A note to "Words for the Wise" subscribers

As the newsletter approaches its two month anniversary, a reminder to please share it if you like it and tell me if you don't!

Dear subscribers,

I hope you are enjoying the newsletter, or at least that you are finding some time to read it, even if not every post.

The good news is that only one person has unsubscribed so far. That was a friend who told me frankly that he was so busy he didn’t have time to read it. It did not hurt my feelings, because I had been so busy myself that I did not have time to help him promote his new book, despite his pleas to all his friends to do so.

But as much as I don’t want to clog anyone’s inbox, I do hope that you are finding some of the posts—maybe even most—to be interesting. And I am very interested in feedback, either publicly in the Comments section or privately in an email to me. Let me know what you like, what you don’t like, and what topics you might like to see covered.

Right now, as you can see, the newsletter covers pretty much any topic that I am personally interested in. As things get going, I have been cutting back on the recycled pieces and doing more topical commentary, especially when I think I have something to say that not everyone else is saying (or that I have a different way to say it.)

I won’t, however, cut back completely on the recycled pieces, because it’s not likely that any current subscribers to this newsletter saw them when they were first published. If I think the message or topic is still timely and worthwhile, I will put them out there. After all, they are not padding—any decent piece deserves to be published and republished as long as there is an audience for it.

Fortunately or unfortunately for you, the readers, I am interested in a lot of things. I was a travel and food writer for many years before I became an accidental full-time science writer, when Science magazine began paying me better and treating me better than anyone else ever had. I still have a lot of interest and connections in the science world, especially human evolution and archaeology, subjects that are passionate for many of us. So expect a steady stream of pieces on those topics.

But I have been also deeply engaged in political and social issues my entire adult life, as you can see from a number of recent posts, so that will be regular fare as well. I am particularly interested in feedback and comments on those posts, so please feel free. If you don’t insult me personally I am happy to let everyone say what they want.

But most importantly, if you like the newsletter, please share it! That is the main way that its subscriber base and readership will grow. Unlike Glenn Greenwald or Matty Yglesias or other hotshot journalists who came to Substack with huge followings and are cashing in handsomely, I am not out to make a killing with this project. You can read it without paying a cent, and I expect that will be the “business model” for some time to come. At the very least, there will always be a long free trial sub available.

So if you decide to pay real money ($5.00/month or $50.00/year) for my words of wisdom, please do it because you support independent journalism and commentary and want to see this site thrive.

Speaking of wisdom: You will have noticed, no doubt, that the newsletter is called “Words for the Wise” and not “Words to the Wise,” which is the normal condescending cliché. That’s because this newsletter is intended for those who are already wise enough to appreciate it! And who want to spread any wisdom they find, wherever they find it.

Many thanks, and look out for a new post coming soon.

all best, Michael