Mondays might not be your favorite day of the week, but the good news is that we’re all in this together ladies and gentlemen. As purveyors of prime Grade A web content, the SolidSmack crew has done some of the heavy-lifting to make sure you get your Mondays started on the right track.

Welcome to The Monday List.

Every Monday, we link you up with some of the most insightful, informative, and socially-relevant stories to keep tabbed, bookmarked, reading listed, pocketed, or what have you to get your week started on the right foot. Be sure to check in each week for a new crop of freshly sprouted words curated straight from the source of your favorite homegrown ‘Smack.

What We’re Reading This Week:

How China’s 36th-Best Car Company Saved Volvo

The auto industry is littered with failed marriages, but the stars aligned for Geely and the Swedish automaker.

GM Is Building Cheap Cars for China’s Masses

Its made-for-the-mainland brand, Baojun, offers models priced as low as $6,000.

10 Years of Snarkitecture

Between art and architecture.

Reconsidering the Hardware Kindle Interface

Small tweaks to incentivize engaging with a book’s content.

Balenciaga’s Dad Shoes Could Help the Brand Hit the Billion-Dollar Sales Mark

The chunky $895 unisex style has been among the hottest to come out of the vogue for dad sneakers and the broader “ugly shoe” phenomenon.

Does STEM Really Matter?

It’s unclear whether mastery of specific technical skills creates new products and markets, or if entrepreneurial talents—are what really generate growth.