The Batman of Obscenity, the Spy Who Couldn't Spell + 23 more ...

March 30, 2020 8:25 AM

Looking for a distraction? Here are 25 of our favourite long reads. Thank you Guardian.
posted by philip-random (8 comments total)

These are great, thanks for posting!
posted by chavenet at 9:20 AM on March 30, 2020

Now I am wondering who is the Alfred of obscenity, the Commissioner Gordon of obscenity
posted by thelonius at 9:23 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]

I listened to a few of those long reads as podcasts before. I fondly remember the one at the top about the oil rig run ashore, audio version here.

I think the one about the fake embassy in Ghana was good too.
posted by Ashenmote at 9:34 AM on March 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

I thought it was interesting that the article about the people with HSAM (Highly Superior Autobiographical Memories) didn't mention A R Luria's book "The Mind of a Mnemonist", which is where I first encountered someone like this (although in this case, the subject remembered everything, not just what he was personally doing).

If you haven't read it, do so.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 10:38 AM on March 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

I would like to read a story about the Batman of fake embassies.
posted by storybored at 11:11 AM on March 30, 2020 [3 favorites]

Oh my goodness, THANK YOU
posted by Salamander at 3:32 AM on March 31, 2020

The one about the Squatty Potty was the BEST, I learned so much more about pooping than I ever knew I needed to know. It was also brilliantly written!
posted by honey-barbara at 4:32 AM on March 31, 2020

Another good long read:

The perils of being your own doctor
When an experienced physician became convinced he had ALS, none of the specialists he consulted could persuade him he was perfectly healthy
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:40 AM on March 31, 2020 [2 favorites]