Issue #211 | Subscribe

“Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem.
That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all.”

— Thomas Szasz

I had a microdose of this quote while browsing YouTube this week.

I came across a video suggestion on my feed about why no database system is a silver bullet and why large companies carefully pick the right database for the job.

After being in the business of making software for over a decade, my first reaction was to brush this off as redundant knowledge that would be a waste of my time.

But something about this video felt intriguing, and it was 10 minutes long, so I watched it anyway.

And I'm glad I did, because I learned something new about a subject I thought I already knew in depth.

We're busy in our lives, and it's impossible to entertain every piece of information that comes our way.

But if you find something that might seem redundant at first but sparks even a sliver of curiosity in you, it's worth paying attention to.

You might learn a fascinating new angle about a concept or subject that you're already quite knowledgeable about.

In Today's Cover: Celebrating the first-ever image taken of a cosmic black hole on April 10th, 2019.

With this, we were finally able to construct a true visual representation of a celestial object that perplexed scientists for decades.

Now, before you move on to the rest of this newsletter issue, here are a few words from:

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Your Next Read

Thriving

Are You Mad at Me?

In this book, Meg discusses a human quality called "fawning" or the need to please others. If you think too much about what others would say, this book might help.

Apps & Services

Supernotes

A space to grow your ideas and knowledge

Supernotes is one of the most delightful note-taking apps in the market, modelled on physical notecards. It supports linking cards, uses AI to tag and enhance notes and more. Available on every major platform for £72/year. Hulry Plus members get an extra £12 off on their first year. Become a member to access more deals like this.
Grainrad

Apply high-quality effects to your photos in seconds

This app makes adding cool effects to photos, such as halftone, dithering, contours, etc., a matter of a few clicks. You can even turn a static photo into a looping effects video using the VHS or Matrix Rain mode. Available on the Web for free.
Pinery

Make eBooks, guides and more

I wish I had found this app when I wrote Kokoro. This app would’ve made writing and typesetting the eBook much easier and more enjoyable. You can write chapters in Markdown and easily format and preview on different devices. It even lets you publish books as websites. Available on macOS for $5.99/month.

Handy Shortcut

⌘

D

Mute or unmute your microphone in a Google Meet meeting.

Interesting Reads

The 26 Most Important Ideas For 2026

28 min read

This isn’t a regular mental models or lifehacks list, but it’s worth reading because it can help us understand the current state of the world. Although written primarily from an American perspective, most of the observations still apply to other parts of the world.
Seeing Like a Spreadsheet

22 min read

Anyone who has used a computer has likely created a spreadsheet. This piece is a well-written account of how spreadsheets originated and how they became ubiquitous tools in the business world.
How I'm Decluttering My Life This Spring

12 min read

Any time of the year is a good time to do a life audit and clear things that don’t belong in our lives anymore. This list is a good starting point. That reminds me, I need to “destroy a DOOM box”.
Learning isn't Linear: How Personal Growth Really Works

2 min read

Whether you’re learning a new skill or patiently watching your investments grow, it’s helpful to remember that growth isn’t always linear. Growth happens in spurts. This short piece reaffirms this point with a few examples.

Watch Next

This video is a concise walkthrough of some of the real-world things you can do with Claude Cowork.

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