Hello and welcome to another edition of Substack Reads! Whatever your mood or fancy, we serve a great menu of writers and their work in today’s digest.
I had the opportunity to interview Monica Drake for my Substack. She mentions many of the famous authors on here, such as Cheryl Strayed who has read the interview! This is one not to miss! https://t.co/tLDDAqZQ8f
The number one most important factor for determining quality of life on Earth is this:
What kind of system do you live under?
Think about it. If you tell us what kind of systems you live under - from systems of government, medicine, family, infrastructure, education, community, religion and more - chances are we can predict what kind of life you have.
Let's examine some recent problems: FTX. Voting systems. Medicine. Corruption. War. Homelessness.
It’s our own fault. All of it.
We have embraced the wrong kind of systems that govern over us - centralized ones - and they have become corrupted. It is time to change that. We need to understand and embrace decentralized systems, and fear centralized non transparent ones. And we need to be able to spot the difference.
Can you?
Once we recognize a system has been corrupted, it’s time to bust out the anecdote: TRANSPARENCY and DECENTRALIZATION.
Who wants to be part of a society of problem solvers instead of just complainers? Please, let's talk.
Linking decentralized clean biofuels energy production with regional, abundant harvests of complete, essential hemp seed nutrition; simultaneous with timely healing of Earth’s atmosphere, soil, water, air & wildlife, is what I’ve written about for more than thirty years. #Gaiatherapeutic industry is only possible with an organic farm crop that yields complete essential nutrition and clean energy from the same organic harvest. #Cannabis is unique and essential in being able to do what needs to be done in the time we may have left to make a difference. #Time is the limiting factor in the equation of survival.
I really enjoy SubStack/Common Sense, but found Elizabeth Holmes’ vapid, throw-away statement in her piece on ‘The Crown’ so annoying. “ I deeply appreciated that Dominic is both a big fan of Charles and he is willing to be critical of the monarchy.” So just because Dominic West utters some self-justifying platitude about being ‘a fan of Charles’ we are expected to believe him and ignore the genuine damage he and the whole team of The Crown are doing to this important institution. He is being paid a fortune to perform in this show and that is all there is to do with it. If the script writers had ordered him to make his character participate in a cocaine orgy with Saddam Hussein he would have done so, and justified it with the canard “privileged group who deserve inquiry and scrutiny......but I’m really a great fan of the institution” I thought the writers (and readers) of SubStack were a little more sophisticated than moronically swallowing any insincere, press-released utterance from that other privileged group, the Entertainment Industry not to mention our political elites who lie every time they open their mouths, yet claim to ‘care about the people’ all the time delivered with a straight face.
Thanks for sharing your valid opinions. I'm just getting to the end of this series and felt like Dominic West's portrayal was very surface / vapid. That's just my personal opinion (and previously I've enjoyed West's depiction of other characters), but I really enjoyed reading what others have felt about it.
I have been particularly interested in a current debate happening a lot on the radio here in the U.K. that argues it is dangerous because younger generations will watch it and take the fictional aspect as fact. But can't we trust viewers to understand that celluloid isn't true to real life? When I see how many people misunderstand more nuanced subjects (eg like miscarriage because of how it's portrayed in the movies) then sometimes I think not. Whatever you think of the monarchy, I do think there is always room for creative storytelling on pretty much any subject matter. But once again, really value your opinion.
Two recs: Walter Kern’s Newsletter. Thank you Matt Taibbi for the introduction . Kern distills the bullshit and absurdity out of any current topic in short order while remaining charming as can be. In the same vein, a plug for my friend, Patricia Wright. Weary of serving time in FB jail, she has recently launched her own Substack “ The Duchess Demurs.” Short, concise yet loaded with common sense. Check it out! Patricia Wright “The Duchess Demurs.”
Shirley Jackson’s THE SUNDIAL is very hard to propose a screenplay for so unlike THE LOTTERY and THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, there are no movies, and, even if I am able to Final Draft it the last SD publisher says their rights to it have expired so I may never get approval and that is a shame because my friends liked it best. A group is in a mansion in the forest that has a sundial and they are certain the world is coming to an end on August Fifteenth for all who are not inside the mansion. Jerry
I had the opportunity to interview Monica Drake for my Substack. She mentions many of the famous authors on here, such as Cheryl Strayed who has read the interview! This is one not to miss! https://t.co/tLDDAqZQ8f
Thank you so much for including So Many Thoughts!
You're very welcome! We all love it!
Hey Hannah, I am new to this, but is this app like ClubHouse?(-:
Nice selection of some very interesting Substacks. Looking forward to checking out A Photo and a Few Words a Day and the braid.
Isn't it cool?
Thank you - it was a big surprise (and honour) to be included in this round-up.
I love Substack Reads. It brings forth writing I would’ve otherwise never discovered on my own.
So glad to hear this issue is aiding your discovery!
Thank you for featuring my newsletter!
Of course!
Excellent choices!
Thanks Joan!
Lots of great readings, as usual. Thank you for this!
