Ten Things I Learned in February

The recurring series of "fun" facts returns.

Mar 5

14

3

If I’m Driving Over a Bridge, I Kind of Want to Know the Guy Who Built It Would Be Ruined If It Collapsed

And other thoughts about “The Great Bridge,” David McCullough’s history of the Brooklyn Bridge

Mar 1

29

5

3

February 2026

JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theories, Reviewed

An 8,000 word deep dive into all the theories you've heard of, and some you probably haven't.

Feb 16

142

51

24

My Favorite Books of 2025

…by which I mean, books I read in 2025, not books that came out in 2025. A completely unhelpful framing for everyone else!

Feb 8

14

1

Ten Things I Learned in January

Some fun (?) facts

Feb 1

25

2

January 2026

Looking at My Son Upside-Down

On the clichés of parenthood

Jan 13

15

1

November 2025

Closing Time

Living forever, or maybe not.

Nov 15, 2025

19

2

August 2025

Popular Writing Advice That's Actually Bad

Tell don't show, write what you don't know, and let those darlings live.

Aug 21, 2025

32

5

Drugs Should Be Illegal Because Buying Them in Stores Is Lame

We traded rebellion for retail and now everything is worse.

Aug 3, 2025

52

9

June 2025

Sketches from Parenthood, Months 2–6

Parenthood fears and the true meaning of commitment. Also, the time DMB's tour bus dumped 800 pounds of poop onto an open-top boat.

Jun 17, 2025

19

2

May 2025

Things I Learned from The Idea Factory

Fun facts about Bell Labs, midcentury American businesses, and the device formerly known as "stimulated emission."

May 21, 2025

16

April 2025

Missionary Impossible

Ross Douthat tries and fails to turn me religious

Apr 4, 2025

11