The Inputs Series
Part 3: Online Journals and Newsletters (Except Substacks)
Continuing my series on my “inputs” — sans music and books — today I examine the online journals and newsletters I regularly consume. One note — this list does not include newsletters published on Substack. I will review them in the next, and final, installment of this series.
I hope this list delights you even a fraction as much as it enriches my life. Enjoy!
Craig Mod runs several newsletters. Two are regular features. Roden is a monthly focused on “photography × literature × tech × film.” He publishes Ridgeline weekly, about his walks throughout Japan. He also has written a variety of “pop-up” newsletters, on topics like visiting Jazz clubs in Japan, his process for bookmaking, and a recent one on re-walking Japan’s Pachinko Road over 18 days. Henry David Thoreau wrote in his essay Walking, “It is true, we are but faint-hearted crusaders, even the walkers, nowadays, who undertake no persevering, never-ending enterprises. Our expeditions are but tours, and come round again at evening to the old hearth-side from which we set out.” His treks cry out, like Thoreau, for sustained effort at sauntering over long periods of time. Unlike Thoreau, Craig tends to prefer cityscapes. Craig is an interesting cat, to say the least. As he puts it, “the core purpose of this program (and all the work I do — the pop-ups, the videos, everything) is to produce books.” And he’s published some beautiful books, mixing gorgeous photography and thoughtful reflections, including Kissa by Kissa and Things Become Other Things. Why do I read Craig? Of any creative person who has come into my orbit, he has most clearly and explicitly defined the exact life he desires, and he lives it.
Eknath Easwaran’s Thought for the Day
It’s hard to overstate how much Easwaran’s writings have impacted me over the past three years. This newsletter begins my day with a beautiful spiritual quote and Easwaran’s elucidation on it. It helps me keep the main thing, well, the main thing.
The internet has gotten to be a pretty, hmmm, confusing place. On LinkedIn, we can read conceits like “I’ve been an entrepreneur for 3 weeks. Here are 5 lessons I’ve learned.” We can also read and watch and listen to truly superlative pieces by generational talents. And we can engage with people worldwide who have done, or are in the process of doing, what we want to do in life. Rob Hardy helps us navigate that erratic morass, which sometimes uplifts us, but far too often leaves us feeling queasy, weird and uncomfortable. He has one of the clearest, strongest, most cogent voices for creating a better internet experience. He also helps internet creatives and entrepreneurs find and engage the “1,000 true fans” promoted by tech guru Kevin Kelly — in a joyful way. Rob writes one of the very few newsletters that, whenever it hits my email inbox, I drop what I’m doing to read immediately.
Jude and I met through the online writing community Foster. She writes the coolest, freakiest stories. Part mystery, part fantasy, part horror, part sci-fi, and a big part that defies definition, Jude writes in a genre all her own. And I absolutely love it all! Brava, Jude, Brava!
Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, both economics professors at George Mason University, have written this blog daily for over 20 years. They share their views on far more than economics though – culture, AI, film, books, religion, politics and much more all get plenty of air time. Check out Tyler’s frequent advice to people; is Bach the greatest achiever of all time; and how Tyler practices.
Twenty years ago, wanting to improve my physique and mental toughness at least a little, I asked a colleague how he became so strong. He pointed me to a book…he couldn’t even remember the name or author...just that the guy lived on the island of Cyprus. I love nothing more than a little detective work, and with some digging, I tracked down Brawn, by Stuart McRobert. I devoured it. I began following McRobert’s advice. I also subscribed to his magazine, Hardgainer. Through the magazine, I found “Maximum Bob” Whelan, who trained me for nearly a decade. Under Bob’s thoughtful tutelage, I gained the most muscle size and strength in my life. By my standards, I looked strong and I felt tough. Max Bob even wrote about our training together.
McRobert discontinued Hardgainer in the early 2000s. But, happily, a couple years ago, he created Hardgainer 2.0, a digital-only magazine dedicated to the same principles as his books and the original Hardgainer: tough, no-nonsense, no-fluff, slow but steady progress in strength-building. If you’re looking to gain strength and you’re willing to work damned hard for it, you can’t find a better resource.
The Catherine Project was founded by St. John’s College tutor and author Zena Hitz during Covid. Based on a Great Books model similar to St. John’s College, The Catherine Project runs a variety of book discussion classes each semester. I’ve taken a couple classes and have loved them with a deep, abiding sense of finding a welcoming intellectual home. Commonplace is the journal of The Catherine Project. The first issue explored Antigone by Sophocles, Mozart, Montagne, and included an interview with Hitz. The second issue should be published shortly and I cannot wait!
A flâneur, gentle reader, may appear like an idling walker and detached urban observer. Patricia Hurducas’s projects, writings and walks demonstrate that society has no more valuable and needed witness than the flâneur.
By the way, if you will be in Europe in July, you can go on a walk and talk with Patricia. Sounds like an amazing and special walk!
Shane Parrish has created one of the terrific knowledge and decision-making resources of our time. Check it out.
Dani’s short meditations on life, all for “Playfully seeking wisdom,” feel like a dance of imagination and introspection.
I’m (slowly) trying to improve the quality of my photography for this newsletter. I enjoy Matt Osborne’s quirky, cheeky teaching approach.
Katie Steedly Curling’s musings into lifelong learning and beautiful writing make me pause, slow down and feel into the moment.
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