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Our latest three long reads:

The rest of our long reads, roughly falling into ten recurring themes:

On learning and careers

  • The Gervais Principle: If you’re a fan of The Office and there’s one thing you read today, it’s this – in this brilliant long read from Ribbonfarm, Venkatesh Rao teaches us about the “sociopaths”, “clueless” and “losers” that make up any organization by drawing parallels to our favorite characters.
  • What’s your default setting?: Touted as one of the finest commencement speeches ever given, here is a glimpse into the ever-so-electric-mind of David F. Wallace. Join the Class of 2005 at Kenyon College as Wallace tries to uncover what allows one to traverse the trenches of adult existence in this thought-provoking long read.
  • The trouble with optionality: Safety nets. We’ve heard of them, we want them… but we don’t know when to stop hoarding them! In this brilliant article by Mihir Desai, we explore the troubles that “optionality” brings with it.
  • The lesson to unlearn: Did you spend your school-life actually studying – or did you spend it “studying for a test”? In this fantastic article by Paul Graham, we learn how getting good grades and “hacking” tests might have done us more harm than good.
  • Solitude & leadership: The pathway to conventional ‘excellence’ is templatized to a fault – the ‘right’ hobbies, degrees, the jobs. But for true excellence, the secret ingredient might just be to cut out all the noise. This evergreen lecture by William Deresiewicz at West Point drives this home for us today
  • Say no to goals: In a world which measures you by the number of feathers in your cap, is living life without clear goals even feasible? Patrick Shaughnessy convinces us that growth without goals is the only sensible option in this succinct article.
  • It’s okay to be (just okay): If you are reading this, you already subscribe to the ‘best things only’ school of thought (heh). Today, however, we bring an alternative – a case for the average, the mundane, the bland and the basic, through this 2015 article from Mark Manson.
  • The organization kid: Today, we explore the making of the meritocratic elite: one that works their laptops to the bone, rarely questions authority, and happily accepts positions at the top of the heap as part of the natural order of life, in this fantastic long read by David Brooks.
  • Becoming a magician: Ever watched the news, seen a bunch of really agitated people, and thought to yourself …’I don’t get it?’. As the world around us divides, this article by Kevin Simler is a fantastic way to figure out how those ‘ridiculous’ beliefs around us find such an enthusiastic audience.
  • Career concerns: The idea of planning one’s career, in the wake of the chaos that is 2020, might seem laughable. Luckily, in this invaluable three-part article series from Marc Andreessen’s archives, the first rule of career planning is “Do not plan your career”
  • Busy, busy: If you look around you, everyone seems to (want to) be busy. Self-imposed work, an urge to take on more obligations, and the need to plan “productive” use of free time to a tee – explore the rise of all this and more in today’s long read from The Economist
  • The bus ticket theory of genius: In another delightful long read by Paul Graham, we learn about the secret to doing great work: allowing yourself to be obsessed for no reason 
  • Life at Stanford: Ever wondered what life would be like as a student at the prestigious Stanford University? This hilarious/terrifying long read walks you through life for these ‘students destined to rule over mega-platforms and other digital fiefdoms’
  • The making of an expert: How do you become the best at something? Do you have to be “born that way” or is there a recipe that can make people the best at what they do? Find out if a star is born or can be made in this HBR article.
  • Doctor, doctor: The weight that a doctor bears is astounding in itself – be it the God-like adoration bestowed upon them, or the complexity of tasks they’re bound to perform at any point in time. As science progresses, this weight only increases… possibly beyond what one human can bear. Read on as Atul Gawande speaks about the need for a holistic medical care system, and the tall task carved out for the new generation of doctors.
  • The medium chill: Is there a choice that makes us happy about at least one side of the work/life ledger? Read on as David Roberts talks about his medium chill life on Grist.
  • The advantage I hold: Hard work, what hard work? What if you just did what you are good at? Scott Alexander for Slate Star Codex
  • When I grow up: How long does it take you to grow up and have an answer to – what am I supposed to be? What exactly is my calling? Zac Kanter digs deep to find an answer for this in this long read.
  • What’s wrong with the way we work?: We are told to give their all—time, labor, and passion—to their jobs. But do their jobs give enough back? Jill Lepore finds out in the long essay for The New Yorker.
  • Crises Leadership: It is often said that a strong vision makes a good leader. But in a crisis, people don’t need a vision to inspire them–they’re already raring to act. Here is an insightful read on the psychology behing crises leadership by Gianpiero Petriglieri for HBR.
  • The advantage I hold: This read, by Scott Alexander of Slate Star Codex fame, asks us to pause, reflect and extract ourselves from the burden of “working hard” at things we are not good at. Perhaps the talents we hold are simply enough?
  • The ultimate goal: In this letter from 1958, a 22 year old gives life advice – perfect, fantastic advice. For this timeless gem by Hunter Thompson captured in Letters of Note, head on over.
  • Work-life balance: What happens when your career becomes your whole identity? The slightest crack, or even the faintest tumble can cause anything from a minor break-down to a full-blown existential crises – or so says Janna Coretz in this thought-provoking piece for HBR.

