Jon Mooallem, a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, is the author of Wild Ones and American Hippopotamus, the latest story from The Atavist. "I'm terrible at writing nut graphs. I never know why people should keep reading. That’s the menace of my professional existence, trying to figure that out. Because often you have to explain that to an editor before you even start, and I may not even know while I'm writing what the bigger point is." Thanks to TinyLetter for sponsoring this week's episode. Show notes: @jmooallem jonmooallem.com Mooallem on Longform [2:00] Longform Podcast #4: Jon Mooallem [3:00] American Hippopotamus (The Atavist • Dec 2013) [5:45] Wild Ones (Penguin • 2013) [11:00] Pop-Up Magazine [20:30] "Structure" (John McPhee • New Yorker • Jan 2013) [27:15] Burnham: King of Scouts (Peter van Wyk • Trafford Publishing • 2003) [32:15] Episode 91: Wild Ones Live (99% Invisible • Oct 2013) [40:00] "Who Would Kill a Monk Seal?" (New York Times Magazine • May 2013) [40:00] "There’s a Reason They Call Them 'Crazy Ants'" (New York Times Magazine • Dec 2013) [42:45] "Pigeon Wars" (New York Times Magazine • Oct 2006) [46:15] "What's a Monkey to Do in Tampa?" (New York Times Magazine • Aug 2012) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices