Most Read Essays


By year

Top 10 Essays of 2025

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Top 10 Essays of 2024

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Top 10 Essays of 2023

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Current

The ten most popular essays on the site (updated periodically).

1. Cole Rush

Ben Rector’s “Love Like This” changed my life | Read


2. Kambi Thandi

MF DOOM’s “Rhymes Like Dimes” changed my life | Read


3. JJ Tauil

Kendrick Lamar’s “Institutionalized” changed my life | Read


4. Millie De Chirico

Pixies’s “Debaser” changed my life | Read


5. Gaby Muiño

Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” changed my life | Read


6. Jasmin Annmary

India.Arie’s “Video” changed my life | Read


7. Jonathan Rooke

Vampire Weekend’s “Hannah Hunt” changed my life | Read


8. Hannah Vanbiber

Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” changed my life | Read


9. Tracy McKenna

David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” changed my life | Read


10. Lee Havlicek

Dead Man's Bones’ “My Body’s a Zombie for You” changed my life | Read


Discover more top-read essays on the By Artist page or By Participant page — just look for the trophies 🏆


Top Paid Posts

Grace’s Diary is a monthly paid-only series of personal stories and deep-cut discoveries by TSCML’s Editor-in-Chief, Grace Lilly.

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