Thursdays are all about longform links on Abnormal Returns. You can check out last week’s linkfest including a look at how parking lots shape our cities.
Quote of the Day
"We won't get rid of burnout with bath bombs or beachside vacations."
(Joy Lere)
Books
- Noah Smith talks with Kevin Kelly author of "Excellent Advice for Living." (noahpinion.substack.com)
- An excerpt from "Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way" by Jonah Berger. (behavioralscientist.org)
- An excerpt from “Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work” by Joanne Lipman. (wsj.com)
- A Q&A with Dr. Peter Attia author of "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity." (worth.com)
- A Q&A with Dr. Karen Fine author of "The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us About Love, Life, and Mortality." (npr.org)
- An excerpt from "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" by David Grann. (newyorker.com)
Time management
- A profile of Cal Newport and his back-to-basics approach to work (and studying). (on.ft.com)
- A Q&A with Jenny Odell author of "Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock." (gq.com)
Business
- What happens to the grocery store model if Kroger ($KR) and Albertson's ($ACI) actually merge? (wsj.com)
- Lessons from Barnett Helzberg author of "What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett - An Entrepreneur's Guide to Developing a Highly Successful Company.” (mastersinvest.com)
- An honest account of the rise, and painful decline, of a small business. (radreads.co)
- Domino's ($DPZ) executives buy a lot of pizza each year. (on.ft.com)
Profiles
- The story of Hetty Green, America's first (female) value investor. (caia.org)
- The story of a Chicago man who died with $11 million and no heirs. (chicagomag.com)
Longreads
- China is relentless in pursuit of foreign tech secrets. (nytimes.com)
- What AI researchers can learn from animal sentience. (aeon.co)
- What to expect when you are publishing your first book. (lithub.com)
- How "Top Chef" changed how we view food and chefs. (nytimes.com)
- The downside of being the child of a parent influencer. (teenvogue.com)
- Audiences are tiring of stories that never end. (tedgioia.substack.com)