Observations on writing, publishing, and the media ecosystem, including the economics of attention, the craft of authorship, and the changing conditions of public discourse.
28 essays
The em-dash has fallen under suspicion—treated as a tell-tale sign of artificial writing rather than what it has always been: a mark of care, rhythm, and thought in motion. It should return to good standing so we can recover linguistic standards we seem oddly eager to abandon.
In an age when machines can mimic thought, the real question is who stands behind the words. A reflection on authorship, judgement, and the human presence that gives writing its authority.
Every platform is as much a philosophy as a technology. Version 5.0 of this platform marks my return to Ghost and the creation of two new communities—The Commons, where ideas are shared, and The Inner Circle, where they're refined and tested.
Clicks are dying, and with them provenance, nuance, and the economics of ideas. AI summaries reward skim over substance. We need friction, attribution, and long-form thinking—treating summaries as aperitifs, not meals—so leaders decide from sources, not headlines.
Hype disconnects speech from reality and shields actors from the consequences of their decisions. Hype becomes not just a linguistic trend but an institutionalised habit of avoidance. When managers are no longer accountable for what they say—because what they say has no anchor in meaning—they become
In an age of information overload, mastering the art of not reading is vital. Schopenhauer warns against indiscriminate consumption, urging deep engagement with quality works to cultivate sharper thinking, intellectual discipline, and true independence of mind.
Clear writing builds trust and credibility. Avoid jargon, clutter, and dependence on AI; focus on structure, clarity, and authentic voice. Weak writing drives weak decisions, making strong communication essential for effective leadership and sound business judgment.
This week I examine how AI improves the polish of business writing while obscuring weak logic. As decisions often rely on form over substance, AI can legitimise flawed arguments. Leaders must read more critically and recognise AI’s limits and biases.
We do well to live and let live, we also do well to post and let post. Devote what limited energy we are gifted with to thought and the formulation of our views and let the 'reply guys' reply. They are, generally, all sound and fury signifying nothing.
Modernists may disagree, but if challenged by these dangerous revolutionaries, refer them to the below and the glorious roots of our language.
Rage if you will and burn screen time if you like—I simply accept if I want my thoughts to be personal and private then I ought not post them online.
I can well picture 'Hitch', cigarette languidly hanging from the corner of his mouth, hand clasped around a whisky glass, tossing the book toward the wastepaper bin, and then leaning back in his chair. Content in the knowledge he had repaid the reading in the only way fit.
Time again at a premium, I mused on my latest quest for minimalism. In doing so I realised that I was creating as many problems as I was solving.
From time to time, I contemplate how I publish. Mostly because I like 'the elegance of a refined workflow'.
When we cut each other off from access to knowledge, we may preserve our copyright, but we run the risk of endangering our copy's posterity.