In addition to my reading list, where takeaways often come from, I’m slowly building a list of various sources I use to surface items I run across as part of 7 Takeaways.
They run the range from more-or-less traditional news sources, to individual blogs, and many different styles in-between. Sometimes they contain the takeaways themselves, but several are curation newsletters that point me to random locations across the internet where I find even more good stuff. (I’ll talk about my criteria below.)
In more-or-less alphabetical order. (*) indicates a subscription I pay for.
1440 – a daily newsletter that aims to share “All of your news, none of the bias”. I regularly find interesting items for 7 Takeaways, and occasionally Not All News Is Bad.
The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker (*) – “is about creativity, work, and staying human.” As its title implies, it touches often on noticing what’s around us. He has a book by the same name.
The Atlantic (*) – I don’t recall what lead me here, but it’s become one of my most valued sources of news, analysis, and opinion.
404 Media (*) – “404 Media is a journalist-founded digital media company exploring the ways technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world.”
Collab Blog – A blog by Morgan Housel, a principal in an investment firm, Collab Fund. The blog is rarely about investment and more about life, philosophy, and interesting advice.
Curiosity Chronicle by Sahil Bloom – There are a lot of “build a high-performing, healthy, wealthy life” newsletters out there, but this has been a good source of practical, actionable information.
deepculture – “We send you 10 interesting things every Tuesday. It’s a quick read, interesting, useful and fun to read. If you have a curious mind, it’s the perfect newsletter for you.”
David Gerold (* Patreon) – Best known as a sci-fi writer, and somewhat of a curmudgeon, he posts frequent on a variety of topics that are quite thought provoking. Even though Patreon, many posts are open.
Dense Discovery – “Useful apps & websites, Compelling books & zines, Inspiring art & design projects, Thought-provoking essays, podcasts & videos”
Distilled by Michael Thomas – “Deeply researched stories about climate change”
The Economist (*) – Independent journalism.
The Edgy Optimist by Zachary Karabell – “A bit more than a decade ago, I launched a column for The Atlantic and Reuters and then Slate. It was called “The Edgy Optimist.” The goal was to take a weekly look at what might go right, rather than focus relentlessly on all that is going wrong. Now, in a time of deep pessimism bordering on despair, I’m re-launching “The Edgy Optimist,” and I hope you will join me.”
Everything Is Amazing by Mike Sowden (*) – “After a decade as a travel writer, I’m writing this nerdsletter to explore the practical skill of curiosity, and to go romping through the modern sciences in search of a good “wow!” you can feel all the way down to your boots.”
Everything Is Bullshit – “Poking holes in the stories we tell ourselves” by David Pinsof. – I love the contrarian investigation into to so many things we take for granted.
Father Nathan Monk (*) – Perspectives from a defrocked Russian Orthodox priest.
Generation Tech (*) – “We are living in a time of sweeping technological change. What impact does that have on us as humans? And what does it mean for being a parent today?”
The Guardian (*) – While primarily a news source, there are often good opinion pieces.
How to Build a Life by Arthur C. Brooks (via The Atlantic *) – Honestly, this has justified my subscription to The Atlantic several times over. You may also recognize Brooks from a book I sometimes reference: “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life”.
The Imperfectionist – Oliver Burkeman, the author of Four Thousand Weeks: “twice-monthly email on productivity, mortality, the power of limits, and building a meaningful life in an age of
bewilderment”.
The Index (*) – A relatively new news source by journalist Joan Westenberg.
Austin Kleon – “Weekly art, writing, and creative inspiration from the author of Steal Like an Artist and other bestsellers.”
Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends by Caitlin Dewey – “Links is a digital culture newsletter for people who miss the old internet: the one that wasn’t crowded with Elon Musk reply-guys, viral attention-hackers and shrimp Jesuses. It’s interested in big-picture questions about technology and how it shapes our lives and culture. But it’s also fun and serendipitous and sometimes deeply weird — all the things that social media really isn’t now.”
makoism by Steve Makofsky (*) – “For the last several years, I’ve been trying to keep a regular cadence of posting interesting links/thoughts/stories and thoughts about human-focused leadership, storytelling, and well-being.”
Medium (*) – Medium content is all over the map, and of late most of it isn’t worth it. However there are a few writers there that make the small subscription and periodic check-in worthwhile. Though if I do find an individual of interest I try to follow them directly on other platforms if possible.
Men Yell at Me by Lyz – “This newsletter sits at the intersection of patriarchy and politics in red state America. Think of reading this newsletter as sitting down with a good friend over bourbon and yelling about politics and chatting about life.”
Midlife Mess with Annie Scott (*) – “I’m Annie and at 42 I’ve realised that what used to be called ‘middle-age’ is actually and incredible time to figure out who you really are, beyond the bullshit.”
