Fiction

Books

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

The Publishing Mystery That No One Wants to Talk About

A minimally speaking autistic man just wrote a best-selling book. Or did he?

1:15 PM ET

an illustration of a person covered with medical tests — Illustration by Emma Cheng, M.D.

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 hammer against a blurred landscape background — Getty / The Atlantic

The Renovation

A short story

April 27, 2023

Illustration of tree in background casting a long late-afternoon shadow over three figures facing one another — Katherine Lam

Second Life

A story

March 10, 2023

Black-and-white image of snow falling between buildings — Thomas Prior

The Third Law of Magic

A short story

February 10, 2023

A black-and-white sketch of an Asian woman against a cream background. A sesame bagel is centered over her left eye. — Tyler Comrie / The Atlantic; Getty

Background

A short story

Elaine Hsieh Chou

January 30, 2023

A short glass of water, resting on a light brown table, with an olive green wall in the background. — Photography by Lauren Coleman for The Atlantic

The Generation

A short story

November 27, 2022

illustration of white statue of man holding toddler on shoulders covered in spray paint — Photo-illustration by Oliver Munday

Getting Up

A short story

October 15, 2022

A red flower in the woods. — Gareth Phillips

Hill Station

A short story

September 28, 2022

shorter stories books — Photograph by Katie Martin / The Atlantic

The Atlantic Presents: Shorter Stories

Fiction is often described as a mirror through which we see the world. What happens when a shard of glass must tell the entire story?

August 22, 2022

A comic panel depicts two characters having a difficult conversation across a desk. — Nick Drnaso

Acting Class

A short story

July 29, 2022

A cardboard box contains a collection of artifacts, including a photo of Malcolm X — Illustration by Ricardo Tomás. Sources: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer / Getty; Thomas Barwick / Getty

A Substitution

A short story

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh

June 21, 2022