Cookie Box

Last updated: January 2026

This page explains how we use cookies on the JP Atmos website. We've tried to make it clear and straightforward, because we think you deserve to understand what happens when you visit our site without having to decode legal language.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device when you visit them. They allow websites to remember things about your visit, such as your preferences or how you used the site. Cookies are a standard part of how the internet works, and almost every website uses them in some form.

How We Use Cookies

We use cookies in three categories, and we explain each one below. When you first visit our site, you can choose which categories you're comfortable with. Essential cookies are always on, because without them the site wouldn't work properly. The other categories are optional, and you can decline them without affecting your ability to read our essays.

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable basic features like page navigation and access to secure areas of the site. Without these cookies, the website cannot work as intended. We do not ask your permission to use essential cookies, because they are required for the site to operate. These cookies do not collect any personal information about you, and they are not used for marketing or analytics purposes.

Reading Cookies

Reading cookies help us understand which essays resonate with our audience. They collect anonymized information about how visitors use our site, such as which essays people finish reading versus which ones they leave partway through. This data helps us understand what our readers value and guides our editorial decisions about what to write next.

The reading cookies we use do not identify you personally. We cannot trace the data back to any individual visitor. We look at patterns and aggregates, not at individual behavior. We do not combine this data with any other information that could identify you. We use this data only to improve our content and make better editorial decisions.

Reading cookies are turned off by default. When you first visit our site, you'll see a banner at the bottom of the page asking whether you want to allow these cookies. You can agree, decline, or learn more before deciding. If you decline, the site will work perfectly fine. We just won't be able to see which essays you finish.

Partner Cookies

Partner cookies are only activated if you click on a link to one of our bookshop partners. On rare occasions, we link to books that we quote or reference in our essays, and some of these links may direct you to online bookshops with whom we have an affiliate relationship. If you click one of these links, the bookshop may place a cookie on your device that allows them to track that you came from our site. If you make a purchase, we may receive a small commission.

Partner cookies are turned off by default. They are only activated when you specifically choose to click a partner link. If you never click these links, these cookies are never placed on your device. You can always identify affiliate links on our site because we clearly mark them with a note indicating the relationship.

How to Manage Cookies

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by using the controls on this page or by adjusting the settings in your web browser. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or to alert you when a website is trying to place a cookie on your device. You can also delete cookies that have already been placed. Keep in mind that if you disable cookies entirely, some features of our website may not work properly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this cookie policy from time to time as our practices evolve or as legal requirements change. If we make significant changes, we will note the updated date at the top of this page. We encourage you to check back periodically if you want to stay informed about how we use cookies.

Contact

If you have any questions about our cookie practices, please write to us at write@jpatmos.com.