diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index d4e0240..c592979 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -831,6 +831,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hmac",
  "image",
  "jiff",
+ "libc",
  "rand 0.10.2",
  "reqwest",
  "resvg",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index e25ee2b..78fd7bc 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ hex = "0.4.3"
 hmac = "0.13.0"
 image = "0.25.10"
 jiff = { version = "0.2.35", features = ["serde"] }
+libc = "0.2.189"
 rand = "0.10.2"
 reqwest = { version = "0.13.4", default-features = false, features = ["rustls", "gzip", "json", "charset", "http2", "query", "system-proxy"] }
 resvg = "0.48.1"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c7fb6ed..dfaafc3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ the summaries and *The Brief*. It assembles two EPUB editions (a standard one
 and one tuned for the Xteink X4 e-ink reader), converts the X4 edition to XTC, and
 publishes the lot over its own OPDS catalog — which doubles as a
 [BookOrbit](https://github.com/thallada/bookorbit) watched folder if you run one.
-Each article chapter ends with Loved it / Good / Not for me links that feed back into tomorrow's curation.
+Each article chapter ends with Loved it / Good / Not for me links that feed back
+into tomorrow's curation, and a short *Behind the paper* chapter before the
+colophon says what the run considered, how the deep set was admitted, whether
+the learned signals were active, the ten highest-utility near misses, and what
+it all cost.
 
 Steady-state cost is roughly **$1/day**: $0.05–0.30 in DeepSeek tokens plus
 ~$0.50–0.80 for the Claude editor and a few cents of Voyage AI embeddings, each
@@ -38,6 +42,25 @@ Miniflux ingest ─▶ dedupe ─▶ extraction ─▶ persist ─▶ social enr
 
 Every stage writes to SQLite, so a run is idempotent per date: re-running
 `generate --date 2026-08-15` replaces that issue rather than duplicating it.
+Only one writer runs at a time: `generate`, `profile rebuild`, `features
+backfill` and `backfill-social` take an advisory `flock` on
+`<database_path>.lock`, and a second invocation exits with `generate is already
+running` (naming whichever command holds it). `serve`, `explain`, `stats`,
+`ratings`, `features prune` and `db migrate` never wait on it, and the kernel
+releases the lock when the holder exits, however it exits.
+
+Every run ends with a four-line summary in the log and on stdout:
+
+```
+curation: 412 considered → 398 eligible → 398 triaged → 120 assessed → 60 shortlisted → 17 selected
+admission: triage 60 · interest 20 · knn 12 · exploration 5 · blend 23 · auto 0
+preference: 14 rated w/ embeddings → knn 0.35 · feed off · 41 verdicts in prompt
+providers: anthropic $0.62 · deepseek $0.11 · voyage $0.02 · total $0.75 · 23m12s
+```
+
+The full report (per-stage counts and timings — `embed`, `signals`, `triage`,
+`admit`, `assess`, `rank`, `editor`, `summaries`, `brief` among them — and
+per-provider usage) is stored on the `runs` row and in `issues.report_json`.
 
 **Failure policy.** Miniflux ingest, SQLite writes, EPUB assembly and publishing
 are fatal — without them there is no issue, and the `runs` row records why.
@@ -91,6 +114,7 @@ daily-epub ratings set --article 42 --label loved --note "excellent"
 daily-epub ratings clear --url https://example.com/article
 daily-epub explain --date YYYY-MM-DD (--article ID | --url URL) [--run-id N]
 daily-epub explain --date YYYY-MM-DD --near-misses [N]
+daily-epub stats [--days 14]    # the evaluation framework, one fact per line
 daily-epub features backfill [--days 30] [--rated-only] [--all] [--yes]
 daily-epub features prune       # stale embeddings + old candidate telemetry
 daily-epub backfill-social      # re-poll social scores for recent articles
@@ -104,6 +128,8 @@ does not advance the ingest watermark. It prints the lineup and the cost report.
 
 `--skip-embeddings` reads the embedding cache but makes zero Voyage calls.
 `--rescore` ignores reusable triage/deep assessments for this run.
+`--max-articles N` is a ceiling, never a target: the hard maximum becomes
+`min(curation.max_article_count, N)` and the soft target is lowered to fit.
 
 `explain` answers "why was this (not) in the paper" from the `candidate_runs`
 row the run persisted for every considered article: the stage it reached and the
@@ -116,6 +142,15 @@ database at all is reported as never ingested (a feed problem, not a ranking
 one). `--near-misses` lists the highest-utility articles that were not selected
 (by preliminary blend for articles the ranker never reached).
 
+`stats` is the whole evaluation framework, on purpose: for the last `--days`
+(14) it prints the issues and articles published, the mean issue size, explicit
+ratings by label and per issue, the up/down ratio of rated picks per admitting
+retriever (`admitted_by[0]` — triage, interest, knn, exploration, blend,
+auto_include), the exploration yield (admitted, selected, rated positively),
+cost per day per provider from `runs.provider_costs_json`, and the mean
+generation time. Plain text, one fact per line. Tune from it and from reading
+the paper; anything more waits for more ratings.
+
 `features backfill` embeds the rated and published articles first (the learned
 set), then the standing interests, then — only with `--all` — every other
 article first seen in the window. It prints an estimate and asks before spending
@@ -268,6 +303,9 @@ DAILY_EPUB_VOYAGE__API_KEY=…
 DAILY_EPUB_SERVER__HMAC_SECRET=$(openssl rand -hex 32)
 EOF
 sudo chown daily-epub:daily-epub /etc/daily-epub/env && sudo chmod 0600 /etc/daily-epub/env
+# `DAILY_EPUB_ANTHROPIC__API_KEY` and `DAILY_EPUB_VOYAGE__API_KEY` are the two
+# keys curation v2 added; the units read them from this file unchanged. Either
+# may be left unset: the run then falls back to DeepSeek / cached embeddings.
 
 # publish dirs must exist and be writable by the service user
 sudo install -d -o daily-epub -g daily-epub /var/lib/daily-epub/xtc
@@ -436,7 +474,7 @@ DAILY_EPUB_OUT_DIR=./out daily-epub generate --dry-run --skip-llm --max-articles
 ls -la ./out                       # two .epub files
 epubcheck "./out/The Daily EPUB - $(date +%F).epub"   # expect zero errors
 #    open the standard edition in Calibre / KOReader: cover, The Brief,
-#    In This Issue, sections, discussions, colophon; TOC depth 2
+#    In This Issue, sections, discussions, Behind the paper, colophon; TOC depth 2
 
 # 4. Now with DeepSeek and Claude, still not publishing
 daily-epub generate --dry-run --out ./out --max-articles 6
@@ -460,12 +498,13 @@ curl -s https://daily.hallada.net/issues.json | jq '.[0]'
 sqlite3 /var/lib/daily-epub/daily-epub.db 'select * from rating_events order by event_at desc;'
 
 # 8. Watch cost and quality for a week
-sqlite3 /var/lib/daily-epub/daily-epub.db \
-  'select date, status, entries_fetched, candidates, selected, cost_usd from runs order by id desc limit 7;'
+daily-epub stats --days 7
+daily-epub explain --date $(date +%F) --near-misses
 ```
 
 Tune `curation.ranking.deep_keep`, `target_article_count` and `curation.always_include_feeds`
-from what you see in step 8.
+from what you see in step 8, and read the paper's *Behind the paper* chapter
+each morning: it is the same numbers, on the device.
 
 ### Troubleshooting
 
@@ -496,7 +535,10 @@ The crate is a library plus a thin binary, so tests drive the pipeline directly.
 `tests/e2e_pipeline.rs` is the capstone: synthetic entries → dedupe → offline
 extraction → signals → triage → admission → selection (both the `--skip-llm` route and a
 `MockBackend` DeepSeek route) → editorial → both EPUB editions → publish → OPDS
-and database rows, with no network access anywhere.
+and database rows, with no network access anywhere. `tests/m4_epub.rs` covers
+the rendered chapters, including *Behind the paper* in both editions; the
+`stats` and lock tests live next to their modules (`curate/telemetry.rs`,
+`lock.rs`).
 
 ### Layout
 
@@ -516,6 +558,7 @@ images/       article images    comments.rs   discussion chapters
   encode        re-encode       publish.rs    BookOrbit + XTC
   embed         into the page   server.rs     ratings, OPDS
 html.rs       markup helpers    db.rs         SQLite
+lock.rs       one writer at a time (flock on <database_path>.lock)
 ```
 
 Two modules are worth knowing about before you go looking for their contents.
diff --git a/examples/image_audit.rs b/examples/image_audit.rs
index 5af74b2..729c2d7 100644
--- a/examples/image_audit.rs
+++ b/examples/image_audit.rs
@@ -417,6 +417,7 @@ fn write_audit_epub(out_dir: &Path, picks: &[Pick], assets: &[ImageAsset]) {
         },
         world_briefing: None,
         colophon: Colophon::default(),
+        behind: Default::default(),
     };
     let cfg = daily_epub::config::Config::default();
     match daily_epub::epub::build_edition_with_images(
diff --git a/src/curate/editorial.rs b/src/curate/editorial.rs
index b9665b9..24cc001 100644
--- a/src/curate/editorial.rs
+++ b/src/curate/editorial.rs
@@ -318,21 +318,42 @@ pub fn fallback_editorial(lineup: &Lineup) -> Editorial {
     }
 }
 
+/// Wall-clock milliseconds of the two editorial calls, for the run report's
+/// `summaries` and `brief` stage timings (§15.4).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct EditorialTimings {
+    pub summaries_ms: i64,
+    pub brief_ms: i64,
+}
+
 pub async fn run(
     llms: &Llms,
     lineup: &Lineup,
     config: &EditorialConfig,
     temperature: f32,
 ) -> Editorial {
+    run_timed(llms, lineup, config, temperature).await.0
+}
+
+/// [`run`], also reporting how long the summaries and the brief took.
+pub async fn run_timed(
+    llms: &Llms,
+    lineup: &Lineup,
+    config: &EditorialConfig,
+    temperature: f32,
+) -> (Editorial, EditorialTimings) {
     if lineup.picks.is_empty() {
-        return fallback_editorial(lineup);
+        return (fallback_editorial(lineup), EditorialTimings::default());
     }
+    let started = std::time::Instant::now();
     let mut summaries = summarize_all(llms, lineup, config, temperature).await;
     for pick in &lineup.picks {
         summaries
             .entry(pick.article.id)
             .or_insert_with(|| excerpt_summary(pick));
     }
+    let summaries_ms = started.elapsed().as_millis() as i64;
+    let started = std::time::Instant::now();
     let front_page_html = match brief(llms, lineup, &summaries, temperature).await {
         Ok(text) => text_to_paragraphs(&text),
         Err(error) => {
@@ -340,10 +361,17 @@ pub async fn run(
             fallback_front_page_html(lineup)
         }
     };
-    Editorial {
-        front_page_html,
-        summaries,
-    }
+    let brief_ms = started.elapsed().as_millis() as i64;
+    (
+        Editorial {
+            front_page_html,
+            summaries,
+        },
+        EditorialTimings {
+            summaries_ms,
+            brief_ms,
+        },
+    )
 }
 
