CYB #71 The new depths: How do you know when it is time to go?
Plus: Good books, generative AI, and things that help us hold on
At the Passover seder this week, the 88-year-old mother of a friend shared her father’s decision to leave Germany as the Nazis’ were coming into power. When the children weren’t allowed to attend school, that was it, she said. “He started making plans immediately, and he was lucky; the plans worked. He lost his executive position and went to work in a factory, but everyone survived.”
I have been thinking about this a lot this week, as the U.S. ramps up attacks on immigrants, cuts library and research funding, and clamps down on information access. It feels like the goal is to become the very antithesis of the poem The New Colossus, by Emma Lazarus, affixed to the Statue of Liberty in 1903:
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Drinking coffee, working, exercising, and caring for family and community feels surreal against the backdrop of what writers Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor describe as end times fascism, mixed with cruelty, greed, and hatred. And yet, here we are in the new depths, wondering where the bottom is—and if we’ll recognize it when we hit it.
Good reads
Amidst this, I’ve been holding on to what feeds the spirit—books and ideas. Here are some good ones:
Another Word for Love, by Carvell Wallace
My heart breaks with the joy of reading Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace. He is so deeply of my people, the internal world of queerness and pain transmuted into awe and joy, the knowing of how broken the world is, and how piercingly beautiful it can be. This memoir has so many important stories and moments, so many truths that speak to me. I want to buy a paper copy, mark it up, and keep it next to my bed to read before I go to sleep. It is that good.
Care and Feeding, A Memoir, by Laurie Woolever
A funny, sharp, and educational take on the food world from a writer who gives no fucks. I hope for more from her, this is such a rewarding read.
Cellar Rat, by Hannah Selinger
Can’t-put-it-down memoir from another no-nonsense food-world insider. Selinger’s got receipts and stories for days, with a biting, clear-eyed view of an industry that doesn’t always welcome maturity.
RESOURCES: AI
Amid it all, I’ve been holding on to curiosity. I’ve been reading through research papers on AI and writing summaries for nonprofit folks who want insights without jargon. Here are two you may find useful:
Demystifying AI: Understanding 'On the Biology of a Large Language Model', In a paper titled On the Biology of a Large Language Model, researchers from Anthropic explain how these models think. The findings are exciting and accessible, even if you don’t have a technical background. This post breaks down the research in plain English and highlights why it matters for nonprofit leaders exploring AI tools.
Strategic Intelligence: Assessing OpenAI’s Deep Research for Nonprofit Leaders, In February 2025, OpenAI released Deep Research, first to $200/month subscribers and then to $20/month users. This approach follows a growing trend among AI companies: focusing on specific practical applications rather than improving the underlying technology. After testing this tool, I’ve found it has significant implications for nonprofit leaders.
Good Things to Watch
HACKS: OMG, Hacks is back, and the first two episodes of Season 4 were so good.
Dying for Sex, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slater, Jay Duplass, Based on a successful podcast, this series is about a Brooklyn woman whose terminal cancer diagnosis becomes a catalyst for overdue reflection and bold sexual exploration. Michelle Williams is the heroine, Jenny Slater is the best friend, and Jay Duplass is the clueless, gaslighting husband. Two episodes in, and I am so hooked.
What is grabbing your attention these days? Please share, I need some too.
If you haven’t, read Timothy Snyder and Rebecca Solnit's powerful pieces on the state of the world.
Best, Susan
PS Join me at the Nnedi Okorafor Reading in Oakland, on April 29th–It’s a benefit for Chapter 510, a youth writing center.
On April 29, the incredible Nnedi Okorafor—a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning sci-fi author—is coming to Oakland for a benefit supporting Chapter 510’s free writing programs for youth. She’ll talk with local teen writer Aida Ndiaye, scientist/author Kemi Ashing-Giwa, and @sistahscifi about imagination, innovation, and creating the world as it could be.
Don’t miss this magical night of ideas and storytelling. At the @oakstop California Ballroom
🎟️ Grab tickets here!