22-02-2025
The Art of Splitting Up
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Just as the institution of marriage has evolved, so has the institution of divorce. In a review of Haley Mlotek's new divorce memoir, the writer Rachel Vorona Cote traces the introduction of 'no fault ' divorce—a split without the designation of blame. California was the first state to legalize such divorces, in 1969; New York, in 2010, was the last.
Sometimes, splitting up involves placing or sharing blame. Other times, it's more simply about making a new choice for where you want life to take you—but simplicity doesn't mean ease. Today's reading list rounds up Atlantic stories on saying goodbye.
On Splitting Up
By Lori Gottlieb
How I Demolished My Life
By Honor Jones
The High Cost of Divorce
By Olga Khazan
Still Curious?
Other Diversions
The fantasy of a nonprofit dating app
Want to change your personality? Have a baby.
The ultimate antidote to toxic behavior online
P.S.
Each week, I ask readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. Sarah C. from Northville, New York, shared this photo, taken by her husband, of the 'peaceful, vibrant colors of fall on our beach, located on the Great Sacandaga Lake.'
I'll continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks. If you'd like to share, reply to this email with a photo and a short description so we can share your wonder with fellow readers in a future edition of this newsletter or on our website. Please include your name (initials are okay), age, and location. By doing so, you agree that The Atlantic has permission to publish your photo and publicly attribute the response to you, including your first name and last initial, age, and/or location that you share with your submission.