 pub fn summary_to_html(summary: &str) -> String {
diff --git a/src/curate/mod.rs b/src/curate/mod.rs
index c8fc1ea..992749e 100644
--- a/src/curate/mod.rs
+++ b/src/curate/mod.rs
@@ -112,17 +112,28 @@ impl Curator {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Stage C: per-article summaries, section intros and the front page (§3.6).
+    /// Stage C: per-article summaries and the Brief (§14).
     ///
     /// Never fails the run: a budget trip or an API error degrades to excerpts.
     pub async fn editorial(&self, lineup: &Lineup) -> anyhow::Result<Editorial> {
+        Ok(self.editorial_timed(lineup).await?.0)
+    }
+
+    /// [`Self::editorial`] plus the `summaries` / `brief` stage timings (§15.4).
+    pub async fn editorial_timed(
+        &self,
+        lineup: &Lineup,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<(Editorial, editorial::EditorialTimings)> {
         if self.llms.editor_or_bulk().is_none() {
             tracing::info!("--skip-llm: using feed excerpts as summaries");
-            return Ok(editorial::fallback_editorial(lineup));
+            return Ok((
+                editorial::fallback_editorial(lineup),
+                editorial::EditorialTimings::default(),
+            ));
         }
         let span = tracing::info_span!("llm_editorial", picks = lineup.picks.len());
         let _guard = span.enter();
-        Ok(editorial::run(
+        Ok(editorial::run_timed(
             &self.llms,
             lineup,
             &self.config.editorial,
diff --git a/src/curate/profile/mod.rs b/src/curate/profile/mod.rs
index 52d1fe6..47f4125 100644
--- a/src/curate/profile/mod.rs
+++ b/src/curate/profile/mod.rs
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ pub async fn load_or_build(
         ),
         version,
         built_at,
+        verdicts: ratings.len().min(verdict_limit),
     };
     db.kv_set(KV_TASTE_PROFILE, &profile.text).await?;
     tracing::debug!(
@@ -472,6 +473,7 @@ pub async fn rebuild(
         ),
         version: next_version,
         built_at,
+        verdicts: current.len().min(verdict_limit),
     };
     db.kv_set(KV_TASTE_PROFILE, &profile.text).await?;
     tracing::info!(
diff --git a/src/curate/telemetry.rs b/src/curate/telemetry.rs
index 0963c93..da339ee 100644
--- a/src/curate/telemetry.rs
+++ b/src/curate/telemetry.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ use sqlx::Row as _;
 
 use crate::curate::signals::{Neighbour, Signals, TopInterest};
 use crate::db::{Db, fmt_ts};
-use crate::types::{ArticleId, Candidate};
+use crate::report::RunReport;
+use crate::types::{ArticleId, Candidate, NearMiss};
 
