smart & curious
A long weekend list of good reads
- Mint has an excellent read on the bright future of Indian real estate—which will, however, be greatly transformed, along with where we live, work and play.
- This brilliant Vice essay looks at how we ‘lose’ our regional accents—or rather develop multiple accents that wave in and out depending on who we are talking to.
- Long Reads looks back at the time when David Bowie theatrically came out as gay—but really wasn’t. This is a fascinating piece on sexual identity as performance.
- A must read: ‘The End of the Girlboss Is Here’—which takes aim at the highly successful white model of success epitomised by Sheryl Sandberg.
- What makes something cool? This Atlantic essay looks at the man who invented the four letter code—“Most Advanced Yet Acceptable”—that helps brands sell you pretty much anything. This is the perfect lunchtime read.
- Our favourite: Sandip Roy’s tongue-in-cheek ode to ‘paash baalish’ which is way more than just a Bengali side pillow.
- The Guardian looks at the ‘thin white lie’ of the effortlessly chic Frenchwoman—and why it’s damaging.
- How will human extinction change our planet? Science Focus answers that eerie question, and it makes for a thought-provoking read.
- BBC News has a heartwarming report on the overlooked rural health workers—unqualified and often dismissed as ‘quacks’—who are doing an amazing job of preventing the spread of Covid.
