Fiction

Books

sketch illustration of a hand writing in pencil on lined paper, with another hand guiding it from above. — Illustration by The Atlantic

Is Woody Brown the Author of Woody Brown’s Best-Selling Novel?

Upward Bound has gotten rave reviews and celebrity endorsements, but experts question its authenticity.

1:15 PM ET

an illustration of a person covered with medical tests — Illustration by Emma Cheng, MD

The Paradox of Modern Medicine

Testing has become so advanced that doctors now miss important elements of diagnosis.

Meghan O’Rourke

7:30 AM ET

Grid collage of Lena Dunham image — Illustration by Lucy Naland. Source: Theo Wargo / Getty.

What Does Lena Dunham Want to Tell Us?

Her new memoir captures the cost of being an impossibly popular target.

April 14, 2026

Red-and-black illustration of medieval-style woodcut with red figures of the seven deadly sins surrounding a gothic-arched frame surrounding a winged devil wearing modern clothes, walking and staring at a smartphone. — Illustration by Laurie Avon

The Eighth Deadly Sin

Humankind has devised a new form of debasement.

April 14, 2026

What To Read

Two people holding books to their ears like phones — David Avazzadeh / Connected Archives

Six Books That Simply Must Be Talked About

These six books demand discussion—with a pal, a date, or a book club.

March 10, 2026

A photo of a book with animals coming out of the bucolic field pictured on its cover. — Illustration by Paul Spella / The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Nine Books to Reset Your View of the World

Each of these titles will widen your perspective, offering you original insight and vision.

Deb Olin Unferth

February 25, 2026

A colored-pencil illustration of people reading on the train — Illustration by Pat Thomas

Seven Books to Read When You Have No Time to Read

These titles are worth picking up, even if you have only a moment to spare.

February 3, 2026

A video illustration of a book set against moving clouds — Illustration by Li Anne Liew for The Atlantic

Six Books You Can Get Lost In

These novels highlight the power—both good and bad—of unchecked fantasizing.

January 6, 2026

Latest

A green bowl upside down on a reddish-brown wood table, with spilled milk and Cheerios to its right. A silver spoon lies upside down in the milk. — Dean Belcher / Gallery Stock

Relatable Mom

A short story

Curtis Sittenfeld

March 30, 2025

A painted depiction of birds flying in energetic brush strokes — Illustration by Anna Morrison

Bird Strike

A short story

February 25, 2025

Rows of empty beige office cubicles with a paper print-out of a bright-yellow flower taped outside one of them — Photo-illustration by Ben Denzer. Source: Paul Denzer.

The Moron Factory

A short story

George Saunders

February 14, 2025

photo of people sitting on rocks next to water with fall foliage — Brian Kanagaki for The Atlantic

American Realism

A short story

January 4, 2025

A woman stands next to a movie-set facade of a row of brownstone buildings propped up from behind. A boy wearing a backpack runs down a set of front steps. — Illustration by Katherine Lam

Zamboni

A short story

December 7, 2024

A photo of a red-orange cup on a wooden table, with shadows behind — Laura Letinsky / Gallery Stock

Case Study

A short story

October 26, 2024

A bar at night, with an illuminated pink sign in the center and folded up tables along its windows — Photograph by Emile Ducke

The Ghosts of Wannsee

A short story

September 28, 2024

Image of the back of a girl's head as she looks towards the coast — Photograph by Keerthana Kunnath for The Atlantic

Spit

A short story

August 25, 2024

photo of long-haired woman facing away from camera and backlit by golden sunlight — Max Miechowski / Redux

Beauty

A short story

August 3, 2024

Two women with long hair and large bags, in shadow, reach for tomatoes under a farmers'-market tent — Illustration by Grace J. Kim

My Twin

A short story

July 12, 2024