Hi friend,

I'm back on my farm in France, recovering from a whirlwind trip to the US. I've been fighting off some sort of cold all week, which is the reason why this dispatch is a little late. Luckily, my annual planning always includes buffer time and sick days, so while I might be behind this week, I've planned for this scenario so my year-end goals won't be affected. It's done wonders for my mental health, because there's nothing worse than feeling sick AND like you're falling behind.

The other thing I'm grappling with these days is my writing. I started working on Humane Productivity ages ago, and to be honest, I'm wondering if I even want to finish it or move on to some of the other ideas that have been circulating in my mind. I'm not sure I believe in traditional publishing anymore as a mechanism to share information with the masses. I'm mulling over formats, lengths, and the attachment I have to "books", especially for professional development and non-fiction. The theme of "unlearning" seems apt here, as traditional publishing has been a source of validation and recognition for my entire career, and yet...I'm ready to let go of that validation in pursuit of the best way to connect with like-minded people. If you have any ideas or thoughts let me know!

In this Dispatch:

1. Book Club Update
2. Is it the end of mass media?
3. Are protests actually effective?
4. Content Corner
5. Book Club Week 2 Summary

Book Club Update

I'm close to finalizing a tech solution for those who want to join in book club. It should be ready by the next dispatch. This week, I'll include the reading notes, but moving forward, all the content will be hosted on a member's only section of my website. (Fancy!)

I took SO many notes this week, these concepts are truly stretching my brain in the best way. I can't wait until we have our own space to discuss and dive deep. Thanks to everyone who emailed me their enthusiasm and sent me pics of their books. I'm so excited to be on this journey with you.

There were a few questions too so let me reiterate: book club is completely free! I just love discussing interesting ideas with smart people. If you want to join, just do the readings and hopefully by next week, we'll have our own spot for discussions.

The End of Mass Media?

How does a newspaper make money in 2024?

I'm clearly not the only one deeply rethinking how I share my ideas with a larger audience. Clare Malone's recent long-read in The New Yorker highlights the layoffs, disruptions, and general decline of the news outlets as a result of outdated business models, the democratization of publishing, and the looming specter of AI.

To further complicate matters, readers are burned out by the news, social media sites are moving away from promoting news articles, and Google recently rolled out A.I. integrated search: which creates answers within Google's interface so users don't have to click through.

One way to prosperity, Malone writes, is to expand into a Lifestyle brand like the New York Times. But many local or smaller news providers simply don't have the means to do so. It seems to be the news, on its own, is no longer a viable business model and that has some scary ramifications for democratic societies that rely on an informed public. (As I mentioned in the last dispatch, we're in a super-election year, so relevant and accurate news is more important than ever.)

Malone writes the market is undergoing a massive shift: "that it's mostly consumers, not ads, who will need to pay for services that outlets provide."

This article was top of mind, as I recently spoke with with Dr. Haaris Mateen and Dr. Anya Schiffrin at Columbia University about their latest paper "Paying for News: What Google and Meta owe Publishers," and I found their take to be quite thought-provoking. Through their methodology, they estimate that digital platforms should be paying publishers between $11.9 and $13.9 BILLION DOLLARS annually. They propose a revenue sharing model that could help stave off this decline, but as expected, there is major pushback from tech companies that don't want to incur this cost.

Just 3.5% Needed for Massive Change

As I've watched people take to the streets over the past several months I've been equally optimistic and cynical. On one hand, there is something so empowering about gathering as a collective to make our voices heard. On the other hand, while screaming in the streets feels good, does it actually accomplish anything?

As I turned to data to answer this question, I came across this 2019 article by Harvard Professor Erica Chenoweth, author of "Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Non-Violent Conflict."

After researching 323 mass actions (including both violent and non-violent) Chenoweth concluded that non-violent civil resistance was far more effective in producing change. Even more surprisingly, she found out that change didn't require a majority of the population to be on board - just 3.5% was enough to tilt the scales.

The other success factor she emphasized was the level of preparation needed to sustain non-violent resistance movements. Successful movements could last anywhere from nine months to almost two years. People needed to prepare by stockpiling food, money, and other resources.

