Life Lessons in Literature
Where were you when the family car broke down, when you first heard about oral sex, when you chose a political party? More importantly, what were you reading? Margaret Berry shares the books that made the woman.
Stories
A collection of 168 issues
Madalyn Murray O’Hair in Hell: The Mystery of the Antenoran Chant
In the second chapter of Madalyn’s adventures in the underworld, a mystery is uncovered on the way to Walt Whitman’s Super Bowl party. Kevin Guilfoile continues the saga of everyone’s favorite atheist sleuth.
The Summing Up
We may spend more time with our co-workers than our families, but that doesn’t mean we have to like them. Our D.C. correspondent Clay Risen starts a new job and barely gets past the front desk.
This Old Human
No country cabin is complete without a proper old man. Tobias Seamon reports from the set of “This Old Human” and gives us the scoop on how to craft the perfect curmudgeon.
Madalyn Murray O’Hair in Hell
Hell is full of mystery and chain hardware stores. Who would’ve known? Kevin Guilfoile, that’s who, as he follows Madalyn, amateur detective, in the first chapter of her adventures in the underworld.
Happy New Year From Sam Nougat
The bringing of a new year suggests reconciliation, a time for us to forgive our relatives any faults from last year. Or, ask them to forgive us.
A Game of Skill, Strategy, Chance
Since dating is already a game, it may be unwise to found a relationship on a shared passion for Sorry. Our writer ignores the meta-implications and tries to play by the rules.
Sexual Mechanics
Librarians are asked all types of questions, but few must be experts on the clap. Jessa Crispin reports from a sex library, where pustules and excitable virgins are just another part of the job.
Mix Tape for Dead Girl
Writing a eulogy once involved hours of revising and a good thesaurus.
Obsessions: Looking It Up
Continuing our series on personal obsessions, Paul Ford tells us about his passion for reference works, the more obscure the subject matter the better.