Roughly a month ago, I sat down with a young lady named Samantha, who had just graduated high school. She talked about how she’d been nervous coming to a new town, she talked about her friends’ struggles with mental health, and she talked about her own plans to go on to college and study clinical … More Human Cost
We really like thinking we’re the smartest person in the room. [8 min] … More Cults, Books, and the Appeal of Secret Knowledge
All very well to complain about AI, but what should we actually do about it? … More How to respond to the Insult of Artificial Intelligence? [15 minutes]
I certainly can’t claim to have all “female writers” figured out. But I do think there was an insight in Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation that has really helped me pinpoint a critical distinction between how male and female writers approach detective fiction. … More My totally not-at-all-presumptive theory about the difference between male and female murder writers. (Also, free book!)
The best books, movies and games (that I personally discovered in the course of) 2024 … More The Best of 2024
I’ve written, before, about my admiration for the legendary animator and artist Hayao Miyazaki. He has produced some of the most moving and beautiful works of art in Japanese cinema. My personal favorite is Porco Rosso, but others are more likely familiar with his works Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro. Or perhaps the most … More Artificial Intelligence: An Insult to Life Itself.
[12 minutes] “You just stepped on five pounds of C-4,” Coach says, not moving. “And from the looks of things, you guys aren’t at your best. So before you do anything stupid, just listen.” … More TNP 26: Finale
[17 minutes] “We need to decide which two of us are staying behind. Now.” … More TNP 25: Race to the Rendezvous
“I keep an eye on the compass. With everything so dark and the sky so cloudy, if I lose the heading, we could get completely lost.” … More TNP 24: Boat Trip
“So, what’s your escape plan?” Sidewinder asks.
“Not much of one,” Mouse says. “Still, at this point … well, the sunken fish goes sideways, so what else have we got to lose?” … More TNP 22: A Way Out
The Solomon Code 