We celebrate our independence every year on Fourth of July. But there are other ways to think about independence besides commemorating the throwing-out of our tyrannical British overlords (and their goddamn baking shows). Lifelong bachelorhood, for example — or its bitter cousin, divorce. For some, independence is as simple as finally figuring out how to break free of an annoying co-worker or neighbor; for others, it’s the inspiration to start their own country. In extreme cases — such as conjoined twins undergoing separation — it’s a matter of life and death. You’ll read about all these things and more over the next five days. Or maybe you won’t—it’s up to you. It’s a free country, after all.
The Stories:
- How Bachelorhood Shaped the Founding of America
- How to Break Up: The Annoying Neighbor
- For Conjoined Twins, Independence is Dangerous—and Unwanted
- How to Break Up: The Salesman
- Scenes From a Divorce Party
- How to Break Up: The Coworker
- Family Plans Forever
- How to Break Up: The Therapist
- What Starting My Own Country Taught Me About Independence
- How to Break Up: The Company With Bad Customer Service That You Can’t Escape From
