Grokkist Press
Reading Room
Topic
Surprise meMaker's Forge
A superbly animated and tragically accurate depiction of humankind's relationship to the natural world, by Steve Cutts, simply titled 'Man.' It's not subtle — but as one YouTube commenter puts it, it depicts '150,000 years of human history in just 3 minutes.' Cutts made an updated edition
Make senseUnfolding Realm
This one's for neurodivergent grokkists. ADHD folks know that even when something is important and due soon, that isn't necessarily enough to actually do it — if the brain isn't cooperating, it won't happen (though they also know about HUGE last-minute energy). Jesse Anderson's Extra Focus
Surprise meUnfolding Realm
A tender and funny reframing of the fear inherent to creative pursuits. Elizabeth Gilbert recalls how people reacted with fear when she first said she wanted to be a writer — 'Aren't you afraid the humiliation of rejection will kill you?' — and her short answer was Yes. Her reframe: instea
WonderEntangled Vale
How packaging design became a pivotal part of shopping. After the Second World War, UK grocer Sainsbury's reorganised its layout and got rid of most sales counters: 'Tills were moved to the very edge of the shop, delaying the imposition of the real world for as long as possible… Pick thing
Surprise meEntangled Vale
A rich, accessible conversation with philosopher C. Thi Nguyen on games and personal agency. Games have embedded value systems — they tell us what matters by rewarding it, and Nguyen thinks the simplicity of letting the game tell us what matters is a large part of what makes them fun. In r
Make senseEntangled Vale
James 'Atomic Habits' Clear is known for making big life changes by starting with an identity you want to have, then doing small habits that reinforce it until you're no longer chasing behaviour change but simply acting in alignment with the person you see yourself to be. Here he talks wit
Surprise meEntangled Vale
A counterpoint to the previous pick. Modern Stoicism, like mindfulness, has exploded in popularity — and at face value the revival of a philosophy built on emotional tranquillity, reason and virtue seems unambiguously a Good Thing. But when you look at who's flying the flag most enthusiast
ImagineMaker's Forge
Enough philosophy — here's something pretty. Sydney-based artist and craftsman Tom Butterworth creates bespoke sculptures that are both functional and aesthetic, each handmade from upcycled Australian sandstone. If the prices are too eye-watering, you can always just enjoy his Insta.
Make senseEntangled Vale
Cole the Science Dude makes neat TikTok explainer videos on science, maths and tech topics — here he's on nuclear fusion. His videos are clear, short and accessible. TikTok at its best.
Make senseEntangled Vale
An interesting and entertaining piece on how medieval monks fretted about their wandering minds and found their own ways to concentrate — navigating the demands of work, social ties and the distractions of new technologies, hundreds of years ago. Turns out you have a lot in common with the
Make senseSoma Isles
A pair of apps for managing jet lag and shift work, respectively, by keeping track of your circadian rhythms alongside melatonin, caffeine and other factors. You'll know if it's for you — and if you cross time zones a lot, it might be a small revelation.
ImagineHearthlands
An Instagram account dedicated to surreal wildlife and pet portraits — beasts spliced and remixed into gloriously improbable new creatures. You're welcome.