Facts, arguments, advice, memories, and music for foggy November afternoons
Postcard #34
Hello and welcome back to another edition of THE POSTCARD, Unregistered’s fortnightly roundup of recommendations.
Thoughts, tools, and treats
This week: inspiring reads for gloomy afternoons.
Highbrow misinformation
In a terrific, much-noticed piece, Dan Wiliams argues that „on issues like climate change, gender, race, and crime, establishment journalism and punditry are often misleading“ and that acknowledging this phenomenon is necessary to avoid it being replaced by an „information environment that is much worse than what it seeks to replace. Highbrow misinformation demonstrates that our most prestigious knowledge-producing institutions must urgently be reformed, not destroyed or replaced by ‚contrarian‘, ‚heterodox‘, or ‚alternative’ media.“ An article that masterfully combines facts, clear arguments, nuance, and a persuasive core message. Dan also published a non-paywalled version over at Persuasion.
Shifting gears
Ted Gioia responds to a young reader looking for life guidance. He recommends connecting to the natural world and to real people, sports, reading groups, music-making, meditation, cultivating skills that no app will ever be able to do, and using the internet purposefully.
In memoriam Jonathan Lear
Agnes Callard, Leon Wieseltier, and many more remember the philosopher and writer who recently passed away.
The silent crowd
Timeless advice by Sam Harris on how to overcome your fear of public speaking.
The authoritarian stack
A website by Francesca Bria and the Autonomy Institute mapping „a network of firms, funds, and political actors turning core state functions into private platforms. Based on an open-source dataset of over 250 actors, thousands of verified connections, and $45 billion in documented financial flows.“
Noteworthy
„Home can be lost, changed, or emerge anew. Sometimes it’s just a glance that captures you and makes you feel: This is where I belong. A moment in which one’s inner self and the external world are in sync. A serene realization that emerges when you’re sitting somewhere in the world – and suddenly feel: I have arrived. Ultimately, home is where your heart finds rest.“
—Food writer Richard Kägi visiting South Tyrol
A mystery link leading into the unknown
„Here / In the stars” ...
As always,
Dirk
P.S.: Feel free to send me pointers to articles, books, sites, pods, tools, and treats that could be interesting for this roundup. While I cannot promise to link them, I read and appreciate every hint.