2026 started with a revival of 2016. As I scrolled through photos of heavy eyeliner and VSCO at its peak, I felt a revival of one of my first mediums: writing!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s ironic that I never really considered myself a writer until rather recently. (My first \u201cbig\u201d internship in college was a Copywriter and I was like, \u201cWell, I guess I\u2019m a writer.\u201d And I guess I\u2019ll be using proper capitalization now!) Anyway, all\u2019s that to say: writing is back. Literacy is back. Inspiring art and critical thinking are back. Not to say they were ever really gone<\/em>, but in 2026, they are BACK.<\/p>\n My intention for January was to hibernate and rest. That meant days with zero plans, perusing old hobbies, and finding clarity again. As a result, I did quite a bit of reading, watching, listening, and engaging in things, so here goes.<\/p>\n I love reading media that makes me question the future of the world! When writers write about the future of A.I. and literature, it\u2019s usually faced with denial, fear, and protest. There is an intense belief that there is no possibility people could prefer A.I.-generated art. (And same! I don\u2019t think I will ever prefer that either!) But this article tastefully shows a future that we may need to accept that possibility and how we can move forward from it. It made me think on the vitality of humanity.<\/p>\n the courage to create badly by ayushi thakkar<\/p>\n null<\/p>\n Read on Substack<\/a><\/div>\n As a perfectionist, it is very challenging for me to be mediocre. Let alone \u201cbad.\u201d It truly terrifies me and I become a rabid beast when I\u2019m confronted with my inability to be what I consider the bare minimum (i.e., decently spectacular). But this article inspired me to embrace my 2026 goal of being deeply bad at something and let that be wonderful.<\/p>\n You\u2019re shaped by what you pay attention to by Sherry Ning<\/p>\n What you look at is what you worship, what you worship is what you become.<\/p>\n Read on Substack<\/a><\/div>\n Sometimes I get so caught up in the rhythms of routine that I forget what I\u2019m doing. Like clockwork, I scroll through short form videos upon waking, pick up my emotional support phone on my commute, and eat whatever the algorithm feeds me. And sometimes it\u2019s wonderful but other times I need to remind myself to make active decisions on my own accord. This article is an reminder of that.<\/p>\n This is the January book of the month for Subtle Asian Book Club<\/a> (aka my book club that I co-host with Tiffany<\/a>) and I am so so glad we chose this to start the year. The 2025 National Book Award Winner sets the tone for the year! Set in Beirut, Lebanon, the story follows Raja\u2019s ups and downs of being a queer philosophy professor living with his mother. The main topics of the novel are heavy, but the narrator is full of wit and humor that makes the story feel light. If you want more thorough thoughts (spoiler-free and with spoilers), you can watch our podcast episode on it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\u2b50\ufe0f The New Yorker | What If Readers Like A.I.-Generated Fiction? by Vauhini Vara<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\u2b50\ufe0f The Courage to Create Badly by Milk & Cookies<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2b50\ufe0f You\u2019re shaped by what you pay attention to by Sherry Ning<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2b50\ufe0f The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\n\u2b50\ufe0f DO IT ANYWAY by Casey Neistat<\/a><\/h3>\n