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The Highlighter #196: A Natural Mother

Posted on by Mark Isero

We’ve made it to June, loyal readers, and that means plenty of extra time for summer reading! Hope you’ll find a few moments to enjoy this week’s articles. I especially recommend the first two. The lead piece focuses on an intellectually disabled woman who raises a doll instead of a child, and the second piece centers on an “involuntarily celibate” man who seeks self worth through extreme plastic surgery. I’d love to hear what you think. You can 💌 or 📣.

Tonight is HHH #10! I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at Room 389 in Oakland beginning at 5:30 pm. Meet other loyal readers, chat about the articles, win free prizes, and celebrate the start of summer. No ticket yet? You can get yours here.

A Natural Mother

When Vivia Wampler was 2 years old, she fell, hit her head on the stairs, and suffered permanent brain damage that left her intellectually disabled. Now an adult, Vivia wants to raise a child but thinks she should practice being a mom first. For the past several years, Vivia has taken care of Emma, a Reborn doll that looks, at first glance, like a real infant. The experience has brought Vivia many of the joys of motherhood — alongside the sneers of passersby, the leeriness of family, and the judgments of the author. (26 min)

For Incels, The Quest To Look Like Chad Means Getting Extreme Plastic Surgery

“I need women, lots of women, to make up for my miserable life,” says Truth4Lie, a depressed young man who identifies as involuntarily celibate. Many incels are seeking cosmetic surgery to become more attractive to women, whom they abhor and want to dominate. The goal: a jawline like Tom Cruise. Their hero: Dr. Barry Eppley, who doesn’t ask questions about his patients’ misogyny or white supremacist leanings. (Big thanks to loyal reader Nancy for recommending this outstanding article.) (30 min)

+ From Issue #56: Another great article about incels.

All-American Despair

Straight white middle-aged men kill themselves more often than any other group in America, especially in rural Western states like Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. The common narrative is that our post-industrial economy has led men to despair. But author Stephen Rodrick suggests more complex causes: the ubiquity of guns, the self-made man mindset, the isolation of depression, and the lack of mental health services. (42 min)

Before You Take That Summer Vacation

Last week, I urged you not to visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand this summer. This week, I’m suggesting you shun vacation altogether. After reading this piece, you’ll want to cancel your summer sojourn to the Seychelles. Author Bani Amor makes a compelling case that international travel, no matter how conscientious or well-intentioned, leads inexorably to capitalist exploitation. “Before we plan our next big vacation,” Mx. Amor writes, “perhaps we need to think about home and belonging more intentionally and invest in our local communities to recognize our important roles in them.” (15 min)

That’s the end. You’ve reached the end of this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Thank you for your loyal readership! Use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought.

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The Highlighter #195: Measles For The 1%

Posted on by Mark Isero

Hi there, loyal readers, and happy Thursday! Today’s issue opens with a romping, topsy-turvy lead article that combines measles, local government, rich parents, and Waldorf education. No matter where you stand on the measles debate, you’ll no doubt experience some strong feelings.

If you’d prefer to steer clear of contagious diseases, enjoy outstanding articles on felony disenfranchisement, the college dropout crisis, wildlife tourism, and goats. There’s something for everyone in this week’s newsletter! Please enjoy.

+ Next Thursday is HHH #10! Please join 32 (so far) loyal readers to celebrate the beginning of summer and to discuss your favorite articles. We’re meeting up at Room 389 in Oakland starting at 5:30 pm. Get your free ticket here. I look forward to seeing you!

Measles for the One Percent

Get ready for a wild ride. At the Green Meadow Waldorf School in Rockland County, New York, many rich white parents refused to vaccinate their children last year, wishing to “reduce the load” of foreign substances in their children’s bodies. One parent said, “I just go based on what I believe. We’re all seed of God. We’re all stardust. My instinct is a guiding force.” When the health department banned unvaccinated students from attending the school, parents became enraged and sued.