 /// The stage vocabulary of §7.4, in pipeline order.
 pub const STAGES: [&str; 7] = [
@@ -230,6 +231,8 @@ pub struct ExplainRow {
     pub run_id: i64,
     pub article_id: ArticleId,
     pub title: String,
+    /// The best entry's feed, for the paper's near-miss list.
+    pub feed_title: String,
     pub stage: String,
     pub excluded_reason: Option<String>,
     pub admitted_by: Option<String>,
@@ -247,6 +250,7 @@ impl ExplainRow {
             run_id: row.get("run_id"),
             article_id: row.get("article_id"),
             title: row.get("title"),
+            feed_title: row.get("feed_title"),
             stage: row.get("stage"),
             excluded_reason: row.get("excluded_reason"),
             admitted_by: row.get("admitted_by"),
@@ -305,9 +309,11 @@ pub async fn explain_row(
 ) -> Result<Option<ExplainRow>, sqlx::Error> {
     let row = sqlx::query(
         "SELECT cr.run_id, cr.article_id, COALESCE(a.title, '') AS title,
+                COALESCE(e.feed_title, '') AS feed_title,
                 cr.stage, cr.excluded_reason, cr.admitted_by, cr.signals_json,
                 cr.utility, cr.rank_utility, cr.cluster_id, cr.cluster_rank, cr.editor_why
          FROM candidate_runs cr JOIN articles a ON a.id = cr.article_id
+         LEFT JOIN entries e ON e.id = a.best_entry_id
          WHERE cr.run_id = ? AND cr.article_id = ?",
     )
     .bind(run_id)
@@ -326,9 +332,11 @@ pub async fn near_misses(
 ) -> Result<Vec<ExplainRow>, sqlx::Error> {
     let rows = sqlx::query(
         "SELECT cr.run_id, cr.article_id, COALESCE(a.title, '') AS title,
+                COALESCE(e.feed_title, '') AS feed_title,
                 cr.stage, cr.excluded_reason, cr.admitted_by, cr.signals_json,
                 cr.utility, cr.rank_utility, cr.cluster_id, cr.cluster_rank, cr.editor_why
          FROM candidate_runs cr JOIN articles a ON a.id = cr.article_id
+         LEFT JOIN entries e ON e.id = a.best_entry_id
          WHERE cr.run_id = ? AND cr.stage != 'selected' AND cr.stage != 'excluded'",
     )
     .bind(run_id)
@@ -579,6 +587,265 @@ pub async fn explain_near_misses(
     Ok(out)
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Behind the paper (§15.1)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// The `limit` highest-utility articles the run did not select, shaped for
+/// the "Behind the paper" chapter: the same query as `explain --near-misses`.
+pub async fn paper_near_misses(
+    db: &Db,
+    run_id: i64,
+    limit: usize,
+) -> Result<Vec<NearMiss>, sqlx::Error> {
+    Ok(near_misses(db, run_id, limit)
+        .await?
+        .iter()
+        .map(|row| {
+            let signals = row.signals();
+            let raw = |name: &str| signals.as_ref().and_then(|s| s.raw.get(name).copied());
+            NearMiss {
+                article_id: row.article_id,
+                title: row.title.clone(),
+                feed_title: row.feed_title.clone(),
+                quality: raw("quality"),
+                fit: raw("fit"),
+                stage: row.stage.clone(),
+                reason: row.excluded_reason.clone(),
+            }
+        })
+        .collect())
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// `stats` (§15.3)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// `admitted_by[0]`: the retriever that admitted a pick (§11).
+fn first_retriever(admitted_by: Option<&str>) -> String {
+    admitted_by
+        .and_then(|json| serde_json::from_str::<Vec<String>>(json).ok())
+        .and_then(|names| names.into_iter().next())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "unknown".to_string())
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, Copy)]
+struct UpDown {
+    rated: i64,
+    up: i64,
+    down: i64,
+}
+
+/// `daily-epub stats [--days N]` as text: the whole evaluation framework
+/// (§15.3). One fact per line, nothing wider than 80 columns.
+pub async fn stats(db: &Db, days: i64, now: Timestamp) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
+    let days = days.max(1);
+    let since_ts = now
+        .checked_sub(jiff::Span::new().hours(days.saturating_mul(24)))
+        .unwrap_or(Timestamp::UNIX_EPOCH);
+    let since = fmt_ts(since_ts);
+    let utc = jiff::tz::TimeZone::UTC;
+    let since_date = since_ts.to_zoned(utc.clone()).date().to_string();
+    let today = now.to_zoned(utc).date().to_string();
+    let mut out = String::new();
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "stats: last {days} days ({since_date} → {today})");
+
+    // --- issues and articles ---
+    let issues: i64 = sqlx::query_scalar("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM issues WHERE date >= ?")
+        .bind(&since_date)
+        .fetch_one(db.pool())
+        .await?;
+    let published: i64 =
+        sqlx::query_scalar("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM issue_articles WHERE issue_date >= ?")
+            .bind(&since_date)
+            .fetch_one(db.pool())
+            .await?;
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "issues: {issues}");
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "articles published: {published}");
+    let per_issue = |n: i64| {
+        if issues > 0 {
+            format!("{:.1}", n as f64 / issues as f64)
+        } else {
+            "n/a".to_string()
+        }
+    };
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "mean issue size: {} articles", per_issue(published));
+
+    // --- explicit ratings by label ---
+    let labels = sqlx::query(
+        "SELECT label, COUNT(*) AS n FROM rating_events
+         WHERE kind = 'explicit' AND event_at >= ? GROUP BY label ORDER BY label",
+    )
+    .bind(&since)
+    .fetch_all(db.pool())
+    .await?;
+    let mut total_ratings = 0i64;
+    let mut by_label = Vec::new();
+    for row in &labels {
+        let label = row.get::<String, _>("label");
+        let n = row.get::<i64, _>("n");
+        if label != "cleared" {
+            total_ratings += n;
+        }
+        by_label.push((label, n));
+    }
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "explicit ratings: {total_ratings}");
+    for (label, n) in &by_label {
+        let _ = writeln!(out, "explicit ratings ({label}): {n}");
+    }
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "ratings per issue: {}", per_issue(total_ratings));
+
+    // --- up/down per admitting retriever, from rated picks ---
+    let rated_picks = sqlx::query(
+        "WITH latest AS (
+             SELECT re.article_id, re.issue_date, re.label, re.value,
+                    ROW_NUMBER() OVER (
+                        PARTITION BY re.article_id
+                        ORDER BY re.event_at DESC, re.id DESC
+                    ) AS rn
+             FROM rating_events re
+             WHERE re.kind = 'explicit' AND re.event_at >= ?
+         )
+         SELECT l.article_id, l.value, cr.admitted_by, cr.signals_json
+         FROM latest l
+         JOIN candidate_runs cr ON cr.article_id = l.article_id AND cr.stage = 'selected'
+         JOIN runs r ON r.id = cr.run_id AND r.status != 'dry_run'
+         WHERE l.rn = 1 AND l.label != 'cleared'
+           AND (l.issue_date IS NULL OR r.date = l.issue_date)
+         ORDER BY l.article_id, cr.run_id DESC",
+    )
+    .bind(&since)
+    .fetch_all(db.pool())
+    .await?;
+    let mut per_retriever: BTreeMap<String, UpDown> = BTreeMap::new();
+    let mut exploration_positive = 0i64;
+    let mut seen: Option<ArticleId> = None;
+    for row in &rated_picks {
+        let article_id = row.get::<ArticleId, _>("article_id");
+        if seen == Some(article_id) {
+            continue; // a rerun of the date: keep the latest run only
+        }
+        seen = Some(article_id);
+        let value = row.get::<f64, _>("value");
+        let retriever = first_retriever(row.get::<Option<String>, _>("admitted_by").as_deref());
+        let entry = per_retriever.entry(retriever).or_default();
+        entry.rated += 1;
+        if value > 0.0 {
+            entry.up += 1;
+        } else if value < 0.0 {
+            entry.down += 1;
+        }
+        let exploration =
+            serde_json::from_str::<SignalsJson>(&row.get::<String, _>("signals_json"))
+                .map(|signals| signals.exploration)
+                .unwrap_or(false);
+        if exploration && value > 0.0 {
+            exploration_positive += 1;
+        }
+    }
+    if per_retriever.is_empty() {
+        let _ = writeln!(out, "rated picks by admitting retriever: none");
+    }
+    for (retriever, counts) in &per_retriever {
+        let ratio = if counts.rated > 0 {
+            format!("{:.0}% up", 100.0 * counts.up as f64 / counts.rated as f64)
+        } else {
+            "n/a".to_string()
+        };
+        let _ = writeln!(
+            out,
+            "admitted by {retriever}: {} rated · {} up · {} down · {ratio}",
+            counts.rated, counts.up, counts.down
+        );
+    }
+
+    // --- exploration yield ---
+    let exploration_rows = sqlx::query(
+        "SELECT cr.stage FROM candidate_runs cr
+         JOIN runs r ON r.id = cr.run_id
+         WHERE r.status != 'dry_run' AND r.started_at >= ?
+           AND cr.signals_json LIKE '%\"exploration\":true%'",
+    )
+    .bind(&since)
+    .fetch_all(db.pool())
+    .await?;
+    let mut exploration_admitted = 0i64;
+    let mut exploration_selected = 0i64;
+    for row in &exploration_rows {
+        match row.get::<String, _>("stage").as_str() {
+            "selected" => {
+                exploration_admitted += 1;
+                exploration_selected += 1;
+            }
+            "admitted" | "assessed" | "shortlisted" => exploration_admitted += 1,
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "exploration admitted: {exploration_admitted}");
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "exploration selected: {exploration_selected}");
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "exploration rated positively: {exploration_positive}");
+
+    // --- cost per day per provider (§7.6) ---
+    let cost_rows = sqlx::query(
+        "SELECT provider_costs_json FROM runs
+         WHERE started_at >= ? AND provider_costs_json IS NOT NULL",
+    )
+    .bind(&since)
+    .fetch_all(db.pool())
+    .await?;
+    let mut totals: BTreeMap<String, f64> = BTreeMap::new();
+    for row in &cost_rows {
+        let raw = row.get::<String, _>("provider_costs_json");
+        let Ok(providers) =
+            serde_json::from_str::<BTreeMap<String, crate::report::ProviderUsage>>(&raw)
+        else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        for (provider, usage) in providers {
+            *totals.entry(provider).or_insert(0.0) += usage.cost_usd;
+        }
+    }
+    let mut grand = 0.0;
+    for (provider, total) in &totals {
+        grand += total;
+        let _ = writeln!(
+            out,
+            "cost per day ({provider}): ${:.3}",
+            total / days as f64
+        );
+    }
+    let _ = writeln!(out, "cost per day (total): ${:.3}", grand / days as f64);
+
+    // --- mean generation time ---
+    let run_rows = sqlx::query(
+        "SELECT started_at, finished_at FROM runs
+         WHERE started_at >= ? AND finished_at IS NOT NULL",
+    )
+    .bind(&since)
+    .fetch_all(db.pool())
+    .await?;
+    let mut durations = Vec::new();
+    for row in &run_rows {
+        let started = row.get::<String, _>("started_at").parse::<Timestamp>();
+        let finished = row.get::<String, _>("finished_at").parse::<Timestamp>();
+        if let (Ok(started), Ok(finished)) = (started, finished) {
+            durations.push((finished.as_second() - started.as_second()).max(0));
+        }
+    }
+    if durations.is_empty() {
+        let _ = writeln!(out, "mean generation time: n/a (0 runs)");
+    } else {
+        let mean = durations.iter().sum::<i64>() / durations.len() as i64;
+        let _ = writeln!(
+            out,
+            "mean generation time: {} ({} runs)",
+            RunReport::format_duration(mean),
+            durations.len()
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(out)
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // `features prune` (§7.1, §7.4)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -972,6 +1239,236 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn paper_near_misses_carry_feed_quality_fit_and_stage() {
+        let (_dir, db) = db_with_articles(&[1, 2]).await;
+        sqlx::query(
+            "INSERT INTO entries (id, feed_id, feed_title, title, url, raw_content, fetched_at)
+             VALUES (11, 5, 'Example Feed', 'Article 1', 'https://example.com/1', '', '2026-08-15T00:00:00Z')",
+        )
+        .execute(db.pool())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        sqlx::query("UPDATE articles SET best_entry_id = 11 WHERE id = 1")
+            .execute(db.pool())
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let run_id = db.start_run(date(), Timestamp::now()).await.unwrap();
+        let mut candidate = crate::types::Candidate::new(
+            crate::curate::prefilter::tests::article(1, "Article 1", 900),
+            false,
+        );
+        candidate.signals = signals(41.0, 0.55);
+        candidate.assessment.deep = Some(crate::types::Deep {
+            quality: 8.0,
+            fit: 6.5,
+            category: None,
+            rationale: String::new(),
+            paywalled_guess: false,
+            facets: Default::default(),
+            model: "mock".into(),
+            prompt_version: 1,
+            assessed_at: "2026-09-02T05:30:00Z".parse().unwrap(),
+        });
+        let json = serialize_candidate(&candidate);
+        write(
+            &db,
+            &CandidateRun {
+                run_id,
+                article_id: 1,
+                stage: "shortlisted",
+                excluded_reason: Some("not_selected"),
+                admitted_by: Some("[\"triage\"]"),
+                signals_json: &json,
+                utility: Some(71.0),
+                rank_utility: Some(3),
+                cluster_id: None,
+                cluster_rank: None,
+                editor_why: None,
+            },
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        write(
+            &db,
+            &CandidateRun {
+                run_id,
+                article_id: 2,
+                stage: "selected",
+                excluded_reason: None,
+                admitted_by: Some("[\"triage\"]"),
+                signals_json: "{}",
+                utility: Some(90.0),
+                rank_utility: Some(1),
+                cluster_id: None,
+                cluster_rank: None,
+                editor_why: Some("because"),
+            },
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        let misses = paper_near_misses(&db, run_id, 10).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(misses.len(), 1, "selected picks are not near misses");
+        let miss = &misses[0];
+        assert_eq!(miss.article_id, 1);
+        assert_eq!(miss.title, "Article 1");
+        assert_eq!(miss.feed_title, "Example Feed");
+        assert_eq!(miss.quality, Some(8.0));
+        assert_eq!(miss.fit, Some(6.5));
+        assert_eq!(miss.stage, "shortlisted");
+        assert_eq!(miss.reason.as_deref(), Some("not_selected"));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn stats_prints_every_fact_from_runs_issues_and_ratings() {
+        let (_dir, db) = db_with_articles(&[1, 2, 3, 4]).await;
+        let now: Timestamp = "2026-09-02T12:00:00Z".parse().unwrap();
+        // Two issues inside the window, one outside it.
+        sqlx::query(
+            "INSERT INTO issues (date, issue_number, generated_at) VALUES
+                 ('2026-08-01', 1, '2026-08-01T10:00:00Z'),
+                 ('2026-08-30', 30, '2026-08-30T10:00:00Z'),
+                 ('2026-09-01', 32, '2026-09-01T10:00:00Z');
+             INSERT INTO issue_articles (issue_date, article_id, section) VALUES
+                 ('2026-08-01', 4, 'Top Stories'),
+                 ('2026-08-30', 1, 'Top Stories'),
+                 ('2026-08-30', 2, 'Top Stories'),
+                 ('2026-09-01', 3, 'Top Stories');",
+        )
+        .execute(db.pool())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        // Two finished runs with provider costs, one of them a rerun of 08-30.
+        let mut run_ids = Vec::new();
+        for (date, started, finished, costs) in [
+            (
+                "2026-08-30",
+                "2026-08-30T09:30:00Z",
+                "2026-08-30T09:50:00Z",
+                r#"{"deepseek":{"input_tokens":1,"cached_tokens":0,"cache_write_tokens":0,"output_tokens":1,"cost_usd":0.10},"anthropic":{"input_tokens":1,"cached_tokens":0,"cache_write_tokens":0,"output_tokens":1,"cost_usd":0.60},"voyage":{"input_tokens":1,"cached_tokens":0,"cache_write_tokens":0,"output_tokens":0,"cost_usd":0.02}}"#,
+            ),
+            (
+                "2026-08-30",
+                "2026-08-30T11:00:00Z",
+                "2026-08-30T11:10:00Z",
+                r#"{"deepseek":{"input_tokens":1,"cached_tokens":0,"cache_write_tokens":0,"output_tokens":1,"cost_usd":0.04}}"#,
+            ),
+            (
+                "2026-09-01",
+                "2026-09-01T09:30:00Z",
+                "2026-09-01T09:45:00Z",
+                r#"{"deepseek":{"input_tokens":1,"cached_tokens":0,"cache_write_tokens":0,"output_tokens":1,"cost_usd":0.14}}"#,
+            ),
+        ] {
+            let run_id = db
+                .start_run(date.parse().unwrap(), started.parse().unwrap())
+                .await
+                .unwrap();
+            sqlx::query(
+                "UPDATE runs SET finished_at = ?, status = 'ok', provider_costs_json = ? WHERE id = ?",
+            )
+            .bind(finished)
+            .bind(costs)
+            .bind(run_id)
+            .execute(db.pool())
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+            run_ids.push(run_id);
+        }
+        // Article 1 was admitted by triage in the first 08-30 run and by knn
+        // in the rerun; the latest run wins. Article 2 was an exploration
+        // pick admitted by exploration. Article 3 was admitted by blend.
+        let exploration = r#"{"v":1,"exploration":true}"#;
+        for (run_id, article_id, stage, admitted_by, json) in [
+            (run_ids[0], 1, "selected", "[\"triage\"]", "{}"),
+            (run_ids[1], 1, "selected", "[\"knn\"]", "{}"),
+            (run_ids[1], 2, "selected", "[\"exploration\"]", exploration),
+            (run_ids[1], 4, "assessed", "[\"exploration\"]", exploration),
+            (run_ids[2], 3, "selected", "[\"blend\"]", "{}"),
+        ] {
+            write(
+                &db,
+                &CandidateRun {
+                    run_id,
+                    article_id,
+                    stage,
+                    excluded_reason: None,
+                    admitted_by: Some(admitted_by),
+                    signals_json: json,
+                    utility: Some(50.0),
+                    rank_utility: None,
+                    cluster_id: None,
+                    cluster_rank: None,
+                    editor_why: None,
+                },
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        }
+        sqlx::query(
+            "INSERT INTO rating_events (article_id, issue_date, kind, source, label, value, event_at) VALUES
+                 (1, '2026-08-30', 'explicit', 'epub', 'good', 0.35, '2026-08-31T08:00:00Z'),
+                 (1, '2026-08-30', 'explicit', 'epub', 'loved', 1.0, '2026-08-31T09:00:00Z'),
+                 (2, '2026-08-30', 'explicit', 'epub', 'loved', 1.0, '2026-08-31T09:30:00Z'),
+                 (3, '2026-09-01', 'explicit', 'epub', 'not_for_me', -1.0, '2026-09-01T12:00:00Z'),
+                 (4, '2026-08-01', 'explicit', 'epub', 'loved', 1.0, '2026-08-02T12:00:00Z'),
+                 (3, NULL, 'explicit', 'cli', 'cleared', 0.0, '2026-08-20T12:00:00Z');",
+        )
+        .execute(db.pool())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let text = stats(&db, 14, now).await.unwrap();
+        println!("{text}");
+        for line in [
+            "stats: last 14 days (2026-08-19 → 2026-09-02)",
+            "issues: 2",
+            "articles published: 3",
+            "mean issue size: 1.5 articles",
+            "explicit ratings: 4",
+            "explicit ratings (cleared): 1",
+            "explicit ratings (good): 1",
+            "explicit ratings (loved): 2",
+            "explicit ratings (not_for_me): 1",
+            "ratings per issue: 2.0",
+            "admitted by blend: 1 rated · 0 up · 1 down · 0% up",
+            "admitted by exploration: 1 rated · 1 up · 0 down · 100% up",
+            "admitted by knn: 1 rated · 1 up · 0 down · 100% up",
+            "exploration admitted: 2",
+            "exploration selected: 1",
+            "exploration rated positively: 1",
+            "cost per day (anthropic): $0.043",
+            "cost per day (deepseek): $0.020",
+            "cost per day (voyage): $0.001",
+            "cost per day (total): $0.064",
+            "mean generation time: 15m00s (3 runs)",
+        ] {
+            assert!(text.contains(line), "missing {line:?} in:\n{text}");
+        }
+        assert!(
+            !text.contains("admitted by triage"),
+            "the rerun's row replaces the first run's: {text}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            text.lines().all(|line| line.chars().count() <= 80),
+            "no line wider than 80 columns"
+        );
+
+        // An empty database still prints every heading.
+        let (_dir, empty) = db_with_articles(&[]).await;
+        let text = stats(&empty, 7, now).await.unwrap();
+        for line in [
+            "issues: 0",
+            "mean issue size: n/a articles",
+            "ratings per issue: n/a",
+            "rated picks by admitting retriever: none",
+            "cost per day (total): $0.000",
+            "mean generation time: n/a (0 runs)",
+        ] {
+            assert!(text.contains(line), "missing {line:?} in:\n{text}");
+        }
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn prune_respects_rated_and_published() {
         let (_dir, db) = db_with_articles(&[1, 2, 3, 4]).await;
diff --git a/src/epub/build.rs b/src/epub/build.rs
index eb8120c..76b3542 100644
--- a/src/epub/build.rs
+++ b/src/epub/build.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 //! Chapter ordering and `epub-builder` assembly (spec §3.10).
 //!
-//! Structure: cover → From the Editor → In This Issue → sections (title page,
-//! article chapters, discussion chapters) → World Briefing → colophon. The
+//! Structure: cover → The Brief → In This Issue → sections (title page,
+//! article chapters, discussion chapters) → World Briefing → Behind the paper
+//! → colophon. The
 //! chapters themselves are rendered by [`super::chapters`] and the cover by
 //! [`super::cover`]; this module decides the order and zips the result.
 