On self-love, love and relationships:

On all money matters:

  • The algebra of wealth: The code to getting rich feels complicated, but …it isn’t all that hard now, is it? Hard work, talent, and …yes, actual focus on money is how one cracks the code, and it’s shocking how very few people actually seem to get around to it. Today’s read, a succinct piece by Scott Galloway, works as a wonderful reminder. Read on!
  • The Rainmaker at Yale: Today, we explore the larger-than-life world of university endowment funds. Read this succinct piece, originally published on Bloomberg, which walks us through David Swensen’s 30+ years generating Yale’s multi-billion dollar pool of money.
  • Things I’m pretty sure about: In this crisp piece (and an ongoing series of posts) from the Motley Fool, Morgan Housel shares some of his most notable observations from the world of investing in financial markets.
  • The Serendipity Premium: In 1983, a mid-air conversation between Jane Birkin and the CEO of Hermès led to the creation of the epitome of luxury. Join Brooke Unger from The Economist as he explores the economics behind Birkin, the world’s most expensive handbag.
  • Spoiled Rich Kids: Ever wondered why the world seems to instantly abhor the stereotypical spoiled rich kid? In this little piece by Agnes Callard, we learn about the ‘normative equation’, which works like a strange mental compass governing our idea of fairness.
  • The science of scarcity: In this eye-opening read, Rutger Bregman from The Correspondent delves into an age-old question – is poverty a lack of character (Margaret Thatcher would even say a “personality defect”) or a lack of cash.
  • Confessions of an Overnight Millionaire: The ongoing IPO & funding frenzy has given birth to a new breed of nouveau rich — so newly rich that they are still figuring out how to make sense of this windfall wealth, as we find in this personal essay from Nymag.
  • All this money: In a world where income inequality is at an all-time high, and money mints more money, is the rise of cryptocurrency and NFTs the start of a revolution? Find out in this brilliant piece by Scott Galloway for NYmag.

On fantastic people:

