Good morning, friends!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an avid nonfiction reader. Aside from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and a handful of Nicholas Sparks and Colleen Hoover novels in my 20s, I’ve mostly stuck to memoirs and biographies.

My friend Leanna recently sent me an edition of Adam Grant’s newsletter in which he writes, “It turns out that if you want to gain insight into other people’s thoughts, feelings, and motives, reading fiction typically beats nonfiction. Fiction is also better for enhancing empathy than watching TV and movies. Across 70 experiments, novels did more to boost concern for and understanding of others.”

That feels like a good reason to finally dive into fiction. So I’d love to hear from you: What are your favorite novels (ie: the ones you’d recommend to someone just stepping into the world of fiction?) Reply to this email, and let me know.

Have a wonderful week!

— Polina

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PROFILES.

— The man who wants to know everything [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The mysterious billionaire behind the world’s most popular vapes
— The K-pop star going global
— The woman teaching Americans about the pleasures of Japanese food
— The med spas offering balding treatments

PEOPLE TO KNOW.

The man who wants to know everything: Tyler Cowen is Silicon Valley’s favorite economist — a polymathic force whose relentless curiosity has shaped the way tech elites think about growth, incentives, and the future. From Honduran libertarian enclaves to Michelin-starred restaurants, his intellectual appetite is boundless, consuming everything from AI ethics to Icelandic sagas. His blog, Marginal Revolution, is gospel for billionaires, his rapid-fire questions disarm even the sharpest minds, and his obsession with efficiency pushes human limits. But at the heart of his relentless knowledge-gathering lies a deeper question: What is all this knowing really for? (The Economist; alternate link)

The mysterious billionaire behind the world’s most popular vapes: In the early days of vaping, a niche online community swapped tips and defended their favorite suppliers—none more so than Heaven Gifts, run by the elusive Zhang Shengwei. Fast forward to today, and Zhang has built a multibillion-dollar empire, with brands like Elf Bar and Geekvape dominating global markets while skirting regulations and facing mounting legal battles. His empire thrives on disposable vapes, relentless rebranding, and a strategic disregard for rules, making him both a disruptor and a target for regulators. As governments crack down, Zhang’s next move could determine the future of the industry. (Bloomberg; alternate link)

“He does have the right vision. Whether his team is executing that vision perfectly is questionable.”

The K-pop star going global: Lalisa Manobal, known globally as Lisa, left Thailand at 14 to chase her dream in South Korea’s grueling K-pop training system — enduring years of uncertainty before skyrocketing to fame with Blackpink. Now, after nearly a decade in the spotlight, she’s striking out on her own, releasing her first solo album, Alter Ego, and making her acting debut in HBO’s The White Lotus. With 105 million Instagram followers, a high-fashion ambassador role, and a growing solo career, Lisa is proving she’s more than just a K-pop star — she’s a global icon redefining herself. But despite the fame, she remains fiercely private, choosing to keep parts of her life just for herself. (Wall Street Journal; alternate link)

“My dad always called me a superstar when I was small, even though I was just a normal kid. ‘Hello, my superstar!’ He always said that.”

The woman teaching Americans about the pleasures of Japanese food: When Saori Kawano arrived in New York in 1978, few Americans knew real Japanese cuisine — but she changed that. As the founder of Korin Inc., she introduced top chefs like Nobu and Morimoto to the precision of Japanese knives and the beauty of authentic tableware, shaping the rise of Japanese food in the U.S. From cold-calling Bloomingdale’s to supplying Michelin-starred restaurants, her journey is one of persistence, artistry, and quiet revolution. If you’ve ever marveled at a sushi chef’s blade or a perfectly plated omakase, you might just have her to thank. (The New York Times; alternate link)

“I’d ask myself, ‘Have I tried everything I can think of?’ and I hadn’t,” she said. “And I remembered that a ‘no’ won’t destroy me.”

COMPANIES TO WATCH.

The med spas offering balding treatments: The fight against hair loss is getting a venture-capital-backed makeover, with sleek new med spas like Great Many promising a modern, stigma-free approach to scalp care. Fueled by a booming $3 billion hair-growth industry, these startups offer trendy aesthetics, PRP injections, and oral minoxidil prescriptions — positioning themselves as the fast-casual equivalent of hair restoration. While dermatologists warn that not all treatments are scientifically sound, the allure of hope (and good branding) keeps clients coming back. For many, the question isn’t just whether these treatments work—it’s whether they can afford not to try. (New York Magazine; alternate link)

“There’s as much data to dispute that it works as there is data showing that it works.”

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MULTIMEDIA.

— Monica Nassif on building a wildly successful soap business
— Josh Waitzkin on the ‘cave process‘
— Warren Buffett on investing in the most valuable future
— Brian Grazer on the art of human connection

AUDIO TO HEAR.

Monica Nassif on building a wildly successful soap business: Mrs. Meyer’s is a hugely successful line of soaps and cleansers named for a real Mrs. Meyer: a no-nonsense Iowa homemaker who raised nine kids, including the brand’s founder. When Monica Nassif started Mrs. Meyer’s, she’d already launched an upscale cleaning brand, but it was too pricey for the mass market. Worried that another company might muscle into her lane, Monica decided to knock herself off: she launched Mrs. Meyer’s with an elegant design and exotic fragrances– but at a price point that allowed her to target Target. Monica’s mom Thelma became a beloved mascot for the brand, which was eventually acquired by S.C. Johnson.

Josh Waitzkin on the ‘cave process:’ Josh ****Waitzkin has a system he calls “the cave process,” which is essentially disappearing from the world for three or four months where you can tap into your subconscious. But obviously, for most of us, disappearing for a prolonged period of time isn’t feasible. So in this podcast, Waitzkin offers micro-ways of tapping into it. Rather than filling in the moment, he says, learn to sit in the emptiness. (Read Josh Waitzkin’s Profile Dossier here.)

VIDEOS TO SEE.

Warren Buffett on investing in the most valuable future: In this (free) HBO documentary, you really get a sense of what Warren Buffett is like as an investor, father, husband, and philanthropist. There are a few moments that really makes you see him in a different light.

Brian Grazer on the art of human connection: Increasingly, today’s interactions steer away from face-to-face exchanges, opting instead for a less intimate but more efficient text or email. Grazer’s second book, Face to Face, explores how forming mutually beneficial relationships through conversation has led to his best ideas and newfound knowledge in places as ordinary as an Uber ride. Ron Howard, his longtime business partner, moderates this discussion on how the pair found entry in a hard-to-crack field. (Read Brian Grazer’s Profile Dossier here.)

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