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Before We Get Started…
Don’t over-commit
You might feel genuine motivation to read it all at first. But constraints on your time and attention span may eventually impose the burden of choosing which to open and which to ignore. The glut of information will prevent you from building a relationship with your content curators. As such, enthusiasm can quickly dwindle into apathy or even annoyance.
Be judicious picking the choicest morsels for your tastes, and leave the rest for another time or inbox.
Make sure to confirm your subscriptions
This is a preventable situation, so long as you exercise some due diligence in checking your inbox (or spam folder) immediately after subscribing. Oftentimes, there will be a request to confirm that you’re human (or at least, not a bot), set communications preferences, or handle other initial config.
1.The Daily Upside
There’s a perverse incentive for online publishers to bury the lede (sometimes a full six feet under) in order to pad out “time on page” KPIs. Fortunately, clickbait still hasn’t established itself as the universal modus operandi, as evidenced in more intelligent corners of the Internet occupied by the likes of The Daily Upside .
Instead, you’re greeted with a simple “Good Morning”, about 75 words-worth of the most interesting story of the day, followed by three concise news bullet points which constitute your Morning Brief. In most cases, you could stop reading right there and consider yourself better informed than most folks you’re likely to run into at the water cooler.
It’s kind of like Vice hired Tom Brokaw to write TL;DRs, and we’re here for it.
Read our full review of The Daily Upside here.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
2.Morning Brew
And just like a physical newspaper, the Morning Brew is engineered to be read as you please. Maybe you’re not feeling the breaking news, and just need to unwind with a good crossword. Or, spice up your work week with conversation starters , playlist ideas, movie recommendations, or thought experiments in the Brew’s Bets section. Morning Brew reinvigorates a classic media format, and it works better than it ever has.
Read our full review of Morning Brew here.
How and when
- Free to join, with rewards for sharing
- Daily emails
3.1440
1440 is split up into three distinct sections, clearly labeled by priority: Need to Know, In the Know, and Etcetera. There’s no clickbait, or delaying tactics, to get you to scroll through as many ads as possible; they frontload the good stuff, and leave it up to you whether you’re in the mood for trivia.
While the stories are curated, offering myriad off-ramps to further reading, you can just as profitably stick to 1440’s on-page journalism. Their content model respects your time, facilitating both deep dives and casual skimming in due form. 1440 sets the standard for readability, easily justifying its place in your inbox (rather than the spam folder).
We recommend 1440 to anyone who values policy over politics; who has little time to fact-check the pundits; and who has a genuine desire to learn about and connect with the world around them.
Read our full review of 1440 here.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
4. NYT’s The Morning (formerly The Morning Briefing)
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails, with breaks on the weekend
5. NextDraft
Reading the headlines–and only the headlines–is a pernicious issue. Many see it as the scourge of the disinformation age; and the info-tainment industry not only capitalizes upon this very human tendency, but perpetuates it as part of their business models. We’re all guilty of it, and you won’t see us casting stones about it.
NextDraft’s daily digest offers ten points of consideration–notice how we phrased that. A single point might correlate to a single story, but there are plenty of issues which beg further context across several articles. Dave spoon-feeds it all to you, coupling colorful metaphors to direct quotes from linked sources spanning the political divide. It’s like Google’s Snippet algorithm became sentient and decided its mission was to help you, personally, give a damn about the world around you.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
6. The Elevator
Sure, there’s a healthy amount of the next-day-take to keep you up to date with current events. But The Elevator’s editorial team has a particular knack for digging up timeless gems. It might be a link to the original commercial advertising the DeLorean, a personal account of eating KFC in Vietnam alongside Anthony Bourdain, or a how-to illustrating the process of buying into Gambino family boss John Gotti’s legendary booze collection. Yeah, it’s badass.
Unlike the dude-mags of yore, The Elevator is never regressive or raunchy. Each issue features an absolutely stunning model, but they keep it classy–more aesthetic palate cleanser than lusty centerfold. You (probably) won’t get anyone in trouble forwarding The Elevator during lunch break.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
7. The GIST
There’s a lot of hubbub surrounding The GIST. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the commotion already: It sounds like yet another glass ceiling being shattered–this one having loomed over the domain of sports coverage for actual centuries. Launched by three college friends from Canada in 2018, The GIST brings long-absent female voices to the fore, offering a refreshing deviation from the traditional male-gaze of sports talk.
