Good morning, and Happy Festivus! Before we get the pole out of the crawl space, we are kicking off our annual series of special end-of-year newsletters to give 2024 the type of send-off that The Rolling Stones will never accept.
We begin today, according to custom, with the List of Lists. Since we read so many news articles and roundups like it’s our job (it is our job), we figured we’d save you hours of sifting and curate the most valuable lists from many categories.
Tomorrow and Wednesday, we will be absent from your inbox. But from Dec. 26 through Dec. 30, you’ll be treated to a variety of special editions, including a Good News of the Year recap and our annual Golden Mug Awards.
Hope you enjoy. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah, and we’ll see you back here on Thursday.
—Sam Klebanov, Dave Lozo, Cassandra Cassidy, Molly Liebergall, Matty Merritt, Holly Van Leuven, Adam Epstein, Abby Rubenstein, Neal Freyman
While AI continues to be the main character in the innovation conversation (and a magnet for VC cash), the honeymoon of everyone asking ChatGPT to write clever poems is over. Though AI bots linked up with many legacy tools this year, from Google Search to Slack, there were fewer mind-blowing product reveals in 2024, with some companies saying the pace at which AI gains sophistication might be slowing down.
But progress never sleeps, and plenty of funky gadgets, novel medical treatments, and concepts devised by people with PhDs in abstract subjects burst onto the scene this year.
Inventions and innovations
Whether it’s a computer you wear on your face or a more sustainable material for clothes, these products are expanding humanity’s toolkit:
Here are achievements that mathematicians and physicists are patting themselves on the back for.
Companies pushing the envelope
It’s not just the OpenAIs, SpaceXs, and Waymos of the world pushing the envelope with new ideas—but also upstarts that are staying out of the spotlight and some legacy industry giants.
The North Pole may be off the market, but that’s not stopping people from buying vacation properties in prime global destinations—thanks to Pacaso.
By introducing co-ownership, Pacaso’s streamlined digital marketplace unlocks the full potential of the $1.3t vacation-home market, maximizing the use and value of luxury properties worldwide.
It’s already worked to the tune of 1,500+ happy homeowners spread across homes in 40+ destinations. Even better, Pacaso has earned over $100m in gross profits. No wonder top investors like Howard Schultz and SoftBank have backed them.
From Paris to Cabo—and every magical getaway in between—Pacaso is scaling their revolutionary co-ownership model across the globe.
Adam Driver in ‘Megalopolis.’ YouTube/Francis Ford Coppola
This year may be more memorable for what failed than what succeeded: It brought us Joker: Folie à Deux and Argylle, after all. But, aside from blockbuster mockery, we were blessed with essential reads, summer bops, and no shortage of cultural touchstones that will stimulate heated discussion over the holidays. Indulge yourself.
Music
The pop girl trio of Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Chappell Roan monopolized most music discussion this year, but don’t forget about new stars like Clairo, MJ Lenderman, and Kali Uchis who had a banner 2024.
Hollywood hoped Glicked might save the box office, but it was a slate of masterful indie films that stole people’s hearts this year, such as Janet Planet and All We Imagine As Light.
Yes, Call Her Daddy and TheJoe Rogan Experience took top spots on Spotify and Apple Podcasts this year. But elsewhere, Ripple and Noble struck a chord with their listeners.
People left X for BlueSky (which is not pronounced Blueskee, sadly) and rocketed the alternative to Elon Musk’s platform to the top of the Apple App Store in November. Social media CEOs testified before Congress in January over concerns that their platforms were hurting children. As for the TikTok ban…check back with us in 2025.
But here are the highlights from stuff posted on social media in 2024 that those who aren’t terminally online may have missed.
Go down Meme-ory Lane
From the Dune popcorn bucket to Hawk Tuah to the Paris Olympics pistol shooters, it was a heck of a year for memes. There’s some overlap on these lists, but there’s nothing wrong with seeing multiple Raygun jokes:
Jools LeBron had everyone saying “very demure, very mindful.”
Logan Moffit sparked a trend so popular that it created a cucumber shortage.
The year of The Rizzler
No online phenomenon was harder to explain to your offline friends than The Rizzler. He hangs out with the Costco Guys. He rubs his chin. He raps. There’s tension between him and Jimmy Fallon. Oh, and he’s eight years old.