  • The running novelist: Today, we bring to you a gem of a conversational piece by best-selling author Haruki Murakami – first published in The New Yorker in 2008, and changing lives ever since. We get to dive into the several beginnings Murakami brings onto himself – first as a jazz club owner, then an author, and finally a marathon runner – all while learning a thing or two on how to take a chance on yourself
  • Becoming Obama: Interested in the making of Obama? This NPR podcast series delves into the choices, the conflicts & the conviction that led to his climb from Chicago to the White House
  • The night I met Einstein: In today’s beautiful little anecdote from 1955, we get a first-hand account of the awe-inspiring enigma that was Albert Einstein.
  • The Irrefutable Steve Jobs: In his trademark style, read Steve Jobs refusing to flinch in his belief that computers will revolutionize our lives, in this 1985 interview with Playbo
  • Email from Bill: In today’s throwback read from 1994, author John Seabrook delves into the life and thoughts of Bill Gates, in context of the coolest ‘inside track’ that a journalist can dream of – an ongoing email correspondence with Gates himself
  • The founding mother at IIM Ahmedabad: They say not all superheroes wear capes. Well, sometimes they wear a saree! Join Professor Chinmay Tumbe as he throws light on an unsung super-heroine, Dr. Kamla Chowdhry – who played a pivotal role in building the prestigious IIM Ahmedabad (our alma mater!)
  • Zuckerberg’s lost notebooks: You’d think nobody knew how huge Facebook would become when it first started – but Zuckerberg came pretty close. In the early days of the company, he kept handwritten journals with his plans and dreams for Facebook, which Levy delves into in this fascinating piece.
  • Canva uncovered: This story of a kite-surfing badass building a company with a $6B valuation – which is (cue gasp) profitable – is a different level of unreal. Read this amazing account of Melanie Perkins’ meteoric rise to success by Alex Konrad from Forbes.
  • Wu’s Hollywood Destiny: In this beautiful profile by The New Yorker, we explore the rising celebrity that is Constance Wu, and the privilege and burden she faces of representing all Asian-Americans
  • The rare car detective: Good old Joe Ford, aptly named, is the car detective who searches the world for stolen rare automobiles on the black market. Not only is his life as fascinating as you’d expect it to be, the writer (Stayton Bonner) also paints a wonderfully detailed picture that keeps you hooked.
  • The penniless tycoon: From first making an appearance as an unknown yoga show host to becoming one of the most recognized faces and brands in India, Baba Ramdev’s journey is an intriguing one. In this story for Bloomberg, Ben Crair tries to demystify the enigma that is Baba Ramdev.

On sports and sportspeople:

On travel and beautiful places:

  • I trade butterflies!: Today, we delve into the colorful lives of the butterfly catchers of Indonesia. Be it Matthew Teague’s words or Evgenia Arbugaeva’s photography, every facet of this NatGeo piece helps bring this peculiar industry to life.
  • Santacruz Girl: Possibly one of the most beautiful odes we’ve read to the city of Bombay.  Read this nostalgia-filled account by Lathika George on The Ken, as she takes us through the idyllic and jazz-filled life of a Santacruz girl.
  • The life & travels of Pico Iyer: Today, we offer solace to our cooped up selves by walking through different countries and cultures from the perspective of traveler extraordinaire Pico Iyer, in this wonderful interview by Scott London.
  • Students in the wild: For 45 years, eighth graders in Ketchikan, Alaska, have gone on an overnight survival trip to a remote island. In this piece by Susan Shain, we learn more about the beauty (and mild terror, we won’t lie) of this trip.
  • Japanese Americana: Looking for the best of American culture & cuisine? You will probably find an answer in the streets of Osaka, Japan. Join Tom Downey from Smithsonian Magazine as he uncovers Japanese mastery of American treasures in this 2014 piece.
  • Travel is no cure: Find yourself day-dreaming of travelling when this is all over? This beautifully illustrated piece by Lawrence Yeo gently tells us that it might not be all that it’s chalked up to be.

On the way humans behave:

