I am slightly relieved that you consider the amount you wrote this year to be a lot. I had wondered how anyone can write so well *and* so much. BTW I also usually read the substacks in the email; the first few sentences draw me in and I find myself reading to the end, whatever I was doing before the email appeared.
Corey Robin (who, in addition to other notable qualities, is a *great* reader) was asked recently, in an otherwise good interview, which writers he would like to meet in person, and he said “none of them”; that, with one exception, every in-person meeting with writers he admires had been awkward - for him and for the writer. He said it’s the author’s voice he’s after, not the person’s. A good answer.
I have enjoyed your work this year more than I can really convey - it’s so stimulating in the very best sense. Cheers!
Thank you. As a philosophy student who has primarily been confronted with analytic philosophy so far, the amount of inspiration your writing gives me to think outside the box of analytic rigour is eye-opening. It has enriched my studies (and possibly my life) profoundly. I discovered you through my tutor at uni, Jonathan Egid. He suggested I look into your podcast, and from there the leap to your Hinternet wasn't far. I'm incredibly glad I found this place.
Votre écriture - tél un labyrinthe - est toujours une source d'étonnement et de vagabondage de l'esprit assurés - une sorte de guirlande éternelle à la G.E.B. - merci !
Thank you for your writing(s). I like to read them in my email - it's as if I finally receive a real letter (for the vast majority of emails nowadays, for common people I guess, are either workrelated or the job itself or confirmations of delivery of some products one ordered online). And I re-read it here as well from time to time.
Love the descriptions of the musical genres at the gym. Speaking of that, I think this is the second or third time the gym has popped up in your writing. Can we get a full on gym essay in 2023? This might seem a bizarre request, but now that the comments are open and other readers’ interests can be seen as well, I feel confident in saying that you bringing your intellect to this curious contemporary place would be enjoyed by all.
I am one of those readers who opens your articles once, and then closes them right away. I can imagine how, through the narrow lens of a technology that purports to ken much more completely than it does, it would appear that I'd not read a thing.
Instead, I open the article long enough to add it to my Instapaper stack and then read it on the weekend when I get my weekly "magazine" sent to my E-Reader.
I generally read and enjoy every single one. Thanks very much for being the voluble and unique person that your path has led you to be.
However -- just to keep your ego in check -- I don't drop everything just to read your latest, "hot off the presses." I got shit to do.
I am slightly relieved that you consider the amount you wrote this year to be a lot. I had wondered how anyone can write so well *and* so much. BTW I also usually read the substacks in the email; the first few sentences draw me in and I find myself reading to the end, whatever I was doing before the email appeared.
Corey Robin (who, in addition to other notable qualities, is a *great* reader) was asked recently, in an otherwise good interview, which writers he would like to meet in person, and he said “none of them”; that, with one exception, every in-person meeting with writers he admires had been awkward - for him and for the writer. He said it’s the author’s voice he’s after, not the person’s. A good answer.
I have enjoyed your work this year more than I can really convey - it’s so stimulating in the very best sense. Cheers!
Well done JEHS! I am positively giddy at the thought of you translating the Voynich!
What a brilliant and humorous summary. Love the content you put out since subscribing early this year, and happy holidays!
Thank you. As a philosophy student who has primarily been confronted with analytic philosophy so far, the amount of inspiration your writing gives me to think outside the box of analytic rigour is eye-opening. It has enriched my studies (and possibly my life) profoundly. I discovered you through my tutor at uni, Jonathan Egid. He suggested I look into your podcast, and from there the leap to your Hinternet wasn't far. I'm incredibly glad I found this place.
Greetings from Brazil! Love the newsletter, I never roll my eyes reading it, even though I open most links only once
Joyeuses fêtes, Mr. Smith !
Votre écriture - tél un labyrinthe - est toujours une source d'étonnement et de vagabondage de l'esprit assurés - une sorte de guirlande éternelle à la G.E.B. - merci !
a new [contrarian] reader from Paris.
I’ll second “Boogaloo”, it was one of the best things I read all year. I always look forward to your writing, enjoy your rest!
Thank you for your writing(s). I like to read them in my email - it's as if I finally receive a real letter (for the vast majority of emails nowadays, for common people I guess, are either workrelated or the job itself or confirmations of delivery of some products one ordered online). And I re-read it here as well from time to time.
Enjoy the time off!
A reader from Romania :)
Readers who "open the same post 70, 80, 120 times" usually turn out to be cats.
Love the descriptions of the musical genres at the gym. Speaking of that, I think this is the second or third time the gym has popped up in your writing. Can we get a full on gym essay in 2023? This might seem a bizarre request, but now that the comments are open and other readers’ interests can be seen as well, I feel confident in saying that you bringing your intellect to this curious contemporary place would be enjoyed by all.
Enjoy the rest of the year off, a well deserved break.
Like the rest of your grateful subscribers, I’m very pleased the Sub-stack plunge has worked out so well.
See you next year.
I am one of those readers who opens your articles once, and then closes them right away. I can imagine how, through the narrow lens of a technology that purports to ken much more completely than it does, it would appear that I'd not read a thing.
Instead, I open the article long enough to add it to my Instapaper stack and then read it on the weekend when I get my weekly "magazine" sent to my E-Reader.
I generally read and enjoy every single one. Thanks very much for being the voluble and unique person that your path has led you to be.
However -- just to keep your ego in check -- I don't drop everything just to read your latest, "hot off the presses." I got shit to do.
P.S. yes, paying subscriber from the get-go.
Thank you so much for sharing your writing, across venues these many years. It's always a delight to see your mind at play. Joyeux Noël!
Happy Holidays Mr. Smith.
I'm not exactly sure how I ended up here.
I felt good reading that piece so thank you :)
You might be surprised to know you even have readers near to Kypseli. Hope to read more in 2023, Καλή Χρονιά.