@@ -14,8 +15,8 @@ use crate::types::{Edition, ImageAsset, Issue};
 
 use super::EpubError;
 use super::chapters::{
-    render_colophon, render_front_page, render_in_this_issue, render_section_page,
-    render_world_briefing, section_names,
+    render_behind_the_paper, render_colophon, render_front_page, render_in_this_issue,
+    render_section_page, render_world_briefing, section_names,
 };
 use super::cover::{CoverAsset, render_cover_page};
 use super::x4;
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ pub fn render_all(
     if let Some(world) = render_world_briefing(issue)? {
         chapters.push(world);
     }
+    chapters.push(render_behind_the_paper(issue)?);
     chapters.push(render_colophon(issue)?);
 
     if edition == Edition::X4 {
@@ -272,11 +274,12 @@ mod tests {
                 "sec-Niche Corner",
                 "art-1002",
                 "world",
+                "behind",
                 "colophon",
             ]
         );
         let levels: Vec<u8> = chapters.iter().map(|c| c.toc_level).collect();
-        assert_eq!(levels, vec![1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1]);
+        assert_eq!(levels, vec![1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1]);
         for chapter in &chapters {
             assert_xml_ok(&chapter.xhtml);
         }
diff --git a/src/epub/chapters.rs b/src/epub/chapters.rs
index 06664d0..c41d65c 100644
--- a/src/epub/chapters.rs
+++ b/src/epub/chapters.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ use askama::Template;
 use crate::comments;
 use crate::html::{text_escape, to_xhtml};
 use crate::images;
-use crate::types::{Edition, ImageAsset, Issue, Pick, SocialRef, Vote, WORLD_BRIEFING_SECTION};
+use crate::types::{
+    BehindThePaper, Edition, ImageAsset, Issue, NearMiss, Pick, SocialRef, Vote,
+    WORLD_BRIEFING_SECTION,
+};
 use crate::world;
 
 use super::EpubError;
@@ -102,6 +105,17 @@ struct WorldBriefingChapter {
     body_html: String,
 }
 
+#[derive(Template)]
+#[template(path = "behind.xhtml", escape = "html")]
+struct BehindChapter {
+    title: String,
+    summary_line: String,
+    admitted_line: String,
+    learned_line: String,
+    near_misses: Vec<String>,
+    models_line: String,
+}
+
 #[derive(Template)]
 #[template(path = "colophon.xhtml", escape = "html")]
 struct ColophonChapter {
@@ -435,6 +449,131 @@ pub fn render_world_briefing(issue: &Issue) -> Result<Option<Chapter>, EpubError
     }))
 }
 
+/// "1,465" — thousands separators for the counts in Behind the paper.
+fn thousands(n: i64) -> String {
+    let digits = n.abs().to_string();
+    let mut out = String::with_capacity(digits.len() + digits.len() / 3);
+    for (i, c) in digits.chars().enumerate() {
+        if i > 0 && (digits.len() - i).is_multiple_of(3) {
+            out.push(',');
+        }
+        out.push(c);
+    }
+    if n < 0 { format!("-{out}") } else { out }
+}
+
+/// `Considered 412 articles from 1,465 feeds · 398 eligible · …` (§15.1).
+pub fn behind_summary_line(b: &BehindThePaper) -> String {
+    format!(
+        "Considered {} articles from {} feeds \u{00b7} {} eligible \u{00b7} {} triaged \u{00b7} {} read closely \u{00b7} {} shortlisted \u{00b7} {} selected.",
+        thousands(b.considered),
+        thousands(b.feeds_seen),
+        thousands(b.eligible),
+        thousands(b.triaged),
+        thousands(b.read_closely),
+        thousands(b.shortlisted),
+        thousands(b.selected),
+    )
+}
+
+/// `Admitted via: triage 60 · interests 20 · your ratings 12 · exploration 5 · blend 23.`
+pub fn behind_admitted_line(b: &BehindThePaper) -> String {
+    let count = |name: &str| b.admitted_by.get(name).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+    let mut parts = vec![
+        format!("triage {}", count("triage")),
+        format!("interests {}", count("interest")),
+        format!("your ratings {}", count("knn")),
+        format!("exploration {}", count("exploration")),
+        format!("blend {}", count("blend")),
+    ];
+    if count("auto_include") > 0 {
+        parts.push(format!("always-include {}", count("auto_include")));
+    }
+    format!("Admitted via: {}.", parts.join(" \u{00b7} "))
+}
+
+/// `Learned signals: 14 rated articles with embeddings (neighbour signal at 35%); feed affinity off.`
+pub fn behind_learned_line(b: &BehindThePaper) -> String {
+    let percent = |gate: f64| (gate.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 100.0).round() as i64;
+    let neighbour = if b.knn_gate > 0.0 {
+        format!("neighbour signal at {}%", percent(b.knn_gate))
+    } else {
+        "neighbour signal off".to_string()
+    };
+    let feed = if b.feed_gate > 0.0 {
+        format!("feed affinity at {}%", percent(b.feed_gate))
+    } else {
+        "feed affinity off".to_string()
+    };
+    format!(
+        "Learned signals: {} rated articles with embeddings ({neighbour}); {feed}.",
+        thousands(b.rated_with_embeddings)
+    )
+}
+
+/// `<title> — <feed> · quality 8.0 · fit 6.5 · shortlisted, not selected`.
+pub fn behind_near_miss_line(miss: &NearMiss) -> String {
+    let mut parts = vec![format!("{} \u{2014} {}", miss.title, miss.feed_title)];
+    if let Some(quality) = miss.quality {
+        parts.push(format!("quality {quality:.1}"));
+    }
+    if let Some(fit) = miss.fit {
+        parts.push(format!("fit {fit:.1}"));
+    }
+    parts.push(match &miss.reason {
+        Some(reason) => format!("{}, {}", miss.stage, reason.replace('_', " ")),
+        None => miss.stage.clone(),
+    });
+    parts.join(" \u{00b7} ")
+}
+
+/// `Models: triage and assessment … · editor and summaries … · embeddings ….
+/// Cost $0.81. Generation 23 min.`
+pub fn behind_models_line(b: &BehindThePaper) -> String {
+    let editorial = if b.models.summaries == b.models.editor {
+        format!("editor and summaries {}", b.models.editor)
+    } else {
+        format!(
+            "editor {} \u{00b7} summaries {}",
+            b.models.editor, b.models.summaries
+        )
+    };
+    let generation = if b.generation_secs < 60 {
+        format!("{} s", b.generation_secs.max(0))
+    } else {
+        format!("{} min", (b.generation_secs as f64 / 60.0).round() as i64)
+    };
+    format!(
+        "Models: triage and assessment {} \u{00b7} {editorial} \u{00b7} embeddings {}. Cost ${:.2}. Generation {generation}.",
+        b.models.bulk, b.embedding_model, b.cost_usd
+    )
+}
+
+/// "Behind the paper": the run's counts, admission mix, learned-signal state,
+/// near misses and models (§15.1). Same text in both editions; no links.
+pub fn render_behind_the_paper(issue: &Issue) -> Result<Chapter, EpubError> {
+    let behind = &issue.behind;
+    let tpl = BehindChapter {
+        title: "Behind the paper".into(),
+        summary_line: behind_summary_line(behind),
+        admitted_line: behind_admitted_line(behind),
+        learned_line: behind_learned_line(behind),
+        near_misses: behind
+            .near_misses
+            .iter()
+            .map(behind_near_miss_line)
+            .collect(),
+        models_line: behind_models_line(behind),
+    };
+    Ok(Chapter {
+        id: "behind".into(),
+        href: "behind.xhtml".into(),
+        title: "Behind the paper".into(),
+        xhtml: tpl.render()?,
+        toc_level: 1,
+    })
+}
+
 /// Colophon: generation timestamp, models used, token cost, feed counts (§3.10).
 pub fn render_colophon(issue: &Issue) -> Result<Chapter, EpubError> {
     let colophon = &issue.colophon;
@@ -676,6 +815,69 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(render_discussion(&issue.lineup.picks[1]).unwrap().is_none());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn behind_the_paper_lines_follow_the_plan_shape() {
+        let issue = issue();
+        let behind = &issue.behind;
+        assert_eq!(
+            behind_summary_line(behind),
+            "Considered 412 articles from 1,465 feeds \u{00b7} 398 eligible \u{00b7} 398 triaged \u{00b7} 120 read closely \u{00b7} 60 shortlisted \u{00b7} 2 selected."
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            behind_admitted_line(behind),
+            "Admitted via: triage 60 \u{00b7} interests 20 \u{00b7} your ratings 12 \u{00b7} exploration 5 \u{00b7} blend 23."
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            behind_learned_line(behind),
+            "Learned signals: 14 rated articles with embeddings (neighbour signal at 35%); feed affinity off."
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            behind_near_miss_line(&behind.near_misses[0]),
+            "The One That Got Away \u{2014} Example Feed \u{00b7} quality 8.0 \u{00b7} fit 6.5 \u{00b7} shortlisted, not selected"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            behind_near_miss_line(&behind.near_misses[1]),
+            "Never Read Closely \u{2014} Other Feed \u{00b7} triaged, not admitted"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            behind_models_line(behind),
+            "Models: triage and assessment deepseek-v4-flash \u{00b7} editor and summaries claude-opus-5 \u{00b7} embeddings voyage-4-lite. Cost $0.81. Generation 23 min."
+        );
+        let chapter = render_behind_the_paper(&issue).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(chapter.id, "behind");
+        assert_eq!(chapter.href, "behind.xhtml");
+        assert!(chapter.xhtml.contains("Behind the paper"));
+        assert!(chapter.xhtml.contains("1,465 feeds"));
+        assert!(chapter.xhtml.contains("The One That Got Away"));
+        assert!(!chapter.xhtml.contains("<a "), "no links in the chapter");
+        assert_xml_ok(&chapter.xhtml);
+
+        // Auto-includes are named only when there were any; a short run is in
+        // seconds; a differing summaries model is listed separately.
+        let mut short = behind.clone();
+        short.admitted_by.insert("auto_include".into(), 2);
+        short.generation_secs = 48;
+        short.feed_gate = 0.6;
+        short.models.summaries = "deepseek-v4-flash".into();
+        short.near_misses.clear();
+        assert!(behind_admitted_line(&short).ends_with("blend 23 \u{00b7} always-include 2."));
+        assert!(behind_learned_line(&short).ends_with("feed affinity at 60%."));
+        assert!(
+            behind_models_line(&short)
+                .contains("editor claude-opus-5 \u{00b7} summaries deepseek-v4-flash")
+        );
+        assert!(behind_models_line(&short).ends_with("Generation 48 s."));
+        let mut issue = issue;
+        issue.behind = short;
+        let chapter = render_behind_the_paper(&issue).unwrap();
+        assert!(chapter.xhtml.contains("None recorded"));
+        assert_xml_ok(&chapter.xhtml);
+        assert_eq!(thousands(0), "0");
+        assert_eq!(thousands(999), "999");
+        assert_eq!(thousands(1_000), "1,000");
+        assert_eq!(thousands(1_234_567), "1,234,567");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn world_and_colophon_chapters_render() {
         let issue = issue();
diff --git a/src/epub/fixtures.rs b/src/epub/fixtures.rs
index 1cd8278..f70d780 100644
--- a/src/epub/fixtures.rs
+++ b/src/epub/fixtures.rs
@@ -155,6 +155,53 @@ pub fn issue() -> Issue {
             cost_usd: 0.0731,
             generator_version: "daily-epub 0.1.0".into(),
         },
+        behind: BehindThePaper {
+            considered: 412,
+            feeds_seen: 1465,
+            eligible: 398,
+            triaged: 398,
+            read_closely: 120,
+            shortlisted: 60,
+            selected: 2,
+            admitted_by: BTreeMap::from([
+                ("triage".to_string(), 60),
+                ("interest".to_string(), 20),
+                ("knn".to_string(), 12),
+                ("exploration".to_string(), 5),
+                ("blend".to_string(), 23),
+            ]),
+            rated_with_embeddings: 14,
+            knn_gate: 0.35,
+            feed_gate: 0.0,
+            near_misses: vec![
+                NearMiss {
+                    article_id: 3,
+                    title: "The One That Got Away".into(),
+                    feed_title: "Example Feed".into(),
+                    quality: Some(8.0),
+                    fit: Some(6.5),
+                    stage: "shortlisted".into(),
+                    reason: Some("not_selected".into()),
+                },
+                NearMiss {
+                    article_id: 4,
+                    title: "Never Read Closely".into(),
+                    feed_title: "Other Feed".into(),
+                    quality: None,
+                    fit: None,
+                    stage: "triaged".into(),
+                    reason: Some("not_admitted".into()),
+                },
+            ],
+            models: Models {
+                bulk: "deepseek-v4-flash".into(),
+                editor: "claude-opus-5".into(),
+                summaries: "claude-opus-5".into(),
+            },
+            embedding_model: "voyage-4-lite".into(),
+            cost_usd: 0.81,
+            generation_secs: 23 * 60 + 12,
+        },
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/epub/mod.rs b/src/epub/mod.rs
index 82805e8..e13a913 100644
--- a/src/epub/mod.rs
+++ b/src/epub/mod.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ pub const CHAPTER_ORDER: &[&str] = &[
     "in-this-issue",
     "sections",
     "world-briefing",
+    "behind-the-paper",
     "colophon",
 ];
 
