My Favorite Newsletters of 2021
Overwhelmed by the firehose of info on social media, many of us have been turning to email newsletters for ideas, news, and inspiration delivered neatly packaged to our inboxes. Like a friend that has the latest music pics, your cousin who knows what stocks to buy, or that guy at work who has the best fantasy football tips, we look to people we know and trust to curate ideas on topics we care about.
My daughter says that ‘everyone and their mother has one,’ and she may be right — even I have one. So here’s a list of some of my favorites that inspire me with creativity, news, and perspectives that jog my thinking and my heart. If you feel so inspired, many offer paid subscriptions that unlock additional features and support their work.
Brain Pickings
Maria Popova’s blog about literature, philosophy and culture never ceases to inspire me and give me insights into the work by some of our biggest thinkers.
Ann Friedman Weekly
Intelligent musings about culture and current events, this newsletter includes a no-frills list of articles around a theme. There are so many links in each issue that I find myself diving deep into this list for days afterwards. Don’t miss out on one of my favorite features: the weekly pie chart.
Muse by Clio
Published by the organization that oversees the Clio awards for advertising, the Muse newsletter is packed full of articles and videos related to design, creativity, innovation and business planning. It’s a great place to find inspiration for anyone in leadership or design.
The Atlantic
While I subscribe to the print magazine, I also read one of their many weekly newsletters, a curated set of articles around a theme for the week. It reminds me of what’s been sitting on my nightstand when I have the energy to do the reading (i.e. during work).
Austin Kleon
The Austin, Texas-based artist and author of Steal Like An Artist shares ideas, readings and resources about creativity. If you’re not inspired by his own projects, you’ll find plenty of ideas in the resources and work by other artists that he shares every week.
