Some things I wanted to show you

Weird month. Still low book sales and I basically spent ~4 weeks not working—which included Thanksgiving and a head cold and burnout and a trip to Phoenix—and it was very much what I needed. Despite the low book sales.

I am getting back into work a little bit now, and hopefully will be back at 100% (ish) by January.

Birdwatching is having a moment : “Here’s the truth: The reason birdwatching is stereotyped as “for old people” is because our culture is so dysfunctional it takes most people 50 years or more to figure out what makes for a meaningful life. The answer is genuine connection to other people and nature. Birds are how most people can get there fastest. Birdwatching is not a hobby for old people. It’s one of the most important things anyone can do at any age to improve the quality of their life.”

Fifteen of the best literary Substacks : “A peculiar aspect of the dawning of the digital age is that it has, in some respects, returned literary life to the 18th century. A hullabaloo of pamphleteers, the effective abolition of copyright – and a return to patronage networks and serial publication. In this context, then, the way in which literary writers are now turning to Substack – a platform that allows authors to send emails to a list of subscribers, and allows those subscribers to interact in comment forums – seems entirely natural.”

How to end your extremely online era : “Screens are reached at, mostly, as an escape. An escape from boredom, from anxiety, from an abating loneliness. Maybe, an escape from ourselves. But instead of causing consolation, screens only make us feel more distant and disconnected and lonely, as an apathy sets in that is increasingly abstract, a kind of stomach-level sadness³. Yet the worst part, the part that can only be described as sinister, is that the only cure seems like more.”

You’re shaped by what you pay attention to : “And here’s where it gets interesting for anyone building, selling, or trying to reach anyone: when people consume negativity all day, they show up everywhere expecting negativity. They’re primed for conflict, suspicious, and they’re already halfway to being upset before they even click. A 2025 study found just exposing people to divisive content increased suspicion of institutions, politicians, and even brands, making users interpret neutral ads or campaigns as hostile or manipulative.”

WATCHING :

The Beast in Me (tropey and fun); Mad Men* S1-3 (sick week rewatch; still incredible; low-key planning a series of posts about the show)

READING :

The Corrections* (reread, I love Franzen); Sleepwalking* (Meg Wolitzer’s debut, liked it but idk what I think of it beyond that)

( *these are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through any of these links I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you )