An ode to craft

This is David, your decidedly human web crawler, and you're reading the Weekly Filet, the newsletter for curious minds who love when something makes them go «Huh, I never thought of it this way!». As every Friday, I have some recommendations for you, to make sense of what’s happening, and imagine what could be. It's great to have you.

Thanks to everyone who has already submitted their book recommendations for the Weekly Filet Book Club 2025. If you haven't, there's still time: What's a book you wished you discovered sooner?

1. Why is quality so rare?

A short essay, adapted from a longer talk that lingered in my memory ever since I saw it a few weeks ago. Karri Saarinen is the CEO of Linear, one of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley, famous for one thing: they made an extremely boring product extremely beloved. He speaks about how «technology makes it faster to build, but harder to care.» And how real quality can only be achieved by truly valuing craft, for its own sake. «This is what craft is about — the deliberate attention put into making something excellent, not because someone is checking, but because it matters to the maker.»

Why is quality so rare? - Linear Blog

Linear

2. Jacinda Ardern on kind leadership, public rage and life in Trump’s America

You read this interview with Jacinda Ardern, former prime minister of New Zealand, and you can't help but wonder. What would the world be like if a couple of world leaders were more like her, instead of, you know, soulless, power-hungry men?

‘Empathy is a kind of strength’: Jacinda Ardern on kind leadership, public rage and life in Trump’s America

Young, progressive and relatable, the former prime minister of New Zealand tried to do politics differently. But six years into power, she dramatically resigned. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian’s editor-in-chief, she explains why

The GuardianKatharine Viner

Her farewell speech is worth re-watching. Favourite quote: «You can be anxious, sensitive, kind and wear your heart on your sleeve. You can be … a nerd, a crier, a hugger – you can be all of these things, and not only can you be here – you can lead.»»

3. The Show Must Go On (Underground) in the Kharkiv Opera House

We've seen this week what Ukrainian resistance looks like, with spectacular drone attacks on Russian airfields. This article tells the story of a different kind of resistance, of resilience and the unwavering effort to keep going. The Kharkiv opera house was almost destroyed and an undetonated Russian rocket is still on its roof, and yet, the ensemble is playing again, and shows are sold out. What this story and the latest military success have in common, they send a clear message, to Ukrainians, to Russia, and the world: we will not be defeated.

Resistance in Ukraine: The Show Must Go On (Underground) in the Kharkiv Opera House

The opera house in Kharkiv was almost destroyed and an undetonated Russian rocket can still be found on its roof. But after a long interruption, the ensemble is once again staging productions - in the basement. Its shows are usually sold out.

DER SPIEGELFedir Petrov, Ann-Dorit Boy, DER SPIEGEL

4. No One Knows When They Don't Die

Very short, on point video on the tragedy of prevention. «There’s no party. There’s no parade. There’s just people who aren’t dead. [...] We need to get way better at accepting the miracle of things that didn’t happen because that’s where some of humanity’s greatest victories are hiding.»

Reminded me of this: This Video Might Save 58 Lives Next Week.

5. The Mother Who Never Stopped Believing Her Son Was Still There

A moving piece revolving around a complex question: How can we be sure that a human in «vegetative state» is no longer conscious? What if we just didn't have the means – or the awareness – to detect it?

The Mother Who Never Stopped Believing Her Son Was Still There

For decades, Eve Baer remained convinced that her son, unresponsive after a severe brain injury, was still conscious. Science eventually proved her right.

The AtlanticSarah Zhang

What else?

Instant-gratification links that make you go wow! or aha! the moment you click.

• Listening to on repeat this week: the new solo album by The National singer Matt Berninger.
• How to cook the correct amount of pasta.
• The recent history of AI in 32 otters.
• Always a bit surprised at how few people know these shortcut urls. So useful.
• This cartoon captures Elon Musk quite well.
• The 2025 Milky Way photographer of the year.
• Search Google, but without all the AI stuff.

Books for curious minds

Some new ones as I read them, some older ones that continue to inform how I look at the world and myself. More on my digital bookshelf.

The climate crisis, examined entirely through the prism of migration, still one of the most underreported consequences of climate change. Eye-opening. Buy it here.

A gem from the archive

Life After Language

Venkatesh Rao

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading. I wish you a nice weekend and hope to see you again next Friday!

— David