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The Ponder Readers Awards
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
1
The Way Home is a Circle
2
The Extremist in the Family
3
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Trending
Crime
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
Inside the effort to pull minors from ‘the Blade,’ one of the most notorious sex-trafficking corridors in the United States.
Emily Baumgaertner Nunn·The New York Times·October 20259.1(8)
(3)
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
The Best Articles of 2026
The ranking locks January 1. Add your ratings and help pick the winners of 2026.
She Made Me Do It
Crime
She Made Me Do It
Ian Parker·The New Yorker·September 20267.8(6)
(3)
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
26
Crime
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
Heidi Blake·The New Yorker·June 20269.9(7)
(5)
The Whimsy and Heartbreak of America’s Garage Sales
Business
The Whimsy and Heartbreak of America’s Garage Sales
Caity Weaver·The Atlantic·June 20269.5(2)
(4)
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For Female Climbers, Dangers Go Beyond Avalanches and Storms
Charity:)rated 10/10
For Female Climbers, Dangers Go Beyond Avalanches and Storms
'An object of lust': How the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite became a controversial symbol of love and sex
Charity:)added & read
'An object of lust': How the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite became a controversial symbol of love and sex
When Bots Write Comedy, the Joke’s on Us
Charity:)rated 8/10 & added
When Bots Write Comedy, the Joke’s on Us
The Strange & Curious Tale of the Last True Hermit
evenelephantsforgetrated 9/10
The Strange & Curious Tale of the Last True Hermit
evenelephantsforgetjoined ponder
What happens when a lifesaving drug becomes intolerably expensive?
avandermillerwants to read
What happens when a lifesaving drug becomes intolerably expensive?
Scandals Catch Up to Private Chinese Hospitals, After Fortunes Are Made (Published 2018)
avandermillerrated
Scandals Catch Up to Private Chinese Hospitals, After Fortunes Are Made (Published 2018)
How Tree Rings Challenged the Myth of American Wilderness
colinadded
How Tree Rings Challenged the Myth of American Wilderness
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco
colinrated
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco
Secret Life of Eagles
Charity:)added & read
Secret Life of Eagles
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The Incredible Rise of North Korea’s Hacking Army
The Incredible Rise of North Korea’s Hacking Army
this marks my 300th article read on ponder! sweet
▲ 2colin5d· 1 reply
The Genetics of Being a Lightweight Drinker
The Genetics of Being a Lightweight Drinker
i understand the genetic predisposition to alcoholism a bit better now
▲ 2colin26d
Books and Screens
Books and Screens
Very thought provoking, but I suspect that this was written with the help of AI... which is very ironic considering the subject. This is only an allegation. I would be happy to be corrected. Regardless, the ideas are still sound, and this is an interesting take.
▲ 2colin27d· 1 reply
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
The NYT Audio version has about 8 minutes of extra writer commentary at the beginning.
▲ 1colinToday
Trial by Fire
Crime
Trial by Fire
David Grann·The New Yorker·August 20099.5(8)
(3)
The Tale of John and Ann Bender and Their Quest for Paradise
Crime
The Tale of John and Ann Bender and Their Quest for Paradise
Ned Zeman·Outside·May 20138.6(5)
(1)
Surviving What I Can’t Forgive
Crime
Surviving What I Can’t Forgive
Grace Spulak·The Cut·September 20269.5(4)
(5)
Could the Deaths at Camp Mystic Have Been Prevented?
Disaster
Could the Deaths at Camp Mystic Have Been Prevented?
Kerry Howley·Intelligencer·March 20269.6(5)
(4)
The Best Free Restaurant Bread in America
Food
The Best Free Restaurant Bread in America
Caity Weaver·The Atlantic·April 20269.0(3)
(3)
Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek
Disaster
Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek
John Branch·The New York Times·December 20129.4(5)
(5)
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco
Substances
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco
Heather Knight·The New York Times·September 20268.0(2)
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Why the Time Has Finally Come for Geothermal Energy
Kicking Robots
How Smart Cities are Being Reinvented After Natural Disasters
Best of 2026
Tetw.org · 108 essays · 3 saves
Fatal Distraction: Forgetting a Child in the Backseat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake. Is It a Crime?
Angels & Demons
Texas Flood Firsthand Account
Pulitzer Prize
Popular Books
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Top of This MonthShow more →
A death, a plagiarism scandal and a quest for revenge: the bizarre tale of Otto Z
Personal
A death, a plagiarism scandal and a quest for revenge: the bizarre tale of Otto Z
Alessio Perrone·The Guardian·October 2026
10.0(1)
(1)
The Simple Truth Behind Jane Doe’s Story
Crime
The Simple Truth Behind Jane Doe’s Story
Helen Lewis·The Atlantic·October 2026
9.0(3)
Federal Agents Have Detained More Than 500 American Citizens in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Human Rights
Federal Agents Have Detained More Than 500 American Citizens in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Nicole FoyRuth Talbot&Cengiz Yar&Ruth Talbot&Liliana Michelena&Bianca Fortis&Mariam Elba·ProPublica·October 2026
9.0(1)
They War-Gamed Dimming the Sun. It Went Even Worse Than You Think
Technology
They War-Gamed Dimming the Sun. It Went Even Worse Than You Think
Karl Mathiesen·Wired·October 2026
8.0(1)
Back to School, in Gaza
International
Back to School, in Gaza
Mosab Abu Toha·The New Yorker·October 2026
8.0(1)
What Are the Biggest Questions in Science Today? 100 Scientists Weigh In.
