Featured Archived
Seasons Episodes
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.

The Untold Story of Japan’s First People

In the 20th century, Japanese anthropologists and officials tried to hide the existence of the Indigenous Ainu. Then the Ainu fought back like their cousins, the bears.

Were Peace Medals the Price of Loyalty?

Among gifts, the peace medal is one of the most coveted—and complex.

How the Folsom Point Became an Archaeological Icon

Scientific discoveries usually involve many people working over long periods of time. But they are generally worth the wait.

Reconsidering How We Honor Those Lost to War

War monuments and memorials are a source of contention in the United States. It’s time to reimagine the ways we memorialize the heroes and victims of war.

The Revolutionary Power of Andean Folk Tales

Stories shared by diverse oppressed peoples of the Andes during Spanish colonialism gave witness to their suffering and helped to unite them in the face of exploitation.

The Lost City That’s Not Lost, Not a City, and Doesn’t Need to Be Discovered

Modern explorers can fly over a jungle to “discover” an ancient site, but the people living in those rainforests already have extensive knowledge about their region’s history. Here’s why researchers should work with residents—not over them.

The Fifth Beginning

Though world events may seem depressing in 2017, we are in the midst of a new age that will usher in global peace and cooperation.

Lessons From a Forgotten Amazonian Slaughter

Conservationists have long worried about the effects of subsistence hunting on animal populations in the Amazon. But species resilience and local knowledge complicate the story.

Why Do We Keep Using the Word “Caucasian”?

When a term signifies something that does not exist, we need to examine our use of it.

Who Started the First Fire?

Humans’ ability to control fire is among the most important technological advances in our evolutionary history. Research on Neanderthal cave sites in France is offering new insights on this old enigma.