'Humans need solitude': How being alone can make you happier

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Salutations, Olio aficionados! 👋

Midweek greetings to all, as we unveil the 163rd chapter of Weekly Olio—a delightful concoction of laughter, insight, and a sprinkle of mystery. Within these pages, you'll discover a handpicked selection of fascinating finds from the vast realms of the internet.

Keep your eyes peeled for this week’s Publisher’s Parmesan, arriving this Sunday!

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The Quote󠀢 💭

The Tweet 🐦

Mark Zuckerberg has been know to be good at communicating big moments. This thread, written by someone who ran communications at Facebook for 8+ years, breaks it down and gives founders their own framework for communicating big events.

The Infographic 💹

Decision fatigue is real!

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The Short Read 📝

Substack in Talks to Raise Financing as It Taps Into the Zeitgeist of Trump II - by Newcomer

Substack is raising money because more people are using its mobile app and there's a renewed interest in political newsletters, partly due to President Donald Trump. The company thinks its app is helping attract more paid subscribers to the 500,000 creators on its platform. Substack is also telling investors that it might start helping newsletter writers get sponsorships, which could bring in more money for both the company and the writers. Read more…

Substack is trying to raise between $50 million and $100 million from investors, which would increase its value beyond the $700 million it was worth in its last funding round. The exact new value will depend on what investors decide. Substack is telling investors that it currently makes about $45 million each year from recurring revenue. The total subscription revenue going to creators on Substack is about $450 million, according to sources.

The Long Read 📜

‘Humans need solitude’: How being alone can make you happier - by BBC

A growing cultural movement is reframing solitude as a source of happiness rather than something to avoid. This shift is exemplified by Wim Wenders' film "Perfect Days," which portrays a Tokyo toilet cleaner finding contentment in solitary activities like reading, contemplating, and tending plants. The film's meditative approach to solitude has resonated widely, reflecting broader cultural trends. Recent years have seen a surge in books celebrating solitude, including "Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone," "Solo: Building a Remarkable Life of Your Own," and Emma Gannon's novel "Table For One." These publications aim to destigmatize being alone and highlight its benefits, marking a significant departure from traditional narratives that equate happiness with romantic partnership.

The pandemic played a crucial role in this attitude shift. While initial focus centered on the "loneliness epidemic," experts now emphasize the important distinction between loneliness (a harmful, involuntary state) and solitude (actively chosen for positive reasons). Psychology professor Robert Coplan notes that concerns about loneliness unfairly tarnished solitude's reputation, but discourse is now "course-correcting." According to 2023 surveys, two out of five Gen Z-ers and millennials consider marriage outdated, with only just over half of UK Gen Z predicted to marry. The movement represents a rejection of traditional expectations, particularly for women who are "realizing they don't have to put up with things they might have been expected to in previous generations. Read the full article for more fascinating insights.

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Peeyush and Mohit

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual.