Finished reading: The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef 📚

Had a tough time with this one considering the author provides the following consecutive examples of this mindset in practice: Elon Musk, Trevor Bauer, and Jeff Bezos. The Scout Mindset, at least in some cases, seems to be a secret code for how to be ultra successful in spite of (or maybe because of?) utter moral bankruptcy.

Finished reading: Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer 📚

And just like that I’m sucked back into Area X and planning another re-read of the series, now with additional fascinating backstory.

Finished reading: Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright 📚

Finished reading: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport 📚

Finished reading: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers 📚

Excited about this collaboration between Keanu Reeves and–of all people–China Miéville as covered in Wired. The books sounds great (though I refrained from reading anything past the spoiler warning), but I was most interested in the little glimpses into Miéville’s life and process.

Some highlights include this startlingly insightful theory about what defines “nerd culture.”

And, though 51, he still plays with toys. At one point I awkwardly gestured at this, and he told me, “I have a theory. One of the things that tends to distinguish nerds and their interests is, broadly speaking, that they have fidelity to their loves in a way that other people don’t. I don’t mean other people are unfaithful in a flibbertigibbety way, but! The stuff I was into when I was 4 is still the stuff I’m into. From as early as I can remember, it was sea monsters. Aliens …”

Further, I think Miéville perfectly summed up my own personal tastes in fiction over the last few years. What he’s interested in writing about is a direct analog to what I’ve found myself interested in reading (which includes Miéville¹ but also, in my opinion, other contemporary authors like Jeff VanderMeer and Ray Nayler).

He doesn’t write science fiction because he’s a communist or because he wants to bring about the revolution. Instead, he thinks of himself as pursuing “difference” within and across his books: “Alterity. That’s where my heart beats.”

This “alterity” is something that, since reading this article, I realized I’ve been seeking and finding in my favorite literature going back years. When I think of my favorite novels from McCarthy, DeLillo, and Faulkner, this “alterity” and the ways that affects the characters and plot is at the forefront of what I most enjoyed.

Finished reading: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar 📚

Finished reading: Bunny by Mona Awad 📚

Loved this book. Not at all surprised to learn that it’s been optioned for a film by Bad Robot. Super dark and creative and fun with a voice that really leapt out as being ready-made for film or TV. Lots of interesting things to say about friendship and loneliness and college towns and desire and creativity and jealousy and on and on.

Finished reading: Something in the Water by Luke O’Neil 📚

Finished reading: Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut 📚