Just finished reading Kaufman’s meta-screenplay for Adaptation, which is based on Susan Orleans’ novel The Orchid Thief. In 2002, Spike Jonze made the highly inventive and hysterically funny film Adaptation with a great cast and excellent visuals. It’s all worth the deep dive if anyone wants a good summer goal.
Jólabókaflóðið
Our neighbors shared this idea of this with us a few days ago and we may need to try it next year. Jólabókaflóðið is the Icelandic tradition of giving books to one another on Christmas Eve and spending the rest of the night reading and consuming chocolate. Read more here.
NPR Favorite Books of 2021
This list always feels like a great place to start when looking for a new book - which I plan to do once I’m finished reading The Last Picture Show (1966) by Larry McMurtry - on loan from good friend Dan Sjogren. This novel is an unfiltered window into a depleted post WW2 small town America through the eyes of its naive teens, it has exceptional dialogue and pacing.
Also, look forward to watching the film once I’m done with the book.
Just heard of a great idea for a book club at BookGive. The club picks a theme each month and each person can choose a book from any genre that ties to that month’s theme - discussions ensue.
BOOKGIVE
Emily (my wife) has been volunteering at this great Non-Profit organization created by our friends Nicole & Ryan Sullivan and run by Melissa Monforti, that gets the right books in the right hands. Today they will be giving away books for the holiday season, with free wrapping (while supplies last). BookGive is in an old service station on the corner of 48th & Lowell Blvd. Read more here.
Update: BookGive gave away 2000 books in 2hrs. (that’s 16 books every minute) - now that’s the holiday spirit!
Non-Extractive - On Designing without Depletion (Volume 1)
Where did those components come from and where will they go (eventually)? Probably a question we should all be asking ourselves with any purchase. Architect, Joseph Grima, proposes a new type of non-extractive architecture that does not exploit the planet in his manifesto. Find it not at Amazon here.
Bjarne Mastenbroek. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground (Book by Taschen)
HOW TO TRAVEL by School of Life
Emily found this little gem at BookGive (a friend’s non-profit which gets books into the right hands) where Emily volunteers 1-2x/mo. The book is more of a self-reflection on the art of living through journeying throughout our curious world. It’s my favorite way of traveling, which sometimes I forget. I highly recommend.
Note: kayak is fully ready for water testing (hopefully this coming week or weekend)
Schwinn
Longtime good friend, Scott Mourer, generously passed along this vintage black frame. It’s nicely turning into the sibling of the white frame he gave me 7 years ago. Can’t wait to go on more rides with the people in my life.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (the novel) Tarantino
Just read this new release by the same guy that made the movie a few years ago. It’s meta, pulpy, filled with excellent dialogue and follows the film but doesn’t bother to retell it. I look forward to not remembering which scenes are in which format (book or movie). So…if you enjoyed the love letter to Hollywood that was the theatre or screen experience, I highly recommend the paperback. Read more.
99% Invisible
Fun podcast and A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design is also now a book. More here.
HOT DOG DIARY - NATHAN TOLZMANN
Our friend Nathan went on a bike trip 20+ yrs ago (when he was 29) across the U.S. and just completed his epic (and beautiful) graphic novel chronicling that journey he and his buddy, Matt, made. Visit his site here to experience it and word on the street is to check it out before the publishers chop-out-all-the-good-parts ;)
Stewart Brand - Pioneer
Legendary tech and alternative culture guru, Brand (88) has been at the forefront of multiple movements. We Are As Gods (2020 documentary) tries to sum up his accomplishments. See trailer here.
The Whole Earth Catalog is one of my favorite resources to refer back to from time to time, as is How Buildings Learn, both Stewart Brand publications.
NPR Best Books of 2020
Ah yes, a good reminder to read more. See NPR’s full list here.
David John Moore Cornwell (Oct. 19, 1931 – Dec. 12, 2020)
Better known by his alias John le Carré, was author of dozens of spy novels.
NPR’s 2019 best book picks
I look forward to this every year. Go here to see more.
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
Completely fascinating (and often funny) breakdown of the formation and expansion of the universe and the stardust that make you you. Highly recommend.
Neil Gaiman - Writer
Oceans at The End of the Lane is a favorite of all of Gaiman’s books. He transports the reader effortlessly. This book has nothing to do with Halloween but I would highly recommend it this time of year.
xkcd - Randall Munroe (cartoonist, author, engineer, scientific theorist...)
Munroe merges all of his interests through cartoon illustrations. Check out his work here.
Steven Soderbergh - Writer/Director/Editor/Producer
Soderbergh helped to define independent film in the late 80’s and early 90’s and now has over 40 directorial credits to his name. His sound/visual editing skills tip many of his films into a higher level of cinema. One of my favorite books about making movies is Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies and Videotape - it contains the genesis and evolution of SL&V as well as many behind the scene photos and notes about his process.
Endurance (book) - Alfred Lansing
This is a non-fiction antarctic expedition account (assembled from many of the survivors diary entries) that is truly astounding. The captain, Ernest Shackleton, consistently demonstrates the delicate balance of making life or death decisions using wisdom, logic and gut-feelings. I started re-reading it as soon as I had finished because I was sure I missed too much at the beginning…and I had.
