I should have a new video out this week (maybe even today, if the stars align). But in the meantime, I wanted to let you know that I was in my friend @DammitJeff's new video about Kindles. You might like it.
I've disabled auto-dubbing on my channel. This was a feature YouTube rolled out and automatically enabled, and I thought it might be good for increasing accessibility for those who don't speak English or prefer to hear something in their native tongue.
Feedback indicates that the dubs are horrible. So, I've turned it off.
On February 26, Amazon is removing the ability to download your ebooks onto your computer. I'm still looking into this, but I think this means that the old workaround for actually owning your Kindle books (downloading them to your computer and using Calibre to strip the DRM) will be effectively impossible.
I'm going to try and make a video, but I might not have time in the next few days. So, I'm posting about this here.
You don't own your Kindle books, and Amazon seems to be taking away your ability to store them locally on your computer. Buy your ebooks elsewhere — or better yet, buy physical books. Paperbacks never have DRM.
Over on my newsletter, I run read-alongs with subscribers. On Monday, we're starting a read-along of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed.
Here's how it works: I send out a weekly post with my thoughts on the reading, and people discuss in the comments. The more participants, the better the conversation.
When you go to my newsletter, Substack might ask if you want to become a paying subscriber. While I always appreciate your support, you don't have to pay to participate in the read-alongs. Simply choose the 'free' option and you'll get all the read-along posts in your inbox.
I'm asked all the time if I have a Goodreads account so that people can follow along with what I'm reading. So, I decided to start one. I'll see if I like using it this year and then decide if I want to continue into the future.
EDIT: A few people encouraged me to try the StoryGraph (mostly to avoid Amazon), so I'll also give it a shot. I was worried that the StoryGraph didn't have enough users to make it worthwhile, to be honest. But if it works, I'll use that instead of Goodreads.
Back in May, I was laid off. I made a video about it, so you can see what my reaction was when it happened if you're curious, but the important part is that I tried to make an attempt to be full-time on YouTube and Substack. Since it has been six months, I thought I'd let you know how it is going.
It's great. I make less than I did in tech, but I'm happier by a significant margin, and that's a trade I'm more than willing to make. I'm trying to do something that matters, in some small way, and I'm making progress on that. I haven't been perfect – I''ll be reviewing everything I've produced or written in the last year to see what I'm proud of and what I'm not proud of – but I am, on the whole, happy with it all.
I took the time to focus on my health, too. As some of you have noticed, I lost a significant amount of weight, but that's only part of it. I made sleep a priority, which vastly helped my mental health. When I look back at older videos, that's what I really notice: I was very tired, overstretched (like butter scraped over too much bread).
It's a privilege to be able to keep making this work. And for that, I have to thank all of you for watching, subscribing, leaving a comment, or supporting me on Substack — in many different ways, you all made this possible for me.
I'm logging off for the rest of the year, but I have exciting things planned for 2025, including January's videos.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and I'll see you in a few weeks.
Jared Henderson
Jared Henderson
My daughter was born last week, so it'll be a few weeks before I'm back to making videos.
See you soon.
1 week ago | [YT] | 9,337
View 403 replies
Jared Henderson
I'm writing a book! It should be out next year!
I wrote a bit more about it on my newsletter: jaredhenderson.substack.com/p/its-official-im-writ…
5 months ago | [YT] | 1,653
View 56 replies
Jared Henderson
Thank you so much, everyone.
I might do a Q&A livestream tomorrow to celebrate.
5 months ago | [YT] | 1,738
View 46 replies
Jared Henderson
I should have a new video out this week (maybe even today, if the stars align). But in the meantime, I wanted to let you know that I was in my friend @DammitJeff's new video about Kindles. You might like it.
5 months ago | [YT] | 421
View 3 replies
Jared Henderson
I've disabled auto-dubbing on my channel. This was a feature YouTube rolled out and automatically enabled, and I thought it might be good for increasing accessibility for those who don't speak English or prefer to hear something in their native tongue.
Feedback indicates that the dubs are horrible. So, I've turned it off.
7 months ago | [YT] | 1,865
View 138 replies
Jared Henderson
On February 26, Amazon is removing the ability to download your ebooks onto your computer. I'm still looking into this, but I think this means that the old workaround for actually owning your Kindle books (downloading them to your computer and using Calibre to strip the DRM) will be effectively impossible.
I'm going to try and make a video, but I might not have time in the next few days. So, I'm posting about this here.
You don't own your Kindle books, and Amazon seems to be taking away your ability to store them locally on your computer. Buy your ebooks elsewhere — or better yet, buy physical books. Paperbacks never have DRM.
7 months ago | [YT] | 4,546
View 428 replies
Jared Henderson
Over on my newsletter, I run read-alongs with subscribers. On Monday, we're starting a read-along of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed.
Here's how it works: I send out a weekly post with my thoughts on the reading, and people discuss in the comments. The more participants, the better the conversation.
If you want to learn more, go here: jaredhenderson.substack.com/p/getting-ready-for-th…
When you go to my newsletter, Substack might ask if you want to become a paying subscriber. While I always appreciate your support, you don't have to pay to participate in the read-alongs. Simply choose the 'free' option and you'll get all the read-along posts in your inbox.
7 months ago | [YT] | 501
View 32 replies
Jared Henderson
I'm asked all the time if I have a Goodreads account so that people can follow along with what I'm reading. So, I decided to start one. I'll see if I like using it this year and then decide if I want to continue into the future.
If you want to see what I'm reading, quick ratings of books, etc. you can find me here: www.goodreads.com/user/show/184816038-jared-hender…
This is the first book I'm reading in 2025.
EDIT: A few people encouraged me to try the StoryGraph (mostly to avoid Amazon), so I'll also give it a shot. I was worried that the StoryGraph didn't have enough users to make it worthwhile, to be honest. But if it works, I'll use that instead of Goodreads.
Here's my StoryGraph profile: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/jaredonline
8 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 875
View 147 replies
Jared Henderson
Back in May, I was laid off. I made a video about it, so you can see what my reaction was when it happened if you're curious, but the important part is that I tried to make an attempt to be full-time on YouTube and Substack. Since it has been six months, I thought I'd let you know how it is going.
It's great. I make less than I did in tech, but I'm happier by a significant margin, and that's a trade I'm more than willing to make. I'm trying to do something that matters, in some small way, and I'm making progress on that. I haven't been perfect – I''ll be reviewing everything I've produced or written in the last year to see what I'm proud of and what I'm not proud of – but I am, on the whole, happy with it all.
I took the time to focus on my health, too. As some of you have noticed, I lost a significant amount of weight, but that's only part of it. I made sleep a priority, which vastly helped my mental health. When I look back at older videos, that's what I really notice: I was very tired, overstretched (like butter scraped over too much bread).
It's a privilege to be able to keep making this work. And for that, I have to thank all of you for watching, subscribing, leaving a comment, or supporting me on Substack — in many different ways, you all made this possible for me.
I'm logging off for the rest of the year, but I have exciting things planned for 2025, including January's videos.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and I'll see you in a few weeks.
(Here's a picture of my cats.)
9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 5,282
View 317 replies
Jared Henderson
If you had to go into isolation for a year with only 3 books, what books would you take? Why?
10 months ago | [YT] | 339
View 179 replies
Load more