But this outstanding article by Lisa Miller is about much more than measles. For me, even more fascinating was learning about the intense core beliefs of Waldorf education. Focusing on an “unhurried” approach to childhood, students learn to paint, garden, cook, juggle, and bind books by hand. There’s no technology at all until middle school. One parent said, “My son can knit, he can sew, he can light fires, he can forage. If the zombie apocalypse were tomorrow, he will be fine, but the kid next door, who’s on his iPad all the time, he won’t.” Sounds wonderful right?

Sort of, until you read about Waldorf’s history and founder, Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian intellectual who saw visions, spoke with the dead, harbored racist views, and banned black crayons in the classroom (because black signals emptiness). Maybe Ms. Miller unfairly portrays Waldorf as a cult, but reading this article left me half-fascinated, half-spooked. (31 min)

A History of Felony Disenfranchisement

Common sense tells me that ex-felons who have done their time should be able to vote. But that’s not so in 11 states (including Florida until last year), where laws disenfranchise felons forever. This article charts the racist history of felony disenfranchisement and asks why our country casts out 6 million people, many of them Black men, from participating in civic life. The answer, of course, is obvious. (17 min)

+ Read more on disenfranchisement and voter suppression: in Wisconsin, in Texas, in Florida.

The College Dropout Crisis

Parents and educators out there, we know that getting our kids into college is only half the battle. Getting them through – well, that’s another thing entirely. About one in three students who enroll in college never earn a degree. In this piece, you’ll learn why some seemingly similar schools have better graduation rates than others. Also, enjoy further proof that Cal is superior to UCLA. (14 min)

The Dark Truth Behind Wildlife Tourism

Welcome to Thailand, World Traveler! Step right up and take a selfie with Meena the Elephant as she paints you a portrait of the savanna. You say you’re a social media influencer? OK, then, your photo is free. After you read this article, which focuses on the abuse of elephants, bears, dolphins, and tigers around the world, you may never visit a zoo or “animal sanctuary” ever again. (22 min)

For the Love of Goats

Loyal readers sometimes remind me that I tend to choose articles with heavy themes (see above). Hence this piece, which argues that goats are better pets than dogs or cats. For instance: “People who have spent a long time around goats know that they have an air of ancient knowledge about them.” They’re also good at clearing your yard. And sometimes, they yell like humans. (8 min)

+ Reader Annotations: Many of you, including loyal reader Luke, loved Jia Tolentino’s stunning piece on religion, drugs, and ecstasy. (If you missed it, you can press your luck to see if it’s chosen as one of the best articles of the year.)

Also popular was Sarah Fine’s article on her journey as a white educator. Sorry that some of you couldn’t view my (snarky) annotations. Loyal reader Victoria had this spot-on commentary:

I feel like that whole essay was asking for a cookie, like “look how tortured I have been as I vaguely thought about race in the US and yet continued to lead a life of tremendous privilege, even making more money off my privilege.” As my friend says often about white people emoting to prove their “down-ness” — no cookie! That is my response to her essay: NO COOKIE!

Thanks also to other readers who challenged my views on Ms. Fine’s essay, questioning my strong reaction and reminding me that maybe I was patting myself on the back as “a good white person.” (I stand by my views.)

Finally, a big thanks to loyal reader Vanessa, who read every article in last week’s issue (impressive work!), and to loyal reader Summer, who wrote this kind word about The Highlighter.

I subscribe because there’s a level of trust in the content you curate for the newsletter. There’s a lot of clickbait out there and articles unworthy of my brain cells, and I’m grateful for your thoughtfully curated essays.

Well shucks. And thank you all for sharing your thoughts! If you have a comment about an article or the newsletter in general, hit reply and tell me. I appreciate hearing from you.

How did that happen? You’ve reached the end of this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Thank you for reading it! Use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. If an article moved you, please type me a quick note or leave a short voice memo. Also, let’s welcome this week’s new subscriber Jess. Thank you for trying out the newsletter. Hope it’s a good match for you!

