The Joys of Boredom

The monkey’s paw of technology gave us what we thought we wanted — and we got it, good and hard.

Aug 23 • Matthew Morgan

21

6

6

Sitting With Uncertainty

On the wisdom of not having answers too soon.

Aug 9 • Matthew Morgan

16

13

3

July 2026

On Recognising Beauty

Or, It's Not You, Zadie Smith, It's Me.

Jul 26 • Matthew Morgan

14

6

4

Imaginary Friends & Real Tears

Notes From the Desk.

Jul 5 • Matthew Morgan

22

10

5

June 2026

Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity

How Bill Watterson Stuck to His Guns — and Vanished

Published on The Republic of Letters • Jun 12

The Story So Far...

... and where we're going next.

Jun 8 • Matthew Morgan

34

11

5

May 2026

There's More To Life Than Books

On Anatole Broyard and the Limits of Literature

Published on The Republic of Letters • May 2

April 2026

On Burnout

When your body finally tells you, "Enough."

Apr 1 • Matthew Morgan

9

10

1

March 2026

Mood Reading

Why do some books impress the intellect but fail to stir the soul? And does Sylvia Plath understand how paragraphs work?

Mar 2 • Matthew Morgan

17

3

2

February 2026

A Box of Books

On fighting over what's funny.

Feb 16 • Matthew Morgan

14

13

3

A Half-Panicked Epiphany

Stockpiling literature in case of a digital apocalypse.

Feb 2 • Matthew Morgan

12

3

3

January 2026

Talking Past Each Other

On the radioactive waste of toxic friendships.

Jan 19 • Matthew Morgan

15

3

2