I tend to read a lot of American history. Right now am reading an 1846 diary that chronicles travel on the Santa Fe Trail, and Philbrick’s Brilliant Ambition about Washington and Benedict Arnold. For fun, Ann Cleeves’ Dark Wives. As far as TV news, I watch about an hour in the evening weekdays, nothing on weekends as I can’t stand more.
My husband and I were also a part of silicon valley ages ago and he DEVOURED Wynn-Williams Careless People. Every day he’d tell me about the book and it was so fascinating I’ll be listening to it next… even through I know the whole thing!
We subscribe to PBS passport and there are so many great shows. All Creatures Great and Small is soothing. No drama or stress.
Hacks on HBO is fairly fast moving drama/comedy. I absolutely love Jean Smart.
If you haven’t checked out Trevor Noah’s podcast, I highly recommend it. Thoughtful, entertaining and relevant.
And every night I read Louise Penny’s mystery series. No stress, excellent writing, and seemingly endless books in the series (I think she’s on book 19?)
Jennifer, we loved “Creatures,” as I call it and have watched every episode. And I looove Louise Penny; pretty sure I’ve read every one of her books. I agree with you; she’s a very good writer. Do you get her monthly e-newsletter? She sends it, without fail, on the 1st of every month; it’s charming.
A lot of overlaps with your recommendations, Debbie! I'm reading Careless People and really enjoying it – an eye-opener. I'm not surprised there's been some pushback from the megacorp, exactly as you'd expect after reading her book!
Debbie, Appreciate your thoughts very much. Navigating the churn in the political game of rugby and the disruption of the markets make for 'tough sailing.' Coming from a decade of working on the NYSE, and two decades as an investor relations counsel, I see this for what it is: a re-calibration. I stopped reading the NY Times decades ago, and am more of a WSJ guy, not so much for financial, but I can't stand the new Times brand: NYTP - the New York Talking Point. As a former Manhattan resident, I can't believe what has become of that city. Growing up when Broadway was a garden of great art (Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line, Crimes of the Heart (Pulitzer winner - which I was part of the production team back in the day when I worked for Warner Communications), Mame, Arms Too Short to Box with God, etc., The NY Yankees wonderful championship teams with Joe Torre, the Giants and 2 Superbowl wins... sorry, it just ain't nothin like it was. We have crossed a threshold (AI) in which knowledge is a commodity and truth is disposable. So what am I reading? A famous collection of short works, AKA The Bible (especially the Book of Proverbs ), which deals with the dysfunction that we are dealing with today. I am also about to start Mel Robbins' book "Let Them." And now because I live and work virtually on the shore, rarely miss a sunrise.
May be head in the sand syndrome, but my tendency is to not listen, watch or read much at all. Besides, it is 90% negative and bad shit because that is what sells when we know there is also much good but that doesn’t sell in MSM and they are bottom line, profit motivated. The shift from serious news to more entertainment-focused programming in news broadcasting happened gradually, starting in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990’s.
This got me thinking about the compulsion to be productive, and how that varies from one person to another. For me, productivity is 1) improving skills, 2) tackling new subjects, and 3) trying to reach understanding at a deeper level. If I do that a certain number of hours in a day, I feel GOOD, otherwise, I feel BAD. So, Spanish classes (to stay connected with daughter Amanda in Costa Rica), studying immigration law, playing more music with friends, and so forth.
FWIW, my "never miss" podcasts are Ezra Klein and Hard Fork; my fiction reading consists of classic novels no longer than 200 pages (so many authors, so little time); and I usually have going a non-fiction book on something new or challenging--I just finished The Social Genome by Dalton Conley, a Princeton guy with PhDs in sociology and genomics; Sam will have to explain it to me someday.
Jamie, now you are going to put me to shame. I'd like to say that I'm daily studying French but I'm too lazy (however, spoke a lot of French in Paris recently). I've listened to Hard Fork too; they're a bit too tech bro' for me sometimes, but it's good info. And for heavensake, tell us the titles of your 200-page classics so we can all read them! "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton comes to mind (105 pages). What else??
Great news about Judith Viorst! Loved reading her books to my 2nd and 4th grade students! I’ve been away…so catching up on 1923 series and Reacher series has kept me away from news. (I keep aware with HCR and a few SS journalists here.
I love mysteries and thrillers… just ordered my friend Brian Gruley’s newest book BITTERFROST! You can find him here on Substack! 😉Thanks for these great suggestions, Debbie! I’ve missed connecting with you… will catch up soon! 🥰🤗☺️
I am also reading a lot. Fantasy, murder mysteries and more. Watched "White Lotus" and "1923" and other escape TV. Getting on the treadmill daily. Learning Portuguese on DuoLingo. Anything to avoid listening to too much news.
I am swimming. (I live in Las Vegas, and it's already hot here). When in the pool I look at the delicate leaves on the surrounding trees, an occasional humming bird looking for a bloom.
![[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!i8Z0!,w_80,h_80,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaaca764-d8d6-4a1b-bf58-61dbb72810fc_842x842.png)
![[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!i8Z0!,w_36,h_36,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaaca764-d8d6-4a1b-bf58-61dbb72810fc_842x842.png)
![[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fEcd!,e_trim:10:white/e_trim:10:transparent/h_72,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95ad4442-e435-4ebc-a8d2-9c9b89a8bdb6_2100x400.png)
I just go to bbc news app. Click on what I want.
I’m studying A Course in Miracles.
