Things I read and liked in December
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Ethan Hein is one my favorite music writers. Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” is one of my least favorite songs of all time. So I had to read Hein’s defense of McCartney’s most divisive song. While I wasn’t convinced, I did learn some cool things about synthesizers.
Everyone will not just: “If your solution to some problem relies on ‘If everyone would just...’ then you do not have a solution. Everyone is not going to just. At not time in the history of the universe has everyone just, and they're not going to start now.”
Did you know that early Mormons developed their own new alphabet?
A common distinction in ethics is between axiology, a theory of what states of affairs are valuable, and deontology, a theory of what actions are right. (On this frame, consequentialists and non-consequentialists might agree on axiology but disagree on right action). Richard Yetter-Chappell argues against this distinction and proposes a better one.
Andrew Masley with a monster post on how to learn: mindset, and tools.
Disclaimer aside, the best answer I've come up with is that the most likable, charismatic, enjoyable people to be around are people who demand nothing of you. That's the best phrasing I can come up with after trying for two years. At first, I had "ask nothing of you" but it didn't quite feel right. It felt too detached, like they wanted nothing from others, like they never invited you to things or asked for commitment, and this isn't true of the people I'm thinking of. The most charismatic people I know, who seem to have this radiant, magnetic quality to their presence, are actually those who actively invite you to things with your best interests in mind but are totally okay with you declining, and they really mean it….
Interactions with them come with the least number of strings attached. It feels like they are just having fun, lightly playing with possibilities. They are not holding love hostage when you don't act in accordance with their desires. They respect your autonomy and intuition. They approach your presence with gratitude, but don't demand you stay forever. There is no hint of scarcity. They live in the realm of what is possible and abundant.
Related: old Paul Graham essay, What Charisma Is.
Notes on Cal Newport’s “So Good They Can't Ignore You”.
Ava with ideas on how to be happy in San Francisco.
Sarah Constantin’s list of what goes without saying for the people she connects with the most.
The betting market about this substack that will resolve YES with this post.
This man is the energy you need in 2025.