The GIST leaves no stone unturned, covering everything from the gridiron to powdery slopes to fighting cages. Rather than assuming you’re already plugged into the aforementioned centuries of prior coverage and history, The GIST drops the pretense and presents all the context needed for a fun, meaningful read–no matter your background or experience. Sure, all the raw data is still there; but gone is the dry, exclusive format that has deterred generations of people not in “the know” by default.
How and when
- Free to join
- Three emails per week
8. Brain Pickings
Ostensibly, Maria Popova reviews books for a living. However, Brain Pickings swiftly reveals that it is, in fact, the human condition which is actually under review. But it’s not a bully pulpit of dry psycho-social analysis, smarmy cultural musings, or fiery political punditry; instead Popova curates a holistic, interdisciplinary cornucopia that encourages you to think–and feel–it all out for yourself.
This ethos is reflected in Popova’s preference to remain relatively anonymous, meaning Brain Pickings stands on its own absent any cult of personality. That isn’t to say there’s no personal touch–quite the opposite. Brain Pickings is a window into a curious mind, where empathy and reason intermix to derive meaning and satisfaction from everyday experiences. It’s a mind we all share, though–Popova just shows us how to nurture its potential.
Don’t get us wrong, there isn’t a drop of woo-woo to be found in her critical analyses; nor is it always feel-good in nature. Brain Pickings tackles tough subjects such as death and being, interpersonal as well as abstract relationships, epistemology, burnout, and so much more. Topics may be viewed through the lens of an astrophysicist reading poetry, the imperfect fractal architecture of snowflakes, or experiencing solitude within a crowded city. Many have book reviews attached to them, while others are more open-ended musings. In any case, Brain Pickings speaks unpretentiously to the rational mind and human spirit, stirring you towards a more thoughtful, intentional life.
How and when
- Free to join, donations encouraged but not required
- Two distinct newsletters per week on Sundays and Wednesdays
9. The Lefsetz Letter
Bob Lefsetz isn’t here to curate content for you; he’s here to share his outspoken opinions on, well, basically everything. Ostensibly, the Lefsetz Letter promises pointed critiques of the popular music industry, and it does certainly deliver this in spades.
The Lefsetz Letter is decidedly not light elevator reading. But, it’s guaranteed to give you perspectives you hadn’t considered before on a dizzying array of topics. Lefsetz is rightly called a guru of sorts, having worked in entertainment for the better part of 50 years. Having begun life as a print publication back in 1986, the Lefsetz Letter certainly has its street cred intact. Indeed, its conversational, direct-mail style can rant, but it never raves unhinged–remaining tethered down to earth by the gravitas of a consummate music industry insider.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails (often more), with occasional breaks on the weekends
10. The Hustle
Though it’s fair to classify The Hustle as a curatorial publication, its pages are littered with unique insights and hard-hitting journalism. Sure, you can read about the Perseverance landing elsewhere; but it’s The Hustle where you’ll learn about the immediate implications for business back on Earth in depth.
Historically covering what the best and brightest entrepreneurs and startups did right, The Hustle has become its own success story. HubSpot recently acquired the scrappy media company for an undisclosed amount–though, only after founder Sam Parr had turned down countless offers prior on the basis of maintaining integrity and trust with their readership.
Backed by the marketing giant, The Hustle’s core value proposition is going stronger than ever. You’ll get compelling profiles on key figures across a diversity of industries, highlighting how they started and, more importantly, how they scaled. Of course, VC and tech trends get plenty of air time, offering valuable context and actionable analysis for entrepreneurs, startups and growing companies. There’s even room carved out for the digital water cooler, with memes of the day, shower thoughts, and more to tickle your fancy.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
How and when
- Free to join, with a premium option for more content
- Weekly emails
11. The Moz Top 10
Each issue offers ten blurbs linking to articles jam-packed with actionable marketing insights. You’ll learn to optimize existing practices, take new ones on board, and get a heads up on any sweeping changes incoming which could make or break your SEO. There’s even a “Local 3-Pack” to help SMBs better serve and connect with local markets.
Moz, what have we done to deserve you?
How and when
- Free to join
- One email every two weeks
13. Jack’s Flight Club
How and when
- Free to join, with a premium option for more deals
- Usually sends out one or two emails a week
14. Atlas Obscura
While you can indeed expect Atlas Obscura to spotlight some choice locales and landmarks, you’re just as likely to dive headfirst into the esoteric. What can that conch you picked up on the beach teach you about the region? Are napkins facing an existential threat by paper towels?
