The Novelleist

The Novelleist is a Substack dedicated to exploring ideas related to philosophical utopias, societal change, and the future of work and economics through the lens of literature and personal essays. It covers a range of topics from the potential of internet friendships to envisioning utopian societies, and reflects on both historical and futuristic perspectives on capitalism, socialism, craftwork, and the impact of technology and political ideologies on societal structures.

Utopian Societies Internet and Real-life Friendships Future of Work Political Ideologies Literature and Essay Writing Economic Systems Social Movements Environmental Sustainability Gender and Society Capitalism and Income Equality Cultural Imaginings

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

Introducing The Elysian (and my new job)

2432 implied HN points • 15 May 23
📚 Literature Enlightenment Philosophy
  1. The author emphasizes the importance of having literary thinkers over journalists for societal progress.
  2. The author discusses the nostalgia for the Enlightenment period and the need to revive philosophical and utopian thinking.
  3. The author introduces The Elysian as a platform for stimulating discussions around envisioning a better future through essays, literature, and discourse.

Maybe women should design our sci-fi future

1411 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Gender Technology Future Art Literature
  1. Reimagining the design of our technological future with more feminine perspectives can lead to more visually appealing, sustainable, and community-oriented innovations.
  2. Women-led tech companies often prioritize healthcare, environmental conservation, and community well-being over traditional futuristic themes like cars and spaceships.
  3. By encouraging more women sci-fi writers to envision the future and women technologists to build it, we can create a more diverse, inclusive, and beautiful vision for our technological advancements.

Are internet friends "real" friends?

1281 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Community Friendship Writing Literature
  1. Internet friends can understand us in a unique way through our shared interests and writings.
  2. Finding 'our people' who truly know and connect with us can be challenging in real-life friendships.
  3. The online community can offer a space for meaningful connections that resonate deeply with us, potentially even more than some real-life friendships.
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Will we return to craftwork?

1183 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Hobbies
  1. Hobbies can turn into full-time jobs with platforms like Etsy making it possible.
  2. The distinction between work and hobby has blurred, with many finding fulfillment in turning craftwork into a source of income.
  3. There is a growing interest in returning to craftwork, blurring the lines between work and pleasure.

Humans are good (except for that one guy)

1075 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature Ethics Anarchism
  1. There are good people who do positive things, but also 'that guy' who causes harm and makes rules and regulations necessary.
  2. Bad actors may be a small percentage, but their impact can be significant, leading to the need for larger systems to handle such individuals.
  3. While rules and regulations are essential for addressing bad behavior, they can sometimes become burdensome due to the actions of a few individuals.

We should remove electives from higher education

912 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed
  1. Some universities are considering removing electives from bachelor degrees to reduce tuition cost and completion time.
  2. The traditional liberal arts education model is being challenged, advocating for more vocational-focused education.
  3. Online and asynchronous degree programs are making education more accessible and affordable for students worldwide.

In pursuit of a masterpiece

901 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Novels Art Creative Process Inspiration
  1. The author values creating a masterpiece in their writing, taking time to explore and research different elements.
  2. The author emphasizes the importance of incorporating personal experiences and uniqueness into artistic work to differentiate it from others.
  3. The author recognizes the need to slow down the creative process to pursue a masterpiece, allowing for deeper exploration and refinement.

Writing Prompt: Write an ecotopia!

749 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
📚 Literature
  1. Study three socialist utopias for unique visions.
  2. Consider relevant aspects of utopian visions for the future.
  3. Write a short story based on inspiring themes from socialist utopias.

A brief history of capitalism (& socialism & communism)

684 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Capitalism Socialism Communism Regulation
  1. Industrialization led to the growth of big corporations, creating inequality which sparked movements for socialism and communism.
  2. Workers' rights improved through regulations in capitalist countries after World War II, leading to economic prosperity.
  3. Capitalism emerged as the most successful economic model globally, but there are ongoing challenges like wealth inequality and environmental impact that need to be addressed.