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. Word of mouth is much stronger and more fun than social media. Try one of these:

On the other hand, if articles about goats are too silly for your taste, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

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The Highlighter #194: College Admissions Anxiety

Posted on by Mark Isero

You’re in luck, loyal readers: You’ve opened a great issue of The Highlighter (if I do say so myself). I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. This week’s lead article focuses on the crazy college admissions process and the great lengths that parents go to in order to help their kids gain an upper hand. The other articles — on white fragility, the search for enlightenment via religion and drugs, and gentrification — are pretty solid, too. Please enjoy!

Highlighter Happy Hour #10 is coming soon! Get your free ticket now to secure your spot at this esteemed gathering. Join 50+ loyal readers on Thursday, June 6, beginning at 5:30 pm, over at our usual spot, Room 389 in Oakland. I’m looking forward to seeing you there to celebrate that summer’s almost here! Want more details?

One last thing: I want to thank all of you again for your support and readership. The last 3+ years, the goal of The Highlighter has been to share with you the best articles on race, education, and culture. But together, we’ve built something more than that — a reading community, an article club, where we talk about the articles, and we listen to each other, and we connect and expand our knowledge across difference. Thank you!

College Admissions Anxiety is Class Anxiety

We scoffed at Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin, and the other rich parents who committed crimes (bribery! mail fraud! racketeering! conspiracy!) to get their kids into college. But maybe Operation Varsity Blues is just a small part of the real problem: that the college admissions process is rotten at its core.

This article follows the increasingly popular (and entirely legal) trend of parents paying tens of thousands of dollars for private college consultants like Ivy Coach and Command Education. The logic goes, If attending an Ivy League school leads to millions of dollars in additional revenue over one’s lifetime, isn’t investing $40,000 now worth it? The answer is decidedly yes, particularly for rich parents interested in preserving their status. “You’ve got people trying to make sure their kids don’t fall down a class, basically,” one consultant said. “They want what we all want, which is for their kids to have it at least as good as they do.”

Author Owen Davis calls this phenomenon an example of class anxiety and wonders whether middle class parents will fall prey and join in on the act, thereby propping up false notions that elite college admissions is an example of meritocracy, rather than a total sham. (21 min)

+ Have you experienced the college admissions process of late (as a student, as a parent, as a teacher)? Did you find it fair? Tell your story!

I Was A White Teacher Who Couldn’t Talk About Race. (So I Wrote A Book.)

I’m sure Sarah Fine is a perfectly kind woman. Like many white educators, she means well. Here’s her story of struggling as a teacher, not knowing how to talk about race, and pivoting to academia, after four years in the classroom, to write a book about schools that work. She calls this a vulnerable piece about acknowledging her white fragility. The trouble is, Ms. Fine keeps herself at the center, makes sure you know she went to Harvard, twice, and name-drops famous professors — all without getting much better at talking about race in the first place. (25 min)

+ This one got me mad! Want to see inside my brain? Read the article with my annotations, and then email me or send me a voicemail with your thoughts.

Losing Religion and Finding Ecstasy

I’m not a huge fan of organized religion or drugs, but this outstanding memoir by Jia Tolentino combines both topics in a profound way. Ms. Tolentino writes about growing up at a Christian megachurch in Houston, then questioning religion as a teenager when she discovered lean, Ecstasy, and acid. It turns out that drugs offered a rapturous experience not unlike what her pastors promised. Be ready: This piece has some A-plus writing. Besides, Ms. Tolentino is pretty rad. (27 min)

+ If you’re new to Ms. Tolentino, here’s her take on affirmative action, vaping, and weighted blankets.

Spotlight: The Best Articles on Gentrification, Its Causes And Effects

Back in January, I launched Spotlights, collections of the very best articles featured in The Highlighter, organized by topic, all in one place, for your deep reading pleasure. This week’s Spotlight focuses on gentrification and its causes and effects. With urbanization continuing to accelerate, many people say the issue of gentrification is a complicated one. But if you’re white, and you make more money and have more wealth than your neighbors of color, then it seems like gentrification is pretty simple. (7 articles)

+ Reader Annotations: Loyal readers Abby and Victoria loved Al Letson’s interview with Nikole Hannah-Jones. Victoria wrote:

Super agree with that choice of the interview between Al Letson and Nikole Hannah-Jones. One of my favorite podcast episodes of the last few months, maybe longer. Love her!

