Society
Why joining a club is the best way to open doors and close deals
If cities and societies really run on whispers, subtleties and secrets – as opposed to regulations and timetables – then clubs are the epitome of a certain civic spirit. Once seen as fusty or…
Latest in Monocle Radio
Latest
Why are we asking AI all our silly questions when our partners have all the answers?
Last week, while catching up with a friend under the low lights of an east London restaurant, she suddenly announced that she had split up with her partner (writes Rory Jones). A four-year relationship,…
The UK’s under-16 social-media ban won’t make Big Tech safer
The UK has unveiled one of the world’s harshest social-media bans for young people. Will it actually work? Or will it simply hand more private data to tech giants?
There’s a place for your backpack on the train – it’s not your back
If Dante’s journey through the underworld had been conducted on the London Underground, he would have reserved a special circle in hell for people who wear backpacks on a crowded Tube. And yet if…
Has the need for productivity become a barrier to living well?
Time wasn’t always a precious resource to maximise use of – perhaps the ancient Romans had it right.
College commencement season is upon us – now is the time to tackle big ideas
At a time when dulled language and strategised communication make our polarised worlds impenetrable, the upcoming spate of college commencement addresses in the US offers an opportunity to redeem the national conversation.
Opinion
Unlike my handwriting, the Republican politicisation of penmanship does make sense
4 min read
Australia wants tech giants to fund journalism – but is it too little, too late?
The country’s efforts to rein in the tech giants and safeguard journalism for the sake of democracy is a noble endeavour – but the dice are stacked in the social-media giants’ favour.
To see the real Bangkok, head to Lumphini Park at 06.00
This century-old park is a microcosm of the Thai capital and ideal in the early hours – there are few better places to exercise, get breakfast or start your day
In the era of faceless phone snatchers, I miss the chutzpah of the old-school con man
These days, scams tend to come via our digital devices. But I like my swindles street side and in person
‘Kolay gelsin’ is Turkey’s great societal leveller. English-language cities should take note.
There's power in a good phrase, especially when it acts as a social leveller in our increasingly anonymised cities.
