The Guardian has unveiled its definitive list of the most compelling long-form journalism published in 2025. This annual selection highlights twenty pieces of in-depth reporting, essays, and profiles that captivated readers with their narrative power and investigative rigour.
A Literary and Political Lens on Global Affairs
The collection opens with a penetrating profile of the enigmatic Russian novelist Victor Pelevin. Sophie Pinkham's piece explores how the writer, who rose to fame in the 1990s with satires of authoritarianism, has become a symbol of Russia's moral decay under Vladimir Putin. While his peers face censorship or exile, Pelevin continues to sell millions of books, raising difficult questions about complicity and artistic survival.
From the literary world to the brutal realities of war, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad presents the harrowing story of Mustafa, a Syrian conscripted into the regime's forces at age 18 to escape prison. After fourteen years, his past as one of Assad's fighters now threatens his life in the conflict's aftermath, illustrating the impossible choices and enduring scars of civil war.
Unearthing Controversies: From Ancient Skulls to Modern Scandals
Science and history feature prominently, with Scott Sayare's investigation into the bitter feud over the Toumaï skull. Discovered in Chad's Djurab desert in 2001, these fossilised remains were hailed as rewriting human origins, but the ensuing academic dispute has consumed scholars' lives for decades.
Closer to home, Charlotte Higgins examines the profound crisis engulfing the British Museum. Beset by colonial legacy controversies, financial woes, and an internal theft scandal, the institution faces a monumental challenge to restore its global reputation and public trust.
Profiles in Power, Crime, and Digital Fame
The list also scrutinises contemporary figures and phenomena. Daniel Trilling analyses Prime Minister Keir Starmer's curiously mixed record on human rights, questioning why the former lawyer has been cautious in defending international law. Meanwhile, Mark O'Connell deconstructs the phenomenon of MrBeast, the YouTube superstar known for extravagant stunts and giveaways, pondering whether his videos are mere clickbait or a form of avant-garde genius.
From the shadow of Meir Kahane's extremist ideology on modern Israeli politics to Qatar's emergence as a global diplomatic capital, the selection spans continents and themes. It includes shocking revelations about radioactive food tests on Indian women in 1960s Coventry and the tragic story of Craig, a boy Pamela Gordon met when he was 13 and homeless, whose life ended in preventable tragedy.
These twenty pieces, chosen as the best of the year, demonstrate the enduring power of slow, thoughtful journalism to illuminate the complexities of our world, from the highest corridors of power to the most intimate human experiences.
