Substacks recommended by David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Recommended by David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Social dynamics and culture from the hybrid mind of a terminally online-normie mom

A great writer on relationships.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Changing The Channel with Kirsten Powers

New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers offers fresh thinking about how we can make big changes in our lives, communities and country.

Writes about her journey and reasons for moving abroad in an illuminating and compelling way.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Rich People Shit

By Carson Griffith

A newsletter about cultural capital, the invisible currency behind everything

Carson is an accomplished journalist who knows the world of the wealthy very well. She writes objectively about the wealthy, which is rare these days.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Noted

By Jillian Hess

Tips from the world's best note takers

This Won't End Well: On Loving Greek Tragedy.

By Elizabeth Bobrick

Greek tragedy is not a catalogue of sad tales about gods and heroes. They're complex stories of political and patriarchal oppression, generational trauma, knowledge won only through suffering, and the quest for identity and redemption.

Brilliant essays on Greek tragedies and how they relate to our own time.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Mary Tabor "Only connect ..."

By <Mary L. Tabor>

The arts, books, movies, a course: Write it!, The Writing Life, (Re)Making Love: a memoir (fully up now), Who by Fire: a novel, Cooking With Mary, Watercolors and story in Letters to My Granddaughter.

Amazement Seeker by Rona Maynard

Celebrating discovery in art, writing and the moment as it flies

American Inequality

By Jeremy Ney

Data and maps on U.S. inequality, covering housing, healthcare, poverty, education, tech, and more.

[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil

In my bestselling newsletter, I share the bittersweetness of old age, from the blessings to the bullshit. I write about the strange contradiction of growing old: it’s wonderful… and it also sucks.

the Human Carbohydrate

By Stella Tsantekidou

I am good for you

Always interesting and thought provoking and often funny.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

The Ivy Exile

Redemption of a recovering flack. Ex-Brown/PBS/Columbia. Somewhere between Manhattan and America.

Maiden Mother Matriarch

By Louise Perry

A podcast about culture and politics, hosted by Louise Perry.

Great conversations. I have a high bar for podcasts and MMM clears it.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

She's Gone Chilaquiles

By Anna Schott

essays, memoir, food analogies

Untrickled

A 30-year journalist looks at culture, politics, economics and lifestyle through the lens of economic inequality. Author, The Trailer Park Rules, rated 4.7 stars on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYW3MRRB Strapped: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJNRCQSJ

Beyond Bloomsbury

By Victoria K. Walker

An ongoing anthology of historical artist and writer biographies and curated gallery and library collections.

The Granny Who Stands on her Head

By Ann Richardson

After a lifetime of reflection, I write short posts with a touch of gentle humour. Yes, I write on being old, but life is too interesting to be limited to one small part.

The No Stress Club

By Jennifer Galante Han

Silly stories about life and fashion that I hope bring down your blood pressure.

Peak Notions with Laura Kennedy

Peak Notions is the ideologically exhausted person’s guide to untangling ideas, identity, and the chaos we live in

Beautiful writing on life and love.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Politics Off-Center

By Lawrence Goldstone

I’m Lawrence Goldstone, a political and legal historian who wants to replace jargon and obfuscation with clear thinking and cogent analysis.

quite useless

By a. natasha joukovsky

deep thoughts on art, desire, and superficiality

Sav Huitema

Under the White Coat

By Dr. Amber Hull

A Physician's Unflinching Guide to Human Sexuality and Life in Medicine.

Writes about sex in a practical and helpful way.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Just Saying

By Lirpa Strike

Personal essays and thoughts on culture, ideas, and current events.

Feed Me

By Emily Sundberg

A daily newsletter about the spirit of enterprise.

Essential information on the intersection of culture and business with a respectful dollop of gossip

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

The Teachers Way

By Molly Moynahan

Molly Moynahan posts about teaching, writing, sobriety, parenting, culture, and living with grace and humor.

BordoLines

By Susan Bordo

Deep dives into politics, gender, history, popular culture and mass media from award-winning, influential feminist philosopher.

Good Humor

Humor, heart and everything in between. Will discuss anti-inflammatories, aging, how not to f-k up your marriage and interviews with Funny AF Women from an empty nester mom still waiting for her kids to text her back.

Oldster Magazine

By Sari Botton

Exploring what it means to travel through time in a human body, at every phase of life.

Enough Already with David Spinks

Essays on how to how to reorient your relationship with work and success, and find enoughness within.

APT&AWRY

By Dominic AA Randolph

Clumsy wisdom...

Homo Vitruvius by A. Jay Adler

Memoir, poetry, fiction, drama, and essays on all things human: explorations into our reason for being in the world. Living through language and ideas from a professor of English and writer.

Woman of Letters

By Naomi Kanakia

I write about the Great Books, classic literature, and the contemporary publishing world.

Deservedly gaining attention as one of the best literary newsletters on Substack.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Unfixed

By Kimberly Warner

When broken is the fix.

Footnotes and Tangents

By Simon Haisell

Slow reads of great books. Book guides and a reading community to help you get more from the best stories.

Snaps

By Deirdre Lewis

sketches, flash fiction, musings and observations

Deirdre writes exquisite vignettes.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

And Sings My Soul

By Cici Sullivan

I was blind, but now I see. A collection of testimonies from my 30-year road from religious abuse to making peace with myself and finding God.

Maya C. Popa

Writing on the inner conditions of sustainable creative work

I don't read enough poetry. No one reads enough poetry. Maya's Substack is the solution.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

GOOD MORNING PROJECT

By Carll Tucker

Daily reflections for those with an appetite for literacy—exploring America’s moral crisis, the meaning of life, and the enduring power of literature, history, and the arts.

Inheriting Inequality

By Allison Tait

Everything begins and ends with an inheritance. And capital comes in all forms. I analyze how inheritance shapes both identity and inequality.

Excellent essays about wealth and money.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

FLESH WORLD by Jessica DeFino

Reporting on the absurd world of beauty culture. / “The newsletter the beauty industry fears.” - the Herald.

I am increasingly interested in the intersection among beauty, status, and wealth (which I focus my writing on.)

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

The Pressures of Privilege

By Diana E Oehrli

For people isolated by privilege - and the professionals who guide them.

The Bittersweet Weekly

By Emily Henderson

For readers searching for a richer perspective on the bittersweet moments that make up modern life.

Because it's charming.

- David Roberts || Sparks From Culture

Scrambled Eggs & Whiskey

By Maya Slouka

Life, literature, and late night thoughts

The Literary Obsessive

By Eleanor Anstruther

A show case for my work, I stream fiction before it goes to print, publish essays & interviews, and champion indie lit fiction by increasing visibility, challenging stigma, and proving quality.