“Surprise” and “convention” engender one another, like a bracelet or a ring, with no beginning or end. Who can exhaust their variations?The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, translated by Michael Nylan Every year I write about the books I read in the last 12 months. This year I’m posting my top three favourite reads…… Continue reading The best books I read in 2021 – Part 2: Non-fiction
The Best Books I Read In 2021 | Part One: Fiction
This is my seventh annual round up of books I’ve enjoyed. The emphasis is on things I read rather than what was published. Although the publication of the lists is consistent, the format is not. This year I’ve tried to name my favourite three books and a short list of others I loved and recommend…… Continue reading The Best Books I Read In 2021 | Part One: Fiction
Every leader needs a fool: Antonym No. 10
This was originally a newsletter on my Substack. Guaranteed royal news-free reading since last week Dear Reader A year ago today we shut the office after one of us started showing symptoms. A few days later the UK was locked down, and then I fell ill with the virus as well, the first of two…… Continue reading Every leader needs a fool: Antonym No. 10
A map of things we cannot see: Antonym No. 9
This post originally appeared my Substack newsletter Antonym. People ask ‘Who am I?’ and expect to be told a story. The first thing you need to know about yourself, is that you are not a story.”– Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century Dear Reader Stewart Lee, pro-grump pot and favourite comedian of…… Continue reading A map of things we cannot see: Antonym No. 9
Being clever: “How’s that working out for you?”
How’s that going? Being smart? Two of the books I’ve been reading this week – Thinking In Systems and Wolf Hall – connected in a surprising way. Let’s start with the thoughts of a furious Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall, confronted by the tactical success one of his enemies: Christ, he thinks, by my age I ought…… Continue reading Being clever: “How’s that working out for you?”
The Covid-19 crisis is a shape-shifter
One job of a leader in a long crisis like the pandemic is to explain what’s going on – offer a frame, a narrative about what is happening and how we can deal with it. The first challenge, you discover, is that that means explaining things to yourself. Just when you think you have the measure…… Continue reading The Covid-19 crisis is a shape-shifter
Fooled by stories: Antonym No. 6
The below article is cross–posted from Antonym, my weekly newsletter. A cold, gold sunset reflected in the windows of the closed–for–COVID The Concorde2 nightclub on Brighton seafront. “Do you enjoy cautionary tales? Shilly–shallying children eaten by wolves, that stuff?”“Alice, I am gone on them,” Blossom breathes.— The Paragon Hotel, by Lyndsay Faye Dear Reader Word of…… Continue reading Fooled by stories: Antonym No. 6
Antonym Vol.4 A 31-day-long year
A runner on Brighton seafront. Cross-posted from Antonym at Substack, where I am trying out the newsletter format. I’m not sure where it is going yet, but I’m enjoying the reviewing of a week’s notes and bookmarks and sharing some of them in this way. January 2021 had enough drama, world-changing, tragedy and hope to…… Continue reading Antonym Vol.4 A 31-day-long year
Antony No.3: Sick Bern
This is a newsletter cross–posted from my Substack newsletter. That’s hope I know he can be beaten. Because he’s a fanatic — and a fanatic is always hiding a secret doubt. – George Smiley in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John Le Carré Dear Reader Happy New New Year. The first three weeks of 2021 were 2020 in…… Continue reading Antony No.3: Sick Bern
The insurrection will be monetised.
Learn the facts, Steed-Asprey used to say, then try on the stories like clothes.— Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, by John le Carré This email newsletter has been cross–posted from Antonym. You can subscribe here if you want to see how the experiment goes. Dear Reader Welcome to the second of my newsletters. This week seems to be…… Continue reading The insurrection will be monetised.