The Casual Optimist

Books, Design and Culture

Latest posts

Hey. I hope you re keeping safe and well. Here are this month s book covers Air by Christian Kracht, translated by Daniel Bowles; design by Sinem

Jul 29, 2026 · Dan

Hey, hello. Don t you know there s a World Cup on? Here are this month s book cover selections As If by Isabel Waidner; design by Na

Jun 29, 2026 · Dan

I m sure Tom Gauld s latest cartoon for The Guardian will resonate with a few folks around here I liked Tom s recent New Yorker cover too

Jun 29, 2026 · Dan

I love this new cover for the Fiction Issue of The New Yorker by artists Sergio García Sánchez and Lola Moral. Is there a history

Jun 5, 2026 · Dan

Hi. Hello. I hope you re all keeping well. This month seems to have flown by so I apologise for rather rushing this out at the

May 28, 2026 · Dan

It s Friday so I m posting comics Tom Gauld for The Guardian.

May 22, 2026 · Dan

Jean Jullien.

May 22, 2026 · Dan

Peanuts, originally published on November 3, 1998.⁠ (via the Schulz Museum)

May 8, 2026 · Dan

Hi. Hello. I hope you re keeping safe and well. I m getting this month s post out at little earlier than usual (i.e. not the 11th hour),

Apr 27, 2026 · Dan

Hey. It s almost spring. Hang in there! I took a long-planned week off in March, so this month s post was somewhat cobbled together around that

Mar 25, 2026 · Dan