Here’s just a small sample of the joy he brought to the internet:
And because sometimes the worst is the best, consider voting in Jeremiah Johnson’s Worst Tweets of 2024 Bracket.—DL
Together With Pacaso
The newest trend in real estate. No, not DIY renovations. Co-ownership is revolutionizing real estate, turning underused vacation homes into shared, fully managed assets. Pacaso leads the charge, facilitating $1b+ in transactions across 40+ destinations. That’s earned them $100m+ in gross profits and backing from top investors like SoftBank. Now Pacaso’s inviting individual investors to join for just $2.70/share. Become a Pacaso shareholder today.
By now, you’ve seen a lot of recs, but this next batch is extra special. We asked the members of the Brew newsletter team what they enjoyed this year. Here’s what everybody said.
Music
“I went to a Quebecois wedding near Montreal and they played retro European hits. I’ve been jamming to the disco ‘Spacer’ by Sheila and the like.”—NF
“When times are tough, take solace in knowing that Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, and Celisse joined Mumford & Sons at New Orleans Jazz Fest to perform this transcendent rendition of ‘House of the Rising Sun.’”—AE
Film and television
“Janet Planet. Here’s the thing about this movie: When I first saw it, I thought to myself, ‘Eh, that was fine.’ But two weeks later, I couldn’t stop raving about it. Now, I consider it one of my favorite movies of all time.”—CC
“Senna, the new Netflix miniseries about Ayrton Senna. If you’re not an F1 fan, the show provides helpful context with on-screen IDs (which may annoy diehards), but even with lots of very good effects and details, it’s Gabriel Leone’s portrayal that will probably stay with you.”—HVL
“Because I’m a normal person who doesn’t have a Peacock subscription, I discovered the goofy pleasures of Girls5Eva through its third season, released on Netflix this year. The unforgettable jam that is ‘New York Lonely Boy’ alone makes the series worth watching.”—AR
“The undeservedly overlooked British series Peep Show for anyone who thinks there’s nothing more hilarious than mediocre characters marinating in their own misery.”—SK
Books
“The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman is a sideways take on Arthurian legend from the point of view of a character who probably isn’t even supposed to be there.”—AR
“The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt.”—NF
“A Canticle for Leibowitz was published in 1959, but I just got around to reading this mythic and surprisingly funny post-apocalyptic tale about monks in the middle of the desert trying to preserve the last vestiges of scientific knowledge.”—AE
“This Strange Eventful History. I finished this book on the subway and I was so shook that I missed all of the stops and ended up an hour in the wrong direction. I’ve thought about it every day since.”—CC
“Orhan Pamuk’s poignant ode to his hometown, Istanbul: Memories of a City,was an excellent travel companion on my trip to the ancient metropolis.”—SK
Short-form media
“I have no interest in climbing mountains nor am I a dad. But Rusty Foster’s Today on Trail newsletter chronicling his hiking trip with his son is so beautiful. My favorite was this essay from June about suffering, which I know sounds dramatic but it’s a sweet, funny little essay that will probably make you tear up.”—MM
“An iconic and hilarious music video for Dehd’s song ‘Mood Ring’ full of Chicago legends.”—MM
“This article from the Washington Post about an alleged cocaine trafficker who used his ill-gotten wealth to fulfill his dream of being a (mediocre) professional soccer player deserves to fuel your next true crime obsession.”—AR
“The Michael Singer Podcast, which is more a series of informal talks than a traditional podcast. Singer is a self-described ‘old hippie’ and also the founder of a multibillion-dollar medical software company. Somewhere in between the two, he seems to have found a lot of good ideas about being human.”—HVL
“Marty Miller and Missy McIntosh’s post-shift TikToks. Completely making me feel happy and laughter for all of the time.”—ML
“The Cut article about the financial-advice columnist who fell for a $50,000 scam, and specifically this comment from ‘mr__piss.’”—ML
Nothing here inspiring you? Consider trying what Dave Lozo enjoyed this year: “Eating healthier and lying to people about my diet.”
RECS
This week, we’re bringing you the most-clicked links from the Recs section across the entire year.
Slow fashion down: Moral Code is consciously crafted and ethically produced for the long run. Get 40% off sitewide this holiday season.*
Target the gumline: If your New Year’s resolution is brushing your teeth better, here’s how.
Go “ahhhh”: Ascend to the snowy peak of Mount Everest via breathtaking drone footage.
Refresh your memory: The season when Gen Alpha hangs with the Silent Generation is a good time to learn the age ranges for generational labels.
Time to cancel yourauto insurance?: Is overpriced car insurance costing you hundreds each year? FinanceBuzz has a free tool to help you find out. See how much you could save.*
Identity theft: It can happen to anyone (just ask our colleague, Emily, seen here). Learn what you can do to protect yourself in our latest video.*
Slow fashion down: 
