyper-wealth that I can’t wrap my head around. Like the impulse to freeze your body with the goal of eventually thawing it out hundreds of years in the future, just in case science has finally advanced to such a point. Of course, that means rich people also have to freeze their assets. What’s the point of surviving centuries into the future if you can’t take your wealth with you?

The industry that’s started to sprout around that is… something else.

Not too long, and honeslty I had trouble sticking with it—but only because I don’t understand extreme wealth. Your mileage may vary. It took me 30 ish minutes.

Bonus reco!

I’m giving space this week to my friend’s newsletter, AtlasMoth, which is about gamification in design. I’m not a big design guy, but I do find the concept of gamification endlessly interesting.

There’s so much potential in rewarding your audience for doing something for you—sort of a mutual benefit. I’m actively thinking up ways how to apply a gamified approach to expanding my own newsletter.

😵 Overwhelmed by the Latest Design Trends? Struggling to Keep Up?

We get it. Life is fast-paced, and staying on top of the dynamic world of design and gamification can be daunting. That's why we're here to help you stay informed and inspired without the hassle.

What You’ll Receive:

✨ Curated Excellence: The most insightful articles on design and gamification from around the web.

🌐 Wide-Ranging Topics: From groundbreaking design trends to inventive gamification strategies for diverse fields.

📬 Weekly Digest: A thoughtfully curated reading list delivered straight to your inbox, minus the clutter.

Why Subscribe?

🔍 Eliminate the Hunt: Skip the endless search for quality content. We’ve got it covered.

🚀 Stay Ahead of the Curve: Keep up with the latest news, trends, and innovations in design and gamification.

💡 Fuel Your Creativity: Find fresh ideas and inspiration to elevate your projects.

🔥 Reignite Your Passion: Perfect for those who yearn to immerse themselves in the world of design and gamification.

Join the AtlasMoth Newsletter and transform your downtime into a powerful resource for creativity and knowledge!

Become part of a community of design aficionados and innovators who prioritize the insights that matter. Reintegrate design and gamification into your life with renewed enthusiasm.

Around the world

Here are some of the most important/interesting/infuriating news bits from around the world last week:

1 - On needless wars:
+ Russia still won’t back down from Ukraine. Kyiv is under the heaviest strike in months.
+ Putin continued to drop bombs across Ukraine, this time hitting several sites, including a children’s hospital. Almost 40 were killed.
+ Israel is relentless, too, striking down a UN building.
+ Meanwhile, U.S. support for Israel remains strong, even pressuring the U.K. to help it block the ICC’s warrant against Netanyahu.

2 - Best headline of the week: 'Gay furry hackers' attack Heritage Foundation and release sensitive data related to Project 2025.

3 - Despite safety issues with the current implants, Musk says Neuralink is planning to install its next device “soon.”
+ Reports have previously revealed that the Neuralink implant has had wires come out.

4 - Historic rains battered South Korea. Experts say this kind of rainfall comes only once in 200 years.

5 - The New York Times is apparently testing out AI models to help write its headlines and proofread its copy—all while lodging a suit against AI developers.

Thanks for reading! Please, please reach out if you have feedback, suggestions, or questions. I know some of the stories I recommend might be behind paywalls, and maybe I can help you with access to those, too!

Also, I’d appreciate it so much if you help me grow by sharing The Lazy Reader with friends or family who you think might also enjoy a good longform story 🫶

Until next Monday! 👋