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Table of contents
Introduction 0 Why Write for the Public? 1 What to Expect, from Pitch to Publication 2 How to Write a Pitch 3 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 1: Structure 4 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 2: Style 5 Navigating Ethics and Reducing Harms 6 Habits of Thriving Public Anthropologists 7 Cultivating the Craft of Writing 8
Table of contents
Introduction 0 Why Write for the Public? 1 What to Expect, from Pitch to Publication 2 How to Write a Pitch 3 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 1: Structure 4 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 2: Style 5 Navigating Ethics and Reducing Harms 6 Habits of Thriving Public Anthropologists 7 Cultivating the Craft of Writing 8
Announcement

After ten years of exploring humanity in all its diversity, SAPIENS has concluded its publishing chapter.

While the magazine has closed, its living archive endures—open to all and preserving the many ideas, voices, and discoveries that deepen our understanding of what it means to be human.

When Marine Mammals Clash With Archaeological Heritage

On California’s San Miguel Island, seals and sea lions are taking a heavy toll on the area’s cultural treasures.

Native American Children’s Historic Forced Assimilation

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States government used family separation and schools to try to erase Native American children’s traditional cultures and languages. A newly published archive of photographs visually documents some Indigenous peoples’ struggle for survival.

Spy Plane Photos Open Windows Into Ancient Worlds

Decades-old photography from the U-2 spy program now offers a time machine to see traces of the historical and ancient past.

The Life and Meaning of Margaret Mead

The famous anthropologist argued that non-Western cultures offered alternative, often better, ways to be human. Why was she so vilified for it?

What Really Happened at Herculaneum?

A new study offers insight into the lives lost when Italy’s Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79.

Archaeology Is Having a Great Century So Far

Here’s why satellite imagery, lidar scans, ancient DNA analyses, and more are helping scientists break open the past. 

How to Resurrect Dying Languages

Community activists are using creative methods to revive endangered languages and reawaken dormant ones.

Can This Indigenous Language Thrive in a Digital Age?

A majority of Paraguayans speak Guaraní despite centuries of colonialism and suppression. Now activists want the written language to flourish online too.

Why Did Chinese Farmers Switch to Wheat?

A shift in ancient Chinese crops shows how agricultural practices can help or hinder food production in the face of environmental change.

Digging Up Woodstock

An archaeological investigation of the famous festival site unearthed evidence hidden in the haze of memory.