TikTok as modern art museum

651 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Digital Art Animation
  1. TikTok can be seen as a modern art museum showcasing a diverse range of visual arts and human ingenuity.
  2. Curation is key on TikTok, as it allows for a personalized feed of artists and creatives.
  3. The platform introduces users to a wide array of talent, from handcrafters and dancers to performance artists and digital creators.

Inside the utopian cities of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power

629 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Architecture Fantasy Technology
  1. Designing for utopian worlds involves incorporating greenery and water to create a sense of life and comfort.
  2. Political structures can impact the ability to create utopian cities, as seen in contrasting examples like Saudi Arabia and the democratic process in Santa Monica.
  3. Technology can enhance our future, but it's essential to ensure it sustains human connection and values, like community and empathy.

What if women were in charge?

586 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Society Feminism Media
  1. In Barbieland, the default culture is focused on "girlness" and unity rather than competition.
  2. The novel Herland envisions an ideal society without men, emphasizing cooperation over ego-driven competition.
  3. Positive masculinity in the form of characters like Allen in Barbieland shows a blueprint for a rational and cooperative approach towards happiness.

Wakanda isn't an ideal utopia for Africa

575 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Africa Natural resources Economic Development Poverty Corruption
  1. Wakanda in Black Panther is a positive portrayal of African prosperity with advanced technology, boosting pride and dignity.
  2. The economic model of Wakanda, relying on a magical substance for wealth, ignores the realities of gradual economic development involving valuable goods and services.
  3. The obsession with natural resources as a source of wealth can hinder economic growth due to corruption, lack of policy improvements, and misinformation about their true benefits.

Work & Leisure, The Debrief

564 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🎭️ Culture AI Automation Future Education
  1. Elle Griffin finished a series on work and leisure discussing important topics like AI, automation, and 20-hour workweeks.
  2. Paid subscribers can engage in discussions and be part of debriefs exploring capitalism, sparking insightful conversations.
  3. Community members also shared thought-provoking essays on work and leisure, adding more perspectives to the discourse.

Grow your following on Substack (a workshop)

553 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Workshop Influence Community Newsletter Writing
  1. The workshop offers guidance on how to grow your following on Substack and an 8-week challenge to increase subscribers by 500 people.
  2. Investing in and offering support to writers can help spark a Renaissance of literary thinkers on Substack.
  3. The goal is to expand reach and inspire the next generation to be dreamers and problem solvers through creating new ecosystems of writers.

Why I’m not a free market capitalist

423 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
  1. Chocolate companies failed to eradicate child labor despite promises and deadlines
  2. Regulation may be necessary to address issues that corporations fail to resolve
  3. Being a free market capitalist may not always ensure the ethical practices of companies

What if NATO became a world government?

380 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Global Governance Peacebuilding Defense
  1. NATO serves as a defense pact among countries, fostering collective security.
  2. For NATO to act effectively as a global government, member countries must uphold their defense spending commitments.
  3. In a scenario where NATO evolves into a world government, it could potentially facilitate global peace by pooling resources and deterring aggression.

I'm hosting four literary salons this year

358 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
📚 Literature Humanity Worldbuilding Dystopia
  1. Join the Salon Series at the Collector tier to discuss utopian texts through deep-dive discussions on Zoom
  2. Explore themes such as techno-futurism in 'Lathe of Heaven' and humanity from the perspective of robots in 'Psalm for the Wild Built'
  3. Delve into utopian worldbuilding in 'Terra Ignota' and the balance between dystopia and utopia in Aldous Huxley's works

I watched the Super Bowl because of Taylor Swift

108 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Football Fans Athletes Super Bowl Fandom
  1. Taylor Swift's influence has brought a new, diverse audience to football, contributing to increased viewership and ticket sales.
  2. The infusion of Taylor Swift's fandom into football has promoted camaraderie among fans, leading to more positive interactions and fan experiences.
  3. The personal stories and humanization of athletes through lifestyle sports content like podcasts and documentaries can make sports more engaging and relatable, even for those who were previously disinterested.