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Curated Newsletter Recommendations: What Tech Enthusiasts Are Actually Reading

View original discussion on Hacker News

In a recent Hacker News discussion, users shared insights into the newsletters they genuinely look forward to and read. The conversation revealed a diverse range of interests, extending beyond pure technology to finance, specific hobbies, and market trends.

Key Newsletter Recommendations and Themes

Several newsletters were repeatedly mentioned or came with specific endorsements:

  • Tech & Programming:

    • Pragmatic Engineer (free version): A popular choice, though one user mentioned they rarely read the full text and might unsubscribe, highlighting a common challenge of newsletter fatigue or information overload.
    • Python Weekly, Programmer Weekly, Next.js Weekly, Awesome Node.js: These weekly digests cater to specific programming languages and frameworks, offering curated links and updates.
    • Hacker Newsletter: A staple for many in the HN community, summarizing top discussions.
    • Techpresso, Techmeme, ScienceDaily: Technology: General tech news and updates.
    • Pointer.io, programmingdigest.net: Mentioned as tech-related subscriptions.
    • Future Tools, Prompts Daily: Focus on AI tools and prompts, reflecting a growing interest in the AI space.
    • 404media.co: Highlighted for its tech journalism.

  • Finance:

    • Banker on Wheels: Described as hit-or-miss but followed for finance insights.
    • Bowtiedbull.io: Another recommendation in the finance category.

  • Niche & Specialized:

    • Bike Gremlin: Praised for its educational and thorough content on bicycling repairs and servicing.
    • The Ergo (from ZSA): Likely focuses on ergonomics, mechanical keyboards, and related topics, given ZSA's product line.
    • Ciphertalk (Substack): Recommended for deep tech and market trends.

  • Founder & Business:

    • Founder Weekly: Aimed at entrepreneurs and startup founders.

Platform Preferences and Reading Habits

A notable point of discussion was the platform hosting the newsletters. Substack was mentioned favorably, with users following multiple newsletters on the platform (e.g., Ciphertalk). Conversely, Beehiiv received strong negative feedback from one user, who labeled its content as "the brainrot of newsletters."

The discussion also touched upon how users manage and consume newsletter content. One user mentioned using Scrollz to keep track of their subscriptions. The comment about potentially unsubscribing from Pragmatic Engineer due to not reading it fully underscores the importance of newsletters providing consistent, engaging value to retain readership.

Overall, the thread serves as a valuable resource for discovering new newsletters across various domains, with a strong emphasis on content that is genuinely read and appreciated, rather than just accumulated in an inbox.