The hottest Books Substack posts right now

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Prophesy's lullaby

Patti Smith • 7527 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
📚 Literature Books Authors Reading Biographies
  1. Patti Smith shares her daily activities and wishes readers a good night.
  2. She prepared cod, purple sweet potatoes, and micro greens for the evening meal.
  3. Patti Smith's publication is reader-supported, and readers can subscribe to support her work.

How the luxury beliefs of an educated elite erode society

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 4261 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Society Class Beliefs Education Books
  1. Luxury beliefs confer status at low cost to the upper class, but can be damaging to lower classes.
  2. Affluent individuals often promote harmful lifestyles to others while distancing themselves from the consequences.
  3. The concept of white privilege can be embraced by wealthy white individuals to elevate social status, while those who actually face the repercussions are usually less privileged.

On Writing

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 4886 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing Creativity Authors Memoirs Books
  1. The key to writing is having a point of view and putting in the effort consistently, regardless of any specific method or process.
  2. Creativity involves both insight and persistence; don't underestimate the value of persistent effort in generating creative ideas.
  3. Writing regularly may involve accepting that initial drafts may not be perfect, embracing bad writing as part of the process, and persisting through writer's block.
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Book Review Contest Winner: Love in the Time of Incarceration

Freddie deBoer • 2350 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Books Relationships Gender Literature
  1. The book 'Love in the Time of Incarceration' explores relationships with inmates and challenges stereotypes about prison love.
  2. Online communities for women with incarcerated loved ones provide support and understanding, forming a unique sisterhood.
  3. The book delves into the complexities of incarcerated relationships, showing how love can thrive in challenging circumstances.

A bank holiday bonanza of things to read, watch & listen to this weekend

The Shift With Sam Baker • 878 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Books Podcasts TV shows Music Literature
  1. The post shares a bank holiday bonanza of things to read, watch, and listen to, providing a variety of recommendations for entertainment and information consumption.
  2. It features insights on effort, productivity, and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of giving it your all but also learning to tolerate unknowns and knowing when to give up on certain endeavors.
  3. Recommendations include books read, shows watched, and podcasts listened to, offering a diverse range of content suggestions for different tastes and interests.

What Shocked Me About the Culture at Yale

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 2765 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Education Literature Books Podcasts Social Issues
  1. Professors at Yale often work well into their eighties and nineties, a notable difference from other environments.
  2. Students at Ivy League schools can exhibit hypocrisy, criticizing certain occupations while secretly pursuing opportunities in them.
  3. Many elite university students fear being seen as who they truly are, choosing to uphold a virtuous image instead.

Big Money, Elites, San Francisco

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 2083 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Books Podcasts Events
  1. Rob Henderson is making TV and podcast appearances discussing topics like elites, hidden hierarchies, and luxury beliefs.
  2. Join Rob Henderson at book events in San Francisco on March 6 and March 7 to discuss his book _Troubled_.
  3. Listen to Rob Henderson on various podcasts like Modern Wisdom and YOUR WELCOME, sharing insights on diverse topics including genetic tests and reinventing oneself.

Four unpersuasive arguments against TikTok

Read Max • 973 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Media Analysis Entertainment Books Content creation
  1. There are four unpersuasive arguments for banning TikTok, including concerns about Chinese manipulation, user data security, trade war retaliation, and societal impact not related to China.
  2. MrBeast's transparency with his audience about YouTube business models and growth strategies sets a new standard for authenticity in online content creation.
  3. The future of YouTube and media content creation may shift towards authenticity and relatability, reminiscent of TikTok's success, moving away from the professionalized approach of current YouTube stars like MrBeast.

Single Ladies, Paying on Dates, Tinder Matching

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 2121 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships Gender Books Media Society
  1. Sociometric status, like respect and admiration from peers, can influence well-being more than socioeconomic status, even for introverted individuals
  2. The family structure is noted as a hindrance to central control of social processes in historical Marxist literature. Engels initially included undermining family bonds in the Communist Manifesto draft
  3. Women in their twenties using Tinder are more likely to swipe right for a man with a master's degree compared to one with a bachelor's degree

The Monday Media Diet with Kelsey Keith

Why is this interesting? • 603 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Podcasts Fashion Architecture
  1. Kelsey Keith, brand creative director for Herman Miller, describes her varied background in editing design and architecture publications.
  2. Her media diet includes a mix of work-related and personal interest subscriptions like AD Pro, New Yorker, and Bloomberg Business Week.
  3. She recommends lesser-known writers like Stephanie Madewell and Fred Nicolaus, and praises the app Libby for library downloads on Kindle.

The CASEY Award!

