Short Form

Guide to favorite restaurants, music venues, and hidden gems across Music City.

Sonny Gray's masterful complete game shutout with 89 pitches—a rare Maddux in the modern era of baseball.

David Foster Wallace's masterwork Infinite Jest is a challenging read; nobody writes this like anymore.

When Google's AI answers questions instead of referring traffic to content creators, what happens to the web's incentive model and the future of online writing?

Carlos Alcaraz's first French Open victory showcases the joy and creativity reminiscent of Federer, while his opponents push tactical boundaries to compete.

The magic of an Olivetti typewriter.

Why the simple song wins out. Favorite versions of John Prine's classic Angel From Montgomery. Give each a listen.

How does one define luck? Fate. Fortune. Glory. Or, something else entirely.

Why the Wallflowers still own the dance floor and how their new album hits the right notes.

A trail-side reflection on the American chestnut's blight, resilience, and the myths we build around it.

Richard Powers has written an opus to change your life. Read the Overstory. And then, plant a tree to change the world.

The finale to The Office is the home of the greatest quote in television history. Great writing. A reflection on Andy Bernard's quote about the good old days and how to appreciate the present.

Remembering Aerosmith’s raw early power and the thrill of hearing “Dream On” light up a stage.

Rediscovered notes from a negotiation class that still ring true years later.

A quick tribute to Chris Cornell and the songs that still shake the walls.

Everybody wants to build; few want to keep things running.

Bill Gates gives advice to college graduates.

The cost of keeping an option open.

The case for sniffing out small wins and stacking them into something larger.

Rediscovering the viral “Did You Know” video and the reminder that talent and ideas can come from anywhere.

A quick rewind to the days of Zork, The Impossible Fortress, and pure imagination.

Books told in the second person are rare. A review of Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City and the power of second person narrative.

Saluting Walt Mossberg’s sign-off and the reminder that meaningful careers are never solo acts.

Celebrating the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, its data science, and the films that make it possible.

Building better characters. A Tweet storm from a fantastic author.

On ESPN layoffs, Jayson Stark's storytelling, and why Game 6 of 2011 still rules.

A short reflection on losing a once-reliable arm, and finding perspective in other players' comebacks.

Debating Netflix originals while remembering the glory of walkie-talkies.

The role of chance and the highest court in the land.

Four vignettes from a favorite Roman getaway and the landmarks that linger.

Revisiting Aesop’s fable about warmth, persuasion, and a stubborn traveler.

Old notes from class, do they hold up over time?

A script to stand the test of time.

Trading podcasts for Pearl Jam on a sunrise run and letting the lyrics set the pace.

Did Henry Ford really ask for a faster horse—or do legends just fuel better stories?

The classic businessman-and-fisherman story and why the original still resonates.

What a tiny-font word search taught me about kids, parents, and workarounds.

George Washington's reminder that punctuality is part of the promise.

The streak fell, the flags flew, and grudging admiration followed.

The universe calls—sometimes all we have to do is answer.

My favorite commencement speech distilled into go-to Gaiman reminders.

Rewinding through Yale’s American Revolution lectures and the reminders they offer.

Rethinking first mover advantage from Nintendo to Kinect and Alexa.

On selection Sunday misfires and the rulebook that bends March Madness into knots.

An analysis of why drugstore chains like Walgreens and CVS build stores on every corner, exploring the business strategy of cannibalization versus competition.

A quick reminder that clutter carries a cost—especially when you imagine paying movers by the pound.

Chuck Berry, Voyager spacecraft, and designing things to last for decades.

E.B. White returns to his childhood lake, and so do we.

Goals. Reality. Options. Will.

Changing organizational structure. The great balance between centralization and decentralization.

The unsolved mystery and dreams of finding a king's ransom.

On building, refining, and daydreaming about the writing desk that feels just right.

City Park Grill and Hemingway: a quick note on movies, books, and a favorite writing bar.

Yes, we did go to the moon. Dare to be great.

The lion and the gazelle. How do you outrun the fastest lion?

On bucket lists, mortality, and why risk matters when the clock is ticking.

On shifting our focus from quarterly scorecards to decade-long aims—and how that reframes daily choices.

Journals worth carrying when you want ideas to outlive the paper.

On ukulele upgrades, tennis racquets, and finding the gear edge.

Perspective matters.

Celebrating unforgettable live shows and the musicians who brave the tour grind.

The difficult decision to delete 8,345 words from a draft, featuring wisdom from Lawrence Block about giving yourself permission to write badly.

Reflecting on Shackleton’s fabled recruitment ad and the endurance of his crew.

A reminder that price feels simple to change—but customers remember every move.

Like a blister in the sun, some memories do indeed last forever.

Fischer versus Spassky and the long-game lessons that follow.

The street lamps, my favorite work of Gaudí.

A vintage campaign website still online proves the web’s long memory—and the nostalgia baked into 1996.

A pricing exercise, notes from an old class.

A veiled work from George Orwell.

Never change the ending.

Picking the idea worth finishing and preparing for the inevitable motivation dip.

Finding old technology, what would you do?

A penny-cutting demo that taught a high school hustler to vet his product.

A heartfelt tribute to Carrie Fisher, who passed away on December 27, 2016, celebrating her impact as Princess Leia and her influence on a generation.

Searching for constraints.

A Sunday night stalemate, two chip-shot misses, and how Bruce Arians and Pete Carroll handled the fallout.

Philosophy is strong in this movie.

Matthew Quick spins a good yarn and brings his characters to life.

A children’s tale deserving of the award.

On learning the Windsor knot and why dressing up still matters.

A life of books, a journey for both children and adults.

A book that lasts.