Substack is really coming ito its own - especially so given the seeming implosion of another prominent site... 😉
Here's a few shout-outs:
Erik Hoel does something brave and commendable:
https://erikhoel.substack.com/p/goodbye-academia-hello-substack?utm_medium=reader2
Great podcast and writing; utterly unforgiving and coruscating:
https://cjpeconomics.substack.com/p/the-uk-run-by-two-posh-boys-who-dont?utm_medium=reader2
How things could be better: we have a peculiar bias in our tthinking. And what great model for scientific writing:
https://experimentalhistory.substack.com/p/things-could-be-better?r=k1bn&utm_medium=android
Thanks for these recommendations Shane!
The number one most important factor for determining quality of life on Earth is this:
What kind of system do you live under?
Think about it. If you tell us what kind of systems you live under - from systems of government, medicine, family, infrastructure, education, community, religion and more - chances are we can predict what kind of life you have.
Let's examine some recent problems: FTX. Voting systems. Medicine. Corruption. War. Homelessness.
It’s our own fault. All of it.
We have embraced the wrong kind of systems that govern over us - centralized ones - and they have become corrupted. It is time to change that. We need to understand and embrace decentralized systems, and fear centralized non transparent ones. And we need to be able to spot the difference.
Can you?
Once we recognize a system has been corrupted, it’s time to bust out the anecdote: TRANSPARENCY and DECENTRALIZATION.
Who wants to be part of a society of problem solvers instead of just complainers? Please, let's talk.
https://joshketry.substack.com/p/embrace-decentralized-systems-fear
Linking decentralized clean biofuels energy production with regional, abundant harvests of complete, essential hemp seed nutrition; simultaneous with timely healing of Earth’s atmosphere, soil, water, air & wildlife, is what I’ve written about for more than thirty years. #Gaiatherapeutic industry is only possible with an organic farm crop that yields complete essential nutrition and clean energy from the same organic harvest. #Cannabis is unique and essential in being able to do what needs to be done in the time we may have left to make a difference. #Time is the limiting factor in the equation of survival.
Maybe the world had speeded up, but it hasn't translated into very much higher per capita incomes on most developed and many developing countries.
Love these!
Great group. I look forward to exploring these!
So much valuable content! Thanks, Substack
Yay, you're welcome!
I really enjoy SubStack/Common Sense, but found Elizabeth Holmes’ vapid, throw-away statement in her piece on ‘The Crown’ so annoying. “ I deeply appreciated that Dominic is both a big fan of Charles and he is willing to be critical of the monarchy.” So just because Dominic West utters some self-justifying platitude about being ‘a fan of Charles’ we are expected to believe him and ignore the genuine damage he and the whole team of The Crown are doing to this important institution. He is being paid a fortune to perform in this show and that is all there is to do with it. If the script writers had ordered him to make his character participate in a cocaine orgy with Saddam Hussein he would have done so, and justified it with the canard “privileged group who deserve inquiry and scrutiny......but I’m really a great fan of the institution” I thought the writers (and readers) of SubStack were a little more sophisticated than moronically swallowing any insincere, press-released utterance from that other privileged group, the Entertainment Industry not to mention our political elites who lie every time they open their mouths, yet claim to ‘care about the people’ all the time delivered with a straight face.
Thanks for sharing your valid opinions. I'm just getting to the end of this series and felt like Dominic West's portrayal was very surface / vapid. That's just my personal opinion (and previously I've enjoyed West's depiction of other characters), but I really enjoyed reading what others have felt about it.
I have been particularly interested in a current debate happening a lot on the radio here in the U.K. that argues it is dangerous because younger generations will watch it and take the fictional aspect as fact. But can't we trust viewers to understand that celluloid isn't true to real life? When I see how many people misunderstand more nuanced subjects (eg like miscarriage because of how it's portrayed in the movies) then sometimes I think not. Whatever you think of the monarchy, I do think there is always room for creative storytelling on pretty much any subject matter. But once again, really value your opinion.
Thank you for the response, I have just become suspicious of the unfortunate development of truth defined as celebrity utterances.
Tom I’m not interested in this extra Substack reads. Is there a way to unsubscribe to it. I still of course want your writing.
You are welcome to hit unsubscribe any time.
Two recs: Walter Kern’s Newsletter. Thank you Matt Taibbi for the introduction . Kern distills the bullshit and absurdity out of any current topic in short order while remaining charming as can be. In the same vein, a plug for my friend, Patricia Wright. Weary of serving time in FB jail, she has recently launched her own Substack “ The Duchess Demurs.” Short, concise yet loaded with common sense. Check it out! Patricia Wright “The Duchess Demurs.”
Thanks for these recommendations!
I don't see Patricia Wright on Substack do you have a link?
https://open.substack.com/pub/patriciawright/p/its-due-time-we-showed-respect-for?r=2n3v7&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Hmm.... maybe she has not quite figured out the publishing, I get her entries in my mail. I’ll notify her and also see if I can find the link.
Shirley Jackson’s THE SUNDIAL is very hard to propose a screenplay for so unlike THE LOTTERY and THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, there are no movies, and, even if I am able to Final Draft it the last SD publisher says their rights to it have expired so I may never get approval and that is a shame because my friends liked it best. A group is in a mansion in the forest that has a sundial and they are certain the world is coming to an end on August Fifteenth for all who are not inside the mansion. Jerry