Happy 1st Birthday, From the Ethics Desk!
Notes on year one of a newsletter on ethics, wisdom, and the common good
Reminder: I’m hosting a Book Club Chat on Ruha Benjamin’s Imagination starting this Friday at 12 noon EST. Join us in the chat on Friday to discuss themes, answer questions, and share ideas, or catch up on the discussion anytime. See you there!
From the Ethics Desk Turns One!
I hit “publish” on From the Ethics Desk one year ago this week - May 9, 2024. Since then we’ve added over 200 subscribers, logged over 7,000 views, and published over 30,000 words. That’s incredible!
Thanks to each and every one of you, dear readers, for taking the time to read my work and for contributing to such a generous and supportive community. From the Ethics Desk has been a blast, and I’m so glad to have you with me.
In honor of this newsletter’s first birthday, I’ve written a few superlatives!
Most Popular: “Letting Go” (July 24, 2024)
“Letting Go” describes one of my favorite lessons from the ethics classroom, where I dress head-to-toe in Lululemon and ask my students, “Will I get fired for wearing this?” I’ve heard from friends that the post popped up in discussion groups at the Kenan Institute for Ethics and Duke Divinity School. With clicks like that, it’s the runaway winner for most-popular post.
Most Surprising Response: “Problem-Solvers and Pleasure-Givers” (February 12, 2025)
I heard from several readers who enjoyed this post on the craft of nonfiction, in part because it was a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how I approach my writing. I didn’t expect folks to be interested in writing about writing, though perhaps I should have, and it’s something I plan to write more about soon.
Longest Post: “As Long as I’ve Known Anything (March 12 + 26, 2025)
“As Long as I’ve Known Anything,” an essay about the challenges of maintaining healthy boundaries in the throes of meaningful work, first appeared in the print edition of the Santa Clara Review. When you add Part 1 to Part 2, no other post even comes close to matching that word count.
Shortest Post: “Listen to Your Stubbornness” (January 8, 2025)
I’d summarize it here, but it’s only 610 words—just go read it!
Most Commented On: “Ten Years Later: Reflections on My First Book” (January 2022, 2025)
In reflections on ambition, mentorship, and learning to write in the field of Christian ethics, I observed that my defining intellectual feature turned out to be curiosity rather than commitment. This struck a chord, and my readers joined in to let me know.
Most Worth Another Look: “Searching for a Risk that Cannot Fail” (October 16, 2024)
If you’re a more recent subscriber, you might have missed my answers to two of the most commonly asked questions from my students. If you’re going back through the archives, I think this one’s worth another look. And if you’re not a subscriber yet (it’s free!), today’s a great day to become one!
Here’s to one full year of From the Ethics Desk.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Yay! I am glad to be on substack alongside you!