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Fighting COVID-19 and Racial Injustice, Buchanan, Michigan, Is the Nicest Place in America
In 2020, we received a record number 1,177 story submissions to our annual search for the Nicest Places in America...
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A Bear Followed Me on a Camping Trip—And We Developed a Real Friendship
The author had heard about wild animals 
that bonded with humans. But this 
seven-foot Goliath had claws that could shred...
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This Woman Was Trapped in Her Car on an Embankment for Days Before Concerned Neighbors Found Her
Trapped in her car down an embankment, Corine began to lose hope...
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Are Exorcisms Real? 12 True Exorcism Stories
The belief that evil spirits can possess humans has been terrifying people throughout history. That's probably why the history of...
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I Was Personally Blamed for the Terrorist Attacks on 9/11—Here’s What Happened
You've heard a whole host of stories about the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but you probably haven't heard this one.
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How I Escaped from Cuba in 1969 in the Wheel Well of a Jet
This RD classic from 50 years ago tells the thrilling story of a teen who made
 a daring escape...
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A Girl Wrote a Simple Thank You Note to Her Postman and Got Hundreds of Responses
The appreciation delivered by an 11-year-old girl is returned to sender—from grateful postal service employees nationwide.
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This Tattoo Artist Helps People with Scars Love Their Body Again
The first fingernail tattoos started off as a joke—but soon he was getting the attention of people from all...
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I’m the Only Black Person in My Office, Here’s What I Wish My Coworkers Knew
It can be really uncomfortable and isolating being the only Black person in your office, as this writer knows from...
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How I Visited 20 Countries in One Year for $250 a Week
Country-hopping doesn't have to bring you to the brink of broke. You just have to know how to do it.
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Here’s How I Survived a Shark Attack
Mike Coots was surfing with his buddies near his home in Kauai when he was attacked by a shark. He...
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10 People Who Literally Came Back to Life
Thanks to state of the art medical technology—like defibrillators in nearly every place of business—life after death is more possible...
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When 20 Miners Became Stranded in an Elevator Shaft, One Man Transported Them All to Safety
Below the trapped miners was an empty elevator shaft, 2,000 feet deep....
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21 Extraordinary Stories of Generosity That Will Stay with You
These acts of kindness—big and small—speak to the generosity of the American spirit.
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7 Inventors Who Regretted Their Inventions
What do Labradoodles, Mother’s Day, and emoticons have in common? Their creators rue the day they thought them up.
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12 LGBTQ Activists Who Have Changed American History
It's hard to imagine where gay pride would be without the work and efforts of these LGBTQ leaders and countless...
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Why It’s So Much Harder for Black Women to Make It in the Fashion World
A Black model explains why increasing diversity doesn’t just help those in the industry—it ensures that all people of color...
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8 Hotel Mysteries That Are Still Unsolved
From murders to disappearances, these unsolved mysteries all have hotels in common.
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13 True Stories That Show What Happens When You Don’t Social-Distance
Before you dismiss the guidelines as silly or unnecessary, read this.
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I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here’s What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back
While you may not have been quite this isolated over the last few months, reentry into life after lockdown...
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16 Famous “Failures” of Wildly Successful People
From Oprah to Einstein, your favorite figures have seen their fair share of famous "failures," mistakes, mishaps and losses
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5 Split-Second Decisions People Made That Saved Their Own Lives
Kidnapped at gunpoint? Cornered by a mountain lion? Stranded in a snowstorm? These everyday people saved their own lives with...
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In a Freak Accident, This Woman Was Shot in the Neck with an Arrow and It Ended Up Saving Her Life
After a backyard accident 
almost kills her, a Texas woman is taken 
on a miraculous medical journey.
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I Rescue 100 Cats a Year—Here’s What I Want You to Know
Each day a cat is rescued is an emotional rollercoaster of heartache and triumph, and Denise wouldn't have it any...
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14 Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Above and Beyond Their Call of Duty
These (and all) nurses deserve a major thank you.
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This Man Beheaded a Snake—And It Still Bit Him
When Jeremy Sutcliffe decapitated the poisonous rattler threatening his wife, he assumed that would be the end of it. He...
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The Heart-Wrenching Moment That Led to the Idea of the Red Cross
From tragedy, sprung hope.
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10 Clever Ways People Are Celebrating Birthdays Under Quarantine
While COVID-19 may have limited people's abilities to actively go out and celebrate their birthdays, that doesn't mean creative celebrations...
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14 Nurses Share Stories of Positive Moments Behind-the-Scenes of COVID-19
These frontline workers spend lots of time bedside—bringing joy to patients and fellow nurses. Here's a glimpse at how they've...