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Alexey Guzey
3 must-reads
Welcome back to Web Worth Reading!
When we think about ‘writing on the internet’, we think of Alexey Guzey. He’s controversial and kinda ‘weird’, maybe some would even call him abrasive but he seems extremely smart and is a compelling writer and impressive curator of content. We’ve shared his essays more than anyone else, so it’s only fair to share it here!
BIO
Why Alexey Guzey?
We basically ‘default like’ anyone who writes on the internet. It’s also cool (even if it makes us feel old!) to read essays about ‘life advice’ - that sound convincing - from people that are probably (?) younger than us.
Anyway, Alexey Guzey is one of our all-time favourites. He writes on his blog and on Twitter - follow and you can sometimes get access and interact via shared google docs!
(fair warning 🙂 ) He’s in the world of/adjacent to SSC, Tyler Cowen/Emergent Ventures & EA (i.e. talented, often eccentric young people) - he runs New Science and does various other research projects.
Topics: Career/Life, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Science, Writing
3 ESSAYS TO GET YOU STARTED
1 - Every productivity thought I've ever had, as concisely as possible
Maybe the first essay of his we ever read. We like the unconventional style and the vulnerability. And there’s some good advice that isn’t meant to be a cure all like so much ‘self help’ stuff. (see quote below)
“When a rule / productivity system breaks and you start wasting your time, don’t take it too personally and try not to blame yourself. The only thing you can do now is write your observations down, think about how to improve them for the future, and then try to implement them.”
Honestly, we just love this one. Actionable advice (especially for anyone who does a fair amount of cold outreach).
If this doesn’t motivate you to at least consider starting to write online, what will?! (but you still have to actually get started!) This is a fun, supportive version of Alexey Guzey.
“But nobody will read my blog” It doesn’t matter! Your blog may have the median of 0 visitors per day (as my blog had for the first two years). Your blog may be ungoogleable. Your blog may have no subscribers. But if you’re not embarrassed to tell people “oh, btw I wrote about this / collected some things on the topic on my blog”, the purpose of the blog is fulfilled, since this is the best indicator of your writing actually being helpful.”
WHAT IS WORTH READING THIS WEEK?
Some of the favourite things we found on the internet this week:
Great piece by Tyler Denk, founder of Beehiiv, who shared his sharp critique of Substack's model.
Absolutely loved Bill Gates' book recommendations for this winter.
We can’t stop reading short stories on The Midnight Pub
SUGGESTION BOX
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Enjoy Alexey Guzey’s writing & see you next week! 🙂