My new book, Adrift: America in 100 Charts, is now out. It’s the story of America told through … charts. You can buy it here. The previous excerpt I shared was (cautiously) optimistic. In a world where bad news sells, it’s easy to feel nihilistic — apocalyptic, even — about…

We’ve moved from an oil economy to an attention economy. — For the better part of the past century, the most important commodity has been oil. Wars have been fought over it — Pearl Harbor was a preemptive strike to secure Japanese access to Indonesian oil — and it elevated desert tribes to the ranks of the wealthiest cohorts in history…

A more honest name for a holiday describing who/what we value would be “Capital” Day. — I’ve been thinking about labor and the holiday meant to celebrate our nation’s workers. My observation: “Labor” Day is a ruse, just as “hero” is a moniker typically attached to someone we’ve decided to underpay — teachers, front-line workers, etc. A more honest name for a holiday describing who/what we…

The closer you look … the more shades of gray appear — Last week President Biden issued an executive order to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt. It was met with mixed reviews. For some, it’s a miracle, others think it’s a “bailout for the wealthy.” Representative Lauren Boebert believes it’s “robbing hard-working Americans to pay for Karen’s daughter’s degree…

I’m a little fucked up (i.e., drunk). And drunk, I’m a better version of myself: more in touch with my emotions and unafraid to register those emotions. Forty years ago this week, at 17, I joined a fraternity at UCLA. Pledging ZBT was one of the best decisions I ever…

Despite greater productivity, working from home decreases the probability of getting a promotion by 12% — Work from home is polarizing. Last week I was on Smerconish, and after articulating the benefits of remote work for four minutes, I spent 30 seconds on the downsides: Offices are where young professionals establish relationships with mentors, colleagues, and mates. In sum: Put on a shirt and get into…

It’s become a foregone conclusion that we’re going into recession, which often means … we’re not. — “Sock!” wails my oldest son. We spring into action. Finding the door to my youngest son’s room open, we proceed inside to validate our fears. Our Great Dane, Leia, lies still on her dog bed, bigger than most queen mattresses, looking guilty. “Where is the other one, why did you…

Why Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical could finally bring speed and convenience to American healthcare — The U.S. healthcare industry is a wounded 7-ton seal, drifting aimlessly, bleeding into the sea. Predators are circling. The blood in the water is unearned margin: price increases, relative to inflation, without a concomitant improvement in quality. Amazon is the lurking megalodon, its 11-foot jaws and 7-inch teeth the largest…