The hottest Essays Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

What's got my attention this week #45

The Shift With Sam Baker • 99 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Midlife Artists News Essays Personal Growth
  1. The Shift With Sam Baker newsletter offers a variety of curated content, including essays, round-ups, book clubs, and more for readers.
  2. The newsletter contains interesting links and recommendations on topics like relationships, celebrity encounters, personal reflections, and societal issues.
  3. Paid subscribers get access to exclusive posts and support the work of the newsletter creator.

Interesting reads, March 2024 edition

Brain Pizza • 794 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Essays Fiction Fantasy Psychology Book Reviews
  1. Maximising happiness is not the only goal in life, different societies value different aspects of well-being.
  2. Current thinking on happiness is evolving to include the concept of psychological richness as a facet of a fulfilling life.
  3. Exploring the idea of benign masochism reveals that some activities initially seen as unpleasant can bring joy and pleasure.

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.

Audio Versions Are Back

The Convivial Society • 443 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎙 Podcasts Essays
  1. Audio versions of recent essays are available on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for those who prefer listening over reading.
  2. Consider supporting the author's work through patronage options, including standard rates, student discounts, and permanent 20% off. This support helps sustain the newsletter.
  3. The author shares personal insights, such as literary references and nature photos, alongside updates, creating a more engaging and diverse reading experience for subscribers.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

"You are just bitter"

Men Yell at Me • 555 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Essays Art Feminism Identity Social Issues
  1. Bitterness is often used to dismiss messages of pain or betrayal, shifting focus from blame-worthy behavior to the person expressing the pain.
  2. Bitterness, like anger, is a morally neutral emotion, and how it is used can determine its impact - as a cudgel to brush off ideas or as a force for uniting people.
  3. Swallowing bitterness can give clarity and power, enabling one to keep writing and speaking out against injustice.

Vague Blue

gen yeet • 491 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry Writing Films Fashion Essays
  1. The newsletter has a new name and will feature weekly reviews for subscribers.
  2. The author reflects on a poem by Frank O'Hara and its relevance to their life in New York.
  3. The author discusses influences and mentions relevant reporters and writers in internet culture.

#169: Goodbye for a little!

Maybe Baby • 1930 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🎙 Podcasts Episodes Essays Questions Recommendations
  1. The author is taking a break from the newsletter due to pregnancy and plans to return after maternity leave
  2. During the break, subscription payments will continue, and the newsletter archive will still be accessible
  3. The author provided a roundup of all content published in 2023 and encouraged readers to check out any missed content

What's ahead for 2024 with some free essays.

Changing The Channel • 817 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
📰 News Essays
  1. The author shares essays about moving to Italy and changing life paths, resonating with readers' dissatisfaction towards America's state.
  2. The newsletter was paused in April, but relaunched in September as 'Changing the Channel' after the author left a career in political media.
  3. The post is available for paid subscribers and focuses on insights for the year 2024.

Buses

Soaring Twenties • 139 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Essays Fiction Poetry Film
  1. The Symposium on Buses presented a collection of short stories, essays, poetry, and a film all centered around the theme of buses, offering a variety of creative perspectives on this everyday mode of transportation.
  2. The contributors showcased diverse writing styles and storytelling techniques, captivating the readers with their unique voices and imaginative narratives.
  3. The Symposium highlighted the power of art in transporting readers and viewers, emphasizing the value of creativity and storytelling in capturing moments and emotions.

Windows

Soaring Twenties • 262 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Essays Fiction Film
  1. The Symposium on Windows features a variety of creative works like essays, fiction, and short films.
  2. Different artists interpret the theme of Windows in unique and imaginative ways.
  3. The Symposium is a platform for artists to showcase their creativity and talent to a wider audience.

LLM links, 2/4

In My Tribe • 136 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Philosophy Economics Essays Growth
  1. Children learn by sensing and manipulating objects, which is expected to influence AI development.
  2. AI alignment issues are compared to human alignment issues, showing the importance of getting along in society.
  3. There are hard resource constraints that may limit extreme AI-driven growth, highlighting the importance of understanding these limits.

What Are You Reading?

Knowledge Problem • 196 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
📚 Literature Fiction Nonfiction Essays
  1. The author had a good reading year in 2023, enjoying a variety of books and essays.
  2. The author recommends interesting works in fiction, nonfiction, and essays, sharing insights on different topics and genres.
  3. The author highlights the joy and value found in specific books, like 'The Individualists' and 'The Corporation and the Twentieth Century'.

