Sparks from Culture by David Roberts | Substack

Welcome to Sparks From Culture

Personal essays on life, literature, and privilege from the POV of generational wealth and living within the Manhattan bubble.

Aug 11, 2023 •

Gen Z Is Fine But Jonathan Haidt Is Not

The Republic of Letters recently ran two articles “debating” the following question: “Is Gen Z The Worst Gen Ever Or Just Tolerably Bad?”

Aug 9 •

Are We Socializing Less Or Socializing Differently

Early one morning this week, my daughter Lauren “FaceTimed” with me.

Aug 2 •

Primo Levi, Jeffrey Epstein, And “One-Eyed Men”

One-eyed men in this context are those who look the other way when a horrific crime is taking place.

Jul 26 •

Rescued By My Father When I Was Sixteen

A summer night in 1978 on the Jersey Shore. This vignette about my father as a quiet hero was top of mind because in the past few weeks my father turned…

Jul 19 •

Recent posts

This Is 63 : Against The Wind

This week I answered Sari Botton's excellent Oldster Magazine Questionnaire, available below. Like any superb exercise in self-discovery, her…

Jul 12 •

A New Grandchild Brings Out My Better Angels

Our third grandchild was born this week.

Jul 5 •

Sliding Doors And My Fear Of The Butterfly Effect

I like the 1998 movie “Sliding Doors;" within the confines of a romantic comedy, it does a good job of demonstrating how small events can have an…

Jun 28 •

I Was On An Irreverent Podcast Hosted By Two Funny And Smart Upper East Side Moms

Eva Heyman and Caroline Leventhal host a podcast called Mic’d and Medicated where they unabashedly and fearlessly talk and laugh about topics from body…

Jun 25 •

Recommendations

Peak Notions with Laura Kennedy

Peak Notions with Laura Kennedy

Laura Kennedy

Politics Off-Center

Politics Off-Center

Lawrence Goldstone

Good Humor

Good Humor by CK Steefel

Maiden Mother Matriarch

Maiden Mother Matriarch

Louise Perry

Just Saying

Lirpa Strike

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