The Upper Middle Class Trap via Nick Maggiulli
I see this everywhere -> https://ofdollarsanddata.com/the-upper-middle-class-trap/
Sociology
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The Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord
Debord’s central argument is that the “spectacle” goes well beyond what most of us picture when we hear that word — the Super Bowl, the Olympics, a presidential election. He argues that any representation of the world that turns people into passive spectators qualifies.
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You’re Lonely Because You Keep Your Options Open via Parlour
Very interesting take on committing to social events -> https://www.parlour.fm/issues/youre-lonely-because-you-keep-your-options-open
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The Atlantic on My Year as a Degenerate Sports Gambler
The Atlantic assigned a writer to spend a year inside America’s new sports gambling industry (with real money at stake) -> https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/online-sports-betting-app-addiction/686061/
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Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
I read Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich in the mid-2000s, a few years out of college. It’s one of…
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TIL about The Cagots
The Cagots, a minority in France whose persecution began in the eleventh century and continued well into the last one….that no one knew how to recognize or why they were persecuted.
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TIL about Schelling Point
A Schelling point is a solution people naturally pick when they need to coordinate but can’t communicate. The classic example…
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Barack Obama on Connected Disconnection
We live in a time of such confusion and rancor, with a culture that puts a premium on things that don’t last: money, fame, status, likes.
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TIL about Mimetic Desire
Mimetic Desire is the idea that we want what other people want. Beyond the absolute basics of bodily need, our…
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TIL about Taste Games and Status
One of the favorite reads this year was Status Games. It’s a brilliant tour of how humans cooperate in groups…
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TIL Narcissism of Small Differences
The Narcissism of Small Differences is the idea that the more a relationship or community shares commonalities, the more likely…
