Reality threatened; McKinsey’s future; thoughtstipation: Newsletter 6 August 2025
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Reality threatened; McKinsey’s future; thoughtstipation: Newsletter 6 August 2025

Newsletter 105. Trump’s ultimate goal is the destruction of reality, or at least how we measure it. Plus, will AI doom consultancies; Johns Hopkins licenses books for a pittance, three people to follow, and three books to read. The war on reality We’ve heard past presidents declare war on concepts: the war on cancer, the…

AI and writing; where to pitch what; Trump trashes copyright: Newsletter 30 July 2025
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AI and writing; where to pitch what; Trump trashes copyright: Newsletter 30 July 2025

Newsletter 104: Any writing tool that clarifies communication is a boon, AI included. Plus Amazon licenses the Times, Trump declares IP meaningless, three people to follow and three books to read. The future of human writing A furious debate is going on now about AI-generated text. Professional writers and other humans who write feel threatened…

Counterproductive superlatives; Writers against AI; Australia creative grants: Newsletter 2 July 2025
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Counterproductive superlatives; Writers against AI; Australia creative grants: Newsletter 2 July 2025

Newsletter 101: Why writers puff up prose, and why it never works. Plus, an open letter to publishers, AI-generated books that never appear, three people to follow and three books to read. The superlative trap Hey, everyone! I’m the greatest, most talented, most super-accomplished writer that you’ve ever encountered. 🥳🎉🥳🎉 Admit it. You read that…

Vacation strategy; books Claude away; Grok rewrites history: Newsletter 25 June 2025
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Vacation strategy; books Claude away; Grok rewrites history: Newsletter 25 June 2025

Newsletter 100: A smarter way to go on holiday. Plus, Anthropic’s training on books rules “transformative,” defamation by blurbs, three people to follow and three books to read. How to go away Everyone needs time off. And people tend to disagree on how to do it. There’s the “disconnect entirely” camp. They don’t check email,…

Coauthors saluted; Wiley’s turnaround; fetishizing editing: Newsletter 18 June 2025
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Coauthors saluted; Wiley’s turnaround; fetishizing editing: Newsletter 18 June 2025

Newsletter 99: The incredible benefits of creating a book with a wicked smart thinking partner. Plus, AI learns from really old books, authors make TikToks of scrawling edits, three people to follow and three books to read. What I learned from my intellectual soulmates I’ve written nine books and am working on another. Only two…

Audacity ascendant; AI doesn’t think; what writers fear: Newsletter 11 June 2025

Audacity ascendant; AI doesn’t think; what writers fear: Newsletter 11 June 2025

Newsletter 98. Why audacity is essential, but arrogance is poisonous. Plus, Apple’s paper shows how AI doesn’t actually reason, Jane Friedman on what writers fear, three people to follow, and three books to read. Audacity inspires. Arrogance burns out. I was an arrogant guy. And I’ve worked in some pretty arrogant places. Startups tend to…

Forrester’s legacy; burgeoning audiobooks; Boundless greed: Newsletter 4 June 2025
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Forrester’s legacy; burgeoning audiobooks; Boundless greed: Newsletter 4 June 2025

Newsletter 97: Two decades of persistent value from my long analyst gig. Plus, in defense of a dash, hallucinatory “formatting issues,” three people to follow and three books to read. How 20 years at Forrester changed my life I spent 20 years at one company: Forrester. It’s been 10 years since I left. When I…

Humans with skills; AI’s manifest destiny; robotic Melania: Newsletter 28 May 2025
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Humans with skills; AI’s manifest destiny; robotic Melania: Newsletter 28 May 2025

Newsletter 96. Value at the intersection of humanity and excellence. Plus, ludicrous justifications for AI copyright theft, billionaire boosting big beautiful bill, three people to follow and three books to read. The value of humans with skills Career success comes from two qualities. Skills. And humanity. Everyone knows that having skills — like writing ability…

Artificial wisdom; fake reading list; Congress’s librarian sacked: Newsletter 21 May 2025
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Artificial wisdom; fake reading list; Congress’s librarian sacked: Newsletter 21 May 2025

Newsletter 95. How AI could extend the productive careers of millions. Plus recommended fake books to read, nonfiction writing tips from fiction, three people to follow and three books to read. AI: Aging intelligence I’ve gotten pretty used to the way my brain works. Based on decades of historical evidence it’s quick, retains almost everything,…