It’s not navel-gazing, it’s an expression of the mind of another presented in a way that is entertaining for others to read. In seeing the obsessions of another

It’s not navel-gazing, it’s an expression of the mind of another presented in a way that is entertaining for others to read. In seeing the obsessions of another, we see the same in ourselves. I’d also posit that the author has read a bit of David Foster Wallace over the years, because the tone and themes are similar to some of his work, both the fiction and non-fiction. Perhaps these kind of diaristic long-form articles aren’t really for you.