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ mod tests {
                 "OEBPS/disc-1001.xhtml",
                 "OEBPS/art-1002.xhtml",
                 "OEBPS/world.xhtml",
+                "OEBPS/behind.xhtml",
                 "OEBPS/colophon.xhtml",
             ] {
                 assert!(
diff --git a/src/epub/templates/README.md b/src/epub/templates/README.md
index fd806b7..0d02ec6 100644
--- a/src/epub/templates/README.md
+++ b/src/epub/templates/README.md
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ the crate root points askama here (`dirs = ["src/epub/templates"]`).
 |---|---|---|
 | `base.xhtml` | — | Shared XHTML skeleton (`{% block body_class %}`, `{% block content %}`) |
 | `cover_page.xhtml` | `CoverPage` | Page that displays the rasterized cover image |
-| `front_page.xhtml` | `FrontPage` | "From the Editor" + issue stats line |
+| `front_page.xhtml` | `FrontPage` | "The Brief" + issue stats line |
 | `in_this_issue.xhtml` | `InThisIssue` | Introduction chapter: per-section linked index |
-| `section.xhtml` | `SectionPage` | Section title page + LLM intro |
+| `section.xhtml` | `SectionPage` | Section title page (name only) |
 | `chapter.xhtml` | `ArticleChapter` | Article: header, body, rating/read-online footer |
 | `discussion.xhtml` | `DiscussionChapter` | Comment chapter (§3.7); body from `comments::render_xhtml` |
 | `world_briefing.xhtml` | `WorldBriefingChapter` | Wikipedia Current Events (§3.8), body from `world::render_xhtml` |
+| `behind.xhtml` | `BehindChapter` | "Behind the paper": run counts, admission mix, near misses, models (§15.1) |
 | `colophon.xhtml` | `ColophonChapter` | Back matter: models, cost, counts |
 | `cover.svg` | `CoverSvg` | Typographic cover, rasterized with resvg + tiny-skia |
 | `style.css` | — | Standard-edition stylesheet, embedded as `stylesheet.css` |
diff --git a/src/epub/templates/behind.xhtml b/src/epub/templates/behind.xhtml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1971d43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/epub/templates/behind.xhtml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+{% extends "base.xhtml" %}
+{% block body_class %}behind{% endblock %}
+{% block content %}
+      <h1>Behind the paper</h1>
+      <p class="fact-line">{{ summary_line }}</p>
+      <p class="fact-line">{{ admitted_line }}</p>
+      <p class="fact-line">{{ learned_line }}</p>
+      <h2>Near misses</h2>
+      <p class="fact-line"><em>Highest utility not selected.</em></p>
+{% if near_misses.is_empty() %}
+      <p class="fact-line">None recorded for this run.</p>
+{% else %}
+      <ul class="near-misses">
+{% for line in near_misses %}
+        <li>{{ line }}</li>
+{% endfor %}
+      </ul>
+{% endif %}
+      <p class="fact-line">{{ models_line }}</p>
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 5fd4c4a..4ec7575 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ pub mod extract;
 pub mod html;
 pub mod http;
 pub mod images;
+pub mod lock;
 pub mod miniflux;
 pub mod pipeline;
 pub mod publish;
diff --git a/src/lock.rs b/src/lock.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc4faa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lock.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+//! One writer at a time (plan §5): an advisory `flock(LOCK_EX | LOCK_NB)` on
+//! `<database_path>.lock`, taken in `main` for `generate`, `profile rebuild`,
+//! `features backfill` and `backfill-social`. No table, no TTL: the kernel
+//! releases the lock when the holder exits, however it exits.
+
+use std::fs::{File, OpenOptions};
+use std::io::{self, Write as _};
+use std::os::fd::AsRawFd;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+
+/// Held for as long as the value lives; dropping it (or dying) releases it.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct RunLock {
+    _file: File,
+    pub path: PathBuf,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum LockError {
+    /// Another process holds the lock; `holder` names its command when known.
+    #[error("{holder} is already running")]
+    Held { holder: String, path: PathBuf },
+    #[error("lock file {path}: {source}")]
+    Io {
+        path: PathBuf,
+        #[source]
+        source: io::Error,
+    },
+}
+
+/// `<database_path>.lock`, next to the database.
+pub fn lock_path(database_path: &Path) -> PathBuf {
+    let mut name = database_path.file_name().unwrap_or_default().to_os_string();
+    name.push(".lock");
+    database_path.with_file_name(name)
+}
+
+/// Take the lock for `command`, writing the command's name into the file so a
+/// second invocation can say who is holding it.
+pub fn acquire(database_path: &Path, command: &str) -> Result<RunLock, LockError> {
+    let path = lock_path(database_path);
+    let io_err = |source: io::Error| LockError::Io {
+        path: path.clone(),
+        source,
+    };
+    if let Some(parent) = path.parent().filter(|p| !p.as_os_str().is_empty()) {
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(parent).map_err(io_err)?;
+    }
+    let mut file = OpenOptions::new()
+        .read(true)
+        .write(true)
+        .create(true)
+        .truncate(false)
+        .open(&path)
+        .map_err(io_err)?;
+    // SAFETY: `file` owns a valid open descriptor for the duration of the call.
+    let rc = unsafe { libc::flock(file.as_raw_fd(), libc::LOCK_EX | libc::LOCK_NB) };
+    if rc != 0 {
+        let source = io::Error::last_os_error();
+        if source.kind() == io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock {
+            let holder = std::fs::read_to_string(&path)
+                .ok()
+                .map(|s| s.trim().to_string())
+                .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| "generate".to_string());
+            return Err(LockError::Held { holder, path });
+        }
+        return Err(io_err(source));
+    }
+    // Best effort: the name is a courtesy for the error message, never load-bearing.
+    let _ = file.set_len(0);
+    let _ = writeln!(file, "{command}");
+    Ok(RunLock { _file: file, path })
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
+    use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+    const HELPER_ENV: &str = "DAILY_EPUB_LOCK_TEST_HOLDER";
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lock_path_sits_next_to_the_database() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            lock_path(Path::new("/var/lib/daily-epub/daily-epub.db")),
+            PathBuf::from("/var/lib/daily-epub/daily-epub.db.lock")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(lock_path(Path::new("x.db")), PathBuf::from("x.db.lock"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn second_acquire_in_the_same_process_loses_and_names_the_holder() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let db = dir.path().join("nested").join("daily-epub.db");
+        let first = acquire(&db, "generate").expect("first lock");
+        assert!(first.path.exists(), "the lock file is created on demand");
+        match acquire(&db, "profile rebuild") {
+            Err(LockError::Held { holder, .. }) => {
+                assert_eq!(holder, "generate");
+                assert_eq!(
+                    LockError::Held {
+                        holder,
+                        path: first.path.clone()
+                    }
+                    .to_string(),
+                    "generate is already running"
+                );
+            }
+            other => panic!("expected the lock to be held, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+        drop(first);
+        let again = acquire(&db, "backfill-social").expect("released on drop");
+        assert_eq!(
+            std::fs::read_to_string(&again.path).unwrap().trim(),
+            "backfill-social"
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Not a test of its own: when `HELPER_ENV` names a database path, this
+    /// body takes the lock and holds it until it is killed. The parent below
+    /// spawns the test binary with that variable set.
+    #[test]
+    fn lock_holder_helper() {
+        let Ok(db) = std::env::var(HELPER_ENV) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let _held = acquire(Path::new(&db), "helper").expect("helper takes the lock");
+        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(30));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_killed_holder_frees_the_lock_for_the_next_process() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let db = dir.path().join("daily-epub.db");
+        let mut child = Command::new(std::env::current_exe().unwrap())
+            .args(["--exact", "lock::tests::lock_holder_helper", "--nocapture"])
+            .env(HELPER_ENV, &db)
+            .stdout(Stdio::null())
+            .stderr(Stdio::null())
+            .spawn()
+            .expect("spawn the holder process");
+
+        // Wait (well under a second) until the child has written its name.
+        let path = lock_path(&db);
+        let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_millis(900);
+        while std::fs::read_to_string(&path)
+            .map(|s| s.trim() != "helper")
+            .unwrap_or(true)
+        {
+            assert!(Instant::now() < deadline, "the helper never took the lock");
+            std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
+        }
+        match acquire(&db, "generate") {
+            Err(LockError::Held { holder, .. }) => assert_eq!(holder, "helper"),
+            other => panic!("another process holds the lock, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+
+        child.kill().expect("kill the holder");
+        child.wait().expect("reap the holder");
+        let lock = acquire(&db, "generate").expect("the kernel released the dead holder's lock");
+        assert_eq!(
+            std::fs::read_to_string(&lock.path).unwrap().trim(),
+            "generate"
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 67f7a88..91289f3 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ use daily_epub::curate::embedding::{self, BACKFILL_CONFIRM_TOKENS};
 use daily_epub::curate::telemetry;
 use daily_epub::db::Db;
 use daily_epub::pipeline::{self, GenerateOptions, GenerateOutcome};
-use daily_epub::report::RunReport;
+use daily_epub::report::{RunReport, VOYAGE_PROVIDER};
 use daily_epub::types::{ArticleId, RatingEvent, Vote};
-use daily_epub::{curate, http, server, social};
+use daily_epub::{curate, http, lock, server, social};
 
