I’m out of office for the next couple of weeks, to celebrate my wedding anniversary (yesterday), birthday (Sunday), and generally recoup some brain space after a year that really took a lot out of me. On Monday, I reveal the cover of On Eating: The Making and Unmaking of My Appetites, and through the end of the year, you’ll get my usual missives—including Salon Series recaps, my favorite books of 2025, the Desk Book Club 2026 lineup, and more—but they’re intended to be a nice light lift for all of us, as we’re getting into the busy bustle of the holidays and end-of-year shenanigans. It should be a time to rest and enjoy, right? 

There will be some giveaways that pop up for members—I love the holidays, baby!

This week, I’ve set up monthly recurring donations to Plenitud PR, Long Island Cares, and One Love Community Fridge. If you’d like to join me in that, or have an organization that is local to you to share, please let us know in the comments or the Discord.

Hit home! “As an independent journalist, if you tell people news they don’t want to hear or if you present them with news that challenges their preconceived worldview, they will not only not pay you and not support you, but they will also punish you. This is sadly something that journalists have to deal with now, and it’s the reason why most independent journalists, in my view, don’t challenge their audiences.”

“The Raising Hope gathering brings together faith leaders, scientists, and policymakers ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil this November. Organizers say the Pope’s participation highlights the moral and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis.”

“They say creativity comes from constraint. Okay. It also comes from doing exactly what you want in the room you built.” Hell yeah.