Issue 2 began on 11 January 2012.

The Latest

How we feel about something has a much stronger role in decision making and comprehension than we’d like to believe. No matter how analytical we are, the emotional brain still decides.

Already Out

Instead of interviewing one person in this issue, we bring you seven, each focused on three simple questions about the principles that underlie their work.

Argo is a public experiment in developing technical and editorial frameworks for thoughtfully managed topical content projects that don’t require a huge team or a big budget.

People with low literacy skills have always been part of our audience. They’ve always needed their information presented clearly, plainly, and simply so they can succeed in understanding and using it.

Curiosity is tricky. It’s the first thing that pushes us forward, but it’s also one of the first to hold us back: to keep us from shipping good ideas because we’re too busy lusting after unachievable ones.

We don’t often have time to consider all the underlying stuff that gives our work shape, character, and meaning, and that time won’t ever appear on its own. But we can choose it. Even in the crazy spells—and maybe especially then, when we’re making so many important decisions.

A Bit More About This Issue

We’re back! This, our second issue, will run through mid-February of 2012, with a new article coming out on most Wednesdays.

You can expect a new issue of Contents every six to eight weeks, each with a different editorial theme. At the end of each issue, we’ll publish a set of annotations that links to thematically related material elsewhere, and collects the conversation so far. (You can start by reading the annotations for Issue 1, if you’re hungry.)

This issue was illustrated by Erik Westra, our production director and fixer-in-chief. Please send correspondence to staff@contentsmagazine.com.