My Sweet Dumb Brain by Katie Hawkins-Gaar (*) – “I started My Sweet Dumb Brain in 2018, a year and a half after my husband died while running a half marathon. He was 32. And I, suddenly, was a 31-year-old widow. In the time since his death, I’d amassed a lot of emotions and thoughts about grief, depression, hope, guilt, sadness, and joy. This newsletter became a place to process all of it, and to share the things I’d learned with others.”
The New York Times (*, cancelling after the “Please don’t leave” discount is over.)
The New Yorker (*) – Generally fascinating journalism and thought pieces.
NextDraft by Dave Pell – “I pluck the most fascinating news items of the day and then create a modern-day column which I deliver with a fast, pithy wit that will make your computer device vibrate with delight.”
Nir and Far newsletter by Nir Eyal – From the author of Indistractable. Research shared from user experience design, behavioral economics, and neuroscience.
No F*cks Given by Sara Knight (*) – Author of “Grow the F*ck Up”, among others. “If you’re looking for simple, practical strategies for living your best life—delivered in a fun, no-nonsense style—then you’ve come to the right place.”
Not Boring by Packy McCormick – “Not Boring is the most fun way to learn about what’s going on in business and the strategy behind the decisions companies make.” I find it often covers items of interest outside of business.
The Onion (*) – Just because.
Open Windows by Ann Telnaes – The former Washington Post editorial cartoonist.
The Quiet Life with Susan Cain (*) – Author of “QUIET”. “For the past twenty years, I’ve been exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet.”
Recommendo – “6 brief personal recommendations of cool stuff.”
Saturday Letters by John P. Weiss. – “… a writer, artist, and former police chief with twenty-six years of law enforcement experience.” I’m not sure how I came across him, but his weekly essays have been particularly thought provoking.
Smartr Daily – “The essential newsletter for curious minds… Thought provoking ideas and insights delivered daily!”. Four or five items, to be specific.
Steady by Dan Rather (*) – Insight from a respected veteran journalist.
Techno Sapiens by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD – “I’m Jacqueline Nesi, a clinical psychologist and professor at Brown University. I study how technology and social media impact mental health (especially for teens), and how parents can help their kids navigate it.”
Tedium by Ernie Smith – “An offbeat digital newsletter”. An eclectic blog/publication covering a wide range of topics and interests, ranging from history to current events, mostly centered around technology and its impact.
This is True (*) – “This is True is the oldest entertainment newsletter on the Internet: a weekly non-partisan news commentary feature that’s fun to read. Each issue features several short summaries of weird (but true!) news items from around the world.” The stories are fun, of course, but the accompanying commentary is thought provoking as well.
Too Old For This Sh*t by Julia Hubbel (*) – She writes often on aging, and adventure travel while aging, and staying healthy while aging. Her essays are always thought provoking.
User Mag by Taylor Lorenz (*) – “User Mag is founded on the belief that the real story of technology lies with its users. Instead of focusing on corporate earnings and boardroom conflicts, User Mag covers how people are using technology.”
Vagina Devil Magic by Lisa Lee Curtis (*) – “Author, feminist, and internet loudmouth”. Author of “Brief Biographies of Badass Bitches” book series.
The Wall Street Journal (*) – Business
The Washington Post (* cancelled, expires in October)
Westenberg by Joan Westenberg (*) – Very insightful essays on a variety of topics.
Wit & Wisdom of Tom Greene – “I write about the examined life. Things like family, happiness, spirituality and friendship. I’m here to help you find clarity and peace in a crazy world.”
What Do We Do Now That We’re Here? by Rosie Spinks. – “A Substack-featured newsletter about how to live a meaningful life in a chaotic, unstable world. I’m trying to find the place between denial and nihilism, and set up a life there.”
A Year of Mental Health by Chris Guillebeau – “A year-long experiment in purposeful productivity,
all through the lens of mental health and wellbeing.”
Local news
Even though not directly related to 7 Takeaways, sometimes something pops up of interest. I encourage supporting local journalism, particularly if independent, so wanted to list these as well.
- The Bellingham Herald (*) – Local, but part of a national chain.
- Cascadia Daily News (*) – Local to Bellingham/Whatcom County WA, independent.
- Puget Sound Business Journal (*) – Local, but part of a national chain.
- The Seattle Times (*)
- Woodinville Weekly (*) – Hyper local
Criteria
So, why do I subscribe to what I do? It’s complicated.
Most news subscriptions, particularly those that are paid, are in part because I want to support the publication. That, in turn, is usually because they’re doing what appears to be good journalism, as opposed to the pandering, cowardly work of some of the others. Most also include good editorials and op-ed pieces.
That feels my second criteria: they make me think. This project is all about my consuming better content, and one definition to me is that it catches my attention in a good way and makes me think about something in a new or deeper way.
They need to be well written, of course. Entertaining is good, but understandable is better.
Many of the publications I explicitly pay for I do so in order to support independent, and often individual, creators. I’ve found myself shifting some of my traditional “corporate” subscription money to smaller and more committed individual and teams.
And, sometimes, things just catch my eye and fancy for reasons that I can’t explain. 