A couple of days ago, I sang Handel's Messiah with a local church choir. I'm not religious, but I am a former chorus nerd; it had become part of my past, and I missed it. So, for a few weeks I rehearsed with the choir, learned the part, and refamiliarized myself with what it means to sing with a group. The concert on Sunday was glorious: a room full of human beings singing, playing gorgeous instruments, responding to each other synchronously in a collective effort to bring to life something that was written almost 300 years ago. It was a thrill. Later, I realized I hadn't taken a single photo of my time with the choir, I had no recording of the event. And, although I was initially saddened by that, I realized that -- instead -- I actually had the music I had sung at the concert playing in my ears. A most beautiful kind of reminder.
Hey Jonah, thanks for this truly great piece. I’m the chair of the English Department at Fordham and a longtime BBSP subscriber (and have actually taught BBSP pieces to students for a few years now in a course on fashion and literature). We actually just revised our vision for our department to center “the arts of attention: reading, writing, conversation.” Would it be possible for me to share this piece with our English majors? Appreciate the consideration.
Hi Shonni, thanks so much for the kind note - of course, this is a public post free to be shared as much and in whatever way as anyone wants - big up to the arts of attention, will be honored if this makes it into your classroom
I think this might be your best essay yet. Motivated me to whittle down the screen time a little and finally make a concerted effort on the ever increasing to-read pile on my bookshelf! Anyone here had success doing this and have any strategies or tips to share (beyond reading for an hour first thing)? I already stopped taking my phone into my bedroom a few months ago.
I've had success bringing more analog reading into my life this fall by the old fashioned trick of bringing a book with me at all times. The book sits on the car seat next to me, in full view, or tucked heavily in my bag, hard to ignore. If I find myself with time to wait, I pick it up & choose that over my phone. It's been great, really. I've read some fantastic books lately that have opened up my world in new ways. And I also like how reading a book enables me to somehow feel more connected to my surrounding space, in a way that reading/looking at my phone does not. I'm not sure the mechanics of that, but I find that to be true.
Thank you for this! In August I started going on a walk to “the close park” with my 9 year old twins every morning before school, 0600-0630. This helps them burn off some energy and get mentally ready for school. One of them does wind sprints on the basketball court and one of them is feeding a feral cat. It is brutal in the moment (especially since it has been 43 for days) but we have seen opposums, raccoons, hawks, and even an owl once.
We end with sun salutations (or moon salutations since it is still quite dark) and head back for breakfast.
I bring the phone but only to check time and I did have to call 911 for a street fire once. Otherwise it stays in pocket.
wow, my predawn journey is only to the living room, stepping outside, running around, feeding feral cats, saluting the moon and reporting fires is advanced
This is one of the most thoughtful pieces of writing I’ve read on BBSP. I’ve been battling for my own attention somewhat unsuccessfully. The gurus say you need to swap the habit for something else. “For what?” I’d ask myself. It’s as if my Swiss cheesed brain had forgotten about deep, attention demanding reads. Thanks for the reminder. Maybe I’ll open up my own unread copy of Swann’s Way
The books I've been most attached to in the last few years were all written before the 20th century, and this essay helped me realize why: they don't even have telephones, so the characters' lives are almost painfully analog! This helps them notice things, to make minute observations, to dabble a lot more.
We can get into the inherent classism of most of these books, and that's fine. But it's a delight to luxuriate with people who had no choice but to live in the moment all the time
Reading Rachel Kushner's The Mars Room at the moment, and it made me realize that incarcerated people are still pretty much living the Life, Classic style. It's set in 2000, but could well be set in 1950 or 2050, giving that Dostoevskian vibe. Some could say best of both worlds, (also) from this perspective...
in Transcendence for Beginners, Claire Carlisle quotes Adam Gifford, a judge who left an endowment dedicated to the promotion, advancement, teaching, etc, of natural theology ('the knowledge of god'). He himself delivered a talk on attention:
'In a very important sense, attention is the only faculty which is directly, purely and entirely at our command and at our choice... Let attention only be yours, attention awakened by pure desires and stimulated by noble emotions... dwelling upon elevating objects and ideas, reiterated upon the good, and the beautiful and the true, till these alone are loved and honoured; let such attention be daily and hourly practised.'
wasting attention is annihilating, farming it seems like nihilism. hard not to feel pissed off but happily Gifford and you both point to the same truth, that even if it's subverted there are ways to restore it with grace
I haven’t been a paid-subscriber for more than a handful of months now, but followed along in passing for quite a while prior. I’m comfortable saying that this is the best piece of writing I’ve seen here. The irony of it arriving in my inbox during that precious morning hour you describe so beautifully is not lost on me, but so it goes. Thanks for this 🙏
Anyone looking to read some really good long sentences ought to consider Thomas Browne.
He wrote “some of the most brilliant and delirious prose in English” (per the back cover of my edition). A favorite writer of Sebald, Borges, Woolf, Coleridge, Melville.
His best work “Urn-Burial” is available online although obviously buy the paper book. There’s an NYRB classics edition I think, as well as his complete works from OUP.
