Sunday Reads...
- Greg McNeilly
- Jul 27, 2025
- 4 min read
An irregular roundup of thought-provoking reads. Most made me go “hmm…” — none should be mistaken for endorsement.
Quote of the Day:
"Character is simply habit long continued." - Plutarch
Research indicates that unilateral divorce laws drive down marriage rates.
Yet another study demonstrates that corporate subsidies fail to benefit taxpayers and are a waste of resources.
These boots were made for walking…how shoes signal social roles.
U.S. fertility rates continue to plummet.
Why philosophy needs the Bible.
The Unusual History of the Game Minecraft.
Manufacturing as a percent of each state’s GDP is mapped.
Federal judges caught in the act of ex parte.
Yikes. Former DOT chairman delayed air-traffic control upgrades on purpose.
A short recap of NPR’s tax-funded editorial choices.
100 years later, some reflections on the Scopes Trial.
TRUTH! How the “Heckler’s Veto” Is Hurting Higher Education.
Visualizing the growth of U.S. consumer debt.
Reflections on anchoring your life in Truth.
List of the most food self-sufficient nations.
Michigan native and data scientist Nate Silver unpacks his theory as to why conservatives are happier than liberals.
A gender gap in the remote work category – in unrelated news, a promotion gap ensues. A.k.a. natural consequences.
Visualizing the 30-year mortgage rate over time – a.k.a – not so shabby in the long view, today.
Learn (watch) about the evolution of the income tax.
Explore the declassified MLK assassination files here.
Charting by gender and age, how people allocate their time.
The enduring value of reading the ancients – today.
Fascinating opportunities for neurological enhancements for those with challenges.
Deep dive from 1963-present on U.S. tuition costs.
Tracking common books taught in U.S. schools – and how little the list has changed (which is good!). Good literature is timeless, like human nature.
Tracking vacation homes as a percent of housing in a state, here.
Charting the prevalence of U.S. labor strikes.
A long reflection (worth it) on the evolving nature of friendship – one of life’s many blessings!
The U.S. Post Office turned 250 this week. Here’s a puff-piece on its history. It's hard to imagine it will be needed 250 years from now. Taxpayers should likely be sunsetting this antiquated “service.”
The most popular book in each state.
Health wins! Coke is moving (slowly) towards real sugar.
Awesome! The creators of South Park are signed up for a new animal series.
Off-brand? A Tesla Dinner. Check it out.
Common sense: The Vast majority of Americans support banning phones in the classroom.
China is constructing the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Apparently, they permit things more quickly.
Optimists exhibit similar brain wave patterns, according to studies.
World’s wealthiest woman opens a medical school – awesome!
The many benefits of walking backwards! Watch here.
The surprising history of “Christmas in July.”
Time’s top “100 Podcasts” curated by their staff’s tastes.
Tree killer? Call it lightning.
Where’s the Dula? 41,000 momma turtles gather in one spot.
Evidence emerges of dinosaur herding.
Science-backed suggestions on how to “quit” your phone addiction.
The CIA field officer training unpacked. Moral indifference is institutionalized with your tax dollars!
5 options to replace your Mint budgeting app, noted here.
Random acts of humanity – the more you click on these types of stories, the more the “media” will share them. 😊
Newborn born after 21 weeks – life!
While nearly half of all American adults pay no federal income tax, this interactive article unpacks the one-third of filers who pay nothing.
Gen-Z is done with remote work!
Why the young(er) set is falling in love with a pre-Soviet iconoclast.
A long set of reflections with America’s last surviving WWII Japanese internment victim.
Travel:
AI:
Wondering why China is so motivated to win the “AI race?” Wonder no more.
AI is impacting web traffic – biggie time.
70% of teens are turning to AI for companionship. DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!
Did your lawyer get As in law school? AI did.
The social stigma of using AI at work is researched.
Political “science” research sees an 800% spike in the deployment of AI in its “research.”
A comedian and AI walk into a bar… Human humor versus algorithmic face off!
AI does not abide by its “policies” and provides self-harm instructions.
Counter-narrative:
Economic education actually exacerbates people’s polarization.
People support “civil rights,” but claiming everything as a civil right is backfiring among the left, right, and center.
Harsher justice – apparently comes from female judges.
Politicians who attack corporate speech do so at their own risk.
The more democratic the municipality is, the more NIMBY their housing policies become. Ye old tyranny of the majority!
The ongoing erosion of collaboration, teamwork, and mentoring is studied as the dark side to “remote work.”
Early start times for schools are associated with poorer nutrition.
A state’s increasing educational NEAP scores signal higher income-earnings for its children – sadly, for many Midwest states, the opposite also holds. Policy matters. Failing government schools create lifelong damage.
An avalanche of “tell-all” post-Biden Administration books are hitting the market.
An always-on-point TED talk about making better (and more) mistakes. Iterate and grow!
A 20-minute tutorial on human blood:
