McSweeny’s has really set forth a couple of gems in recent issues. Marketed as their first entirely non-fictional issue, this compilation is a versatile challenge in terms of merging humanity and sociology with technology. On a daily basis, I find myself flustered by details I don’t understand about social media devices we use constantly. For example, one essay about improving password encryption truly sailed over my head (and the only portion of this issue I ended up skimming). On the other hand, “The Digital Blues” by Jennifer Kabat goes into surprising depth on the philosophy behind the use of the color blue in digital spaces— it was delightful. Just the kind of niche nerdery I love. Towards the end, “The Media Virus, My Problem Child” is the shining star. Douglas Rushmore unpacks a brief history of memetics (yes, memes) and urges us against complacency as our attention spans are shuddering faster and faster into the future. I would recommend this issue to anyone; these topics touch every citizen in America. Keep going, McSweeney’s!