After listening to the interview, loyal reader Dave took the plunge and read Ms. Hannah-Jones’s stunning article, “Choosing a School for My Daughter in a Segregated City.” He wrote:

This sentence landed like a ton of bricks. “Part of what makes those schools desirable to white parents, aside from the academics, is that they have some students of color, but not too many.”

Abby, Victoria, and Dave, I appreciate that you share my enthusiasm for NHJ. Maybe we should invite her to HHH #10? Also, thank you for writing me your thoughts. It makes me happy that you’re enjoying the newsletter and building The Highlighter community.

Oh no! You’ve reached the end. Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Hit reply or use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. If an article moved you, please type me a quick note or leave a short voicemail. Also, let’s welcome this week’s two new subscribers, Virginia and Eric. Thank you for trying out the newsletter. Hope it’s a good match for you!

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. Try one of these:

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On the other hand, if you don’t find value in The Highlighter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

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The Highlighter #193: Tech Is Downgrading Humans

Posted on by Mark Isero

Hope you’re enjoying your Thursday, loyal readers, and thank you for opening up this week’s edition of The Highlighter. Today I’ve included articles, interviews, and podcast episodes on digital minimalism, abortion, the science of intelligence, and the role of anger in our lives. Read one — or all four! — and tell me what you think. Or text a friend and say you want to chat.

+ Good news: The Highlighter is making its way into schools! Yesterday, students in loyal reader Maria’s classroom read and discussed “79,” one of my favorite articles from last year, and next week, students in loyal reader Marni’s classroom will read and discuss “Faith, Friendship, and Tragedy,” one of my favorite articles so far this year. Great work, Maria and Marni! If you’re a teacher interested in using The Highlighter in your classroom, let me know.

Technology Is Downgrading Humans

Enough is enough, you say. It’s time to practice digital minimalism, once and for all. That’s why you’ve quit Facebook and Twitter — but not Instagram. (The photos are so alluring!) You’ve taken the bold step to leave your phone outside your bedroom. (But you’re sleepwalking in the middle of the night to check it.) And you’re no longer opening your email after 8 pm (except to read The Highlighter, of course). If this is you, good job: Tristan Harris, creator of the Time Well Spent movement, who is on a mission to “reverse human downgrading,” is very proud of you. Not only will you have more time to spend with your friends and family, but you’ll also have the language to stop technology from destroying free will and wrecking democracy. (12 min)

An Interview With a Woman Who Recently Had an Abortion at 32 Weeks

Thirty-one weeks into her pregnancy, Elizabeth (not her real name) found out that the baby she was carrying would not survive birth. The following week, Elizabeth flew from New York to Colorado to receive a shot that would begin the abortion process. Soon afterward, back in New York, she completed the delivery. In this interview with Jia Tolentino, Elizabeth tells her story. (36 min)

The Mismeasure of Minds

Published 25 years ago, The Bell Curve is popular again (see Jordan Peterson). The book argues that intelligence is genetic and that white people, on average, are smarter than Black people. This article explains how white liberal educators in the 1990s unwittingly solidified this viewpoint by countering that poverty early in childhood accounts for intractable differences in IQ. Either way — whether nature or nurture — the underlying premise relies on a fixed mindset of the mental capacity of young people of color. In short: Maybe “science” isn’t always our friend. (26 min)

“Rage Is What Fuels Me. You Can’t Study Our History And Not Be Angry.” An Interview With Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones, who writes about school segregation for The New York Times, is my favorite education reporter. Especially if you’re a newer subscriber of this newsletter, I encourage you to get to know Ms. Hannah-Jones by listening to this intimate interview with Al Letson. She discusses her childhood, how she found her passion, and the role of anger in her work. (32 min)

+ If you haven’t read this piece by NHJ, please do.

