| Sunday, 11 May 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%],
As I finish writing this edition on a cloudy and overcast Saturday evening in Bengaluru, there is a much darker shadow over all of India. That of war. Let’s hope that by the time you’re reading this, those clouds have scattered a bit and are being blown away by forces and people much bigger than us. And I hope we manage to do that without further loss of lives or injuries.
Last Sunday, I dropped Bribo off at Cartman Hospital for his neutering operation that was scheduled for Monday. Through the week, I was feeling strangely sad at this. Logically, I knew it was best for him. But that he trusted me enough to take him and leave him in a strange place was the hard part. There was sadness in the choices I was making for him, and in the total trust he places in me despite that.
Here’s Bribo at the hospital, while we were waiting for our turn. Like the free-range soul he is, he insisted on sitting in the grassy patch in the courtyard, instead of the concrete area where most other dogs sat with their caretakers and families.
On Wednesday, I brought him back, one ear now notched, and released him into his familiar territory. He drooled and hung his head out of the window all through the car ride back.
We’re both at ease now.
Meanwhile, the water apple tree in our backyard went from profusely fruiting to profusely shedding all in the space of week. The pre-monsoon rain earlier this week played a huge role.
Here’s everything we have for you today:
1. (Unformed) Thoughts on AI
2. Something for everyone 📚
3. The Next 10 Years of Investing, Wealth, and Markets 🔊
4. Summer getaways 📸
1. (Unformed) Thoughts on AI
First Principles is a newsletter and collective endeavour against blind or meek conformity. We reflect, challenge, hypothesise, and even agonise each week over things most others may not care about, because those things matter to us.
Yes, we’re all interested in growth and success, but what binds us (hopefully) together in First Principles is the desire to achieve those things while preserving what makes us unique, original, and authentic.
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