Welcome to this week’s 5BF: cheers to 50 5BFs, what connects
all mental illnesses and a cure, the greatness of a teacher in honesty, Brene Brown’s
rules for life, and more…
1 – what I am reading
Raja Gidh (Vulture Prince) by Bano Qudsia – while I
partially loved the epic novel ‘River of Fire’ by Quratul ain Haider and am yet
to finish it, Qudsia’s novel is more straightforward yet equally as rich,
philosophical, and homely familiar. My first Urdu novel that I am truly, with
all my heart, having a great time reading.
Men without Women by Haruki Murakami – on this end, this is
also my first book of short-stories that I am truly having a fun time with.
Kundera’s book of short-stories ‘Book of Laughter and Forgetting’ didn’t get a
five star from me, but Murakami’s most likely will. Every story is pact full of
emotions and pressing questions to ponder upon.
2 – this week’s articles
The life and death of our jeans @NYtimes – a short but
impactful article about the most commonly worn, and bought and disposed, piece
of clothing: jeans. The threats we pose to the environment with such mass and
rather unnecessary consumption is alarming and a new genre of books spreading
awareness about it is positive step towards conscious clothing.
Did Rousseau have ADHD @aeon.com – an article that reinforces
how genius is also found with a touch of madness. While Rousseau’s greatness
and genius revolutionized the world, his flaws were more harshly felt by
himself and those closer to him. Yes, he had his weaknesses from his strengths,
but which in the end mattered more?
The seed of suffering @aeon.com – a theory that aims to find
a common feature in all mental illnesses, from depression to mania, and tries
to connect them all, the p-factor might as well be true even if only
statistically. But the theory itself beckons our attention towards how mental
illnesses are planted and spread, and how we can stop it all from the
beginning.
3 – this week’s podcast
Brene Brown @timferrisshow – with one of the top five most
watched TED talks under her name, Brown is an American researcher on human
vulnerability. In this fun, inquisitive, and suggestive podcast Brown shares
her views about ordinariness, self-awareness and acceptance, family, and more.
4 – movie recommendations
Cruella (2021) – a fast-paced, fun, thriller, and highly
fashionable movie, Cruella is Disney-remake movie about a bipolar girl,
Estella, whose sweet side eventually goes rogue, and she becomes Cruella. A
talented fashion designer, she now goes head-to-head with the fashion icon, Baronesse,
the antagonist of the movie: taking an old-time revenge. Have-a-good-time
movie.
The Emperor’s Club (2002) – a lecturer of history who teaches
about Greek and Roman empires to young students, receives a difficult,
rich-spoiled student, the son of a senator, in his class. The tries his very
best to teach him both history and principal therein, but would he succeed? And
what would that tell about his duty as a teacher?
5 – this week’s quote
Ilm hamesha maloom she na-maloom ki taraf ley jata hain.
‘Knowledge always takes one from known towards the unknown.’