@colinwalker Your implementation looks very nice. I think Dave's term of required reading needs to be replaced, as it is usually used for a course & has an unpleasant connotation of "must do," the wrong tone for reading blogs. A better tone would be "curious about." So if I built one, I'd call it something like "How I Got Here."
@Ron I kind of get what @colinwalker (and Dave W) are getting at when they mean Required Reading. Its more active than passive, more of a call to action that draws a line in the sand about the philosophy of the authors blog. Curious about is good, but perhaps too passive.
@desparoz Maybe 2 different audiences. I invite readers to get interested in what I have to say. If I was writing to instruct someone on how to do something, I'd lay out the necessary steps & what they must read. Otherwise, I never insist my readers do anything in particular.
@colinwalker I read your piece and all those it links to. They all worked together well and accomplished your purpose, as described in your last line. I would describe as "what am I doing & how did I get here?" Very well crafted, whatever it is called.