Nathanael Yellis

Acton taught me how to be an entrepreneur: in the classroom I learned to make the critical decisions required to lead my own company.

Rejecting conventional wisdom to leave vendors out could result in operational leverage and a competitive edge.

As I prepare for a short trip to DC this weekend, I culled a few essays on cities, how we govern them, what we find in them, and how we grow them. There’s something really cool about DC or Boston or New York. Just below the surface lie intractable challenges. From expensive housing to expensive infrastructure to expensive salads, cities are expensive. Many are left behind by soaring costs. In the articles below, you’ll see liberals, capitalists, environmentalists, and rich people all blamed for the problems of cities. Most of this is probably wrong, but some good ideas start out with a wrong idea. Enjoy the reading and enjoy your city!

Hi friends, to help make your life better, I’ve included nothing reflecting on the recent election in this email. Let’s give the hot takes another week before we decide which have aged well.

Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Lots of links this week, but they’re all pretty good. Enjoy!

The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart by Bill Bishop
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars