30-Second Read

The Murky Muddle Called Now

Endings have been on my mind lately, and persistently so. I try to make sense of them.

Jeff Gauger May 1, 2026

Azeem Azhar’s Exponential View. Long, deep discussions about technology’s impact on business and society. Spotify Apple

Death, Sex & Money addresses the three topics we’re most uncomfortable talking about. Spotify Apple

Decoder Ring explores cultural questions, objects or habits to figure out what they mean and why they matter. From Slate magazine. Spotify Apple

Grammar Girl offers helpful and fun information about grammar and words in usually under 20 minutes. They’re perfect for your drive home from work. Spotify Apple YouTube

History Extra Podcast. Produced by BBC History Magazine. Interviews with historians. Multiple episodes each week. Spotify Apple

History Unplugged. Produced by historian Scott Rank with more than 400 episodes. Spotify Apple

The Next Big Idea. About books and ideas in the social sciences. Spotify Apple

Hard Fork. Smart, witty, informative conversation and interviews about tech. Spotify Apple YouTube

Significant Occasions

Significant Occasions

By Thomas Gunning on April 27, 2026

Choices have consequences, and my choice to leave a marriage came with one measured in memories never made.

We Are Fools

We Are Fools

By Jeff Gauger on April 24, 2026

Not My Cats Again!

Not My Cats Again!

By Thomas Gunning on April 21, 2026

The Little Dollar Bowl

The Little Dollar Bowl

By Jeff Gauger on April 16, 2026

Sentimental Debris

Sentimental Debris

By Thomas Gunning on April 13, 2026

Not Always Without Calamity

Not Always Without Calamity

By Jeff Gauger on April 10, 2026

‘Gimme a Break’

‘Gimme a Break’

By Liz Reardon Gauger on April 8, 2026

Spring Flings

Spring Flings

By Thomas Gunning on April 6, 2026

Social Sadism: A Modern Plague

Social Sadism: A Modern Plague

By Nahar Trina on April 4, 2026

A Very Important Priority

A Very Important Priority

By Jeff Gauger on April 2, 2026

Military Propaganda

Military Propaganda

By Thomas Gunning on March 30, 2026

Our Bluffoons of War

Our Bluffoons of War

By Jeff Gauger on March 27, 2026

Comforting Isolation

Comforting Isolation

By Thomas Gunning on March 23, 2026

More craft than art: “11tips to improve your writing,” from 30-Second Read. With both text and video.

Your first editor: “How to Edit Your Own Writing,” by Harry Guinness for The New York Times.

Word nerd delight: Jeremy Butterfield’s deep, rich, smart blog about grammar, word use, word histories, confusing words, more. Loads of fun word arcana.

Ellen is at the Grammar Table: Bluesky account devoted to grammar questions and philosophy. Author of the book “Rebel Without a Clause.”

Grammar Girl, a podcast, offers helpful and fun information about grammar and words in usually under 20 minutes. They’re perfect for your drive home from work. Spotify Apple YouTube

How to fix bad sentences: Confused by dangling modifiers? Stumped by passive voice? Author June Casagrande offers precise advice.

Role model: “What I learned about writing from reading Greta Thunberg’s speech to the U.N.,” by Roy Peter Clark for the Poynter Institute.

Writing tips: From Lexico.com, the Oxford Dictionary web site, for writing letters, speeches, job applications, more.

The hardest part of writing . . .: Advice for starting, delivered in cartoons by Grant Snider in The New York Times.

Priceless lessons: A sixth-grade English teacher offered advice about writing and life that Catherine Rampell remembers still. Practical and inspirational.

Apostrophe Protection Society. It’s for real, and it’s both serious and fun. Based in the United Kingdom.