We started Substack Reads as a place to dive into some of the best writing and writers on Substack. Recently, you’ve been telling us about your favorite writing in the comments.
So this week, we want to hear more from you! Tell us about a writer you love, or a recent post or podcast episode you enjoyed, in today’s open discussion thread. Who should we be reading, listening to, and getting obsessed with?
Drop your suggestions in the thread by leaving a comment, and please share the name of the writer and a link to their recent post.
Our team will be scouring your recommendations and will add our favorites to our next installment of Substack Reads, due in September, and we encourage you to comment on each other’s choices.
I’ve been loving Nellie Bowles TGIF on Bari Weiss’s substack! She’s going on maternity leave & this was the first Friday without her. As a mom, I hope she has as much time as she needs with her baby... I also hope that when she comes back, she will have a huge amount of laughs ready to unleash!
I love Maurice Carlos Ruffin's newsletter, SITTING IN SILENCE. It's such an affirming examination of the life of a writer. His most recent post, "Now More Than Ever" brought me to tears with its incisive honesty. https://mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/now-more-than-ever
If you haven't seen it, check out Anna Vocino's Eat Happy Kitchen newsletter. It's low-carb Cooking with a sense of humor, and her recipes are always terrific! https://annavocino.substack.com
I am enjoying Jane Ratcliffe's "Beyond," where she interviews writers. She's a really thoughtful interviewer. (I'm recommending this not only because she ran an interview with me this week.) https://janeratcliffe.substack.com/
I just love the variety of recommendations!!! I am new to this platform and now with the app am obsessed with so many of the links you all have shared! I look forward to learning and expanding with this community!! Thank you !!!
I’ve been loving Alex Kruger’s Garden of Anxiety. He is so witty and each story about his life has me laughing out loud! https://www.gardenofanxiety.com/
I highly recommend Brent and Michael are Going Places. Two digital nomads exploring and working their way around the world. I just interviewed them on their adventures and how they found their freedom on the open road! https://www.workcraftlife.com/p/nomad
I love The Unpublishable by Jessica Defino! She does a critical look at the world of beauty and how so much of it is a system of oppression and it shows up in so many ways! Such a great read!
Besides UNFTR, I recently discovered The Sum of Our Fears, a podcast by Heather McGee. It is spectacular. Heather’s journalistic prowess shines through and keeps you glued until the end. At some points you are very upset but the twist and turns are so uplifting. So many “thin space” moments and oh the goosebumps!
Chris Bray makes me laugh out loud. I love his writing. Bari Weiss’ interview with Bill Barr was very well done & her writing is on spot. Matt Taibbi writes so openly. I feel like he really tries to go be us the truth behind what happened each week! Dr Robert Malone has taught me so much & Alex Barrenson’s self sacrifice to get to the truth is nothing less than inspiring!
I enjoy these vigentte essays on various topics by Kris Bartkus. It's a very different style from most substacks, somewhat lyrical, somewhat memoir, somewhat philosophy, dense but quite funny. Here are a few recents posts I liked:
Freddie deBoer's Blog scores excellent in quality of writing and content, He often identifies issues that bother lots of us and expresses so well why they bother us. He makes me want to say "Hallelujah, damn right."
For instance, Congratulations, Like Condolences, Should Be Private strikes gold with
"Here’s my little bit of advice for all of you: send neither public congratulations nor public condolences. Text, email, or (gasp) say it in person. If you don’t know the person well enough to contact them privately, you don’t know them well enough to congratulate or console them. Right? Answer this for me: if you don’t commend them or send them condolences after an event, will they notice? Will it hurt them? If yes, it matters enough to say in private, where it will always mean more."
It is not just a matter of etiquette, but of morality, people drawing attention to their own virtue and compass by making a fuss about someone they barely know, turning that person's family's grief into their own. We all have faced personal losses of someone who was hardly a saint and maybe even a villain in the lives of many. We do not want to be forced into a public praise of how they led their lives, we don't want to talk about them
BIG by Matt Stoller is one of my favourites. He goes in-depth into the monopolization of our free markets, the government people who are both fighting monopolies and aiding them, and these impacts on society.
Highly recommend checking out Vanessa Torre, publisher of Meeting in the Middle!!! Vanessa is a twice divorced, single, 48-year old woman from Phoenix, AZ who is writing about the highs and lows of dating at middle age and completely nailing it!! She’s writing about her experiences with dating apps, red flags, self-worth, and everything in between, backed with data and research.
“Love Letters From Your Favorite Creative” is super amazing, that is one reason why I have frequently been here spending time on Substack. Such wholesome reads.
Here is a recommendation for your weekly Substack Reads. With the World Cup, the largest sporting event in the world, only a few months away, the new futbol writer on Substack , John W. Parker's "Foul Throw" column is providing unique and compelling insight as to why soccer is more than just a sport, but drives community and culture across the world. Here is his latest post, and his previous posts also provide views an insights you wont find among traditional soccer journalism . https://thefoulthrow.substack.com/p/the-film-room-copa-90-stories-once?r=vjppf&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I really like Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss. Their columns are excellent!