 /// A personalized daily newspaper, delivered as an EPUB.
 #[derive(Debug, Parser)]
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ enum Command {
     Ratings(RatingsCommand),
     /// Why an article was (not) in the paper, from persisted run telemetry.
     Explain(ExplainArgs),
+    /// The weekly numbers: issues, ratings, retriever yield, cost, timing.
+    Stats(StatsArgs),
     /// Embedding cache and telemetry maintenance.
     #[command(subcommand)]
     Features(FeaturesCommand),
@@ -199,6 +201,14 @@ struct ExplainArgs {
     near_misses: Option<usize>,
 }
 
+/// `stats [--days 14]` (plan §15.3).
+#[derive(Debug, clap::Args)]
+struct StatsArgs {
+    /// How many days back to summarize.
+    #[arg(long, default_value_t = 14)]
+    days: i64,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Subcommand)]
 enum FeaturesCommand {
     /// Embed rated and published articles, then interests, into the cache.
@@ -243,6 +253,14 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let config = Config::load(cli.config.as_deref()).context("loading configuration")?;
     tracing::debug!(?config.database_path, "configuration loaded");
 
+    // One writer at a time (§5); read-only commands never wait on it.
+    let _lock = match lock_holder(&cli.command) {
+        Some(name) => {
+            Some(lock::acquire(&config.database_path, name).map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("{e}"))?)
+        }
+        None => None,
+    };
+
     match cli.command {
         Command::Generate(args) => {
             let db = Db::open_and_migrate(&config.database_path).await?;
@@ -265,6 +283,11 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             let db = Db::open_and_migrate(&config.database_path).await?;
             cmd_explain(&db, args).await?;
         }
+        Command::Stats(args) => {
+            let db = Db::open_and_migrate(&config.database_path).await?;
+            let text = telemetry::stats(&db, args.days, jiff::Timestamp::now()).await?;
+            print!("{text}");
+        }
         Command::Features(command) => {
             let db = Db::open_and_migrate(&config.database_path).await?;
             cmd_features(&config, &db, command).await?;
@@ -282,6 +305,24 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// The commands that write the database and provider budgets and so hold the
+/// run lock (§5): `generate`, `profile rebuild`, `features backfill`,
+/// `backfill-social`. Everything else is read-only or its own writer.
+fn lock_holder(command: &Command) -> Option<&'static str> {
+    match command {
+        Command::Generate(_) => Some("generate"),
+        Command::Profile(ProfileCommand::Rebuild) => Some("profile rebuild"),
+        Command::Features(FeaturesCommand::Backfill(_)) => Some("features backfill"),
+        Command::BackfillSocial(_) => Some("backfill-social"),
+        Command::Serve
+        | Command::Ratings(_)
+        | Command::Explain(_)
+        | Command::Stats(_)
+        | Command::Features(FeaturesCommand::Prune)
+        | Command::Db(_) => None,
+    }
+}
+
 /// `RUST_LOG`-driven tracing, defaulting to `info` (crate table "logging").
 fn init_tracing() {
     let filter = EnvFilter::try_from_default_env()
@@ -343,44 +384,10 @@ fn print_report(report: &RunReport) {
         report.counts.duplicates_merged,
         report.counts.entries_dropped,
     );
-    println!(
-        "curation: {} considered → {} eligible → {} triaged → {} assessed → {} shortlisted → {} selected",
-        report.counts.articles,
-        report.counts.eligible,
-        report.counts.triaged,
-        report.counts.assessed,
-        report.counts.shortlisted,
-        report.counts.selected,
-    );
-    println!(
-        "admission: triage {} · interest {} · knn {} · exploration {} · blend {} · auto {}",
-        report
-            .counts
-            .admitted_by
-            .get("triage")
-            .copied()
-            .unwrap_or(0),
-        report
-            .counts
-            .admitted_by
-            .get("interest")
-            .copied()
-            .unwrap_or(0),
-        report.counts.admitted_by.get("knn").copied().unwrap_or(0),
-        report
-            .counts
-            .admitted_by
-            .get("exploration")
-            .copied()
-            .unwrap_or(0),
-        report.counts.admitted_by.get("blend").copied().unwrap_or(0),
-        report
-            .counts
-            .admitted_by
-            .get("auto_include")
-            .copied()
-            .unwrap_or(0),
-    );
+    // The same four lines the run logged (§15.4).
+    for line in report.info_block() {
+        println!("{line}");
+    }
     println!(
         "tokens: {} input · {} cache read · {} cache write · {} output · {} voyage = ${:.4}",
         report.usage.input_tokens,
@@ -391,6 +398,9 @@ fn print_report(report: &RunReport) {
         report.cost_usd,
     );
     for (provider, usage) in &report.provider_costs {
+        if provider == VOYAGE_PROVIDER {
+            continue; // embedding tokens are printed on their own line below
+        }
         println!(
             "  {provider}: {} input · {} cache read · {} cache write · {} output = ${:.4}",
             usage.usage.input_tokens,
@@ -792,6 +802,56 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(cli.config, Some(PathBuf::from("/tmp/x.toml")));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn only_the_writing_commands_take_the_lock() {
+        let parse = |args: &[&str]| {
+            Cli::try_parse_from(std::iter::once("daily-epub").chain(args.iter().copied()))
+                .unwrap()
+                .command
+        };
+        assert_eq!(lock_holder(&parse(&["generate"])), Some("generate"));
+        assert_eq!(
+            lock_holder(&parse(&["profile", "rebuild"])),
+            Some("profile rebuild")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            lock_holder(&parse(&["features", "backfill"])),
+            Some("features backfill")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            lock_holder(&parse(&["backfill-social"])),
+            Some("backfill-social")
+        );
+        for args in [
+            vec!["serve"],
+            vec!["explain", "--date", "2026-09-02", "--near-misses"],
+            vec!["stats"],
+            vec!["ratings", "list"],
+            vec!["db", "migrate"],
+            vec!["features", "prune"],
+        ] {
+            assert_eq!(lock_holder(&parse(&args)), None, "{args:?}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_stats() {
+        match Cli::try_parse_from(["daily-epub", "stats"])
+            .unwrap()
+            .command
+        {
+            Command::Stats(args) => assert_eq!(args.days, 14),
+            other => panic!("expected stats, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+        match Cli::try_parse_from(["daily-epub", "stats", "--days", "7"])
+            .unwrap()
+            .command
+        {
+            Command::Stats(args) => assert_eq!(args.days, 7),
+            other => panic!("expected stats, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn parses_explain_and_features() {
         match Cli::try_parse_from([
diff --git a/src/pipeline.rs b/src/pipeline.rs
index e436a39..4a60ccc 100644
--- a/src/pipeline.rs
+++ b/src/pipeline.rs
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 //!
 //! ```text
 //! Miniflux ingest ─▶ dedupe ─▶ extraction ─▶ persist ─▶ social enrichment
-//!   ─▶ signals ─▶ triage ─▶ admission ─▶ LLM scoring ─▶ selection
-//!   ─▶ comments ─▶ editorial
-//!   ─▶ world briefing ─▶ EPUB (standard + X4) ─▶ XTC ─▶ publish ─▶ report
+//!   ─▶ hygiene ─▶ embeddings + signals ─▶ triage ─▶ admission ─▶ deep assessment
+//!   ─▶ utility + shortlist ─▶ editor ─▶ comments ─▶ summaries + brief
+//!   ─▶ world briefing ─▶ behind the paper ─▶ EPUB (standard + X4) ─▶ XTC
+//!   ─▶ publish ─▶ report
 //! ```
 //!
 //! Failure policy (notes §3):
@@ -40,10 +41,10 @@ use crate::db::Db;
 use crate::extract::Extractor;
 use crate::miniflux::MinifluxClient;
 use crate::publish::Published;
-use crate::report::{ProviderUsage, RunReport, RunStatus};
+use crate::report::{ProviderUsage, RunReport, RunStatus, VOYAGE_PROVIDER};
 use crate::types::{
-    Article, ArticleId, Artifact, Candidate, Colophon, Edition, Issue, IssueMeta, Lineup, Models,
-    reading_minutes,
+    Article, ArticleId, Artifact, BehindThePaper, Candidate, Colophon, Edition, Issue, IssueMeta,
+    Lineup, Models, TokenUsage, reading_minutes,
 };
 use crate::{comments, dedupe, epub, http, miniflux, publish, social, world};
 
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ pub fn build_issue(
         editorial,
         world_briefing,
         colophon,
+        behind: BehindThePaper::default(),
     }
 }
 
@@ -238,6 +240,10 @@ pub async fn generate(config: &Config, db: &Db, opts: &GenerateOptions) -> Resul
     let stages = match run_stages(&ctx, window_start, window_end, &mut report).await {
         Ok(stages) => {
             report.finish(Timestamp::now());
+            // The once-per-run info block of §15.4.
+            for line in report.info_block() {
+                tracing::info!("{line}");
+            }
             stages
         }
         Err(e) => {
@@ -483,23 +489,7 @@ async fn run_stages(
     record_candidates(ctx, &personalized)
         .await
         .context("recording admission telemetry")?;
-    tracing::info!(
-        "admission: triage {} · interest {} · knn {} · exploration {} · blend {} · auto {}",
-        admission.admitted_by.get("triage").copied().unwrap_or(0),
-        admission.admitted_by.get("interest").copied().unwrap_or(0),
-        admission.admitted_by.get("knn").copied().unwrap_or(0),
-        admission
-            .admitted_by
-            .get("exploration")
-            .copied()
-            .unwrap_or(0),
-        admission.admitted_by.get("blend").copied().unwrap_or(0),
-        admission
-            .admitted_by
-            .get("auto_include")
-            .copied()
-            .unwrap_or(0),
-    );
+    tracing::debug!(admitted_by = ?admission.admitted_by, "admission complete");
     report.timings.record("admit", elapsed_ms(stage));
 
     // --- Stage 9: deep assessment (§12.1) ---
@@ -606,19 +596,23 @@ async fn run_stages(
     report.counts.discussions = comments::fetch_all(&http, &mut lineup.picks).await as i64;
     report.timings.record("comments", elapsed_ms(stage));
 
-    // --- Stage 9: editorial (§3.6 C) ---
-    let stage = Timestamp::now();
-    let editorial = match curator.editorial(&lineup).await {
-        Ok(editorial) => editorial,
+    // --- Stage 9: editorial — summaries and the Brief (§14) ---
+    let editorial = match curator.editorial_timed(&lineup).await {
+        Ok((editorial, timings)) => {
+            report.timings.record("summaries", timings.summaries_ms);
+            report.timings.record("brief", timings.brief_ms);
+            editorial
+        }
         Err(e) => {
             report.warn(format!(
                 "editorial generation failed; using excerpts: {e:#}"
             ));
+            report.timings.record("summaries", 0);
+            report.timings.record("brief", 0);
             editorial::fallback_editorial(&lineup)
         }
     };
     apply_summaries(&mut lineup, &editorial);
-    report.timings.record("editorial", elapsed_ms(stage));
 
