Suppose Trump takes us to war. Who would be the enemy?

Suppose Trump takes us to war. Who would be the enemy?

The US economy, whipsawed by inflationary tariff threats and soon to absorb many laid off federal workers, may be headed for a recession. Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics now puts the odds of a recession soon at 35%, while J.P. Morgan Chase rates the likelihood as 40%. President Trump has admitted that a recession is…

Better stories; digital audiobooks boom; tariffs raise book costs: Newsletter 5 March 2025
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Better stories; digital audiobooks boom; tariffs raise book costs: Newsletter 5 March 2025

Newsletter 84. Why well-told case study stories are here to stay, another Gathering of the Ghosts, a section 230 podcast, plus three people to follow and three books to read. About those case study stories . . . “Tell me a story, Daddy . . .” My kids are well into their twenties now, but…

Blackout day

Blackout day

Here’s what to do. It’s easy. Walk down the street. Go to the corner store, the one that’s not part of a chain. You can drive if you want. Buy something. Smile. Say hi. Pay cash. Don’t shop at Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Whole Foods, or fast food restaurants today, in person or online. Don’t buy…

The invisible groundswell; books as fashion; deep, cheap research: Newsletter 26 February 2025
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The invisible groundswell; books as fashion; deep, cheap research: Newsletter 26 February 2025

Newsletter 83: The coming backlash against Trump, deep research for 20 bucks a month, Amazon restricts downloads, plus three people to follow and three books to read. The silent resistance I’m not a politician, a political commentator, or a historian. I’m a business book writer and editor. Business books aren’t about politics, they’re about success….

Better beta readers; grant-killing words; A-listers reply all: Newsletter 19 February 2025
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Better beta readers; grant-killing words; A-listers reply all: Newsletter 19 February 2025

Newsletter 82: How to manage beta readers, who’s licensing what to which AI, how not to blurb, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Benefiting from beta Software that’s finished enough to use, but not complete, is in the beta testing stage. And lately it’s been similarly fashionable for authors to recruit…

Automating LGBTQ erasure; AI’s copyright loss; words worth avoiding: Newsletter 12 February 2025
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Automating LGBTQ erasure; AI’s copyright loss; words worth avoiding: Newsletter 12 February 2025

Newsletter 81. Using machines to enforce prejudice backfires, don’t use AI to apply to AI companies, a copyright legal shocker, and a list of words to avoid. Plus, three people to follow and three books to read. Machines can’t make trans people disappear — but they can sure do a lot of damage when they…

No more pennies, and other Canadian innovations

No more pennies, and other Canadian innovations

Donald Trump ordered the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting pennies. Pennies are stupid. They cost 3.69 cents each to produce and distribute. Producing 3 billion worthless pennies cost the government $85 million last year. The only problem with this is that Congress, not the President, authorizes minting of coins, so you can add…

Brinskmanship; The You You Are; AI-generated research: Newsletter 5 February 2025
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Brinskmanship; The You You Are; AI-generated research: Newsletter 5 February 2025

Newsletter 81. Can you really win by threatening your negotiating partners? Plus, Simon & Schuster ditches blurbs, Ray Dalio dribbles out insights, three books to read and three people to follow. The price of brinksmanship Our president Donald Trump is adept at brinksmanship. Look at his actions over time and you can see a pattern:…