So what is this exactly?

Once upon a time, there was a newsletter. Well, actually, once upon a time there was a book. Or, to be more specific, there was a draft of a book. And in the draft of that book there were a lot of charts.

Now, the editor of that book was enthusiastic about the charts but worried that some readers might have trouble parsing them. So the author of the book — who is me — offered to put a little box labelled "How to read this chart" next to each one. And when that author's employer agreed to let him start a newsletter to promote that book, that was the name they settled on.

Four the next three-and-a-half years, the How To Read This Chart newsletter went out to tens of thousands of people, presenting unusual or unusually interesting data visualizations along with deranged and self-deprecating commentary. And now, after a brief hiatus, it is back.

Do I have to pay you money?

No, you sure don't!

That said: If people aren't interested in contributing and I'm operating this at a loss, that will probably serve as a disincentive to keep it going, as you might understand.

That said, part two: We all agree that quality news and content is worth paying for, right? We're not like those lowly, grasping demons who simply read newsletters without investing a bit of ourselves, are we?

Every week, more stuff in your inbox

But good stuff!

Meet people like you

"Join a community of other subscribers who share the same interests." That's what the default text on this page said, and I think it's very funny so I left it. Do you want to meet people who like to look at charts? OK! You do you! I guess you can experience that here, somehow.

Start your own newsletter

Ghost (which powers this site) also has a plug for Ghost by default, and in an act of magnanimity, I kept it.