Ron Charles

Do I Still Matter?

Two new books — and a lot of free time — got me thinking about how we yearn to matter.

Ron Charles's avatar
Ron Charles
Feb 20, 2026
∙ Paid
(Portfolio; Liveright)

Since I was laid off from The Washington Post on Feb. 4, things have been going pretty well, depending on the hour. In the afternoons, I’m an independent writer with a dream. At 3:47 a.m., I’m an unemployed journalist with a mortgage.

The first week, I lost 10 pounds. It turns out that being laid off is like Ozempic administered via…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Ron Charles.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Ron Charles · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture