| Sunday, 29 June 2025 |
A community-powered Sunday newsletter on mental models, self-reflection, learning, growth, photos, books, and more Subscribe here
Good morning [%first_name |Dear Reader%],
A week ago, last Saturday, I met so many readers of First Principles. This was at the Bangalore International Centre for our live event on fitness and health. Some offered their condolences (and tips) for my dead mango tree. Others enquired about Bribo, the happy-go-lucky street indie who’s the second dog in my life.
Bribo is one of the happiest and friendliest dogs I’ve known. He has befriended virtually every single dog, dog parent, and dog walker in the general vicinity. Which means while other dogs get taken for walks only once every day, Bribo walks himself with each human-dog pair multiple times a day. Here he is sniffing around with a dog, there he is getting a biscuit or two from a dog walker.
Coincidentally, it was also last Saturday when Harsh, another First Principles reader, recognised me and Gabru as we were coming back after our morning walk. It was genuinely refreshing to meet a reader who was also a fellow traveler on our morning-walk route. I ran into Harsh again a few days later, and we briefly exchanged tips on supplements that Dr. Philips (er, “The Liver Doc”?) had discussed during the event.
It feels like these Sundays and First Principles have firmly seeped over into my identity and life.
For today, here’s everything we have for you.
1. Omission biases and imagination deficits
2. Quotes worth reflecting over 💬
3. Interesting reads 🔖
4. What should we make the next FP playlist about? 🎶
5. Telling stories that matter 📚
6. Double takes 📸
1. Omission biases and imagination deficits
Last week, I met Manish Sabharwal, the co-founder of Teamlease, who’s now waging a multipronged battle against “regulatory cholesterol” that he believes is holding back India from its true potential. We were recording the latest episode of the First Principles podcast. It’s a must listen, if I may say so myself.
Manish made a lot of interesting and contrarian points during our 1.5-hour conversation.
I enjoy reading The Ken because it is informative, the articles are well researched, well written, without the spin and bias. I admire The Ken team for their dedication to getting closer to the true picture.
Hari Buggana
Chairman and MD, InvAscent
Transparent, Honest, Detailed. To me, The Ken has been this since the day I subscribed to them. The research that they put into each story and the way it is presented is thoroughly interesting. Personally, I’ve always had a great time interacting with the publication and reading the stories.
Harshil Mathur
CEO and Co-Founder, Razorpay
The Ken has proven naysayers wrong by successfully running a digital news publication on a pure-subscription business model in India. They have shown that discerning readers are willing to pay for well-researched, well-written, in-dept news articles.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Executive Chairperson, Biocon Limited
As a designer, it’s easy to get lost in the craft of building products. As a business owner however, keeping up with a rapidly changing landscape is key to saying relevant. The Ken doesn’t just help me stay on top of what’s happening in India(and beyond), but makes it fun to do so.
Rahul Gonsalves
Co-founder and CEO, Obvious Ventures