Jonah- I suspect I’m not alone as a subscriber who’s here for your writing and ideas more than for the fashion content, and this piece exemplifies what I love about your work.
Books over scrolling. Films over streaming shows. Concerts over headphones. Spending on Knicks at MSG over the latest parlay. We live in New York. There's literally no excuse. Reading the comments here is so inspiring. People are so hungry for real things.
I like the idea that what you devote your attention to begins to inform your future intention. You are spot on that after a long read your vision of the real world has been altered from a deeply internal existence to being confronted with external realities, like the comedown from a trip. Many "analog" passtimes move at a fraction of the pace of scrolling, and to me help to reset. "Reset" is the only word I can use to describe self imposed phone breaks, because the power of the phone screen quickly scrambles my attention again.
20 years ago my schoolmates and I had the assignment to draw 100 perspective line drawings in one week. I could not help but mentally construct perspectives wherever I looked for some time after that. It was so novel and it was delightful. Like stepping off a trampoline, or finishing a good book.
Thank you Spyplane, for saving literacy! A thoroughly enjoyable essay.
Really appreciate this Jonah. I was an avid reader up until I had my first daughter 7 years ago and have maybe read at most one book a year since. The excuse of time is a real one with little ones at home but when it comes down to it, I tell myself I don’t have time to read but I always have time for endless scrolling. This pushed me to challenge myself to start reading at least an hour a week as a jumping off point, thank you for that.
Hard recommend for continuing with the rest of In Search Of Lost Time. There are definitely bits that take work but the cumulative effect by the end is properly mind blowing.
Oh yes, it definitely gets a bit fruity. But the thing that really set it apart is how good he is at describing what it’s like to think and to feel. It’s really worth your time and attention.
Enjoyed reading this piece. Something I meditate on is intention itself, and the feeling that leads to intentionality or impulse. Whenever I pull my phone out in impulse I will sometimes remark on what finally breaks the spell. A random YouTube short that's particularly bad, a shopping email, etc. I think about how I was led down a road of emotion I wasn't present for. It's helped me simply ask, "what is my intention?" with not only my phone (which is an unfortunate necessity) but all things - snacking, alcohol, texting, silence, etc.
Just to remain curious. No judgement. Just being present.
This essay totally rips and came to me while taking a break from working on a reading list for 2026, which is something I have not done in about a decade. Blackbird Spyplane book club? Giddy up.
A couple of days ago, I sang Handel's Messiah with a local church choir. I'm not religious, but I am a former chorus nerd; it had become part of my past, and I missed it. So, for a few weeks I rehearsed with the choir, learned the part, and refamiliarized myself with what it means to sing with a group. The concert on Sunday was glorious: a room full of human beings singing, playing gorgeous instruments, responding to each other synchronously in a collective effort to bring to life something that was written almost 300 years ago. It was a thrill. Later, I realized I hadn't taken a single photo of my time with the choir, I had no recording of the event. And, although I was initially saddened by that, I realized that -- instead -- I actually had the music I had sung at the concert playing in my ears. A most beautiful kind of reminder.
Here's to having more life on our hands.
we all need to sing in groups more !
Hey Jonah, thanks for this truly great piece. I’m the chair of the English Department at Fordham and a longtime BBSP subscriber (and have actually taught BBSP pieces to students for a few years now in a course on fashion and literature). We actually just revised our vision for our department to center “the arts of attention: reading, writing, conversation.” Would it be possible for me to share this piece with our English majors? Appreciate the consideration.
Hi Shonni, thanks so much for the kind note - of course, this is a public post free to be shared as much and in whatever way as anyone wants - big up to the arts of attention, will be honored if this makes it into your classroom
I think this might be your best essay yet. Motivated me to whittle down the screen time a little and finally make a concerted effort on the ever increasing to-read pile on my bookshelf! Anyone here had success doing this and have any strategies or tips to share (beyond reading for an hour first thing)? I already stopped taking my phone into my bedroom a few months ago.
phone charging outside the bedroom is huge
I've had success bringing more analog reading into my life this fall by the old fashioned trick of bringing a book with me at all times. The book sits on the car seat next to me, in full view, or tucked heavily in my bag, hard to ignore. If I find myself with time to wait, I pick it up & choose that over my phone. It's been great, really. I've read some fantastic books lately that have opened up my world in new ways. And I also like how reading a book enables me to somehow feel more connected to my surrounding space, in a way that reading/looking at my phone does not. I'm not sure the mechanics of that, but I find that to be true.
great, simple idea
Thank you for this! In August I started going on a walk to “the close park” with my 9 year old twins every morning before school, 0600-0630. This helps them burn off some energy and get mentally ready for school. One of them does wind sprints on the basketball court and one of them is feeding a feral cat. It is brutal in the moment (especially since it has been 43 for days) but we have seen opposums, raccoons, hawks, and even an owl once.
We end with sun salutations (or moon salutations since it is still quite dark) and head back for breakfast.
