I'm still damp from a morning dip in Lake Huron, whose lapping waters were a friendly embrace after a summer spent near the crashing Pacific. I say "near" the Pacific because I don't really get into the ocean at home. It's frigid, you have to constantly watch your back for a big set of waves that could knock you flat, I just can't relax. A lake, though? Easy. Gentle. No vigilance required.

So that's the mood infusing this newsletter today.

On a related gentle note: I talked to a lot of smart people for a piece in ELLE about redefining ambition beyond the traditional criteria of money, title, power... and toward things like care, community, and creativity. 

"Euphemisms have long clouded the abortion debate, and there is no term in American politics more mendacious than pro-life," writes Dayna Tortorici. It should be pro-criminalization.

Lauren Michele Jackson on a new book chronicling night-club sensation Josephine Baker's life in the French Resistance. 

Most people stop listening to new music in their early 30s, a few studies show. Daniel Dylan Wray on whether—and why—once-passionate listeners are giving up the pursuit.

How far can hummus travel from its origins and still be hummus? Samia Madwar on the past, present, and future of creamy chickpeas.

Anne Helen Petersen talks to Kate Mangino, author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home, about the hard work of creating a more equal domesticity, one home at a time.

How do incarcerated people make and spend money? Beth Schwartzapfel on the economy behind bars.

Drag is at an inflection point, reports James Bikales. It's more popular—and protested—than ever. And speaking of drag content for kids, my friends' toddlers are obsessed with the RuPaul musical catalog (you haven't lived until you've sung "sashay, shante" with a 3-year-old) and picture books by Lil Miss Hot Mess.

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Maybe today's the day you become a paying member for just $15/year? I'd love your support. And if you're already a member, I'm sending you a gentle wave of thanks.

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Authors Jade Chang and Jacqueline Woodson about how they mentally prepare to write a new book.

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Myisha Battle's new Better Sex E-Zine, monthly advice on finding pleasure, working through body-image issues, and learning about your desires through quizzes and worksheets—all with a feminist lens. Myisha is one of my favorite thinkers and experts on this topic, so treat yourself to a sign-up.