Open Thread #28

Fisted by Foucault • 82 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Essays Art
  1. The author is experiencing difficulty concentrating due to a pinched nerve in their left hip, causing delays in posting new content. They ask for patience from their readers as they deal with this issue.
  2. The post provides a list of recommended readings on various topics, including essays, chilling transcripts, and discussions on art, inviting readers to explore these materials during the wait for new content.
  3. The author mentions doing stretching exercises to cope with the pinched nerve issue, highlighting the importance of self-care and physical therapy for such health concerns.

I have a book coming out!

Notes from a Small Press • 27 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
📚 Literature Authors Books Publishing Essays Nonfiction
  1. The book 'Best of the Rust Belt' features personal essays from a region often labeled the Rust Belt, showcasing diverse perspectives and voices.
  2. The book aims to shift the narrative of the Rust Belt region, moving away from stereotypical coverage during election cycles to more nuanced, authentic storytelling.
  3. The creation of the book was a collaborative effort involving multiple editors, writers, and contributors, emphasizing the importance of community and collective storytelling.

Talking Non-Conformism with Carlos

Bet On It • 45 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Essays Discussion
  1. Non-conformism can be a mix of common sense and eccentricity, different from conformism which was more functional in the past than in today's world.
  2. Despite the appeal of non-conformism, conformism is the norm, possibly due to its historical functionality.
  3. The shift from functional conformism in ancestral environments to the complexity of non-conformism in modern society indicates changing societal needs.

Essays the size of cathedrals

Escaping Flatland • 1002 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
📚 Literature Essays Software
  1. Essays and code can intersect, blurring the lines between them.
  2. Projects like interactive visualizations and spaced repetition software show this intersection.
  3. The borderland between essays and code is an underexplored space that offers intriguing possibilities.

Talking Non-Conformism With Kaufman

Bet On It • 30 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Interview Essays
  1. Chris Kaufman is interviewed on the topic of non-conformism in the book 'You Will Not Stampede Me: Essays on Non-Conformism'
  2. Chris Kaufman is recognized for interviewing the author on all five of his essay collections
  3. The author finds joy in talking with Chris Kaufman and hopes readers will enjoy the interview too

Borges and the Essay

Orbis Tertius • 546 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
📚 Literature Essays Authors Reading Writing Culture
  1. Essays used to be more popular in literary circles than stories, according to Borges and Eliot Weinberger.
  2. The rise of journalism led to a decline in free-ranging essays, but the internet and platforms like Substack may bring back the golden age of the essay.
  3. Substack's network structure fosters criticism, experimentation, and avant-garde essays, revitalizing the demand and development of the essay form.

The Desk Digest, January 2024

From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy • 39 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Essays Book Club Recipes Travel Cookbooks
  1. The newsletter relaunched with a focus on more time for essays, space for others, and discussions about food nonfiction.
  2. The newsletter offers the option of receiving one email per month or staying updated regularly.
  3. The newsletter features a variety of content like essays, book recommendations, and interviews, with a focus on creating meaningful discussions about food.

A Very Special Announcement

First Floor • 393 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎶 Music Electronic Music Newsletter Essays Culture
  1. First Floor newsletter is becoming a book called 'First Floor Volume 1: Reflections on Electronic Music Culture'.
  2. The book includes updated essays from the newsletter, new material, and a foreword by Martyn, offering a comprehensive look at contemporary electronic music culture.
  3. The book shares insights on electronic music culture, industry challenges, and the future trajectory of the genre.

An Update to the Essay "Intimations of a New Worldview"

Intimations of a New Worldview • 373 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
📚 Literature Essays Philosophy
  1. Changes and additions to the essay 'Intimations of a New Worldview' were made, including a figure illustrating the 'journey of the revolutionary hero'.
  2. The author is working on a post exploring the significance of 'meaning in life' from an evolutionary psychology perspective.
  3. The substack has experienced growth with over 1,400 subscribers after nine months, showing progress despite the author's initial anonymity.

Reading, Watching 02.25.24

Unpopular Front • 15 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
📚 Literature Books Authors Essays
  1. The author mentions a new book available for pre-order and promises more self-promotion about it in upcoming posts.
  2. There is a discussion about the historical figure Martin Buber and his views on Zionism, emphasizing his vision of a binational state for Jews and Arabs.
  3. The post is intended for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive content for those who have subscribed.