RDAU_2026-ISSUE0809_DIGITAL MAGAZINE

IMAGE CREDIT: ANDRIY ONUFRIYENKO/GETTY IMAGES 4 Dear Reader everyday heroes 6 Under the Sweltering Sky by john rosengren 13 things 40 13 Things About Horse Racing by moira and tom fanning life well lived 96 Finding Refuge in Each Other by brett w. summers from the boston globe everyday heroes 100 The Best Kind of Auto Care by sydney page from the washington post 88 Brain Games 138 The ORBISCULATE Challenge, Just the Ticket, Hashtag House and More 142 Word Power The Healthy 49 When the Body Attacks Itself by patricia varacallo DO 54 News from the World of Medicine by kristine gasbarre 88 Fiber Optics by rachael moeller gorman from eating well Departments just for fun 114 Why Did The (Rubber) Chicken Cross the Road? by byard duncan from slate the list 125 The Dink , and More book review 129 Remembering Elysha by paul folino gallo Quotable Quotes 136 Issa Rae, Ocean Vuong, Ilona Maher and more Humour Life ����������������������������� 11 Humour in Uniform �������������������� 45 All in a Day’sWork �� 47 Laughter ������������������� 58 VOL. 212, NO. 1238, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 READER’S DIGEST IS PUBLISHED UNDER LICENCE BY DIRECT PUBLISHING PTY LTD., 431 WARRINGAH ROAD, FRENCHS FOREST, NSW 2086, © 2025 DIRECT PUBLISHING PTY LTD (ABN 81000565471) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, REPRODUCTION IN ANY MANNER INWHOLE OR PART IN ENGLISH OR OTHER LANGUAGES PROHIBITED. REQUESTS FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT ANY MATERIAL FROM READER’S DIGEST SHOULD BE SENT TO PERMISSIONS@TMBI.COM . FOR LETTER, STORY AND READER INQUIRIES, SEND ALL EMAILS TO LETTERS@READERSDIGEST. COM.AU WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER. PUBLISHED STORIES AND LETTERS WILL RECEIVE A READER’S DIGEST COLLECTED EDITION BOOK. PUBLISHED STORIES MAY BE EDITED FOR CONTENT OR LENGTH CONSTRAINTS, ANDMAY BE USED ACROSS ALL ELECTRONIC MEDIA. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, EMAIL SHERON.WHITE@DIRECTPUBLISHING.COM.AU reader ’ s digest 2 august/september 2026 DITCH SUGAR. SWITCH TO