+ Reader Annotations: Many readers responded with their thoughts about last week’s article on “masculine chaos.” Here’s what loyal reader Molly shared:

I’d never heard of Jordan Peterson before this. Great article. Loved this line: “This privilege of being taken seriously even when wrong is the meta-privilege of our time.” I love The Highlighter!

In addition, comments keep streaming in about “Faith, Friendship, and Tragedy,” my favorite article so far this year. Loyal reader Melissa had this to say:

What a haunting, tragic story. Two teenagers who live seemingly different lives, find friendship and connection, only to be destroyed by American-made violence. Such a heartbreaking story.

I couldn’t have said it any better, Melissa! Thank you and Molly for writing in your thoughts. To the rest of you, don’t be shy! I’d love to hear from you. All you need to do is hit reply.

Through no fault of your own, you’ve reached the end. Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Hit reply or use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. Also, let’s welcome this week’s new subscriber Debra. Thank you for trying out the newsletter. Hope it’s a good match!

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. Here’s how:

On the other hand, if you don’t find yourself opening this newsletter regularly, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

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The Highlighter #192: The Nature Cure

Posted on by Mark Isero

Hi there, and welcome to the second Thursday of May! My favorite month continues, which means this week’s lead article is filled with hope. Rather than prescribing drugs and assuming surgery, more and more doctors are urging their patients to spend time in nature in order to promote health and treat disease. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather run around the lake or take a stroll through the woods than worry whether I’ve organized my pillbox.

The other three articles are great reads, too, though perhaps scoring lower on the hopefulness scale. You’ll learn it’s pretty much impossible to open a restaurant, it’s pretty much impossible to live in the Bay Area, and it’s pretty much impossible to listen to Jordan Peterson. Please enjoy!

The Nature Cure

You’ve read all the dismal statistics. As a country, we’re not well. Whether it’s heart disease or obesity or high blood pressure or depression or anxiety or cancer or dementia, we’re ill. And we’re not feeling any better, no matter how many pills we take. But don’t worry, this article is a hopeful one. Many doctors are skipping the traditional approach and prescribing nature instead, and so far, the data is looking good. Preliminary research suggests that going outside — looking at trees, listening to birds, and smelling flowers — activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces stress, inflammation, and disease. This growing field of ecotherapy is especially popular among pediatricians, like Nooshin Razani, who directs the Center for Nature and Health in Oakland and founded SHINE, a program that connects low-income kids with redwood forests in the East Bay. (Extra points to subscribers who read this article in the woods.) (21 min)

Masculine Chaos

Some men don’t like the idea of toxic masculinity(#111, #157), arguing that political correctness and the “gay agenda” have emasculated “traditional men.” In this article, Omer Aziz tells his story of why and how he became infatuated with the teachings of psychology professor Jordan Peterson. In a time when many young men are feeling a void, Prof. Peterson offers a path (be tough, forge order out of chaos) and a scapegoat (women, feminism). (23 min)

The Price We Pay: How Rising Housing Costs Are Changing The Bay Area

Here’s another great report on housing prices and the general malaise of living in the ultra-expensive Bay Area. You’ll meet families from six zip codes who are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage payment. Plus, you’ll engage with a variety of interactive maps, line graphs, photos, and videos, realizing how quickly the region has become uninhabitable. One startling fact: In 2012, 70% of neighborhoods were affordable to families earning $100,000 a year. Now it’s 28%. (20 min)

Starting a Restaurant Was The Dumbest Thing I’ve Ever Done In My Entire Life

I like my job, but sometimes, I dream of opening up a pizza parlor or a bakery that makes scones or a store that sells oranges. Good thing I read this article before hatching my plans. Talented home chef Robert Maxwell provides a behind-the-scenes look at opening The Beech Tree, a restaurant in Toronto. Spoiler: It’s not pretty. (25 min)

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter! Hit reply or use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. Also, let’s welcome this week’s 2 new subscribers: Tara & Lacey. Thank you for trying out the newsletter. Hope it’s a good match!

If you like The Highlighter, please tell your friends. Our reading community grows by the power of your good word. Here’s how:

On the other hand, if this newsletter isn’t worth your time, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!