JoeBlogs • 2712 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Books Awards History Biographies
  1. The CASEY Award is a prestigious honor for baseball books, with a history dating back to 1983.
  2. MLB sponsorship for the CASEY Award could be beneficial in promoting baseball literature.
  3. The list of past CASEY Award winners showcases a diverse range of baseball books over the years.

Roxane Gay Presents...

The Audacity. • 2594 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
📚 Literature Essays Authors Books
  1. Roxane Gay is launching a new project called 'Roxane Gay Presents' in partnership with Everand.
  2. The series features long essays by different writers, starting with Julia Turshen's essay on powerlifting.
  3. Upcoming essays will cover topics like single motherhood, psychedelics, and American gun culture.

The [Tuesday] Media Diet with Paul Theroux

Why is this interesting? • 1327 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
📚 Literature Books Authors Novels Reading Writing
  1. Paul Theroux emphasizes the ease of staying updated on world events via online news sources and the convenience of assessing contradictions.
  2. Theroux recommends starting with Shakespeare for reading and emphasizes the satisfaction of diving into his works.
  3. Theroux prefers trains over planes for travel and advocates for road trips for the sense of freedom they offer.

The Answer to Editing

Agents and Books • 2712 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
📚 Literature Editing Writing Tips Craft Books
  1. Write a reverse outline after finishing the first draft of your book to help with editing.
  2. What works for one book may not work for another, so be open to trying different techniques.
  3. Continuously learn and adapt your writing process to find what works best for each project.

On Literary Sidepieces

CRAFT TALK • 2338 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Authors Books
  1. Having side projects can help keep momentum if feeling frustrated with the main project.
  2. Sometimes working on a lighter side project can provide a break from emotionally heavy writing.
  3. Sidepiece projects can evolve into something more significant and meaningful.

This is not a letter

Letters of Note • 1945 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
📚 Literature Letters Authors Books
  1. The text presents quotes from Katherine Mansfield's letters to different recipients.
  2. Mansfield's messages often started by stating 'This is not a letter,' implying a more personal connection.
  3. Her letters were filled with genuine expressions of care, love, and unique observations.

An Atmospheric River of Links and Recs

Culture Study • 2051 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Books Podcasts Shopping Community Writing
  1. The author shares about fulfilling Trans Santa gifts with donations and the impact it had, showcasing the power of community support.
  2. The post discusses upcoming content on resistance to the Airbnb Space decorating style and invites readers to share their experiences with alternative rental aesthetics.
  3. The author mentions enjoying reading a fantasy series and gathering various links and recommendations to share with paid subscribers.

A Few Good Questions

CRAFT TALK • 2358 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Books Newsletters
  1. Consider the value of your time and energy when starting a project.
  2. Ask yourself why you're working on a project and understand its importance.
  3. Embrace the process of creating art, even if it means facing failure before success.

What a bawling and a tearing of hair there will be!

Letters of Note • 2790 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
📚 Literature Books Authors Fiction
  1. Lewis Carroll's father exhibited playful absurdity in his letters, which likely influenced his son's fantastical writing.
  2. Charles Sr. wrote a whimsical letter to his son, Charles Jr., showcasing imaginative and humorous storytelling.
  3. Through the letter, Charles Sr. creatively fulfilled his son's request for a file, screwdriver, and ring from Leeds with a vivid and whimsical tale.

The Count and the Kamikaze

Archedelia • 2122 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Books Movies
  1. The novel 'A Gentleman in Moscow' explores the life of a Russian aristocrat under house arrest in a hotel after the Bolshevik revolution.
  2. The movie 'Godzilla Minus One' depicts the story of a kamikaze pilot choosing to live and love after rejecting his mission during WWII.
  3. Both the novel and the movie explore themes of moral choices and grace in challenging historical contexts.

Can a Jew Still Love Kanye?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 908 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Music Literature Relationships Fashion Books
  1. Eli Lake reviews Kanye West's album, acknowledging Kanye's controversial behavior but praising his musical talent.
  2. Kat Rosenfield discusses the idea of using books as props for image and the divide between actual readers and those who pose with books.
  3. Evan Gardner explores Beyoncé's foray into country music, highlighting her diverse musical influences and questioning the genre boundaries in music.

Who Is Reading Even for Anymore?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 881 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Books Social media
  1. Books serve a dual role: for story and as performance props, influencing how we are perceived.
  2. Reading has shifted from a private activity to a public performance, especially influenced by social media and digital culture.
  3. There is a growing divide between readers who quietly enjoy books and public readers who read for an audience, shaping modern book culture.

Three Things

Dinner: A Love Story • 2260 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Books
  1. Try making 'fish presents' for a tasty and low-stress dinner option.
  2. Consider trying out 'oven-roasted chicken shawarma' for a flavorful meal when entertaining guests.
  3. Explore some great book recommendations for your holiday reading list.