#07: lost judgments
what's worth reading
Dear reader,
The Filtered is your companion for slower, deeper reading. Each week, I collect essays that spark ideas, invite reflection, or take you somewhere unexpected. Pieces to return to, not just skim and forget.
This week’s issue wanders through the art of finding our way — through cities, through tastes, through the clutter of what we love. We begin with an ode to not knowing, and to the strange confidence that comes with being lost. From there, we look for stillness in a restless city, defend so-called “lowbrow” pleasures, and consider what our favorite objects reveal about how we see the world. We end with a philosopher’s case for better taste and a reminder that judgment, like direction, is rarely final.
Warmly,
Lou Blaser
Resident Curator
You are not lost.
| The Active Mind | August 18, 2025What if feeling lost means you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be? Through poets, fog, and forests, this essay reminds us that not knowing the way forward is part of the journey and that sometimes, the only direction you need is “here.” Thoughtful, comforting, and beautifully steadying. (1040 words)
The slow sublime in a city unrushed
| Everything is Liminal | March 12, 2025What happens when you try to live slowly in a city that never does? On subway rides, in small gestures between strangers, and even inside a 24-hour film about time, the writer rediscovers the joy of noticing. A love letter to New York and to moving through it at your own pace. (1160 words)
This week’s issue of The Filtered brings you 5 standout essays. The first two are open here; the rest — including a defense of “lowbrow” pleasures and a beautifully odd reflection on why we surround ourselves with things that matter— are waiting on the other side. Join for less than $1 a week just $24 a year during the launch special for the complete Filtered experience.