Looking for something to read during the holidays? Try some of these essays from throughout 2014.

There's so many! Going to include a few favorites below.

The Truth About Chicago’s Crime Rates (April 11)

David Bernstein, Noah Isackson | Chicago Magazine | April 7, 2014 | 27 minutes (6,980 words)

The city’s drop in crime has been nothing short of miraculous. Here’s what’s behind the unbelievable numbers.

No Exit: ‘Your Feeling of Autonomy Is a Fantasy’ (April 25)

Gideon Lewis-Kraus | Wired | April 23, 2014 | 42 minutes (10,559 words)

A remarkable inside look at the hope, desperation, and financial realities for startups and founders working in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

For Hire: Dedicated Young Man With Down Syndrome(May 30)

Michael Bérubé | Al Jazeera America | May 25, 2014 | 14 minutes (3,549 words)

A father reflects on his son’s job search.

The Boy with Half a Brain (Aug. 29)

Michael Rubino | Indianapolis Monthly | Aug. 26, 2014 | 19 minutes (4,866 words)

Jeff and Tiernae Buttars made a difficult decision to have a portion of their son’s brain surgically removed to eliminate his seizures. The decision changed all of their lives.

Jackie’s Goodbye (Oct. 10)

Tiffany Stanley | National Journal | Oct. 7, 2014 | 40 minutes (10,103 words)

A heartbreaking account of the emotional and financial toll of Alzheimer’s, from the perspective of a woman who must care for her aunt.

The Disgrace of Our Criminal Justice (Nov. 28)

David Cole | The New York Review of Books | November 28, 2014 | 15 minutes (3,770 words)

Cole examines three books that highlight what is wrong with America’s justice system, and why incarceration rates are so high.