A skeptical dive into the weird, sketchy, occasionally life-changing world
of self-improvement.

  • What You Can Learn From Elon Musk

    What You Can Learn From Elon Musk

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    “Elon Musk is kind of a hero of mine” I wrote those words, with my own brain, controlling my own fingers. And when I wrote them, they were true. In my defence: In days of yore, around a decade ago, it was hard to avoid the idea that Elon Musk was a kind of techno-savior. […]

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  • I quit

    I quit

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    Gidday Cynics, Quitting is not my strong suit. It’s hard to think of something I’m worse at: apart from simultaneously quitting smoking, coffee and religion1 nearly twenty years ago, I don’t like to give up on things.…

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  • I found the Überman

    I found the Überman

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    Gidday Cynics, Remember “life-hacks?” Today, life-hacking is a cutesy phrase that means anything from “make your bed after showering” to “rip the the transformer out of your microwave and use it to burn patterns in wood and/or…

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  • 40

    40

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    I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and thought it’d be a good opportunity to reflect, piecemeal, on where I find myself in life, the universe, and this whole self-improvement thing. Psuedo The pseudoephedrine has been…

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  • This one weird self-improvement trick works instantly

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    Gidday Cynics, I’m on holiday in Straya at the moment so you’re enjoying a shorter newsletter than normal. Subscribe You’re in luck, though, because this newsletter contains my number one life pro tip: one weird trick that…

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  • The portable ocean

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    Gidday Cynics, My routine has, as routinely happens, gone completely to shit. I mentioned that I’d got sick: barring a nagging cough, I am now pretty much better, so naturally my wife and son wanted a turn.…

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  • You, Me, and Ennui

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    Gidday Cynics, I was planning to write a follow-up to the previous piece on routines, but it turns out I have the gift of prophecy. Here’s what I said last week: The problem with a planned schedule…

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  • Wake up (wake up)

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    Every day, the first thing I do is wake up. In my experience, that’s the best way to start a successful day, and I haven’t missed one yet. It is, of course, 3 AM, the time all…

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  • We’re updating our pricing – here’s why

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    Gidday [CYNIC NAME HERE], We hope you’re enjoying all the cynicism and self-improvement the Cynic’s Guide to Self-Improvement has to offer. We’re updating our our prices to bring you more great entertainment. This update will allow us…

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  • The 7 most effective self-improvement subject lines

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    Gidday Cynics, You’ll be pleased to know I have been extremely productive in nearly every facet of my life except writing this newsletter. Subscribe As far as writing goes, I’ve been busy. On top of a fairly…

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  • Self-Improvement In Spite Of The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

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    Gidday Cynics, Important news: There is a new video game out called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it is the best video game I’ve played in years, possibly ever, and it is ruining my…

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