Steve Schmidt is the most significant political commentator in America. His voice needs to be amplified so that it is accessible to a wider audience.
Heather Cox Richardson is also among the most important writers/historians.
Those two voices are critical to the future of America.
I love Glen Greenwald!
I recommend Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson
I’ve been loving Nellie Bowles TGIF on Bari Weiss’s substack! She’s going on maternity leave & this was the first Friday without her. As a mom, I hope she has as much time as she needs with her baby... I also hope that when she comes back, she will have a huge amount of laughs ready to unleash!
For all you fiction enthusiasts I’m a huge fan of George Saunders! He always gives me something to think about. https://georgesaunders.substack.com/p/dougs-dialogue-advice?r=6fdnm&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Here’s a list of some of my favorite fiction writers on Substack:
Jimmy Doom: https://jimmydoom.substack.com/
Jim Latham: https://jimlatham.substack.com/
Dascha Paylor: https://eclecticink.substack.com/
Mark Starlin: https://markstarlinwrites.substack.com/
Bill Adler: https://billadler.substack.com/
Brian Reindel: https://brianreindel.substack.com
There are plenty of others, too. Give me a shout if you’d like more later - gotta run!
Dr Malone is the BEST!
I have recently discovered Fredrick Backman books. I am currently reading “A Man Called Ove” and really enjoying it.
I like old-school, with insight and perspective -- Dan Rather and Robert Reich.
Books:
The Steal by Joe Hoft
The Real Anthony Fauci by Robert Kennedy
I love Maurice Carlos Ruffin's newsletter, SITTING IN SILENCE. It's such an affirming examination of the life of a writer. His most recent post, "Now More Than Ever" brought me to tears with its incisive honesty. https://mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/p/now-more-than-ever
I really like the writings of Ted Gioia! (The Honest Broker: https://tedgioia.substack.com/)
If you haven't seen it, check out Anna Vocino's Eat Happy Kitchen newsletter. It's low-carb Cooking with a sense of humor, and her recipes are always terrific! https://annavocino.substack.com
I am enjoying Jane Ratcliffe's "Beyond," where she interviews writers. She's a really thoughtful interviewer. (I'm recommending this not only because she ran an interview with me this week.) https://janeratcliffe.substack.com/
For music:
-Robert Gilbert's Listening Sessions: https://listeningsessions.substack.com/
-Kiley Larsen's Check this Out: https://kileylarsen.substack.com/
For Pop Culture:
-Kathryn Wynn's Memeforum: https://memeforum.substack.com/
-Mark Finn's North Texas Apocalypse Bunker: https://ntab.substack.com/
For data-driven look at aviation/travel:
-Tim Donohue's Aerology: https://aerology.substack.com/
I just love the variety of recommendations!!! I am new to this platform and now with the app am obsessed with so many of the links you all have shared! I look forward to learning and expanding with this community!! Thank you !!!
Beyond Ted Gioia, Nelson George, Wayne Robins and Robert Christgau are all essential reading. Christgau's reprint of a piece he did on Hilary Clinton in 2016 for the Village Voice was excellent: https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/the-big-lookback-hilary-clinton
Sarah Haider. https://sarahhaider.substack.com/p/hurt-feelings-and-other-feints?utm_source=%2Finbox&utm_medium=reader2
Lamp Post in the Marsh by Daniel W. Davison. He writes speculative fiction and is very talented. https://danielwdavison.substack.com?r=ozytx&utm_medium=ios
Naomi Wolf and Chris Bray. Beautiful insightful writing. Also Robert Malone.
I’ve been loving Alex Kruger’s Garden of Anxiety. He is so witty and each story about his life has me laughing out loud! https://www.gardenofanxiety.com/
I’ve also been loving Heartbeat, which sends a tiny post-sized romance novel every week! https://theheartbeat.substack.com/
I highly recommend Brent and Michael are Going Places. Two digital nomads exploring and working their way around the world. I just interviewed them on their adventures and how they found their freedom on the open road! https://www.workcraftlife.com/p/nomad
I love The Unpublishable by Jessica Defino! She does a critical look at the world of beauty and how so much of it is a system of oppression and it shows up in so many ways! Such a great read!
https://jessicadefino.substack.com?r=xt48d&utm_medium=ios
Two podcasts who talk about art, words and how they come together are 1) Reframeables and 2) Art Heals All Wounds.
Obsession worthy stuff!
Reading Dennard Dayle's Substack Extra Evil and his new book Everything Abridged. Both are incredible!
Extra Evil: https://extraevil.substack.com/
Everything Abridged: https://bookshop.org/books/everything-abridged-stories/9781419760969
For economics: https://cjpeconomics.substack.com/ and https://noahpinion.substack.com/ - sharp takes on economics and public life
For social psychology: https://powerofus.substack.com/ - really super writing on social psychology and identity
For everything: https://claireberlinski.substack.com/ Cosmopolitan Globalist is great - across everything
For neuroscience: https://brainpizza.substack.com/ - life through a neuroscience lens (Conflict of Interest: that's me)
I like reading and I like watching movies like this one: https://pdmovies.substack.com/p/-the-high-sign-1921-comedy-film-starring
Yep, Buster Keaton in all his glory!!
