A list of good reads
- Boomlive investigates how wishful thinking aka “manifestation”—example, to conceive a baby boy—is the latest potentially dangerous trend that Indians are embracing, and doctors are worried about.
- New York Times (splainer gift link) reports on a new campaign that lets Indian men opt to experience painful menstrual cramps to end shame around monthly periods.
- Padma Shri Tulsi Gowda is the hero our age needs. New York Times profiles the woman who has spent 80 years nurturing forests.
- In other heroes: TIME magazine’s excellent interview with GOAT tennis player Serena Williams captures the scale of her achievement. You can also read her childhood coach Rick Macci talking about his first encounter with the William sisters over at Indian Express.
- The Morning Context tries to understand why India’s most used form of public transport—the humble bus—is losing riders. Requires creating a log in.
- As psilocybin goes mainstream, Vice’s look at the long and fascinating history of consciousness expanding magic mushrooms is timely and interesting.
- The Economist's deep dive into Spotify data reveals the great decline of English-language music around the world.
- Also in the Economist: people who spreadsheet their relationships.
- ‘Quiet quitting’ is all about doing the bare minimum required to do your job—and has grabbed a lot of media headlines. Fast Company reports on the huge backlash against the philosophy.
- Every toddler’s favourite word—poop—is also music streaming gold, apparently. Buzzfeed News writes about how kids yelling ‘poop!’ at Alexa is good business for musicians.
- Aeon has an excellent essay about the great joys of mischief—which is “a playful and light-hearted form of trouble-making, aimed chiefly at creating amusement for those involved.”
- Mint Lounge has an interesting read on the consultants who help Bollywood get their sports films exactly right.
- Indians will relate to this one. Smithsonian magazine looks at why humans love the taste of chilli peppers—and why it likely went instantly viral once discovered in the Americas.
