The Newsletter Era
Five of my favorite newsletters in this substack golden age
In the aughts we had the rise of the blogs then we enjoyed the ascent of prestige TV, and sometime in recent years, newsletters have become big business for creators and consumers. A few months back, the New York Times pondered if we are “past peak newsletter,” but that’s irrelevant to those of us with the simple desire to have compelling reflections and recs dropped in our inbox from creative souls who offer insights into our treasured niches.
Here are five of my favorite newsletters in this Substack golden age:
Miller’s Review of Books
A must for bibliophiles. I just finished Alan Paton’s classic on apartheid, Cry the Beloved Country, which Joel Miller recently read and reviewed. Miller’s reviews are more thematic ruminations where he deftly draws out themes and connections. This is a great newsletter full of depth and curiosity, and love for the written word.
Austin Kleon
I smile each time this one hits my inbox. Since 2013, Kleon, writer of Steal like an Artist and other best-sellers, has been sending his Friday list of “10 things worth sharing.” Kleon’s Friday newsletter is like kicking it with an electic gift-giving uncle who always rolls up with a present just for you hidden in his vintage hoody. I never know what exuberant mashup of movies, books, quotes, advice, or music is coming my way. There’s a reason the man has thousands of free and paid subscribers.
Life Considered
Hailey Baumeister’s newsletter is of the roundup variety — a collection of book recs, podcast episodes, articles, photos, and thoughts that examine truth, beauty, and goodness. This is pretty close to peak literary and intellectual curation in a mode that helps you savor the goodness of life, thought, and God.
Christian Ethics in the Wild
Prof. Myles Wertnz writes his Substack “to tease out dimensions of the Christian moral life.” From exploratory ruminations of dogs' ethical lives to baseball's moral merit, it’s a pleasure to read substantive reflections from new angles on overlooked topics or wise angles on vital, contentious contemporary issues. Brace yourself for the slightly cold titled piece that first alerted me to his work: “Of Course Church Will Hurt Us: When Abuse Isn't Personal.” Not the title I would choose. Still the piece is one of four which carefully and helpfully examines contemporary discourse on church trauma, hurt, and abuse. We need ethical wisdom for life in the wild, and Werntz is a voice worth hearing.
John Onwuchekwa - Four in the Morning
John O is a gifted brother. He’s a great preacher, writer, and part of the team behind the inimitable Portrait Coffee. No surprise that his newsletter is fire. What I like best is that his writing shows the beauty and profundity of the ordinary and painful. His writing makes me see old things in new, deeper light. See, for instance, the way he examines grief by thinking first about Cherry Coke.
How about you? I want to know your favorite newsletters. Share the goods and together we’ll make sure our inboxes aren’t just full of ads and requests but some light and goodness too.
Until next time,
Claude
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Great list!