I love moviewise and fictionista
Thanks for your solicitation Hannah.
Besides UNFTR, I recently discovered The Sum of Our Fears, a podcast by Heather McGee. It is spectacular. Heather’s journalistic prowess shines through and keeps you glued until the end. At some points you are very upset but the twist and turns are so uplifting. So many “thin space” moments and oh the goosebumps!
Chris Bray makes me laugh out loud. I love his writing. Bari Weiss’ interview with Bill Barr was very well done & her writing is on spot. Matt Taibbi writes so openly. I feel like he really tries to go be us the truth behind what happened each week! Dr Robert Malone has taught me so much & Alex Barrenson’s self sacrifice to get to the truth is nothing less than inspiring!
Isolation Journals by Suleika Jaouad of course!
Matt Taibbi & Matt Stoller
I enjoy these vigentte essays on various topics by Kris Bartkus. It's a very different style from most substacks, somewhat lyrical, somewhat memoir, somewhat philosophy, dense but quite funny. Here are a few recents posts I liked:
https://bartkus.substack.com/p/performances
https://bartkus.substack.com/p/sand
I heartily recommend Ted Gioia, a respected music critic whose commitment to Substack is obvious. His posts are always interesting. And frequent! Here’s one recent great example: https://tedgioia.substack.com/p/the-gnarly-frank-zappa-essay-part?r=4mo0o&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Freddie deBoer's Blog scores excellent in quality of writing and content, He often identifies issues that bother lots of us and expresses so well why they bother us. He makes me want to say "Hallelujah, damn right."
For instance, Congratulations, Like Condolences, Should Be Private strikes gold with
"Here’s my little bit of advice for all of you: send neither public congratulations nor public condolences. Text, email, or (gasp) say it in person. If you don’t know the person well enough to contact them privately, you don’t know them well enough to congratulate or console them. Right? Answer this for me: if you don’t commend them or send them condolences after an event, will they notice? Will it hurt them? If yes, it matters enough to say in private, where it will always mean more."
It is not just a matter of etiquette, but of morality, people drawing attention to their own virtue and compass by making a fuss about someone they barely know, turning that person's family's grief into their own. We all have faced personal losses of someone who was hardly a saint and maybe even a villain in the lives of many. We do not want to be forced into a public praise of how they led their lives, we don't want to talk about them
I enjoy reflection type of posts, and this recent one from Polina at The Profile was great! https://theprofile.substack.com/p/birthday-check-in-31
BIG by Matt Stoller is one of my favourites. He goes in-depth into the monopolization of our free markets, the government people who are both fighting monopolies and aiding them, and these impacts on society.
https://mattstoller.substack.com/
Here are a just a few of the newsletters I enjoy on Substack :-)
I Love Words and You: https://ilovewordsandyou.substack.com/
Chihiro's Newsletter: https://naranomatcha.substack.com/
Natalie Love Cruz's: https://nataliecruz.substack.com/
La Yapa: https://piscotrail.substack.com/
No Frills Vegan: https://nofrillsvegan.substack.com/
I recently enjoyed this interview with a pet ambulance driver from the newsletter CAFE ANNE: https://annekadet.substack.com/p/ambulance
Highly recommend checking out Vanessa Torre, publisher of Meeting in the Middle!!! Vanessa is a twice divorced, single, 48-year old woman from Phoenix, AZ who is writing about the highs and lows of dating at middle age and completely nailing it!! She’s writing about her experiences with dating apps, red flags, self-worth, and everything in between, backed with data and research.
Alec’s Copaganda Newsletter took a fascinating look at how and why the media makes bail reform extremely difficult for judges and politicians.
https://equalityalec.substack.com/p/the-news-media-and-bail
Paul Kingsnorth!
I love Dr Mercola, Dr Paul Saladino and Dr Malone articles and videos.
Mary Gaitskill (https://marygaitskill.substack.com) and Diana Butler Bass (https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com) 👍
Also Somerset Maugham’s short stories especially Rain
“Love Letters From Your Favorite Creative” is super amazing, that is one reason why I have frequently been here spending time on Substack. Such wholesome reads.
You should check this
https://topaz.substack.com/p/random-musings-c30/comments
As a beginning writer, I cling to Jill Yancey’s “Dear Writer” letter. She gives solid advice in her unique caring and compassionate voice. https://jillyanceyauthor.substack.com/p/just-getting-started?r=ewd1s&utm_medium=ios
Here is a recommendation for your weekly Substack Reads. With the World Cup, the largest sporting event in the world, only a few months away, the new futbol writer on Substack , John W. Parker's "Foul Throw" column is providing unique and compelling insight as to why soccer is more than just a sport, but drives community and culture across the world. Here is his latest post, and his previous posts also provide views an insights you wont find among traditional soccer journalism . https://thefoulthrow.substack.com/p/the-film-room-copa-90-stories-once?r=vjppf&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Love The Watering Can by DJ May https://thewateringcan.substack.com/
She has such an intriguing look at the world and life. She writes beautifully. Always worth reading immediately!