random ramblings

One thing that gives me a high is reading something so well written that it makes me think – “wish I could write one sentence like that”. Books are the main course, but choosing a good one feels like a finding a perfect match these days. One other source of such joy is long form essays. Not fiction (yes – there are such good short stories), not news or analysis ideally. Personal stories, blog types. I asked Grok AI yesterday to give me five recommendations of latest good essays or articles published, since it has access to what people are sharing and liking in X/twitter. First it gave me news, then some billboard music analysis, some about sports and none anywhere near good. I used to discover such through a few sources – but it is like digging for diamonds, one might find a perfect piece rarely. Hacker News (HN) is one – but it is mostly technical articles, with occasional non technical reads coming up top. Longreads is another, but often has American overdose and I felt I need some...

I had been cataloguing long articles that I read. Below were some of the best that I read in 2024. The Magic Loop - A framework for rapid career growth – doing your current job well, asking what you can do to help further The end of 0% interest rates: what it means for tech startups and the industry – there was a low interest rate period where lot of hiring and spending happened and interest rate hikes changing spending behavior and team compositions The Pyramid Principle – came across this in different forms this year. How to answer a question – direct answer, summarize the arguments, detail if necessary. Not the other way around. How will you measure your life? – to re-read once in a while. To value family, relationships and community. “It’s easier to hold to your principles 100% of the time than it is to hold to them 98% of the time.“ The brand called you – again a classic to re-read. How to stand out. Power laws in culture – few mega hits, and very very long tail. It is all a...