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What a lush thing to be interviewed by a publication I hold in such high regard. I have a silly but persistent dream of one day having my own byline in this magazine. We dream big, baby! Til then, this is honour enough. https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/how-statues-in-britain-began-to-fall
It was a phone interview, so they decided to keep every 'like' I uttered. Don't love that. I know my embarrassment must be some kind of internalised nonsense around needing to sound smart so people offer me a base level of respect and I need to *Elsa voice* LET IT GOOOOO.
As my beaut friend @hellomiriam said, I've been a subscriber to the print @NewYorker for a while, mostly cos I was done w/ lazy, reactive journalism & the subsequent erosion of my focus and ability to read long form pieces. If you'll indulge me, I'll go into how it's been for me
I picked the N.Yorker to get my focus back. The writing and journalism is also exemplary. This is the stack of magazines I've accumulated. It's a maddening challenge/pleasure to get through them on top of reading other books, but I do it, cover to cover each week, w/o fail.
I engage with ideas and field of interest I never would have otherwise by resisting the urge to cherry pick. Some of the articles have been so random - long ass articles on termites or the colouring of Roman statues or Finnish cuisine. The eclecticism has enriched me immensely.
I have a lot of things in my favour: time, no kids, a career that necessitates me being well read & engaged with arts/culture. Sadly, time & money aren't on everyone's side. Please don't take this as a smarmy assumption that everyone can or should do this cos obviously not, innit
If you can afford it, consider investing in a publication, ideally in print. It’s done me the world of good as a writer, reader and person. I’m much less swayed/angered by what masquerades as news online and I'm reacquainted with the virtue of digesting information s-l-o-w-l-y.
Obviously N. Yorker, like any publication, has its style and its political slant. But if you take the development of your mind and its ability to think seriously, think hard about pushing against the algorithmic web of consumption. You only ever get more of what you already know
Sure, you can look things up 'at random', but you'll still be led by your own set of interests and preoccupations. Picking a magazine/paper you trust means you get a thoughtfully curated selection of work that can kick start all kinds of interesting thinking. Give it a go x
