The Top Long-Form Reads of 2025: A Collection of Thought-Provoking Writing

As we consider the past year, a curated list of outstanding in-depth pieces stands out. Such accounts delve into multifaceted themes including geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human sagas.

A Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Country

Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the 1990s with biting satires on authoritarianism. Whereas several of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. This prompts a pertinent query: Has the author turned into an defender for the establishment?

Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict

The story of a young man, who at 18 was told that his sole path out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After 14 years, his history as one of Assad's fighters may now get him killed.

The Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Origins

The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the story of our human race. But, a faction was persuaded. The ensuing intense scholarly debate has consumed the careers of scholars ever since.

The British Sect That Hid in the Open

One woman was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing extent of abuse it had carried out.

A Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights

Many supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the the nation's dedication to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been notably mixed.

Shattering a Nation's Self-Image

A documentary following a repentant master criminal as she sets up unscrupulous clients with covert recording poses difficult queries: Is this person really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own intentions?

The Person Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes

From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their most challenging times, families depend on him to bring back order.

Will an Iconic Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Severe Pregnancy

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an effective medical end – until perhaps now.

The Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Government

A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the highest levels of the state.

The British Professional With a Crooked Side

With his keen intellect and flawless background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become uneasy.

A Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Center

An incredibly wealthy country has become a significant player on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are driving this ambitious role?

An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry

Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron relishes the world arena, where he positions himself as the leader most equipped to deal with a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the summit.

Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case

How did the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?

An Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Not Widespread Regret

When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.

The Disturbing 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers

When information about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact nature of the events is still partially shrouded.

The "Master" of the Attention Economy

He's endured a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed enormous amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply very clever entertainment – or works of artistic genius?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the possibility that their home may in the near future be submerged. The critical question is: To where are they going to relocate?

A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness

When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then believed his life might turn around. I was tragically mistaken.

A International AI Race and a Crucial Move

In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he may possess the key to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.

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