Between product managers and the users that they represent are often a vocal group of independent super-users who formally share their own direct experiences. Ideally, such reviewers value functionality over hype and cannot hide when they dislike something. Last week, Kara Swisher used her personal podcast to bring two of these well-known reviewers together to discuss their shared but solitary art (and meet for the first time): her mentor, Walt Mossberg, and YouTube’s Marques Brownlee.

Perhaps I am betraying the deep degree of my own cynicism in this, our era of algorithmic short-form video, but I was genuinely shocked to see cable news break from their regularly scheduled programming last week to announce the passing of a national writer—especially one synonymous with the short story. I assume literary Canada is taking the time to collect its thoughts because, so far, the only one to offer anything more than perfunctory on the passing of Alice Munro has been Lorrie Moore in the Atlantic.

I am listening to 99% Invisible’s podcast book club of The Power Broker (1974), but have to say that it would be a lot more enjoyable if they made an effort to ensure that every guest had actually finished the book. Counting from episode five, and discounting the author’s appearance on the first episode himself, it’s about half.