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
Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story by Jewel. Even though I’m generally skeptical of celebrity memoirs, when Audible suggested this book to me, curiosity won. Once I began listening, I couldn’t stop. This isn’t just a memoir; it’s a soul-stirring odyssey of resilience and finding oneself, narrated (and sung!) by Jewel herself. I was moved to tears several times and frequently found myself pausing the playback to jot down notes. Highly recommended. How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. I love time-travel novels, and even though this one doesn’t involve time travel in the strictest sense, I still enjoyed it. Matt Haig, known for authoring imaginative stories, weaves a captivating tale here about a man who’s been alive for centuries. If you enjoy a dash of history with your fiction, this is an entertaining read.Films
The Killer. (Netflix) Directed by the masterful David Fincher, this brilliant thriller is a cocktail of suspense reminiscent of Fincher’s classics like Fight Club and Seven.
Death Becomes Her. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV+) A flashback to 1992, this supernatural noir stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis, who delivers an amazing against-type performance. It’s a wonderfully weird romp through vanity and immortality, with a side of dark humor.
Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV+) My expectations were low, but wow, did this movie soar. Tom Cruise proves once again why he’s the king of action.
Shows
A Murder at the End of the World. (Hulu) Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (the brains behind The OA), this show is a brilliant whodunnit. Halfway through, and I’m already hooked.
Beckham. (Netflix) This documentary series about David Beckham is a must-watch, even if you’re not a soccer fan. It peels back the layers of celebrity, revealing the drive, personal sacrifices, and the challenges Beckham faced away from the public eye. I was particularly struck by the intense public shaming he endured after receiving a red card in a World Cup final, and his resilience in its aftermath. A story that resonates far beyond the world of sports.
For a dash of humor, pair the Beckham documentary with this hilarious short clip on why Americans hate soccer.
