Why books aren't always better for you than Netflix
Hi ,
I don't watch tv. Fun fact: we sold our tv in 2012, straight after the London Olympics, having decided we'd just watched the epitome of what would ever be on tv. These days we'll sit down for an episode of something on Netflix on the laptop maybe once or twice a week, but I can count on one hand the number of times in a year I'll sit and watch something on my own.
However.
Last weekend I discovered Pretend It's a City on Netflix, a series of interviews between director, Martin Scorsese and author, Fran Lebowitz. In it, Fran gives her views on everything from living in New York, other people, health and fitness, art, travel, the great outdoors and of course, books. She's wickedly funny, with a dry, cutting and incredibly observant (probably because she doesn't own a phone or computer) wit. The episodes are only 25 minutes long and I happily watched five back to back.
I sometimes worry that enthusiastically sharing something that I loved, will mean others are disappointed by it. So to manage any expectations, if you don't like dry or self-deprecating types of humour, this is not for you. If you don't like cantankerous people or hearing opinions you might disagree with, this is definitely not for you.
Watching Pretend It's a City was also a good reminder that sometimes, sitting down with a great piece of storytelling or documentary-making is just as useful, insightful and entertaining as a book (and actually better than some books). It's easy to snobbishly dismiss the more visual forms of storytelling, reserving them for guilty pleasures or 'lazy evenings'. But I think we need to escape that.
Yes, plonking yourself in front of the box, night after night, might not be the best use of your time and human potential. But as with anything, adding some intent, and regaining some control over what you're fed by the algorithms, can be an excellent combination of entertainment, escapism and (if you want) education.
Personally, I'm going to do it a little bit more often. Next on my watch list are Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, The Creative Brain and Rolling Thunder Revue.
In learning across mediums,
Steph
PS. To borrow from Austin Kleon (and everyone else who borrows this from Austin Kleon), this newsletter and the podcast are 'free but not cheap'. You can support their creation by purchasing your next book through my affiliate stores with Book Depository (global) or Bookshop (US), buying me a coffee or leaving a podcast review on the website. Thanks!
January reading
What I read this month.
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (so far)
Verdict: I'm still going with this one (I'm 77% through), and have a goal to finish it by 31 January. I'm learning more about the fears that exist on the more extremes of American politics (on both sides) and Obama's descriptions of the process to get policies through the various hurdles. It's also an insightful look at how Obama had to personally reconcile his overwhelming desire to create real (and much needed) change, with the frustrating reality of having to make endless concessions to get bills and policies approved. His descriptions of some other leaders/politicians/celebrities/commentators and what he really wanted to say in certain press conferences are pretty entertaining.
Keep Going by Austin Kleon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verdict: Packed with beautifully presented ass-kickings and wisdom, Austin Kleon has remained on-form from his previous books Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work. I went away feeling pepped-up and inspired to try some different creative outlets and mediums with my journalling and idea generation. As with his previous books, it's not written as long prose, meaning you can open it whenever you're feeling flat and receive an immediate dose of inspiration.
How to Enjoy Poetry by Frank Skinner
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verdict: After Holly Cardamone (lovingly*) lambasted me last year for admitting that I didn't get poetry, I thought I should try harder. Sorry Holly. Luckily one of my favourite comedians, Frank Skinner, released this teeny tiny book late last year. For something so small, it packs a punch. It's funny, useful and gave me a new appreciation for the depth of thought that reading poetry requires. I look forward to revisiting it when I'm feeling brave enough to tackle reading a poem...
(*I think?)
A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie Tu (fiction)
⭐️⭐️
Verdict: I really wanted to enjoy this debut novel from Jessie Tu after hearing Leigh Sales rave about it. But for me, it just didn't cut it. The concept and characters are gripping enough (I read the book in a day) but the story gave too much over to the shock factor of the 'rude' scenes, rather than developing these fascinating characters and complex relationships out more.
PS. if you'd like to take better book notes this year, you can enjoy a 15% discount on your very own copy of the Archley's Book of Books book journal, here^.
Ear food
Tim Ferriss and Derek Sivers - I've listened to this episode at least once, if not twice, a year, for the last 3-4 years. It's packed with thoughts on bucking conventional wisdom, why 'the standard pace is for chumps' and why we don't always need a plan. (Spotify / Apple)
Not a podcast but essential listening: Amanda Gorman's rendition of her poem, The Hill We Climb, at last week's inauguration. (Watch/listen)
Ok, I have a confession. I've been listening in on Clubhouse conversations more than I've been listening to podcasts in the last couple of weeks. If you're on Clubhouse, I'm hosting weekly Clubhouse Bookclub sessions on there, follow me @stephclarke to be notified when they happen. (And I'm getting back into podcasts this week as I miss them).
Meanwhile, on the bookshelf
Recent Steph's Business Bookshelf podcast episodes, in case you missed them...
Anything You Want by Derek Sivers
(Spotify / Apple)
Upstream by Dan Heath
(Spotify / Apple)