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The greatest living American non-fiction writer, Dapper's anniversary, and the Danish philosophical sci-fi novel written in diary form.

First and foremost, the best thing any of us will read this week is John McPhee’s annual-ish collection of reminiscences published yesterday in The New Yorker: Tabula Rasa Vol. 5. McPhee, long obsessed with the structure of non-fiction, has written one of these vignettes backward.

Dapper’s Willow Anniversary

Dapper Notes celebrates its ninth year in business this week. How’s that for a news peg? In 2023, we spoke with Enon Avital about the notebook business.

Ted often uses Dapper Notes as a daily notebook: “The fabric covers wear and age in interesting ways, fraying and softening. Perfect for living in a pocket.”

I use mine as a dream journal.

On the Calculation of Volume

I have been reading the first two books in the Danish (philosophical science fiction) series On the Calculation of Volume and can’t stop talking about them. In the series, Tara Selter, an antique bookseller, finds herself reliving the same November 18 and then tries to understand and adapt. The books lean more philosophical than sci-fi.

If the book’s a page-turner (and I thought it was), it’s because there’s a sense that anything could happen in the plot even though the same day repeats itself. Tara is trying to discover how to live a life unlike any other, even though it appears to be the same thing over and over. Small changes feel momentous.

The book takes the form of Tara’s diary — a clever choice for a book on which every day has the same date — represented by a number instead of a calendar date.

Much of book two revolves around a Seasons notebook. While this notebook style best suits those stuck in the same day repeating itself, there is some inspiration for us normies. To create a seasons notebook, you would put aside the question of When is fall? and ask yourself Where is winter? What makes spring feel like spring? And how do I create summer for myself?

Or don’t do any of that and just read the novels.

Let me tell you — writing this newsletter after reading McPhee isn’t easy. -Adam

Episode 217 is Live

The first podcast episode of 2025 brings you what you’ve come to expect from us: some “whaddya gots” that expose the silliness and tenderness of daily life in our current epoch, some book-talk, and discussion of the uses of paper products of various stripes. And lines. And lined stripes and striped lines. Thanks for listening and supporting!