From time to time, instead of my usual email with one big idea you can read in 3 minutes or less, I share with you the best of what I’m reading, watching, and exploring. Enjoy!
Books
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. One of the very best novels I’ve read in recent memory. It’s a coming-of-age book about two friends, Sam and Sadie, who bond over their love of video games and later begin to program games of their own.
Fair warning: This deeply resonated with me in part because I grew up in the 80s playing video games, and the nostalgia in this book was a huge draw. If you’ve never been into video games, parts of this one may bore you. But if you’ve enjoyed video games, or if you’re curious about the culture and creativity surrounding them, this story will captivate you and take you on a beautiful ride. (Thanks to Eliot Peper for the recommendation).
Films
I say very little about the plot of the films that follow—in large part because I don’t want to ruin the fun. I refuse to watch trailers—or even read film descriptions—because I want to be surprised from minute one.
Gattaca. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV) This sci-fi film has aged very well. It had been 20+ years since I last saw it, and I liked it even more than I remembered. The storytelling is brilliant and so is the cast led by Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law.
Children of Men. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV) Another brilliant sci-fi film that has aged well (apparently, I was on a sci-fi kick last month!). The word “masterpiece” is a cliche, but nothing else comes close to describing this one. Also, I want to be friends with Michael Caine—his comedic charm is unparalleled.
Bullet Train. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV) A surprisingly entertaining thriller that takes place, you guessed it, on a train. Lots of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie vibes.
Songs
“Mind on Fire” by Aisha Badru (Franz Matthews Remix). I love the lyrics in this one.
“6’s to 9’s” by Big Wild (Featuring Rationale).
A video I loved
Do yourself a favor, take three minutes, and watch this video. It’s a great reminder that when you share what brings you alive, you bring others alive (It’s also a great reminder that butter really does change everything).
Related
Bold
