What can we gain by looking another animal in the eye?

One writer’s journey to meet various creatures and the people who love them. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~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~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTY2JmxpPU1BJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQV8yMDI0MDYwNSZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDVXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [The New York Times Magazine](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9tYWdhemluZT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) June 5, 2024 [A golden dachshund with its fur standing on end lies on a green velvet couch.] Sam Anderson/The New York Times By [Sam Anderson](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvc2FtLWFuZGVyc29uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) To say that animals are a big part of our lives is silly. Animals *are* our lives. First of all, we are all animals. Everyone you know, everyone who has ever existed — parents, friends, children, rock stars, pharaohs, founding fathers — they’re animals. Mammals. It’s one of those facts that is so blindingly obvious it can be easy to forget, or to ignore altogether. (As Lewis Thomas wrote, 50 years ago, in “The Lives of a Cell”: “Nor is it a new thing for man to invent an existence that he imagines to be above the rest of life; this has been his most consistent intellectual exertion down the millennia.”) Lately, I’ve been thinking about animals constantly for a big new project: a podcast series called (you guessed it) “[Animal](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL2FuaW1hbC1wb2RjYXN0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD).” For many months, I traveled the world to have encounters with various creatures: puffins in Iceland, manatees in Florida, bats in Mexico. This week, in the magazine, I tell a story about one of my favorite animals on Earth: [Walnut](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyNC8wNS8zMS9tYWdhemluZS9kb2ctYW5pbWFscy1kZWF0aC1tb3J0YWxpdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), the golden floofy dog who happens to live in my house. [A detailed view of the fluffy fur of the dog Walnut.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyNC8wNS8zMS9tYWdhemluZS9kb2ctYW5pbWFscy1kZWF0aC1tb3J0YWxpdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) This is not even all of the floof. Sam Anderson Even now, as I type this note, he is sitting here on my lap. To be this close to a nonhuman creature, day by day, moment by moment, is a gift that can teach us all kinds of things — including, as Walnut will show, the power of persistence, the inevitability of loss and how to love again. [— Sam Anderson](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvc2FtLWFuZGVyc29uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) WALNUT AND ME This essay is drawn from ‘Animal,’ a [new Times podcast](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYW5pbWFsP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) about one man’s quest to get closer to the animals he loves. ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyNC8wNS8zMS9tYWdhemluZS9kb2ctYW5pbWFscy1kZWF0aC1tb3J0YWxpdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~ Animations by Gaia Alari What My Dog Taught Me About Mortality Walnut rescued me from death more than once—but not in the way you might think. By Sam Anderson ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTYzJmxpPU1BJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQV8yMDI0MDYwNSZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDVXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTYzJmxpPU1BJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQV8yMDI0MDYwNSZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDVXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) IN A BROKEN WORLD, WHAT CAN WE GAIN BY LOOKING ANOTHER ANIMAL IN THE EYE? Join the writer Sam Anderson on a six-part, round-the-world journey in search of an answer. [[Article Image] Drew Colby](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS0xLXdhbG51dC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Animal Episode 1: Walnut A hole in Sam’s floor sparks a crisis.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS0xLXdhbG51dC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [play button] 13 MIN LISTEN [[Article Image] Drew Colby](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS0yLXB1ZmZpbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Animal Episode 2: Puffins As his daughter prepares to leave for college, Sam visits a remote island.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS0yLXB1ZmZpbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [play button] 44 MIN LISTEN [[Article Image] Drew Colby](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS0zLW1hbmF0ZWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Animal Episode 3: Manatees Sam makes his underwater dreams a reality.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS0zLW1hbmF0ZWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [play button] 32 MIN LISTEN [[Article Image] Drew Colby](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS00LWZlcnJldHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Animal Episode 4: Ferrets Sam soothes his anxiety by visiting a convention center in Ohio.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS00LWZlcnJldHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [play button] 36 MIN LISTEN [[Article Image] Drew Colby](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS01LXdvbHZlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Animal Episode 5: Wolves On a taxi ride, Sam meets a Chihuahua.