I bring the phone but only to check time and I did have to call 911 for a street fire once. Otherwise it stays in pocket.
wow, my predawn journey is only to the living room, stepping outside, running around, feeding feral cats, saluting the moon and reporting fires is advanced
This is one of the most thoughtful pieces of writing I’ve read on BBSP. I’ve been battling for my own attention somewhat unsuccessfully. The gurus say you need to swap the habit for something else. “For what?” I’d ask myself. It’s as if my Swiss cheesed brain had forgotten about deep, attention demanding reads. Thanks for the reminder. Maybe I’ll open up my own unread copy of Swann’s Way
see if the first ~10 pages don’t lure you in
The books I've been most attached to in the last few years were all written before the 20th century, and this essay helped me realize why: they don't even have telephones, so the characters' lives are almost painfully analog! This helps them notice things, to make minute observations, to dabble a lot more.
We can get into the inherent classism of most of these books, and that's fine. But it's a delight to luxuriate with people who had no choice but to live in the moment all the time
they were writing these books for people to read in houses on moors without electricity, they had to bring their A game ; )
Reading Rachel Kushner's The Mars Room at the moment, and it made me realize that incarcerated people are still pretty much living the Life, Classic style. It's set in 2000, but could well be set in 1950 or 2050, giving that Dostoevskian vibe. Some could say best of both worlds, (also) from this perspective...
in Transcendence for Beginners, Claire Carlisle quotes Adam Gifford, a judge who left an endowment dedicated to the promotion, advancement, teaching, etc, of natural theology ('the knowledge of god'). He himself delivered a talk on attention:
'In a very important sense, attention is the only faculty which is directly, purely and entirely at our command and at our choice... Let attention only be yours, attention awakened by pure desires and stimulated by noble emotions... dwelling upon elevating objects and ideas, reiterated upon the good, and the beautiful and the true, till these alone are loved and honoured; let such attention be daily and hourly practised.'
wasting attention is annihilating, farming it seems like nihilism. hard not to feel pissed off but happily Gifford and you both point to the same truth, that even if it's subverted there are ways to restore it with grace
amen
I haven’t been a paid-subscriber for more than a handful of months now, but followed along in passing for quite a while prior. I’m comfortable saying that this is the best piece of writing I’ve seen here. The irony of it arriving in my inbox during that precious morning hour you describe so beautifully is not lost on me, but so it goes. Thanks for this 🙏
Anyone looking to read some really good long sentences ought to consider Thomas Browne.
He wrote “some of the most brilliant and delirious prose in English” (per the back cover of my edition). A favorite writer of Sebald, Borges, Woolf, Coleridge, Melville.
His best work “Urn-Burial” is available online although obviously buy the paper book. There’s an NYRB classics edition I think, as well as his complete works from OUP.
https://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/browne/hydriotaphia.html
Jonah- I suspect I’m not alone as a subscriber who’s here for your writing and ideas more than for the fashion content, and this piece exemplifies what I love about your work.
Books over scrolling. Films over streaming shows. Concerts over headphones. Spending on Knicks at MSG over the latest parlay. We live in New York. There's literally no excuse. Reading the comments here is so inspiring. People are so hungry for real things.
I like the idea that what you devote your attention to begins to inform your future intention. You are spot on that after a long read your vision of the real world has been altered from a deeply internal existence to being confronted with external realities, like the comedown from a trip. Many "analog" passtimes move at a fraction of the pace of scrolling, and to me help to reset. "Reset" is the only word I can use to describe self imposed phone breaks, because the power of the phone screen quickly scrambles my attention again.
20 years ago my schoolmates and I had the assignment to draw 100 perspective line drawings in one week. I could not help but mentally construct perspectives wherever I looked for some time after that. It was so novel and it was delightful. Like stepping off a trampoline, or finishing a good book.
Thank you Spyplane, for saving literacy! A thoroughly enjoyable essay.
Really appreciate this Jonah. I was an avid reader up until I had my first daughter 7 years ago and have maybe read at most one book a year since. The excuse of time is a real one with little ones at home but when it comes down to it, I tell myself I don’t have time to read but I always have time for endless scrolling. This pushed me to challenge myself to start reading at least an hour a week as a jumping off point, thank you for that.
💪🏻
Hard recommend for continuing with the rest of In Search Of Lost Time. There are definitely bits that take work but the cumulative effect by the end is properly mind blowing.
Strong second. The transcendent feeling grows stronger and stronger as you go. Proust holds up a mirror of your life
I've heard the parts around 3–4 get pretty hc with the courtly gossip :D Deffo on the to-do list though
Oh yes, it definitely gets a bit fruity. But the thing that really set it apart is how good he is at describing what it’s like to think and to feel. It’s really worth your time and attention.
Enjoyed reading this piece. Something I meditate on is intention itself, and the feeling that leads to intentionality or impulse. Whenever I pull my phone out in impulse I will sometimes remark on what finally breaks the spell. A random YouTube short that's particularly bad, a shopping email, etc. I think about how I was led down a road of emotion I wasn't present for. It's helped me simply ask, "what is my intention?" with not only my phone (which is an unfortunate necessity) but all things - snacking, alcohol, texting, silence, etc.
Just to remain curious. No judgement. Just being present.
This essay totally rips and came to me while taking a break from working on a reading list for 2026, which is something I have not done in about a decade. Blackbird Spyplane book club? Giddy up.