Happier with Gretchen Rubin Little Happier: “New Yorker” Covers and My Peculiar Yearning for a City I Already Have
Jun 23, 2025
The discussion delves into the intriguing allure of New Yorker magazine covers, capturing the essence of New York City. The host shares a heartfelt yearning for the city, illustrating how these images evoke both familiarity and distance. Personal experiences contrast with the idealized portrayals, shedding light on the complexities of urban life. It’s a reflection on the way art can encapsulate emotions and memories, making us see our surroundings in a new light.
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Yearning for New York City
- Gretchen Rubin shares a personal story about her lifelong fascination with The New Yorker magazine covers. - She feels a unique, unnameable yearning for New York City triggered by these evocative images.
Covers Capture Elusive NYC Essence
- The New Yorker covers portray an intense, distilled essence of New York City that feels both familiar and out of reach. - They depict a version of the city Rubin rarely inhabits, evoking a deep, complex emotional response.
Exploring NYC Through Covers
- To embrace her fascination, Gretchen Rubin bought a complete book of The New Yorker covers from 1925 to 1989. - She and her daughter spend hours exploring the covers, which blend real and imagined New York experiences.