Wait But Why (Tim Urban)
by Tim Urban
Deep dives with stick figures. Tim Urban's (occasional) newsletter provides massive, logic-driven explorations of everything from AI and space to procrastination and human history.
About Wait But Why (Tim Urban)
Wait But Why is the 'ultimate explainer'. Tim Urban doesn't just write articles; he writes mini-books. Its newsletter is famous for its depth—often spending months researching a single topic like Neuralink or 'The Cook and the Chef'. Despite the long gaps between posts, each update is treated as a major event in the intellectual internet. He uses humor and simple drawings to make the most intimidating topics accessible and fun.
What Makes This Newsletter Unique
Radical Depth. Tim Urban has a unique ability to start from 'first principles' and build a complete understanding of a topic for the reader.
Who Should Subscribe?
People who want to *truly* understand how things work and aren't afraid of 10,000-word deep dives.
Content Format
Massive, image-heavy essays with hand-drawn stick figures and deep logical frameworks.
Pricing & Subscription Options
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- Variable / Monthly emails
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Our Take: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unmatched depth and clarity on complex topics
- Extremely funny and relatable writing style
- High 're-read' value
Cons
- Very infrequent (can go months without an update)
- Can be a daunting time commitment to read
Frequently Asked Questions
Wait, he hasn't posted in a while?
Tim spends thousands of hours on his deep dives. The quality is the reason the 600k+ audience waits for his updates.
How often is Wait But Why (Tim Urban) published?
Wait But Why (Tim Urban) is published variable / monthly.
Who writes Wait But Why (Tim Urban)?
Wait But Why (Tim Urban) is written by Tim Urban. Tim Urban is the creator of Wait But Why. He is known for his ability to explain extremely complex topics using simple language and hand-drawn stick figure illustrations. His TED talk on procrastination is one of the most-watched of all time.
About the Author: Tim Urban
Tim Urban
Tim Urban is the creator of Wait But Why. He is known for his ability to explain extremely complex topics using simple language and hand-drawn stick figure illustrations. His TED talk on procrastination is one of the most-watched of all time.
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