Five Things I've Learned | Substack

Introducing The Memoir Collection

Discover these classes from six celebrated memoirists – available on demand, anytime.

Jun 15 • Five Things I've Learned

A Personal Invitation

2:26

A personal invitation from Peter Orner

Join me live and online tonight for "Five Things I've Learned about Messing with the Truth (In Order to Lie)."

Jun 14 • Five Things I've Learned

A personal invitation from Adam Gopnik

Join me live and online tonight for "Five Things I've Learned about Writing a Memoir."

Jun 7

6:45

A personal invitation from Adrienne Brodeur

Join me live and online tonight for "Five Things I've Learned as an Editor That Made Me a Better Writer."

May 3 • Five Things I've Learned

2:10

A personal invitation from William Giraldi

Join me live tonight for "Five Things I've Learned about from Raymond Carver about the Suffering of Average People"

Mar 19 • Five Things I've Learned

6:57

A personal invitation from Alissa Wilkinson.

Join me live and online tonight for "Five Things I've Learned about What Makes a Review Great."

Feb 26 • Five Things I've Learned

4:18

Join us on Substack today! Explore Replays of more than 150 great classes from people we admire. Plus: Get $10 off the ticket price of any individual class at myfivethings.com.

Replays

Replay: Peter Orner shares Five Things He's Learned about Messing with the Truth (In Order to Lie)

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Jun 18

Replay: Adam Gopnik shares Five Things He's Learned about Writing a Memoir.

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Jun 11

Replay: Adrienne Brodeur shares Five Things She's Learned as an Editor That Made Her a Better Writer

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

May 8

Replay: William Giraldi shares Five Things He's Learned about from Raymond Carver about the Suffering of Average People

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Mar 21

Replay: Alissa Wilkinson shares Five Things She's Learned about What Makes a Review Great

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

Feb 27

Five Things Friends on Substack

Discover our Five Things I've Learned Friends on Substack

These Substack writers have hosted some some of our favorite Five Things I’ve Learned classes.

May 3, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Jane Hirshfield shares Five Things She's Learned about Poems as Fields of Discovery

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

May 2, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Michael Ruhlman shares Five Things He's Learned about Writing, By Writing about Food

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Apr 25, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Matthew Specktor shares Five Things He's Learned about Writing the Self in Memoir and Fiction

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Apr 25, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Amber Tamblyn shares Five Things She's Learned about Creativity – and Harnessing Emotion in the Service of Powerful Art

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

Mar 30, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Writing and Reading

Replay: Peter Orner shares Five Things He's Learned about Messing with the Truth (In Order to Lie)

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Jun 18

Writing and Reading

Discover more great classes on writing and craft – available anytime, on demand.

May 8 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Adrienne Brodeur shares Five Things She's Learned as an Editor That Made Her a Better Writer

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

May 8

Replay: William Giraldi shares Five Things He's Learned about from Raymond Carver about the Suffering of Average People

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Mar 21

Replay: Alissa Wilkinson shares Five Things She's Learned about What Makes a Review Great

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

Feb 27

Replay: Maya C. Popa shares Five Things She's Learned about Writing Desire

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

Feb 27

Replay: Carl Phillips shares Five Things He's Learned about Patterns in Poetry

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Feb 22

Replay: Andre Dubus III shares Five Things He's Learned about the Absolute Necessity of Revision

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Jan 3

Replay: Rebecca Makkai shares Five Things She's Learned about Writing While Parenting

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

Dec 13, 2025

Replay: Adrian Matejka shares Five Things He's Learned about Building a Book

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Dec 13, 2025

Replay: Will Hermes shares Five Things He's Learned about Writing a Life Story

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Dec 13, 2025

Replay: Benjamin Dreyer shares Five Things He's Learned about Being Your Own Best Editor

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Dec 13, 2025

Poetry

Discover these great classes on the craft of poetry – available on demand, anytime.

Feb 27 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Maya C. Popa shares Five Things She's Learned about Writing Desire

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

Feb 27

Replay: Carl Phillips shares Five Things He's Learned about Patterns in Poetry

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Feb 22

Replay: Adrian Matejka shares Five Things He's Learned about Building a Book

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Dec 13, 2025

Music and Song

Discover more great classes on music and song – available on demand, anytime.

Jan 3 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Peter Ames Carlin shares Five Things He's Learned about Artistry, Identity, and Authenticity, from Bruce Springsteen

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Jan 3

Replay: Will Hermes shares Five Things He's Learned about Writing about Music and Musicians

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

May 11, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Alan Light shares Five Things He's Learned about America - from Five American Musicians

Check out the replay of the first five minutes of his recent 90-minute class.

Jun 24, 2024 • Five Things I've Learned

Our Current Moment

Our Current Moment

Discover more great classes on our current moment – available on demand, anytime.

Dec 13, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Steven Conn shares Five Things He's Learned about America’s Urban-Rural Divide – It’s the Geography Stupid

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Dec 13, 2025

Replay: Jennifer Mercieca shares Five Things She's Learned about America – from 30 Years Studying Communication and Democracy

Check out the replay of the first five minutes of her recent 90-minute conversation with Resolute Square's Megan Matson.

Jun 30, 2024 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Trygve Olson shares Five Things He's Learned about America – and the Enduring Example of Our Democracy

Check out the replay of the first five minutes of his recent 90-minute class.

Jun 2, 2024 • Five Things I've Learned

Living Better Longer

Living Better Longer

Discover inspiring classes that share the insights we need to make the most of the possibilities that await us as we age.– available on demand, anytime.

May 2, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: MT Connolly shares Five Things She's Learned about How To Better Navigate Aging

Check out the first five minutes of her recent class.

May 2, 2025 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Dr. Ken Robbins shares the Five Things He's Learned about Aging and Dementia

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

Dec 31, 2024 • Five Things I've Learned

Replay: Eric Verdin shares Five Things He's Learned about Covid-19, Aging, and the Immune System

Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.

May 10, 2023 • Five Things I've Learned