Welcome to this week’s 5BF: understanding life through the
genius, love, and courage of mankind, the Oprah factor in book’s success and
craze of Sally Rooney, the US President on the day of 9/11, the rise of pornographic
films, and more…
1 – what I read
Figuring by Maria Popova – over the past month, I read a
chapter a night from this book on my tablet and it delighted and comforted me throughout,
so much so that I plan to do the same with other books. A beautifully and eloquently
written book that tells the stories of a selected few of incredible humans and
their incredible achievements, Popova’s book is ode to reading, contemplating,
and writing; an expansive study of life through people from varying sciences
and arts and their courageous stories. Excellent.
2 – this week’s articles
How 9/11 changed US fiction @nytimes – with the dark date
upon our heads, twenty years after, this article talks about the effects that
infamous day had on American fiction since; from terror and wars and grief to
unfair treatment of Muslim communities, and so on.
American empire in retreat @nytimes – 9/11 also forced US to
start their war on terror against Iraq and Afghanistan, the later of which they
recently had to abandon. With Afghanistan now in the hands of the Taliban, this
article reflects on the sad story of this twenty years long war.
The Oprah effect @nytimes – ‘Oprah Book Club’ has become the
angel promoter behind many author and their book’s success. This thorough article
explains the whole process and magnitude of the effect Oprah’s book club has
had on success of books.
The Cult of Rooney @vox – with her third novel out, making a
buzz in the literary world, Sally Rooney, author of ‘Normal People’ has certainly
become a sensation and status symbol for readers out there, and this article
explains the magic of Rooney that so appeals to the young readers out there.
No neural fix for addiction pandemic @aeon – while the world
is waiting for a neural fix for the cure of addiction for the mounting numbers
of addicts, this article argues against it saying there are other more
prominent and prevalent causes for addiction, like biological, behavioral, and environmental,
and that a neural fix, even if found, won’t be enough.
3 – what I watched
9/11: inside President’s war-room (BBC Documentary) – a thrilling
and enlivening retelling of a most awful and tragic day in US’s history from
the perspectives and stories of the people in charge of the country that, President
Bush himself among many others. This doc succeeds in making a statement of how
awful and terrifying that day must have been.
The Deuce (HBO) – a story about 19-something New York about
the prostitution business, and how the changed into pornography and brothels
when certain laws against censorship changed and the mafia started to pour money
into this new business that is now worth billions. A show that will get you
hooked; brilliantly told and acted.
100 Foot Wave (HBO) – the story of Gavin McNamara and his quixotic
journey of finding and riding the hundred-foot wave. A thrilling, exhilarating,
and ambitious six-episodes documentary.
4 – this week’s podcast
Jimmy Wales @timferrisshow – the founder of Wikipedia talks
about his journey from an accounting firm to becoming an entrepreneur in the
booming age of internet. He talks about leaving his stable job and jumping ship
into startups, failure of his first internet encyclopedia ‘Newpedia’ and its eventual
succession into ‘Wikipedia’ which everyone who has used the internet knows
about.
5 – this week’s quote
‘Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with
consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.’
- Maya Angelou