How to Pick a Job, Say No and Sorry, and Avoid AI Pitfalls
My favorite reads of the past month
It’s a mistake to outsource most writing to AI. Even if the output is accurate and engaging, something valuable is lost in the process.
Jotting down intuitions and spelling out hunches is how we develop and refine our ideas. Writing is where we do our best thinking.
Here’s a collection of some writing that helped my thinking, and below are my favorite pieces of writing that I’ve read in the past month.
1. Your A.I. Lover Will Change You (Jaron Lanier, New Yorker)
A riveting read on the risks of falling for bots.
2. Your Brain Needs a Boxcutter (Adam Mastroianni, Experimental History)
Many people choose careers based on pay, prestige, and purpose, overlooking whether they’ll enjoy the process. The best path to a fulfilling job might be to unpack how you’ll spend your time.
3. Grocery Shopping with My Dead Dad (Natalie Waksman, New Yorker)
A short, profound set of illustrations on the uncertainties of loss.
From my desk
4. New podcasts:
How to say no: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
The dangers of identity capitalism with Jia Tolentino: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
The secrets of a great apology: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
Office hours with Adam: Bridging generational divides: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
In solidarity,
Adam
I second the article „Your brain needs a boxcutter“ - I found the unpacking exercise explained there eminently insightful and useful. I used Gen AI to generate realistic assessments what workdays of popular jobs probably look like and it generated very interesting insights.
I have loved your constant encouragement that the work of writing brings out our ideas. I finished a doctoral degree a year ago and have picked up writing about my topic again this year. I’m finding the more I write, the more my ideas are clear in my mind and writing. Thank you.