Science
What Are the Biggest Questions in Science Today? 100 Scientists Weigh In.
Bill Wasik·The New York Times·October 2026
8.0(1)
(1)
A Night Living in Penn Station
Culture
A Night Living in Penn Station
Anand Giridharadas·The New Yorker·September 2026
10.0(1)
(2)
Surviving What I Can’t Forgive
Crime
Surviving What I Can’t Forgive
Grace Spulak·The Cut·September 2026
9.5(4)
(5)
Top of 2026Show more →
Nature’s Super Feather
Nature
Nature’s Super Feather
Jim Robbins&Bryan Anselm·The New York Times·February 2026
10.0(1)
(1)
A death, a plagiarism scandal and a quest for revenge: the bizarre tale of Otto Z
Personal
A death, a plagiarism scandal and a quest for revenge: the bizarre tale of Otto Z
Alessio Perrone·The Guardian·October 2026
10.0(1)
(1)
Bird Song
Nature
Bird Song
Mya·allaboutbirds.org·May 2026
10.0(1)
Meet the bird that can fly 8,000 miles without stopping
Nature
Meet the bird that can fly 8,000 miles without stopping
Bruce M. Beehler·The Washington Post·February 2026
10.0(1)
(1)
The Death Poem Of Bob Marley
Music
The Death Poem Of Bob Marley
John Marcoux·COLUMBIA JOURNAL·July 2026
10.0(1)
(2)
A Night Living in Penn Station
Culture
A Night Living in Penn Station
Anand Giridharadas·The New Yorker·September 2026
10.0(1)
(2)
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
26
Crime
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
Heidi Blake·The New Yorker·June 2026
9.9(7)
(5)
The Way Home is a Circle
26
Philosophy
The Way Home is a Circle
ゆ 前·The Pilgrim Age·June 2026
9.8(5)
(10)
Recently added to readponder.comShow more →
'An object of lust': How the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite became a controversial symbol of love and sex
Art
'An object of lust': How the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite became a controversial symbol of love and sex
Matthew Wilson·BBC·October 2026
0.0
When Bots Write Comedy, the Joke’s on Us
Comedy
When Bots Write Comedy, the Joke’s on Us
Caroline Framke·The Atlantic·May 2026
8.0(1)
How Tree Rings Challenged the Myth of American Wilderness
History
How Tree Rings Challenged the Myth of American Wilderness
M.R. O'Connor·The New Yorker·October 2026
0.0
(1)
Secret Life of Eagles
Nature
Secret Life of Eagles
Sue Coletta·SueColetta.com·October 2021
0.0
Taylor Swift’s Audience Is Growing Up. Her Music Is Devolving.
Music
Taylor Swift’s Audience Is Growing Up. Her Music Is Devolving.
Spencer Kornhaber·The Atlantic·September 2026
0.0
An Appeal to the Young
History
An Appeal to the Young
Peter Kropotkin·The Anarchist Library·1880
8.0(1)
In Search of a Bigger Boom
History
In Search of a Bigger Boom
Alex Wellerstein·Restricted Data: A Nuclear History Blog·April 2017
6.0(1)
"Memento Mori", Said The Confessor
Culture
"Memento Mori", Said The Confessor
John David Pressman·Wrestlinggnon·February 2020
7.0(1)
Classics
Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek
Disaster
Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek
Fresh powder beckoned 16 expert skiers and snowboarders into the backcountry. Then the snow gave way.
John Branch·The New York Times·December 2012
9.4(5)
(5)
Sins of the Father
Personal
Sins of the Father
When Lesley Hu wanted to vaccinate her young son, her conspiracy-obsessed ex-husband went to unimaginable lengths to stop her.
Eric Pape·The Atavist Magazine·March 2023
9.3(4)
(2)
An Unbelievable Story of Rape
Crime
An Unbelievable Story of Rape
An 18-year-old said she was attacked at knifepoint. Then she said she made it up. That’s where our story begins.
T. Christian Miller&Ken Armstrong·ProPublica·December 2015
10.0(4)
(3)
The Fugitive Next Door
Personal
The Fugitive Next Door
Tim Brown seemed like a typical Florida retiree—he loved doting on his wife, fishing with friends, and flying his plane. But his life was built on a secret.
Greg Donahue·The Atavist Magazine·May 2022
9.0(3)
(1)
Promethea Unbound
Crime
Promethea Unbound
A child genius raised in poverty, she wanted to change the world. A horrific act of violence nearly destroyed her.
Mike Mariani·The Atavist Magazine·October 2017
9.3(3)
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
Crime
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
Inside the effort to pull minors from ‘the Blade,’ one of the most notorious sex-trafficking corridors in the United States.
Emily Baumgaertner Nunn·The New York Times·October 2025
9.1(8)
(3)
The Ponder Readers Awards
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
1
The Way Home is a Circle
2
The Extremist in the Family
3
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The Itch Nobody Can Scratch (Will Storr, Matter)
The End of Night
My Great-Great-Aunt Discovered Francium. And It Killed Her.
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The Best Articles of 2026
The ranking locks January 1. Add your ratings and help pick the winners of 2026.