  • Why is listening to new music so hard?: Isn’t it? This piece by Jeremy Larson tells us why we keep reaching for the same old tunes – and why we should try listening to new music anyway.
  • Social currency: In today’s mind-bending piece, we accompany Kevin Simler on a quest to understand how ‘social status’ operates as an economic good – and how its transactional nature affects our day-to-day lives.
  • Questionable behaviour: Have you ever wondered why you are asked to answer the same question over and over again in a psychometric test? Read this article from The Economist to find out what testers look for when they design such test
  • Cost of simplicity: In this piece from Real Life Mag, Tatum Dooley uncovers the irony that is the “minimalist influencer” —austere in appearance, but comfortably extravagant in advice.
  • Crony Beliefs: Ever watched the news, seen a bunch of really agitated people, and thought to yourself …’I don’t get it?’. As the world around us divides, this piece by Kevin Simler is a fantastic way to figure out how those ‘ridiculous’ beliefs around us find such an enthusiastic audience.
  • Why books don’t work: There is no shortage of fantastic non-fiction books that feel almost custom-made to transform our lives. Yet, the only trace of them in our heads is the fact that …we found them great. We explore why books necessarily don’t work in this piece by Andy Matuschak.
  • The language of our private spheres: A heart-wrenching read that captures the feeling of one’s ancestral language falling out of one’s grasp. Perhaps best summed up by the author, Dur e Aziz Amna … “Emotionally, we are fluent – native proficiency. Technically, we haven’t shown up to class“
  • Heel your sole: In this ode from Aeon, Randy Laist expounds the facets of a simple pair of shoes – facets which make shoes one of the most visible foundations for human identity.
  • How to land your kid in therapy: Why obsession with your kid’s happiness doesn’t necessarily make them happy adults…
  • Why do people doubt science?: In a world where anti-vaxxers during a pandemic are a reality, an attempt to understand the existence of the other side, by Joel Achenbach for National Geographic.
  • The Muggle problem: for all you Harry Potter fans, here’s a question: in the battle of good vs. evil, which side were the Muggles on? While a smattering of them supported the Boy Who Lived, most were …absent. As the Hogwarts loving generation grows up and starts to vote in our reality, does the setup of this magical world impact our choices? Read on in this piece by Ross Douthat for the NYTimes.
  • Here come the curators: Find out why curators not influencers might be what the modern aspiration economy needs, in this post by Ana Andjelic for her newsletter, The Sociology of Business.
  • Beauty – a privilege: Today’s read makes a lot of points. Some we agree with, and some we’re terribly conflicted upon – but one thing’s for sure: we do know that beauty is an unsaid privilege that nobody talks about. Join Saeid Fard as he walks us through his read of how beauty works in society.
  • Signaling as a Service: How much of what you do and what you choose to be is driven by the need to “show off” and project an affinity to a certain social status?
  • Why go out?: It’s so… comfortable to be at home. I can be more of myself than I could ever be around other people. My choice of activities, my choice of food, my choice of routine – it’s all me. And, at the risk of losing all this, I still miss going out. Sheila Heti, in this iconic essay, expresses our need to step out better than we ever could.
  • On privilege: Let’s swallow the hard pill, for once, that we all have some level of privilege. What now? We find out in this piece by Roxane Gay for The Rumpus.

On building start-ups:

On the fast-growing internet:

