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.

No One Right Way to Peace

International doctrines don’t always work as expected. In fact, some violence is stoked by the rules that are meant to suppress it.

Could Group-Organized Violence Be Rooted in Empathy?

The evolution of empathy may have conferred both the advantage of mercy and the tradeoffs of killing.

Compassion Sets Humans Apart

Much attention has focused on the apparent violence in humanity’s distant past. But evidence of kindness and care is much more widespread.

How Have Attitudes Toward Extremism Changed Over Time?

Language exerts a powerful influence on our perceptions of the world. Looking closely at the way we use words can reveal deep-seated cultural biases.

When It’s Not Safe to Sleep

The sleep patterns of the homeless reveal the vulnerabilities of street life.

Three Lessons I Learned From Charlottesville

The recent violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, likely won’t be the last attempt by white supremacists to stoke racial conflict. An anthropologist offers insights to other communities that might face similar challenges.

Is Violence Embedded in Our DNA?

Some research suggests that throughout our evolution an innate tendency toward fighting shaped human anatomy. But anthropologists are sharply divided on the matter.

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.

How Our Modern Lifestyles Perpetuate Slavery

“Human trafficking” brings to mind sex slavery and extreme human rights abuses. But an equally pernicious, lesser-known form of slavery persists in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Inside Kashmir—A Heroic Fight for Justice

Razia Sultan has faced persecution, imprisonment, and torture in Kashmir since she was 16 years old. Her courageous story highlights how India’s military occupation of Kashmir has impacted the region’s women and shaped their struggles for survival and dignity.