The Orthogonal Bet Tinkered Thinking on White Mirror
Nov 14, 2025
Tinkered Thinking, a pseudonymous author of the optimistic collection White Mirror, chats with Samuel Arbesman about his evolution from Luddism to embracing tech. They explore how his writing began as a coding exercise and led to a publishing deal. The duo debates society's role in shaping technology and the implications of AI-focused narratives. Tinkered Thinking warns against doomer perspectives, advocating for a future filled with curiosity and hope—where extended lifespans and understanding technology can lead to more meaningful lives.
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Accidental Blog Became A Writing Engine
- Tinkered Thinking began writing daily short pieces after learning to code and built tinkeredthinking.com as a disciplined exercise.
- The blog accidentally became a hub of 250 stories and led to publishing opportunities including White Mirror.
Twitter Contest Jumpstarted The Book
- A Twitter contest led Tinkered Thinking to submit multiple complete stories and win with one written that day.
- That win connected him to Jim O'Shaughnessy and eventually to a publishing deal for White Mirror.
Everyday Tools Are Hidden Technology
- Technology is often invisible once it becomes protocol, so we rarely label foundational tools as 'technology.'
- Rejecting blanket Luddism, Tinkered Thinking argues nearly all human tools—language, shoes—are technologies.
