I usually end the year talking about the best books I read that year. This time, I figured I wouldn’t limit myself to just long reads and instead share some great articles I’ve come across over the past ten months.
Why time felt slower when we were kids
Yana Yuhai blends some neuroscience, internet culture, and a quiet kind of philosophy to explain how time hasn’t sped up, we’ve just stopped noticing stuff.
Delhi, BJP and India in 2050
What happens to Indian politics twenty-five years from now? Siddharth (a dear friend, so yes, I’m biased) takes a smart, speculative look ahead. From a possible Green Party to a libertarian revival to an even more hardline right. Thoughtful, sharp, and genuinely fun/scary to imagine.
An Existential guide to Making Friends
This article blends humor, brutal honesty, and a kind of tender philosophy to guide us on friendship. Wild, funny, and strangely comforting. Its probably the best thing I’ve read this year.
The Bhagavad Gita: Explained
I’m no expert, so finding an article that you can read in under fifteen minutes and still come away with real, practical wisdom feels like a small marvel.
Youth
A stunning piece on ageing, ambition, and the quiet heartbreak of losing your “youth capital.” It starts with a timeline of literary prodigies and ends in that tender space where acceptance meets nostalgia.
Why Warm countries are poorer
A data-rich exploration of why societies closer to the equator tend to be poorer. Tomas Pueyo moves from temperature and disease to mountains and trade, making a surprisingly elegant case for how geography shapes prosperity. Of course, you want to be careful about causation, and you may not agree with it all, but it is deeply thought provoking.
The epidemic of constant communication
Amanda Brown examines how the constant availability demanded by today’s technology can overwhelm relationships, and why trust and space often matter more than instant responses or perpetual proof.
Oh and if we were interested in the investing/finance world I enjoyed reading Mauboussins note on drawdowns. Its always good to go through the Indus Valley annual report. I also came across a lengthy note on The Evolution of Alpha. It’s especially interesting if you’re curious about how investment decision-making itself is changing, not just which stock to pick. When it comes to news publications, I’ve found the Financial Times to be consistently strong, particularly compared to many other finance publications.
Rereading these pieces has been such a joy. It’s humbling to be reminded of how powerful good writing can be, how a few well-placed words can quietly rearrange something inside you. So here’s to good writing.
Thanks for reading. Take care.
Cover image taken from Unsplash