On the pressure of expectation, ambition, and the space between capability and transcendence. The Divide J. Cole released The Fall Off  recently, framed as the culmination of his career. Starting with The Come Up  in 2007, he took us on essentially a 20 year journey as he documented his life, his observations of the world, the pressure of expectations, and his ambitions for greatness.  It’s this last point that becomes the crux of this discussion, because it frames, in my opi

I recently finished reading The Doorman by Chris Pavone. A very contemporary novel that reads like the blend of a satirical critique of the current cultural moment and a thriller. The book looks at power that comes from wealth, whiteness, reputation, and location, but really it’s about who understands and can read the room and the moment.  The story revolves around a few essential characters. First, Chicky Diaz, the doorman at the luxury condominium where the other characters

I recently finished reading The Every by Dave Eggers. I could say it was a very timely read, that would have been true at almost any point in the past five to ten years. While the novel centers on a tech monopoly, it’s a book about how power actually works. From the use of soft and hard power and through a power system that’s often overlooked: cultural hegemony. Cultural hegemony is a form of power that doesn’t rely on constant force or coercion. Instead, it shapes what peopl