SALON 08: CHAOS

Navigating catastrophe (and seeking hope)

Artwork by Cai Guo-Qiang

The way I usually approach the writing process for these Salon newsletters (and indeed, the majority of my work) is like this: I consider the thoughts and conversations that are recurring frequently in my personal life and zoom out to consider how these play into global affairs. From there, I can usually see how even the most intimate dilemmas are reflective of universal shifts; these macro developments then go on to form the basis of my reading lists and Salon discussion groups. It’s an imperfect formula, but one that has led me in some worthwhile directions so far.