  • Till where can a platform grow?: Brace yourselves: this is a long read, and one of our absolute favorites worth every minute and more. Read Eugene Wei do some fantastic analysis as he delves through what users seek from the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and more, and identifies what each might be up against as they grow bigger.
  • Amazon in its Prime: In this beautiful piece of analysis, Zack Kanter shows us how Amazon – by successfully carving out operational pieces of its ecosystem into independent revenue streams – has become an empire that’s massively unlikely to stagnate. 
  • Musical.ly Notes: In today’s pick, Alex Zhu walks us through his Musical.ly journey to demonstrate what true growth hacking looks like. Very rarely have we seen such immense clarity of thought bundled into one interview – Robbins’ notes are perfect, but do watch the whole video if you can!
  • How Netflix recommends: Impressed by your last Netflix recommendation? In this behind-the-scenes story from The Atlantic, Alexis Madrigal uncovers the secrets behind Netflix’s recommendation engine.
  • The world of Wikipedia: The sheer existence of Wikipedia baffles us to this day – how did they get people to build it ‘for free’ and why do people keep doing it? Here is a sneak peek into the history of this go-to-resource by Richard Cooke.
  • What makes a digital marketplace like Uber tick: In this decade-old piece that still rings true, read Bill Gurley unpack the secrets to figuring out if a new marketplace opportunity is the next big thing
  • The shallow end: In this piece, Chris Anderson forecasts how, a la Netflix, aggregating the shallow end of the media market allows the Internet to revolutionize entertainment
  • Defining the 21st Century: A short but beautiful ode by Horace Dideu on the sheer magnificence of what he believes is the defining invention from the 21st century.
  • Like for Like: In yet another “blast from the past” piece from 2012, Esther Dyson discusses the rise of “cognitive surplus” – the intrinsic, non-monetizable value individuals generate for themselves by spending their personal time attracting others’ attention for free.
  • Johny Johny, yes YouTube: Say hello to the hottest babysitter in town, ChuChu TV. Today’s piece from The Altantic shines light on this YouTube phenomenon acting as a scaringly effective pacifier during trips, dinners, and now, those all-important Zoom calls
  • Let’s make a deal: In 2012, Facebook agreed to acquire Instagram for $1B – a decision that the respective founder-CEOs came to over a fascinating email exchange. To know the absolute clarity of thought (and speed) that went into this high stakes decision, read this publicly available memo.
  • Love me Tinder: In today’s pick, we jump all the way back to 2014, when Tinder was the new kid on the dating-hookup app block. Through Emily Witt, we get to walk through the early days of the app and meet a multitude of people figuring out their game-plan to swipe right.
  • The future library: Remember the days when a school project meant schlepping our way to the library, requesting the librarian locate the right tome of wisdom? Ever wonder what will happen to libraries and librarians now, with the Internet at our fingertips? Perhaps this piece by Seth Godin will help.
  • Everything as a service: What makes the iPhone the best and most profitable product ever made? Ben Thompson from Stratechery tries to give us an answer – while trying to figure out if it will last.
  • The internet economy: Fascinated by the changing boundaries of where internet giants (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netlfix & Google) operate? Read this primer by Cris Dixon for an overview of the FAANG territories.
  • Goodbye, local news!: How many of us truly look at the quaint little local newspaper as a source of actual news? In this short piece by Ben Thompson of Stratechery, we discover how newspapers… might just be getting obsolete!

On the perils of the internet:

  • Is Google making us stupid?: Find yourself relying on your maps more than you’d like to? Or wanting a summary of our articles as they seem too long? Or drifting too frequently while finally reading one? You are not alone — as you will read in this 2008 article by Nicholas Carr for The Atlantic.
  • Is this real life?: From simply applying a filter to presenting few choicest happy moments as our life-logs for the world to see, the lines between the real & the imaginary continue to blur. But a bigger phenomenon is guiding these blurred lines, as you will find in this wonderful post by Julian Lehr.
  • The liquid self: We very rarely really stop and think about how social media is so… permanent. While our daily lives have forgettable moments, our feeds ensure that every move we make is captured for posterity. Join Nathan Jurgenson as he laments the permanence of social media, quite fittingly on Snapchat’s blog.
  • Facebook – the doomsday machine: Ever heard of a doomsday machine? It’s a hypothetical construction that could destroy Earth as we know it. In this piece by Adrienne LaFrance for The Atlantic, we explore the borderless nation-state, the unprecedented giant that is Facebook: and its role as the doomsday machine we didn’t know we had.
  • 404 Page Not Found: Do you miss simpler times (think Orkut!) where the entire internet did not look like a uniform template which people are trying to force-fit? You’ll love this nostalgic piece from Kate Wagner for The Baffler.
  • Why we forget most of the books we read?: A phenomenon that’s all too familiar, and we can never quite seem to figure out why – in this piece, Julie Beck gives us the chills as she walks us through how our recall memories are fading away.
  • People you may know: Today, we delve into the gripping tale of how Chamath Palihapitiya spear-headed one of the most controversial yet effective growth hacks of the century, in this excerpt from Steven Levy’s ‘Facebook: The Inside Story’
  • LinkedIn’s alternate universe: Ever felt that for a professional platform, LinkedIn is too weird? From its copy-cat features that don’t really fit to the abundance of user posts that read like soap-opera scripts, LinkedIn is a peculiar place to “professionally network” – Fadeke Adegbuyi investigates this strange yet sticky choice for professional networking.
  • Staring at myself on Zoom: The self-view is addictive, and the moment you catch yourself paying more attention to it than the meeting, you can’t end up feeling a little bit narcissistic……until you realize that it’s just you grasping for your disappearing sense of self.