     // --- Stage 10: completed-day World Briefing (§3.8), best effort ---
     // Editorial retains budget priority; only the remaining metered budget is
@@ -656,6 +650,19 @@ async fn run_stages(
             cost_usd: editor_meter.cost_usd(),
         },
     );
+    // Voyage rides along in `provider_costs_json` (§7.6) so `stats` can price
+    // it per day; its tokens are embedding input, kept out of the LLM aggregate.
+    report.provider_costs.insert(
+        VOYAGE_PROVIDER.into(),
+        ProviderUsage {
+            usage: TokenUsage {
+                input_tokens: report.voyage_tokens,
+                ..TokenUsage::default()
+            },
+            cost_usd: report.voyage_cost_usd,
+        },
+    );
+    let total_cost = bulk_meter.cost_usd() + editor_meter.cost_usd() + report.voyage_cost_usd;
     let summary_model = match config.editorial.summary_model {
         crate::config::SummaryModel::Editor if curator.llms.editor.is_some() => {
             config.anthropic.model.clone()
@@ -668,30 +675,32 @@ async fn run_stages(
         .iter()
         .map(|(provider, usage)| (provider.clone(), usage.cost_usd))
         .collect();
+    let models = Models {
+        bulk: if bulk_available {
+            config.deepseek.model.clone()
+        } else {
+            "none".into()
+        },
+        editor: if curator.llms.editor.is_some() {
+            config.anthropic.model.clone()
+        } else if bulk_available {
+            format!("{} (bulk fallback)", config.deepseek.model)
+        } else {
+            "none".into()
+        },
+        summaries: summary_model,
+    };
     let colophon = Colophon {
         provider_costs,
-        models: Models {
-            bulk: if bulk_available {
-                config.deepseek.model.clone()
-            } else {
-                "none".into()
-            },
-            editor: if curator.llms.editor.is_some() {
-                config.anthropic.model.clone()
-            } else if bulk_available {
-                format!("{} (bulk fallback)", config.deepseek.model)
-            } else {
-                "none".into()
-            },
-            summaries: summary_model,
-        },
+        models: models.clone(),
         entries_fetched: report.counts.entries_fetched,
         feeds_seen: report.counts.feeds_seen,
         candidates: report.counts.candidates,
-        cost_usd: bulk_meter.cost_usd() + editor_meter.cost_usd(),
+        cost_usd: total_cost,
         generator_version: format!("daily-epub {}", crate::VERSION),
     };
-    let issue = build_issue(
+    let behind = behind_the_paper(ctx, report, models, total_cost).await;
+    let mut issue = build_issue(
         date,
         issue_number,
         Timestamp::now(),
@@ -700,6 +709,7 @@ async fn run_stages(
         world_briefing,
         colophon,
     );
+    issue.behind = behind;
 
     // --- Stage 12: build both EPUB editions (§3.10) — fatal on failure ---
     let stage = Timestamp::now();
@@ -757,6 +767,51 @@ async fn run_stages(
     })
 }
 
+/// Near misses listed in the "Behind the paper" chapter (§15.1).
+const NEAR_MISSES_IN_PAPER: usize = 10;
+
+/// The facts of §15.1, from the report so far and the run's `candidate_runs`
+/// rows (selection telemetry must already be written). Never fails: a
+/// telemetry read error leaves the near-miss list empty.
+async fn behind_the_paper(
+    ctx: &StageContext<'_>,
+    report: &RunReport,
+    models: Models,
+    cost_usd: f64,
+) -> BehindThePaper {
+    let near_misses =
+        match telemetry::paper_near_misses(ctx.db, ctx.run_id, NEAR_MISSES_IN_PAPER).await {
+            Ok(misses) => misses,
+            Err(error) => {
+                tracing::warn!(%error, "could not read near misses for the paper");
+                Vec::new()
+            }
+        };
+    let counts = &report.counts;
+    BehindThePaper {
+        considered: counts.articles,
+        feeds_seen: counts.feeds_seen,
+        eligible: counts.eligible,
+        triaged: counts.triaged,
+        read_closely: counts.assessed,
+        shortlisted: counts.shortlisted,
+        selected: counts.selected,
+        admitted_by: counts.admitted_by.clone(),
+        rated_with_embeddings: counts.rated_with_embeddings,
+        knn_gate: counts.knn_gate,
+        feed_gate: counts.feed_gate,
+        near_misses,
+        models,
+        embedding_model: if counts.embedded > 0 {
+            ctx.config.voyage.model.clone()
+        } else {
+            "none".into()
+        },
+        cost_usd,
+        generation_secs: (Timestamp::now().as_second() - ctx.started_at.as_second()).max(0),
+    }
+}
+
 /// The embedding cache with a Voyage client behind it, or cache-only under
 /// `--skip-embeddings`, `voyage.enabled = false` or a missing key (§16, §17).
 fn build_embedding_service(
@@ -872,6 +927,8 @@ async fn prepare_features(
         }
     };
     report.counts.rated_with_embeddings = preference.rated_with_embeddings as i64;
+    report.counts.knn_gate = preference.knn_gate;
+    report.counts.feed_gate = preference.feed_gate;
     for candidate in candidates.iter_mut() {
         candidate.signals = computed
             .remove(&candidate.article.id)
@@ -1013,6 +1070,7 @@ async fn build_llms(
             return Llms::default();
         }
     };
+    report.counts.verdicts_in_prompt = profile.verdicts as i64;
     if ctx.skip_llm {
         tracing::info!("--skip-llm: profile rebuilt; no provider calls will be made");
         return Llms::default();
@@ -1047,6 +1105,7 @@ async fn build_llms(
                 version = rebuilt.version,
                 "taste profile rebuilt with editor-or-bulk"
             );
+            report.counts.verdicts_in_prompt = rebuilt.verdicts as i64;
             llms = make_clients(rebuilt.text);
         }
         Ok(None) => {}
@@ -1663,6 +1722,66 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap();
         assert!(misses.contains("not selected, by utility"), "{misses}");
         assert!(misses.contains("shortlisted, not_selected"), "{misses}");
+
+        // The Behind-the-paper facts come from the same rows and the report.
+        report.counts.articles = 4;
+        report.counts.feeds_seen = 4;
+        report.counts.admitted = 2;
+        report.counts.admitted_by = BTreeMap::from([("interest".to_string(), 2)]);
+        report.counts.shortlisted = 2;
+        report.counts.selected = 1;
+        let behind = behind_the_paper(&ctx, &report, Models::default(), 0.25).await;
+        assert_eq!(behind.considered, 4);
+        assert_eq!(behind.feeds_seen, 4);
+        assert_eq!(behind.eligible, 2);
+        assert_eq!(behind.shortlisted, 2);
+        assert_eq!(behind.selected, 1);
+        assert_eq!(behind.admitted_by.get("interest"), Some(&2));
+        assert_eq!(behind.rated_with_embeddings, 0);
+        assert_eq!(behind.knn_gate, 0.0);
+        assert_eq!(behind.embedding_model, h.config.voyage.model);
+        assert_eq!(behind.cost_usd, 0.25);
+        assert_eq!(behind.near_misses.len(), 1, "one shortlisted, not selected");
+        let miss = &behind.near_misses[0];
+        assert_eq!(miss.article_id, loser);
+        assert_eq!(
+            miss.title,
+            format!(
+                "Post {}",
+                h.articles
+                    .iter()
+                    .find(|a| a.id == loser)
+                    .unwrap()
+                    .best_entry_id
+            )
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            miss.feed_title,
+            h.articles
+                .iter()
+                .find(|a| a.id == loser)
+                .unwrap()
+                .feed_title
+        );
+        assert_eq!(miss.stage, "shortlisted");
+        assert_eq!(miss.reason.as_deref(), Some("not_selected"));
+        assert!(miss.quality.is_none(), "no deep assessment ran");
+        let chapter = crate::epub::chapters::render_behind_the_paper(&Issue {
+            behind: behind.clone(),
+            ..crate::epub::fixtures::issue()
+        })
+        .unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            chapter.xhtml.contains("Considered 4 articles from 4 feeds"),
+            "{}",
+            chapter.xhtml
+        );
+        assert!(chapter.xhtml.contains(&miss.title), "{}", chapter.xhtml);
+        assert!(
+            chapter.xhtml.contains("shortlisted, not selected"),
+            "{}",
+            chapter.xhtml
+        );
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
diff --git a/src/publish.rs b/src/publish.rs
index 0e26d5b..2f96af3 100644
--- a/src/publish.rs
+++ b/src/publish.rs
@@ -752,6 +752,7 @@ mod tests {
             editorial: Editorial::default(),
             world_briefing: None,
             colophon: Colophon::default(),
+            behind: Default::default(),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/report.rs b/src/report.rs
index 001e0fb..76aaf00 100644
--- a/src/report.rs
+++ b/src/report.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for RunStatus {
 }
 
 /// Per-stage article counts as the pipeline narrows the day's feed volume (§2).
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct StageCounts {
     /// Entries returned by Miniflux inside the lookback window (§3.1).
     pub entries_fetched: i64,
@@ -73,6 +73,15 @@ pub struct StageCounts {
     pub embedded: i64,
     /// Current rated articles with a valid embedding.
     pub rated_with_embeddings: i64,
+    /// The neighbour signal's gate ramp, 0–1 (§9.2); 0 means the signal is absent.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub knn_gate: f64,
+    /// The feed-affinity gate ramp, 0–1 (§9.3).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub feed_gate: f64,
+    /// Explicit verdicts rendered into the system prompt (§8.4).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub verdicts_in_prompt: i64,
     /// Articles with a reusable or newly produced triage assessment.
     pub triaged: i64,
     /// Articles admitted to close reading.
@@ -97,6 +106,10 @@ pub struct StageCounts {
     pub images_embedded: i64,
 }
 
+/// Key under which Voyage usage sits in `provider_costs` (§7.6). Its token count
+/// is embedding input, so it stays out of the LLM `usage` aggregate.
+pub const VOYAGE_PROVIDER: &str = "voyage";
+
 /// Wall-clock milliseconds per pipeline stage.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct StageTimings(pub BTreeMap<String, i64>);
@@ -186,13 +199,21 @@ impl RunReport {
 
     /// Stamp the end time, total provider costs (LLM providers plus Voyage) and
     /// settle the status.
+    ///
+    /// Voyage is counted once: through its `provider_costs` entry when the
+    /// pipeline recorded one, else through `voyage_cost_usd`.
     pub fn finish(&mut self, finished_at: Timestamp) {
         self.finished_at = Some(finished_at);
         self.usage = TokenUsage::default();
-        self.cost_usd = self.voyage_cost_usd;
-        for provider in self.provider_costs.values() {
-            self.usage.add(provider.usage);
-            self.cost_usd += provider.cost_usd;
+        self.cost_usd = 0.0;
+        for (provider, usage) in &self.provider_costs {
+            self.cost_usd += usage.cost_usd;
+            if provider != VOYAGE_PROVIDER {
+                self.usage.add(usage.usage);
+            }
+        }
+        if !self.provider_costs.contains_key(VOYAGE_PROVIDER) {
+            self.cost_usd += self.voyage_cost_usd;
         }
         if self.status == RunStatus::Running {
             self.status = if self.warnings.is_empty() {
@@ -233,6 +254,68 @@ impl RunReport {
         )
     }
 