I was thinking about our ability to organize this type of support within the context of a "post-pandemic" isolation epidemic. People are lonelier, have less friends, and, according to this Atlantic article, they are hanging out way less. Will we be able to create tight-knit communities if we're increasingly isolated due to technology?

This is why I believe it's more important than ever to intentionally design your technology use to maximize connection and minimize rage-y clickbait.

Content Corner:

Here are my recommendations this week:

• TV: Lover, Stalker, Killer is a true-crime documentary and one hell of a wild ride. The detectives working the case should have their own show because they were hilarious. I could not believe the shocking reveals of this case, Jesse and I were riveted. [On Netflix]
• TV: American Nightmare is another true-crime doc that contains an absolutely unbelievable case premise about a kidnapping and the credibility of witnesses that will shock you. [Netflix]
• TV: Season 1 of The Lower Decks. Thanks to Aaron H for this recommendation. I loved Star Trek and this animated series follows a group of "lower deckers", low ranking officers with menial jobs as they deal with the less glamorous aspects of space exploration. [Amazon Prime]
• Book: Our Harsh Logic. This is a book that compiles testimonies from Israeli soldiers about their experiences in the occupied territories from 2000 to 2010. Published by Breaking the Silence, it reveals the realities of military occupation, highlighting the impact on both Palestinians and Israeli soldiers. It challenges readers to consider the human cost of occupation from a perspective rarely seen by the public.

Here's the weekly book club summaries for those that want to participate. Skip to the bottom if it's not your thing!

Book Club Week 2: The Dimond Sutra, 3 Types of Action, and 5 Remembrances

Video Summary on Instagram HERE!

In this week’s pages, we looked at the Diamond Sutra, a meditation that asks us to “throw away” four deeply held notions about the “self”, the idea of “human beings”, the idea of “living beings”, and our understanding of “life spans.” No big deal, right?

The wisdom imparted by the ninth-century Zen master Linji resonates deeply: "My aim is not to give you knowledge. My aim is to help you break free from your views." This is a call to each of us to venture beyond our fixed ideas, to release the notions that confine us, and to embrace a broader understanding of our existence.

The Diamond Sutra:

1. Let Go of the Notion of "Self"

Thay tells us that we are intrinsically tied to the cosmos and everything in it. Our physical form is just one aspect; we also possess a cosmic body that includes our heritage, the natural world, and the universe at large. “You are the continuation of parents, ancestors, stars, moon, sun, rivers, mountains,” he writes. “Everything is in you. So you can talk to them and you know that you are the world. You are the cosmos.” I particularly loved the poetic example of a wave learning to understand that she is a part of the ocean. “It is very important that the wave realizes she has a wave body, but she also has her ocean body. When the wave recognizes her ocean body, she loses all kinds of discrimination.”

This is the purpose of meditation, be it sitting or walking: to remind us that we are so much more than individual waves – we are all a connected ocean. Once we understand that, we are no longer afraid of dying. But he warns: “many of us are too busy, and have no time to breathe and to walk in order to get in touch with our cosmic body.”

2. Let Go of the Notion of "Human Being"

Next, we're urged to relinquish the notion of 'the human being' as a separate entity. “We want safety, prosperity, and happiness only for humans, at the expense of everything else,” Thay writes. “And yet, looking deeply, we see that humans are made only of non-human elements, including plants, animals, and minerals.”

This concept invites us to reflect on our to disregard the interconnectedness of all life. Yet, when we look deeply, we recognize that our very existence is intertwined with the non-human elements of the world—plants, animals, and minerals.

Through the practice of meditation, our perspective shifts, and we begin to see the mountains and rivers not just as landscapes and waterways but as integral parts of our own being. This insight liberates us, freeing us from the constraints of a narrow, human-centric worldview and opening us to the intricate tapestry of life where every element is essential and revered. In conversations about climate, this is particularly important as the planet and creatures that inhabit it are extensions of ourselves, and therefore need to be protected with the same fierceness.

3. Let go of the Notion of "Living Being"

Then, we're asked to see all parts of the universe, from photons to plants, as conscious beings, not isolated or inanimate. This shifts our view of Earth to a living community that we cherish and sustain. Through meditation, we learn our being extends beyond our physical form, connecting us everywhere. This insight becomes especially poignant in the face of global tragedies. How can such things happen? Why do some people have to die and not others? Why do I get to survive?

