Fig Tree Findings

Good taste will save you

AI is creating abundance, good taste is navigating tension.

Jan 22 • Angela Cao

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December 2025

My top 3 books of 2025

2026 was a year of revisiting old signposts along the my meandering reading journey, largely a vigil to previous beloved authors with a few pivotal…

Dec 30, 2025 • Angela Cao

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September 2025

Socialize like it will all come crashing down

Play is connection without expectation, a self-rolling wheel.

Sep 12, 2025 • Angela Cao

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June 2025

On bonfires

Argentinian festivals, Chinese funerals

Jun 2, 2025 • Angela Cao

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March 2025

In defense of impractical expression

Digitally-mediated conveniences make it easier to eschew community; AI-generated content lacks the effort that defines great creative work.

Mar 17, 2025 • Angela Cao

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December 2024

My top 3 books of 2024

Whether real or imagined, stringing cords between chance events is fun; patterns project intention and meaning to pure whimsy (how I actually decide…

Dec 31, 2024 • Angela Cao

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November 2024

Letters to Strangers: To the daughter of a family-owned café in São Jorge —

March 18, 2023: São Jorge Island

Nov 24, 2024 • Angela Cao

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July 2024

Letters to Strangers: To the Lower East Side septuagenarian of many stories —

May 24, 2024: New York City

Jul 14, 2024 • Angela Cao

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April 2024

Letters to Strangers: To the elderly restaurant owner on my flight to Hong Kong—

April 6, 2023: Hong Kong

Apr 23, 2024 • Angela Cao

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December 2023

My top 5 books of 2023

Another year-end means taking a hard look at my reading journey; it means noticing how books have become both checkpoints and time capsules.

Dec 29, 2023 • Angela Cao

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November 2023

Letters to Strangers: To the Chinese-Italian store owner on Viale Bligny —

December 21, 2021: Milan, Italy

Nov 30, 2023 • Angela Cao

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Letters to Strangers: To the tour guide who brought us to the Cliffs of Moher —

September 26, 2021: Ireland

Nov 9, 2023 • Angela Cao

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