On the curiouser and curiouser side of things:

  • Sushi for the North Korean Supreme Leader: In this remarkable piece written in 2013, Adam Johnson from GQ meets with a man who, through a series of bizarre events, found himself in the role of first Kim Jong-Il’s personal chef, and later one of his closest confidants
  • What’s that song that’s stuck in my head?: You know that feeling of overwhelming annoyance when a tidbit of a song plays over and over in your mind, but you have no clue which song it is? How far do you think you’d go to quench your curiosity? Today we bring to you the riveting tale of the hunt for a lost song – join Tyler Gillett as he scours heaven and earth for a song that he can’t quite seem to place, in this podcast from Gimlet. 
  • China’s mistress dispellers: Want to know about a real-life profession that sounds like it’s from a suspense-thriller movie? Then read this twisted tale by Jiayang Fan for the New Yorker, and get an insight into a job that helps Chinese wives win back their love (?)
  • No Michelin star, please!: Some dreams keep you awake. A Michelin Star goes a step further. You lose sleep to get one, but once the dream becomes a reality, sleepless nights never go off the menu. Join Sam Kashner, as he uncovers what it takes to get and retain a Michelin Star, in this piece from Vanity Fair.
  • India calling: What happens when a nosy podcast host comes face-to-face with “jugaadu” scammers from India? Well, it makes for a riveting podcast for sure! Enjoy this cautionary tale from Gimlet.
  • The Ketchup Conundrum: In today’s fantastic piece from 2004, Malcolm Gladwell walks us through the history/math/science/art? that goes behind the world’s favorite condiment – ketchup! 
  • Have you ever tried to sell a diamond?: The invention of the “rare diamond” is like a brilliantly done long con job — it fools you, but still leaves you in awe at how neatly it was pulled off. Think you know the full con already? This 1982 Atlantic piece by E. J. Epstein will surely surprise you!
  • The big Bitcoin heist: In a country with one of the lowest crime rates, Bitcoins provided the right allure (and thrill) for one of the local thieves to set up a neat heist. Love a good thriller? Then dive into this engrossing read by Mark Seal for Vanity Fair.
  • How ads work: Drowning in the tidal wave that is holiday shopping, and the ads that precede it? Today’s fantastic read by Kevin Simler tells us some honest (and some sneaky) ways that ads work – and makes a case for why it might not be the worst idea to give in!
  • Japan’s Kit Kat obsession: In Japan, there is always a more perfect way of doing things. And, there is always a way to customize products to suit the local marketplaces. Nestle’s Kit Kat did a fantastic job in merging these two processes, as you will find in this visual essay from The NY Times
  • Lady Beard: In one of our more eccentric picks, read about the rise of kawaiicore (where saccharine Japanese pop meets extreme metal) by walking through the meteoric success of the gender-bending Ladybeard.
  • The Man who killed Osama Bin Laden: This is the story of the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden. Phil Bronstein covers the events on ground zero and the personal aftermath for “the shooter” who killed Laden, in this definitive account on Esquire.
  • C mane Comfort Food: As the lockdown affects the wealthy and poor alike, one product binds them all – the age-old Parle G. An exquisitely well-written piece on how this biscuit, synonymous with comfort, weaves its presence through India’s pandemic tribulations
  • The last of the Zoroastrians: In today’s read, writer Shaun Walker walks us through the fascinating traditions that define India’s tiny Parsi community and tries to decipher what (if anything) might prevent its decline.
  • Hey Dad, where’s Mom? In this in-depth piece, Sarah Boxer from The Atlantic pores through the long and storied history of the dead mother – a strange common thread that appears in so many of the animated movies we know and love
  • Being a girl: Feminism has a long way to go – but sometimes it’s heartening to see the changes it has achieved. Today, we pore through a heartwarming essay from The Economist which shows us exactly that.