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS01LXdvbHZlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [play button] 34 MIN LISTEN [[Article Image] Drew Colby](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS02LWJhdHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Animal Episode 6: Bats Sam stares into another hole.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNS8zMC9wb2RjYXN0cy9hbmltYWwtZXBpc29kZS02LWJhdHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [play button] 41 MIN LISTEN Stay in touch: Like this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP4RAAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hLzNvWDNlSExkS0VxX2dNcXpmckkwNUF-fi9BQUFBQVFBfi9SZ1JsclFCX1AwVFNhSFIwY0hNNkx5OTNkM2N1Ym5sMGFXMWxjeTVqYjIwdmJtVjNjMnhsZEhSbGNuTXZiV0ZuWVhwcGJtVV9ZMkZ0Y0dGcFoyNWZhV1E5TlRJbVpXMWpQV1ZrYVhSZmJXRmZNakF5TXpBeE1qQW1hVzV6ZEdGdVkyVmZhV1E5T0RNeE5UVW1ibXc5ZEdobExXNWxkeTE1YjNKckxYUnBiV1Z6TFcxaFoyRjZhVzVsSm5KbFoybGZhV1E5TWprNE9ERXpNelVtYzJWbmJXVnVkRjlwWkQweE1qSTVPVGNtZEdVOU1TWjFjMlZ5WDJsa1BUZzNOakprWWpNek1qSXpNamxtTmpnd1pEQTBOREl6WWpnMlpXWmlORGhoVndOdWVYUkNDbVBJZjN2S1kxQlBWaHhTRVdKc1lXdGxRRzU1ZEdsdFpYTXVZMjl0V0FRQUFBQUE_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) to get the magazine newsletter. For narrated versions of our articles and more audio journalism, [download New York Times Audio](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP4RQAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hL0d4RV9RWXJVYmczV3V4NjJDY25yeWd-fi9BQUFBQVFBfi9SZ1JtYnNYV1AwVGFhSFIwY0hNNkx5OWhjSEJ6TG1Gd2NHeGxMbU52YlM5MWN5OWhjSEF2Ym5sMExXRjFaR2x2TDJsa01UVTBPVEk1TXprek5qOWpZVzF3WVdsbmJsOXBaRDAxTWlabGJXTTlaV1JwZEY5dFlWOHlNREl6TURZeE5pWnBibk4wWVc1alpWOXBaRDA1TlRFME9DWnViRDEwYUdVdGJtVjNMWGx2Y21zdGRHbHRaWE10YldGbllYcHBibVVtY21WbmFWOXBaRDA0TnpnME56QTVOU1p6WldkdFpXNTBYMmxrUFRFek5UZzJNaVowWlQweEpuVnpaWEpmYVdROVptRXdPRE01TkRsbFlXSXhORGRpTkRVMVlUbGhNamN6TVRsaU16ZzBNR1JYQTI1NWRFSUtaSGpXUUl4azA1RGlPRklWYVhaaExtUnBlR2wwUUc1NWRHbHRaWE11WTI5dFdBUUFBQUFBP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), a new iOS app available for news subscribers. ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTM1MzM5JmxpPU1BJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQV8yMDI0MDYwNSZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDVXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTM1MzM5JmxpPU1BJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQV8yMDI0MDYwNSZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDVXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving The New York Times Magazine, [unsubscribe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3B0b3V0P2VtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZwcm9kdWN0PU1BJnNlbmRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdG9rZW49NjUxYWVmMGZmNTRiZTVjNmU0ZGJhZTdjMGE4ZTgyMWQ2ZmMxNWNjODdkOTc1Njc1MDAyMGI4OTZkMTY3ZmRlMTk5MWE1ZWYwMjBhZGJmYTdlNDAwMjJhOTU4Njc4MjYzVwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, [manage your email settings](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvbWFuYWdlP2VtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZzZW5kX2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnRva2VuPWU1NDczNjk5MDEwYWFmNTlkYjk3OTVkNDNlNTFhYzYxZjcxM2Q4MzRiNzcwZDExNDFjNmYwM2JiNDgyZTY0NTRjY2JmMjY1YWYxOTMyNTAwNmYwYjUxYWYwODY3MWJhOFcDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, [submit a request](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9yZXF1ZXN0cy9uZXc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). [Subscribe to The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OVJYNzgmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Get The New York Times app](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VydmljZXMvbW9iaWxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Connect with us on: [twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TBaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ueXRtYWc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9ueXRtYWcvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Change Your Email](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TTaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtL2VtYWlsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTImZW1jPWVkaXRfbWFfMjAyNDA2MDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTI1NDU5Jm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY4NzkxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Privacy Policy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29udGVudC9oZWxwL3JpZ2h0cy9wcml2YWN5L3BvbGljeS9wcml2YWN5LXBvbGljeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUyJmVtYz1lZGl0X21hXzIwMjQwNjA1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyNTQ1OSZubD10aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtbWFnYXppbmUmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2ODc5MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZlXhw2BmJlUCUlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[Contact Us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtYmVyY2VudGVyL2hlbHAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[California Notices](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHJpdmFjeS9jYWxpZm9ybmlhLW5vdGljZT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjU0NTkmbmw9dGhlLW5ldy15b3JrLXRpbWVzLW1hZ2F6aW5lJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjg3OTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmZV4cNgZiZVAlJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [LiveIntent Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vcG93ZXJlZC1ieT90ZT0xJm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNVcDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[AdChoices Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoQ0jhP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vYWQtY2hvaWNlcz90ZT0xJm5sPXRoZS1uZXcteW9yay10aW1lcy1tYWdhemluZSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYV8yMDI0MDYwNVcDbnl0QgpmVeHDYGYmVQJSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018