Welcome to Non-Obvious Nuggets
Hand-drawn stick figures, sharp analysis, and surprising insights at the intersection of technology, economics, and human behavior.
What is this publication about?
Non-Obvious Nuggets is a newsletter for people who like to think deeply, laugh quietly, and walk away from an article seeing the world a little differently than before.
Each post offers a non-obvious insight—about technology, economics, careers, or society—delivered through clear prose and stick-figure illustrations. Think of it as a hybrid between a whiteboard talk and a late-night conversation with a thoughtful friend who’s also a bit of a nerd.
Whether I’m writing about why your career should emulate E. coli, what hiring managers are really looking for in job interviews, or how to rethink the future of work in the age of generative AI, the goal is always the same:
To surface something you haven’t quite heard before… and help it stick.
Who is this for?
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys asking “Wait, what’s really going on here?”, you’ll feel at home. Readers include startup founders, tech employees, researchers, students, and anyone who’s intellectually restless.
You don’t need a background in AI or business — just curiosity and a tolerance for the occasional drawing of a smiling mitochondrion.
Who’s writing this?
Hi, I’m Adam Siegel. Over the past decade-plus, I’ve led innovation teams at Amazon and Google, working on projects like Google Glass (wearable computation), Amazon Explore (live, global virtual tours), and the Amazon Catalyst Fund (Amazon’s first university innovation fund). Before that, I earned a Ph.D. in engineering and co-founded a venture-backed health startup.
I care deeply about how people find meaning in work and life, and I believe that most things are simpler than they seem. The problem is usually not the complexity itself, but how poorly it’s explained. That’s why I try to communicate big ideas in clear, simple language - often with stick figures.
I also believe that what most of us are really looking for online are not the generalities, but the surprises - the non-obvious insights that make you stop and think. Hence the name of this publication :)
How often is this published?
Roughly 1–2 essays per month. Occasionally more if I’m in tumble mode (see Essay 1).
Is this free? What do subscribers get?
Yes - it’s free to read - I’m not trying to make money off this. But if you like the work and want to support it (and ensure more essays get written), please become a subscriber. Subscribers get early access to new posts, occasional behind-the-scenes commentary, and the ability to submit topic requests for future essays.
Why subscribe?
Because the internet is full of noise and it’s rare to find writing that is both relevant and surprising.
Because seeing ideas drawn in stick-figure form makes them 10x easier to remember.
Because your inbox deserves more than the latest growth hack or AI “tweetstorm”.
Because you want to join the growing group of readers who want to think deeper — and smile more while doing it.
