I went to the ‘existential hope’ gala and left hungry

On Dying Well: Ben Sasse and the Vocation of Suffering

Ben Sasse’s recent announcement reveals to us both goods and virtues that show in his dying a glimmer of light, a stirring of hope, and the possibility of spring even in one’s final winter.

I wanted to be Anthony Bourdain—until I met him.

CW: suicide, suicidal ideation, addiction

A psychologically rich life: Beyond happiness and meaning.

Lucas Lee Ho

I hosted a dinner for my friends in my studio apartment, where I gave away my bowls at the end.

Why do we collect things?

Desire, nostalgia, loss, and completeness in the personal collections of Joseph Cornell, Peter Blake, and Vladimir Nabokov

I Survived a Cold Plunge and All I Got Was Everything I Ever Wanted

I resisted the trend until I couldn’t any longer.

Things I’ve been thinking lately

Notes I kept coming back to this year. On death, on bodies, on playing, on not chasing happiness, and on living close to the things you love.

The sad decline of effective altruism

A once wholesome and inspiring movement has become entangled with cults and has lost years chasing dead-end ideas

Reflections on Anthropic and EA

Personal reflections I've been sitting on lately.

You don’t have to enjoy everything - some things aren’t for you | Respec

If that new game announcement has left you feeling cold, so what?

Chasing life goals is a recipe for disaster – so try these tiny experiments instead

Whether its our careers, health or relationships, we often set the bar too high and end up feeling disappointed when it doesn’t work out. Try this new way of thinking … and you may just see some real results

What Steven Spielberg Taught Me About Fear, Catharsis, and Being Human

Hollywood is struggling, but Spielberg insists that the big screen is still the best place to work out our collective dreams, joys and sorrows.

Just You Wait, by Chris Shiflett

On turning 50: a personal story about luck, curiosity, disillusionment, and hope.