Publications
The Economist – The 24 hour news cycle is exhausting and superficial. Published once a week, The Economist takes a step back covering events and trends shaping our world. It’s coverage of the United States is particularly impartial given it is based overseas.
Benedict Evans Newsletter – There is a lot of noise in tech related news. Benedict Evan cuts through it, giving you a solid weekly newsletter of interesting articles and stats published the previous week.
Zeihan on Geopolitics – A newsletter that’s like reading a history book about the present. Zeihan takes a step back and puts the geopolitical landscape in perspective, with a penchant for describing what this means for the future of our world. He is the author of Accidental Superpower, which I recommend reading.
Money Stuff – A daily newsletter making Wall Street goings on interesting and accessible.
Foreign Affairs – Released every two months, Foreign Affairs mainly focuses on trends over specific events. Given this, it can often feel needlessly academic. Even so, it’s focus on trends gives you a lens through which you can view the world.
Warren Buffet Shareholder Letters – A lesson in taking the long view from the most legendary investor in history. The detached and calm way Warren Buffet speaks about problems in his annual letter, event at the height of The Great Recession, is a beautiful example of how even crises pass. Don’t think in years, think in decades.
Memos from Howard Marks – Released about once a quarter, Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital does an excellent job of putting the state of the financial system in perspective.
Stratechery – Similar to Benedict Evans, Ben Thompson steps back and gives you the big picture of the tech business landscape with a focus on how it affects large societal institutions like media and politics. The way he tells it, we’ve only scratched the surface of how the internet is going to absolutely change everything over the next several decades.
Mr. Money Mustache – MMM has had a huge impact on the way I view money, how I spend it, and how I invest it. He absolutely shatters conventional wisdom that we all must work for 40 years and hope that by some miracle we’ve saved enough to survive in retirement. With simple lifestyle changes around avoiding unnecessary consumption, we all, no matter your salary, have the ability to grow substantial wealth, live a meaningful life, and retire / reach financial independence earlier than you ever thought possible. His philosophy on investing aligns with that of John Bogle, whose book I recommend below. I recommend starting here and then reading my all time favorite post by him here. The Mad Fientist is also someone who gives excellent advice towards reaching financial independence, check out his getting started post here. I also recommend the following communities for asking questions and seeking help: Financial Independence, Personal Finance, and Personal Finance & Money. The people in these communities are extremely knowledgeable and willing to help those of all experience levels.
Our World in Data – “The world is much better than in the past and it is still awful.” – Bill Gates