+    /// "23m12s" / "48s" for the log block and `stats`.
+    pub fn format_duration(secs: i64) -> String {
+        let secs = secs.max(0);
+        if secs >= 60 {
+            format!("{}m{:02}s", secs / 60, secs % 60)
+        } else {
+            format!("{secs}s")
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The four-line info block of §15.4 (`curation:`, `admission:`,
+    /// `preference:`, `providers:`), logged once per run and printed by the CLI.
+    pub fn info_block(&self) -> [String; 4] {
+        let c = &self.counts;
+        let admitted = |name: &str| c.admitted_by.get(name).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+        let gate = |value: f64| {
+            if value > 0.0 {
+                format!("{value:.2}")
+            } else {
+                "off".to_string()
+            }
+        };
+        let providers = self
+            .provider_costs
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(provider, usage)| format!("{provider} ${:.2}", usage.cost_usd))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join(" · ");
+        let providers = if providers.is_empty() {
+            "none".to_string()
+        } else {
+            providers
+        };
+        [
+            format!(
+                "curation: {} considered → {} eligible → {} triaged → {} assessed → {} shortlisted → {} selected",
+                c.articles, c.eligible, c.triaged, c.assessed, c.shortlisted, c.selected
+            ),
+            format!(
+                "admission: triage {} · interest {} · knn {} · exploration {} · blend {} · auto {}",
+                admitted("triage"),
+                admitted("interest"),
+                admitted("knn"),
+                admitted("exploration"),
+                admitted("blend"),
+                admitted("auto_include"),
+            ),
+            format!(
+                "preference: {} rated w/ embeddings → knn {} · feed {} · {} verdicts in prompt",
+                c.rated_with_embeddings,
+                gate(c.knn_gate),
+                gate(c.feed_gate),
+                c.verdicts_in_prompt
+            ),
+            format!(
+                "providers: {providers} · total ${:.2} · {}",
+                self.cost_usd,
+                Self::format_duration(self.duration_secs().unwrap_or(0))
+            ),
+        ]
+    }
+
     /// Feeds ordered by entry count, descending — the M1 dry-run breakdown.
     pub fn top_feeds(&self, limit: usize) -> Vec<(&str, i64)> {
         let mut v: Vec<(&str, i64)> = self
@@ -289,6 +372,69 @@ mod tests {
         // The legacy aggregate columns are the sum across providers.
         assert_eq!(r.usage, usage(1_000_100, 1_003_000, 2_000, 1_000_800));
         assert_eq!(r.duration_secs(), Some(360));
+
+        // Once the pipeline records Voyage as a provider (§7.6) it is counted
+        // there, not twice, and its tokens still stay out of the LLM aggregate.
+        r.provider_costs.insert(
+            VOYAGE_PROVIDER.into(),
+            ProviderUsage {
+                usage: usage(250_000, 0, 0, 0),
+                cost_usd: 0.005,
+            },
+        );
+        r.finish(ts("2026-08-15T05:36:00Z"));
+        assert!((r.cost_usd - 0.4778).abs() < 1e-9);
+        assert_eq!(r.usage, usage(1_000_100, 1_003_000, 2_000, 1_000_800));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn info_block_has_the_four_lines_of_the_plan() {
+        let mut r = RunReport::new("2026-08-15".parse().unwrap(), ts("2026-08-15T05:30:00Z"));
+        r.counts.articles = 412;
+        r.counts.eligible = 398;
+        r.counts.triaged = 398;
+        r.counts.assessed = 120;
+        r.counts.shortlisted = 60;
+        r.counts.selected = 17;
+        r.counts.admitted_by = BTreeMap::from([
+            ("triage".to_string(), 60),
+            ("interest".to_string(), 20),
+            ("knn".to_string(), 12),
+            ("exploration".to_string(), 5),
+            ("blend".to_string(), 23),
+        ]);
+        r.counts.rated_with_embeddings = 14;
+        r.counts.knn_gate = 0.35;
+        r.counts.verdicts_in_prompt = 41;
+        for (provider, cost) in [("deepseek", 0.11), ("anthropic", 0.62), ("voyage", 0.02)] {
+            r.provider_costs.insert(
+                provider.into(),
+                ProviderUsage {
+                    usage: usage(1, 0, 0, 1),
+                    cost_usd: cost,
+                },
+            );
+        }
+        r.finish(ts("2026-08-15T05:53:12Z"));
+        let [curation, admission, preference, providers] = r.info_block();
+        assert_eq!(
+            curation,
+            "curation: 412 considered → 398 eligible → 398 triaged → 120 assessed → 60 shortlisted → 17 selected"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            admission,
+            "admission: triage 60 · interest 20 · knn 12 · exploration 5 · blend 23 · auto 0"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            preference,
+            "preference: 14 rated w/ embeddings → knn 0.35 · feed off · 41 verdicts in prompt"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            providers,
+            "providers: anthropic $0.62 · deepseek $0.11 · voyage $0.02 · total $0.75 · 23m12s"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(RunReport::format_duration(48), "48s");
+        assert_eq!(RunReport::format_duration(3600), "60m00s");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/types.rs b/src/types.rs
index fdcdd16..fa22e81 100644
--- a/src/types.rs
+++ b/src/types.rs
@@ -383,6 +383,9 @@ pub struct TasteProfile {
     pub text: String,
     pub version: i64,
     pub built_at: Timestamp,
+    /// Explicit verdicts rendered into the prompt's "Recent verdicts" block (§8.4).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub verdicts: usize,
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -562,6 +565,9 @@ pub struct Issue {
     pub world_briefing: Option<WorldBriefing>,
     /// Colophon facts: models used, token cost, feed counts (§3.10).
     pub colophon: Colophon,
+    /// The "Behind the paper" chapter's facts (§15.1); filled by the pipeline.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub behind: BehindThePaper,
 }
 
 /// Resolved model names printed in the colophon (§15.1).
@@ -584,6 +590,49 @@ pub struct Colophon {
     pub generator_version: String,
 }
 
+/// One of the highest-utility articles that did not make the paper (§15.1).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct NearMiss {
+    pub article_id: ArticleId,
+    pub title: String,
+    pub feed_title: String,
+    pub quality: Option<f64>,
+    pub fit: Option<f64>,
+    /// `candidate_runs.stage` reached.
+    pub stage: String,
+    /// `candidate_runs.excluded_reason`, when the row carries one.
+    pub reason: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Facts for the "Behind the paper" chapter (§15.1), derived from the run's
+/// report and its `candidate_runs` rows. Templates render it verbatim.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct BehindThePaper {
+    /// Deduplicated articles the run looked at.
+    pub considered: i64,
+    pub feeds_seen: i64,
+    pub eligible: i64,
+    pub triaged: i64,
+    /// Deep-assessed ("read closely").
+    pub read_closely: i64,
+    pub shortlisted: i64,
+    pub selected: i64,
+    /// First admitting retriever → count (§11).
+    pub admitted_by: BTreeMap<String, i64>,
+    pub rated_with_embeddings: i64,
+    /// The neighbour signal's gate ramp, 0–1 (§9.2).
+    pub knn_gate: f64,
+    /// The feed-affinity gate ramp, 0–1 (§9.3).
+    pub feed_gate: f64,
+    pub near_misses: Vec<NearMiss>,
+    pub models: Models,
+    pub embedding_model: String,
+    /// Every provider, Voyage included.
+    pub cost_usd: f64,
+    /// Wall clock from the run's start to issue assembly.
+    pub generation_secs: i64,
+}
+
 /// A downloaded, re-encoded image embedded in an edition (§3.10 images).
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct ImageAsset {
diff --git a/tests/m4_epub.rs b/tests/m4_epub.rs
index d517e93..ab90737 100644
--- a/tests/m4_epub.rs
+++ b/tests/m4_epub.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ fn standard_edition_is_a_well_formed_epub3_archive() {
         "OEBPS/sec-niche-corner.xhtml",
         "OEBPS/art-1002.xhtml",
         "OEBPS/world.xhtml",
+        "OEBPS/behind.xhtml",
         "OEBPS/colophon.xhtml",
     ] {
         assert!(contains_entry(&zip, entry), "missing {entry}");
@@ -186,11 +187,77 @@ fn chapter_ids_hrefs_and_toc_levels_are_stable() {
             ),
             ("art-1002".into(), "art-1002.xhtml".into(), 2),
             ("world".into(), "world.xhtml".into(), 1),
+            ("behind".into(), "behind.xhtml".into(), 1),
             ("colophon".into(), "colophon.xhtml".into(), 1),
         ]
     );
 }
 
+/// "Behind the paper" sits between the World Briefing and the colophon in both
+/// editions, carries the counts, the admission mix, the learned-signal state,
+/// the near misses and the models, and has no links (§15.1).
+#[test]
+fn behind_the_paper_renders_counts_and_near_misses_in_both_editions() {
+    let issue = fixtures::issue();
+    for edition in [Edition::Standard, Edition::X4] {
+        let (_dir, _, zip) = build_edition_to_bytes(&issue, edition);
+        let behind = read_entry(&zip, "OEBPS/behind.xhtml");
+        assert!(behind.contains("<h1>Behind the paper</h1>"), "{behind}");
+        assert!(
+            behind.contains(
+                "Considered 412 articles from 1,465 feeds \u{00b7} 398 eligible \u{00b7} 398 triaged \u{00b7} 120 read closely \u{00b7} 60 shortlisted \u{00b7} 2 selected."
+            ),
+            "{behind}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            behind.contains(
+                "Admitted via: triage 60 \u{00b7} interests 20 \u{00b7} your ratings 12 \u{00b7} exploration 5 \u{00b7} blend 23."
+            ),
+            "{behind}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            behind.contains(
+                "Learned signals: 14 rated articles with embeddings (neighbour signal at 35%); feed affinity off."
+            ),
+            "{behind}"
+        );
+        assert!(behind.contains("<h2>Near misses</h2>"), "{behind}");
+        assert!(
+            behind.contains(
+                "<li>The One That Got Away \u{2014} Example Feed \u{00b7} quality 8.0 \u{00b7} fit 6.5 \u{00b7} shortlisted, not selected</li>"
+            ),
+            "{behind}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            behind.contains(
+                "<li>Never Read Closely \u{2014} Other Feed \u{00b7} triaged, not admitted</li>"
+            ),
+            "{behind}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            behind.contains(
+                "Models: triage and assessment deepseek-v4-flash \u{00b7} editor and summaries claude-opus-5 \u{00b7} embeddings voyage-4-lite. Cost $0.81. Generation 23 min."
+            ),
+            "{behind}"
+        );
+        assert!(!behind.contains("<a "), "no links in {edition:?}: {behind}");
+        assert!(!behind.contains("&nbsp;"));
+        for tag in ["html", "head", "body", "div", "p", "ul", "li", "h1", "h2"] {
+            // `<li` would also match `<link`; count real opening tags only.
+            let opens = behind.matches(&format!("<{tag}>")).count()
+                + behind.matches(&format!("<{tag} ")).count();
+            let closes = behind.matches(&format!("</{tag}>")).count();
+            assert_eq!(opens, closes, "unbalanced <{tag}> in {edition:?}");
+        }
+
+        // Ordering: world → behind → colophon in the spine.
+        let opf = read_entry(&zip, "OEBPS/content.opf");
+        let position = |href: &str| opf.find(&format!("href=\"{href}\"")).expect(href);
+        assert!(position("world.xhtml") < position("behind.xhtml"));
+        assert!(position("behind.xhtml") < position("colophon.xhtml"));
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn every_chapter_is_parseable_xhtml() {
     let issue = fixtures::issue();