Nerding Out
A bunch of stuff to read instead of working
Congrats to everybody who looked at the sky and sniffed a flower or two this weekend. Congrats also to everybody who just slept the whole time. Here are some things I’ve been into lately.
Recommendations
“How to Get Unstuck: Stop Planning” by me
“Numinous Strangers” by Lisa Wells for Harper’s
“My Marriage Was Never the Same After That” by via The Cut
In the category of “things I’d write a bit differently if I knew then what I know now…”
“Fred and Me” by me - I found it somewhat painful to re-read this one. Granted, I find it painful to re-read most of my writing once it’s been out in the world for more than a few weeks. I don’t re-read my books, for example (though I still encourage you to buy them from your local indie bookseller, Bookshop or the giant corporate site.)
I still like a lot of this essay, and still admire Olmsted deeply. But my writing strikes me as treacly and not nearly as well-researched as I flattered myself it was at the time (October 2020).
Using your Sherlock Holmes-like powers of analysis, see if you can deduce what I’ve been studying lately and why it has influenced my opinion about something I wrote 2.5 years ago.
Frederick Law Olmsted and the Creation of Central Park in The Atlantic
Before Central Park came Seneca Village, Black community hidden in the heart of Manhattan via The Wilderness Society
Revealing Seneca Village, the Black Community Displaced by Central Park via Arch Daily
“The Lungs of the City”: Frederick Law Olmsted, Public Health, and the Creation of Central Park via The Gotham Center for New York City History
Here’s some other stuff I’ve found to be of interest.
I have strawberries and carrots mashed up with a brick hair now thanks to Douglas the Discolourist.
I will be 42.5 this month. Please plan your celebrations accordingly. Most specifically, I suggest clicking the button below and upgrading to a paid subscription here and/or joining my Patreon.
I wish you an excellent week.
Sincerely,
Sara