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Ask HN: What periodicals have great long-form articles?

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Re: Ask HN: What periodicals have great long-form articles?

#31

Post by onychomys »

folli wrote: post #16

For science-related articles, I'd recommend Science and Nature.

Speaking here as a scientist, I wouldn't. That's for a couple of reasons:

1. They're really, really expensive. 2. They're extremely technical, and you're unlikely to know enough about all the various fields that publish in them to be able to read through them cover to cover. And if you're only reading a single article, why pay that really expensive cost? 3. They have the reputation of publishing what's sexy, not what's necessarily well done. They've published some crappy science over the years just because they'll get a lot of attention for it.

Instead, I'd recommend American Scientist[0], which is today what Scientific American was 30 years ago, while Scientific American has become what Discover was 30 years ago. It's well written for a general audience while still covering a wide range of subjects, and it's reasonably priced.

[0]https://www.americanscientist.org

Re: Ask HN: What periodicals have great long-form articles?

#33

Post by olympus »

matthewmcg wrote: post #8

I'd recommend subscribing to the New Yorker. You're supporting great writing and there's enough incredible pieces in the archives for a lifetime of reading. For example, John Hersey's piece "Hiroshima"[1] is perhaps one of the most consequential pieces of 20th century long-form journalism and also an engrossing read. It was later published as a short book. [1]: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1946/08/31/hiroshima?…

I'll offer a counter opinion. I subscribed to the New Yorker for almost a year. The New Yorker leans hard left politically and it was really tiring. I consider myself a moderate progressive and got tired of the condescending tone that most writers used against any person or group that wasn't like them. I feel like it's okay to have an opinion that's different than mine but you don't need to ridicule other people and shove it down their throats constantly. The majority of the articles they published were political.

There were the occasional gems but not enough to justify me continuing my subscription and wading through each issue. The good stories show up on longform.org anyway.

Re: Ask HN: What periodicals have great long-form articles?

#36

Post by tdubhro1 »

olympus wrote: post #33
matthewmcg wrote: post #8

I'd recommend subscribing to the New Yorker. You're supporting great writing and there's enough incredible pieces in the archives for a lifetime of reading. For example, John Hersey's piece "Hiroshima"[1] is perhaps one of the most consequential pieces of 20th century long-form journalism and also an engrossing read. It was later published as a short book. [1]: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1946/08/31/hiroshima?…

I'll offer a counter opinion. I subscribed to the New Yorker for almost a year. The New Yorker leans hard left politically and it was really tiring. I consider myself a moderate progressive and got tired of the condescending tone that most writers used against any person or group that wasn't like them. I feel like it's okay to have an opinion that's different than mine but you don't need to ridicule other people and…

I cancelled my subscription after enduring about a year of issues dominated by articles on gun control and anti-Trump. There is the occasional gem but as a European, living in Europe, the editorial policy became monotonous and lacking self-awareness. Oh and they never miss an opportunity to use the word coordinate.

Re: Ask HN: What periodicals have great long-form articles?

#37

Post by tdubhro1 »

onychomys wrote: post #31
folli wrote: post #16

For science-related articles, I'd recommend Science and Nature.

Speaking here as a scientist, I wouldn't. That's for a couple of reasons: 1. They're really, really expensive. 2. They're extremely technical, and you're unlikely to know enough about all the various fields that publish in them to be able to read through them cover to cover. And if you're only reading a single article, why pay that really expensive cost? 3. They have the reputation of publishing what's sexy, not what…

American Scientist looks promising, I was so disappointed when Scientific American lowered their standards and simultaneously became obsessed with climate change coverage at the expense of the previous diversity and depth they were so wonderful at. I love reading back issues from the 80s and earlier (my earliest copies from 1956 are a joy).

Re: Ask HN: What periodicals have great long-form articles?

#38

Post by deisner »

tdubhro1 wrote: post #36
olympus wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll offer a counter opinion. I subscribed to the New Yorker for almost a year. The New Yorker leans hard left politically and it was really tiring. I consider myself a moderate progressive and got tired of the condescending tone that most writers used against any person or group that wasn't like them. I feel like it's okay to have an opinion that's different than mine but you don't need to ridicule other people and…

I cancelled my subscription after enduring about a year of issues dominated by articles on gun control and anti-Trump. There is the occasional gem but as a European, living in Europe, the editorial policy became monotonous and lacking self-awareness. Oh and they never miss an opportunity to use the word coordinate.

I think you meant to say "coördinate". :^) I've been a subscriber for almost two decades now. If I had to subscribe to just one magazine, The New Yorker would be it.

The article I'm currently reading: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/19/reddit-and-the...

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