Paul Wells | Substack

Recommended by Paul Wells

A war correspondent's open notebook, reporting live from Kyiv. Compelling human stories that illustrate what’s happening during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A superb reporter who has distinguished himself with his on-the-ground reporting from Ukraine. He was at NPR; now he's here. Very highly recommended.

- Paul Wells

In the Writing Burrow

By Margaret Atwood

Whatever comes into my addled, shrinking brain.

Margaret Atwood has a Substack. Surely this is all you need to know.

- Paul Wells

Airplane on the Highway

By Michael Barclay

Music for the curious, Canadian and otherwise. Toronto live music listings.

I want to say Michael Barclay is the best writer on rock 'n' roll in, mostly, Canada, but in fairness I don't know who else is writing well about Canadian rock these days. Anyway, he is. Writing well I mean.

- Paul Wells

Wesley Wark’s National Security and Intelligence Newsletter

Commentary on key events affecting Canadian and global security and intelligence

Easily the most consistently rewarding newsletter on Canadian national security, from a veteran historian who has advised Canadian prime ministers and writes well to boot.

- Paul Wells

Bug-eyed and Shameless

By Justin Ling

Dispatches from the fringes of the information war

Justin Ling is maybe the most productive freelance journalist in Canada. Podcasts, books (people need to be writing more books out here), radio, long-term residencies at big places. Now he's doing a Substack. Subscribing was automatic for me.

- Paul Wells

The Real Story

By Terry Glavin

All The News I Couldn't Fit In Print

Terry Glavin is a Canadian institution, fearless, often angry, sometimes hilarious. He covers the world's interactions with Canada, he's usually cussing someone out, and if you think you can win an argument with him, good luck to you.

- Paul Wells

Experimental History

By Adam Mastroianni

1) Find what's true and make it useful. 2) Publish every other Tuesday. 3) Photo cred: my dad.

Adam Mastroianni is a U.S. experimental psychologist who thinks widely about the world. Hard to explain but I suspect he'll be very widely read soon enough.

- Paul Wells

Seeing Things

By Liza Donnelly

New and unpublished drawings and thoughts for people who want to see more of life, from a New Yorker cartoonist. Drawings, cartoons, words, live drawing, process, more...

The Honest Broker

By Ted Gioia

A trustworthy guide to music, books, arts, media & culture by Ted Gioia

One of the leading writers on US culture, including jazz music but roving far afield.

- Paul Wells

The Line

By Line Editor

Commentary for Canadians.

Jen Gerson and Matt Gurney write and curate a smart centre-right opinion salon, with contributions from every corner of Canada policy nerdery. Guest writers are half the fun. Matt and Jen are the other half.

- Paul Wells

regs to riches

By vass

Regulatory hacking in Canada by Vass Bednar w/ friends.

Vass Bednar is so smart about policy issues, she's had a following in the Canadian nerd community for ages. Her thoughts on why governments and companies do what they do, and how they could do them better.

- Paul Wells

SHuSH, by Kenneth Whyte

By ken whyte

The world of non-fiction from Sutherland House (and beyond)

The owner of Sutherland House Books talks about Canadian publishing. Hands down the best newsletter about the book business I know. Would probably be true even if I knew about any other book newsletters.

- Paul Wells

Transitional Technology

By ETHAN IVERSON

Jazz Music; Classical Music; Do the Math

US jazz pianist Ethan Iverson is also one of the leading writers on jazz today. Also crime fiction and contemporary classical.

- Paul Wells