Gliff by Ali Smith Summary
Overview of Gliff
Ali Smith's "Gliff" plunges readers into a chilling surveillance state where siblings fight algorithmic control. This NYT Editor's Choice brilliantly warns of our technological future, with a hidden companion story awaiting in "Glyph" - the second half of Smith's mind-bending literary puzzle.
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Key takeaways
When a Horse Becomes the Last Hope
In a world divided by red lines, where surveillance cameras track every movement and people disappear without explanation, two siblings face an unthinkable abandonment. Their mother remains behind at an "art hotel" where she works, while her boyfriend Leif promises to return for her. But when mysterious red lines appear around their home and campervan, Leif abandons the children in an empty house with some tins of food and hollow promises. As the siblings watch him disappear down the street, they face a brutal truth: in this new world of arbitrary boundaries and vanishing adults, they have only each other. What happens when the structures of society collapse around you? When the adults who should protect you become unreliable or absent? This is the heart-wrenching reality these children navigate as they discover seven horses in a nearby field-particularly a gray one the sister names "Gliff." Little do they know this horse will become not just a friend but their salvation in a world increasingly hostile to freedom and authenticity.
Finding Connection in an Isolated World
Language as Rebellion in a World of Surveillance
Stories as Survival in a World That Demands Forgetting
The Horse as Freedom in a Mechanized World
The Courage to Remember What Others Want Forgotten
We'll Be Making It Up As We Go
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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