The Everything Bagel is a space for me to write about anything and everything without having to worry about branding. Think of it as the random conversations broadly-read nerds might have over coffee, condensed into a readable form.

Who am I?

My name is Ruth, but I usually write under R.H. Verrinder. I grew up journaling and writing short stories and poetry for my own amusement, but started taking it more seriously in my teens when I launched my first blog. During the 2020 lockdown, I condensed my journal entries from over the years into a book about education, family, and growing up in the California Central Valley. I published this on Amazon under the title Sketches of a Small Life in August 2022.

About My Writing

Much of my writing takes a philosophical or religious turn. I am interested in questions like why we exist and how to live a good life. Whether I’m writing about current events, advances in tech, or a favorite film, I try to highlight the importance of individual responsibility and the idea that happiness and fulfillment are the result of a spiritual, not a physical, state of being. I believe that being kind to others and appreciating simple, everyday things is more important than being professionally successful or trying to change the world.

Outside of Writing

Because I also love science and didn’t want writing to be tied to my livelihood in any way, I studied bioengineering in college and am currently a Ph.D. student developing electronics for neuroscience.

Subscribe!

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox!