An interesting essay on the trouble with work, the trouble without. Towards the end, there’s this realisation: “The fact is, that civilisation requires slaves.”

From Weekly Filet #66, in May 2012.

The Politics of Getting a Life

Jacobin Magazine

💔 Some older links might be broken — that's the state of the web, sadly. If you find one, ping me.

35 MacGyver Tips

Lifehacker

If you can’t choose wisely, choose randomly

Aeon Magazine

How To Steal Like An Artist

Austin Kleon

The Illusion of Asymmetric Insight

You Are Not So Smart

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Making Sense of the Climate Crisis 41 links Making Sense of Artificial Intelligence 39 links All-time favourites 20 links The Stuff Our Modern World Runs On 13 links The Art of Thinking (Differently) 28 links Bingeworthy Podcasts & Episodes 36 links Stories, too good to put down 16 links

Book recommendations

2025 Book Club Books curious minds wished they discovered sooner Our most popular crowd-curated book recommendations thus far. Read the post →

Weekly Filet Book Club All recommendations from previous editions, at a glance. Find your next read → 📚 David's Bookshelf The books that shaped how I see the world and inform how I think and act. Browse the bookshelf →