  • Reliance: Origins: Mesmerized by the expansion spree Jio (Reliance) has been on? This two-part post by the newsletter ‘Keeping up with India’ is a fantastic resource to quell your curiosity by delving into Reliance’s origins.
  • The Korean Wave: If you use Netflix or Spotify, you might have been recommended a K-Drama or a K-Pop song at least once. From BTS to Blackpink, from Start-Up to It’s Okay to not be Okay, if the Korean Wave has ever hit you, you’ll love this 2012 piece by John Seabrook for The New Yorker.
  • An Indian Classic: If you have ever wondered how large industrial clusters are created, look no further than this nostalgic read from Quartz — join Devjyot Ghoshal as he dives into how Maruti created an entire ecosystem during its quest to create an affordable Indian car.
  • The art of Addiction: Today’s read is a fantastic account of the incredible research that goes behind our junk food. Learn about how Lays tried to sell to its baby boomer crowd, Lunchables profiteered from the busy mother’s guilt, and more in this article by Michael Moss.
  • He is a transponster!: Today’s read from The Atlantic revisits the age-old pop culture question – “What is Chandler Bing’s job?” Join Megan Garber as she digs deeper into the larger phenomena behind Chandler Bing’s job.
  • Healthy food for thought: Do you find yourself obsessing over (or dreaming about) eating right? In this comprehensive piece from Grubstreet, Mark Bittman and David Katz patiently answer every pertinent question on a healthy diet to have ever crossed your mind.
  • Debunking exercise: Have you been sitting at a stretch for too long? Have you made enough plans to exercise but have not been able to commit? To understand what’s the bare minimum physical activity one should do, read this NPR interview by Terry Gross.
  • What got us here?: This 2013 piece from The Atlantic gives you a quick peek into the top 50 breakthroughs since the wheel – breakthroughs that have been instrumental in defining our life today
  • Cluing in on crosswords: Puzzled on how to spend your free time during the pandemic? We’ve got you covered – this nifty little guide by Deb Amlen gives you all the clues you need to dive into the wonderful world of crosswords!
  • All rise!: Accidental invention stories are always fun to hear, but this particular one never fails to …er, perk us up. Today, we delve into the origins of the famous little blue pill in this piece by David Kushner for Esquire.
  • Kawaii: Ever felt that the sight of Pikachu was making your heart melt? Or has a cute kitten video ever lifted your spirits up? Then you unknowingly know Kawaii. Curious about how Kawaii impacts your life? This article by Sophie Knight for Foreign Policy might have some answers.
  • Corporate Memphis: Visited any fintech websites lately? If you have, you’re likely to have come across the now omnipresent “Corporate Memphis” style of graphics …sometimes, even our website/Instagram illustrations on Library of Scroll are not immune! To know what we’re talking about, read this article by Josh Gabert-Doyon for Wired.
  • Messing with your heads: Ever felt the pangs of hair loss — either due to the inevitable genetic male pattern baldness or the “I used to have way more hair when I was younger” way? This essay by Rhodri Marsden for Mosaicscience might just be the read for you.
  • Consider the lobster: Today’s article remains one of the best plot twists in the history of journalism. Starting out as an innocuous review of the Maine Lobster Festival for the readers of the culinary magazine Gourmet, the piece meanders into the history of the lobster, before boiling down to the point the author wants to make… well, we’ll keep that a secret. This remains one of our favorite David Foster Wallace pieces, and you’ll soon know why.
  • I’m Not Rich Enough for K-Pop Fandom: K-Pop, especially global superstars BTS, form a case study in how to create a well-fed cash cow. The recipe? Carefully nurturing a fan system, where true loyalty comes at a very steep price.
  • The temple of “do”: How, exactly, did an Indian temple became one of the largest suppliers for premium wigs & hair extensions? Scott Carney takes you through this hairy supply chain, as he shaves his hair off in the Tirumala temple in India for this intriguing story for Mother Jones.

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