Gathered here are ten hand-picked and carefully curated recommendations that might spark your curiosity this month:
I.
American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg on how to detect unmet needs:
“Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.”
Source: Marshall Rosenberg in the YouTube workshop in San Francisco, link.
II.
Q&A: In certain parts of the world, children still face diseases like malaria, or diarrhea. Given what we know—and the solutions we already have—it continues to surprise me how preventable these diseases are, and how rarely these stories are talked about. Read the full piece about the quiet causes I wish more people cared about.
III.
Worth checking out: David Bowie’s widow Iman shares a never-before-seen abstract painting by David Bowie from 2014. Take a rare glimpse into Bowie’s later creative work.
IV.
A shower thought that has been on my mind this month: Self-doubt shows me I care about it, and that’s enough reason to keep going.
V.
Something to subscribe to: Every so often, I come across something so creative and fun that it makes me pause for a minute. Erik Winkowski’s ZINEMAIL No.1 was one of those moments. I love the energy of it and can’t wait to see what he does next. If you’re curious, I highly recommend checking out his Paper Film newsletter. It’s a joy.
VI.
An inspiring act of generosity: Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand gave the world free access to his stunning aerial images of Earth, captured from hot air balloons — offering us a chance to see our planet from a whole new angle. Big thanks to Chris Anderson for helping connect generous acts like this with the world.
VII.
A personal letter from me: I know it would be easy to fill a newsletter with things I think people might like—stuff that gets clicks or boosts open rates. But that’s never really been the point of what I do. This newsletter has always been something a little different. I send over a list of things I am currently and genuinely obsessed with. It’s personal. Sometimes a little weird. Definitely quirky. But always something I would like to read myself. That means you’ll get the occasional odd recommendation, fun fact, or random idea that occurred to me in the shower (yes, literally). But hopefully, that’s why you’re in for the ride. Thanks for reading. It means a lot. Read on for my full personal letter.
VIII.
Book recommendation: I love how Chris Anderson flips the internet’s narrative. Instead of dystopia, he sees kindness as scalable and infectious. We need more of that energy. Read my full book review.
IX.
The fun fact of this month: You can’t hum while holding your nose. You need air to pass through your nose to hum. Try it!
In the spotlight:
Portrait of a girl 2001, pastel chalk on paper, 40 x 30. By Neel Korteweg