Where can you find a solid repository of West Africa’s food heritage? These are just a few of the questions with answers sitting in your inbox.
If you’ve never read anything by Atlas Obscura, think of it as a more arcane NatGeo that speaks more directly to explorers, tourists, and jet-setters. Consider this gem of a headline: “To Help a Rare Brazilian Parrot, Start with a Crossbow and Rappelling Beekeepers”. Far from clickbait, Atlas Obscura always delivers that rare bit of trivia or glimpse into another world that makes it a worthwhile addition to your daily read.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily, weekly, and specialty newsletters available
15. The Climate Crisis (via The New Yorker)
McKibben is no armchair critic, either. His expertise, voice, and network have lent the international fossil fuel divestment movement (known as the Fossil Free campaign) sufficient momentum to claim over $15 TRILLION in divestment commitments. He is living proof that solutions are not only attainable, but entirely in our hands.
How and when
- Free to join
- Weekly emails each Thursday
16. Citizen’s Climate Lobby
A driving focus of CCL is the economic impact of climate change, with conservative estimates putting the cost somewhere around 10% of global GDP, starting now and unfolding over the next 50 years. You’ll become something of an expert on the carbon tax, and learn how you can join others in cultivating political will for a stable, healthy environment.
How and when
- Free to join, with options for a weekly newsletter and a daily digest
- Various
17. The Penny Hoarder
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
18. NPR’s Life Kit
Life Kit is geared for personal growth, but it’s more pragmatic and less rah-rah than more mindset-oriented publications. There’s a rotating cast of journalists conducting interviews with experts in a true diversity of fields, so you’ll never lack for variety. But true to form for NPR, the sheen of editorial quality on every piece of content that lands in your inbox is undeniable.
Topically and tonally, Life Kit is aimed primarily at millennials and zoomers. However, anyone in search of the tools necessary to craft a more fulfilling, kinder life will find plenty to hang onto.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails, with breaks on the weekend
19. theSkimm
While theSkimm has a definite target audience in mind–millennial women–its universal appeal has seen subscriptions skyrocket to well over 7 million since its 2012 launch. So what are they doing right? Well, an awful lot.
theSkimm offers a masterclass in conversational journalism, blending wit with fact absent the burden of pretense. The publication’s legion of adherents sings its praises for providing much-needed clarity in a maelstrom of sensationalism and disinformation, while maintaining a human touch and sense of humor. It’s a difficult act to balance, but theSkimm sticks the landing all across the impressive diversity of their coverage.
Read our full review of the Daily Skimm here.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails
20. Now I Know
A staff favorite, Now I Know fills you in on everything you never knew you needed to know. While the topics are usually rather esoteric, they’re never unconsidered; Dan Lewis makes a salient point to make the random relevant, elevating “mere” trivia to stand alongside breaking news in an effort to make you a more informed, better rounded individual.
Ever wonder why some coins have ridges, and others don’t? Discover the smelly history of that little hole in the top-left of the Farmer’s Almanac. And marvel at Vladimir Lenin’s corpse, which appears to get younger and younger as the years go by. It’s all par for the course with Now I Know.
Lewis also occasionally shares his own “now I know” moments, sourcing articles and testimonials that have helped him build a working understanding of current events. It’s this kind of stuff that reminds us that we can still consume content from humans, rather than algorithms. And as a further courtesy, each Friday edition of Now I Know recaps the week’s stories, in case you prefer to catch up over the weekend.
How and when
- Free to join
- Daily emails, with breaks on the weekend
21. Below the Fold
As of late February 2021, Below the Fold is celebrating their 100 th edition and an ever-expanding audience. We appreciate their minimalist use of ads, adorable ASCII art, local news spotlights–not to mention their seriously major-league staff talent and credentials bringing it all together.
How and when
- Free to join
- Two emails a week, on Mondays and Fridays
22. TheCoolist
We’re passionate lifestyle advocates with a broad taste for art, science, sports, gadgets, aesthetics, DIY, and social causes. Our focus is evergreen without neglecting the topical. You’ll never see something in your inbox which we wouldn’t tolerate in our own.
How and when
- Free to join
- Periodic emails
Share Your Own Recommendations
Reach out to us in a comment below–we’ll be happy to take your feedback on board for future articles and updates.
