What do Generation Z, God, Jordan Peterson, sex and not growing up have in common? I’d be curious to hear your answer. Mine is, of course, the Culture section of The Economist. All these subjects have featured in some of our most-read stories of the year.

We try to take a broad view of cultural trends and subjects that are likely to fascinate readers. And it has been a terrific year: our piece examining whether, and why, young adults are refusing to grow up, for example, was the third-most-read piece published by The Economist in 2024. If your holiday season is anything like mine, this can be a rewarding time to retreat and catch up on some long-anticipated reading. Here’s a handy guide to the Culture highlights you may have missed.