In tragedies, we feel the loss of others, acknowledging our shared existence. As Thay observed, "when they die, we also die with them." A part of us diminishes with their absence. Yet, there is a profound consolation in understanding that through our continued living, we honor their presence, carrying their legacy forward.

This understanding, termed 'interbeing' helps us find peace and honor the departed through our lives and actions, despite the grief we may experience. The concept is comforting yet challenging, especially during large-scale tragedies, as it calls for peace and meaningful action to pay tribute to those lost.

4. Let go of the Notion of Life Span

Finally, we're to see beyond the traditional view of life as the period from birth to death, suggesting that our existence extends before and after this span. In mindful living and meditation, we find that our ancestors live on through us, influencing our lives and actions. Thich Nhat Hanh shares that by living out his father’s unfulfilled dreams, he honors his father’s legacy, reflecting their interconnectedness. Similarly, healing ourselves may also heal past and future generations, embodying the notion of intergenerational healing. Thay emphasizes our role as continuations of the Buddha, carrying a collective duty to protect our ecosystems and combat fear and violence. Our responsibilities and actions thus become part of a larger, timeless legacy, connecting us with the ongoing cycle of existence.

Why Meditation is the Key

Meditation on the Diamond Sutra helps us step away from daily distractions and align with a deeper truth that transcends our cultural teachings. Thay suggests using routine moments—like making breakfast or watching a sunset—as chances to consider life's larger questions and realize our interconnectedness. Such insights don't always need lengthy meditation but can arise during ordinary tasks. Understanding we're part of a larger existence can alleviate fears of an end and feelings of grief or apathy, offering solace and a greater sense of life's purpose.

The Three Types of Action:

The three types of action: Thinking, Speaking, and Acting

The Diamond Sutra teaches us to be mindful of the Three Aspects of Action: thinking, speaking, and acting, as each carries profound energy that shapes our reality. Right thinking, as the sutra emphasizes, can heal and improve our world, whereas wrong thinking can cause great suffering. Our speech can reconcile and inspire hope or it can destroy and divide. Actions, in turn, have the power to bring healing both to ourselves and to the environment.

The sutra also offers hope for transformation: yesterday's negative thoughts or actions can be counterbalanced by today's intentions of compassion and understanding. By anchoring ourselves in the present, we can produce thoughts that neutralize past negativity. This is the essence of "retribution"—the understanding that our actions, words, and thoughts form the environment we live in. If we have caused harm, it reflects back upon us, and if we act with mindfulness and compassion, it creates a positive impact.

​

The 5 Remembrances:

The Five Remembrances are daily reflections that remind us of life’s truths. They highlight the importance of facing these fears and leaning into the “absolute truths” of the Diamond Sutra. There’s nothing to be afraid of, and we should cherish every moment and do our best to act with kindness and intention, knowing that our deeds are the true measure of our life’s path.

1. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
2. I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health.
3. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love is of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
5. I inherit the results of my actions of body, speech, and mind. My actions are my continuation.”

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Integrating the Learnings:

Mindful Reflection Bell: Use the alarm on your phone to pause for a moment of mindfulness. Each time it rings, take the opportunity to reflect on a passage or principle from the Diamond Sutra that resonates with you. How does this teaching apply to your current circumstances?

Daily Actions Review: In the evening, jot down the actions, thoughts, and words that stood out to you throughout the day. Reflect on their alignment with the teachings of interbeing and non-duality. Consider what changes you might make tomorrow to bring more mindfulness and compassion into your life.

Five Remembrances Morning Ritual: Start your day by contemplating the Five Remembrances. Write down how this reflection influences your perspective on what’s truly important and note any shifts in how you wish to engage with your day’s tasks.

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Next Week's Pages:

We'll Cover:

• The way Out is In
• Understanding Suffering and Basic Needs
• Engaged Action

Basically it's 48-77 (stop at the end of part 1.)

Hopefully, by next week book club content will have a new awesome home. Thanks for your patience while I figure this out! Hit reply and let me know what you thought of the readings.