Don’t watch mainstream tv.
Don’t look at newspapers.
I’ve deleted my Facebook from phone and just have it on my iPad.
I listen to audio books about my favourite subjects.
I get out in nature as much as possible.
I have coffee with friends and avoid politics.
Patricia, coffee with friends… the best medicine for laughing and shutting out the news!
We LOVED Adolescence and didn’t know that each was filmed in one take! That’s wild!
omg, I can't wait! As a kid, I felt like Alexander really understood me when no one else did. Best books ever.
I tend to read a lot of American history. Right now am reading an 1846 diary that chronicles travel on the Santa Fe Trail, and Philbrick’s Brilliant Ambition about Washington and Benedict Arnold. For fun, Ann Cleeves’ Dark Wives. As far as TV news, I watch about an hour in the evening weekdays, nothing on weekends as I can’t stand more.
Crowdsourcing ideas is what I need!
My husband and I were also a part of silicon valley ages ago and he DEVOURED Wynn-Williams Careless People. Every day he’d tell me about the book and it was so fascinating I’ll be listening to it next… even through I know the whole thing!
We subscribe to PBS passport and there are so many great shows. All Creatures Great and Small is soothing. No drama or stress.
Hacks on HBO is fairly fast moving drama/comedy. I absolutely love Jean Smart.
If you haven’t checked out Trevor Noah’s podcast, I highly recommend it. Thoughtful, entertaining and relevant.
And every night I read Louise Penny’s mystery series. No stress, excellent writing, and seemingly endless books in the series (I think she’s on book 19?)
Thank you for starting this conversation!
Jennifer, we loved “Creatures,” as I call it and have watched every episode. And I looove Louise Penny; pretty sure I’ve read every one of her books. I agree with you; she’s a very good writer. Do you get her monthly e-newsletter? She sends it, without fail, on the 1st of every month; it’s charming.
A lot of overlaps with your recommendations, Debbie! I'm reading Careless People and really enjoying it – an eye-opener. I'm not surprised there's been some pushback from the megacorp, exactly as you'd expect after reading her book!
Another ex Meta exec, Kelly Stonelake, is suing them for sexual discrimination and retaliation. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/kelly-stonelake-says-her-lawsuit-against-meta-alleging-sexual-discrimination-and-a-culture-of-silencing-women-has-struck-a-chord/ar-AA1zwoHx
[full disclosure: our daughter is her attorney]
very interesting!
Debbie, Appreciate your thoughts very much. Navigating the churn in the political game of rugby and the disruption of the markets make for 'tough sailing.' Coming from a decade of working on the NYSE, and two decades as an investor relations counsel, I see this for what it is: a re-calibration. I stopped reading the NY Times decades ago, and am more of a WSJ guy, not so much for financial, but I can't stand the new Times brand: NYTP - the New York Talking Point. As a former Manhattan resident, I can't believe what has become of that city. Growing up when Broadway was a garden of great art (Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line, Crimes of the Heart (Pulitzer winner - which I was part of the production team back in the day when I worked for Warner Communications), Mame, Arms Too Short to Box with God, etc., The NY Yankees wonderful championship teams with Joe Torre, the Giants and 2 Superbowl wins... sorry, it just ain't nothin like it was. We have crossed a threshold (AI) in which knowledge is a commodity and truth is disposable. So what am I reading? A famous collection of short works, AKA The Bible (especially the Book of Proverbs ), which deals with the dysfunction that we are dealing with today. I am also about to start Mel Robbins' book "Let Them." And now because I live and work virtually on the shore, rarely miss a sunrise.
Interesting; thank you Anthony
The Pitt is really good!
Marina, will look for it!
May be head in the sand syndrome, but my tendency is to not listen, watch or read much at all. Besides, it is 90% negative and bad shit because that is what sells when we know there is also much good but that doesn’t sell in MSM and they are bottom line, profit motivated. The shift from serious news to more entertainment-focused programming in news broadcasting happened gradually, starting in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990’s.
This got me thinking about the compulsion to be productive, and how that varies from one person to another. For me, productivity is 1) improving skills, 2) tackling new subjects, and 3) trying to reach understanding at a deeper level. If I do that a certain number of hours in a day, I feel GOOD, otherwise, I feel BAD. So, Spanish classes (to stay connected with daughter Amanda in Costa Rica), studying immigration law, playing more music with friends, and so forth.
FWIW, my "never miss" podcasts are Ezra Klein and Hard Fork; my fiction reading consists of classic novels no longer than 200 pages (so many authors, so little time); and I usually have going a non-fiction book on something new or challenging--I just finished The Social Genome by Dalton Conley, a Princeton guy with PhDs in sociology and genomics; Sam will have to explain it to me someday.
Thanks again for the thought-provoking post.
Jamie (spouse of Lucy)
Jamie, now you are going to put me to shame. I'd like to say that I'm daily studying French but I'm too lazy (however, spoke a lot of French in Paris recently). I've listened to Hard Fork too; they're a bit too tech bro' for me sometimes, but it's good info. And for heavensake, tell us the titles of your 200-page classics so we can all read them! "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton comes to mind (105 pages). What else??
Thanks for all your recs Debbie, and now I plan to read in the middle of the day too. Of course TV is only allowed after dinner.
ha ha Jane, of course, a TV series AFTER dinner! And after I do the dishes, as my husband generally cooks.
Great news about Judith Viorst! Loved reading her books to my 2nd and 4th grade students! I’ve been away…so catching up on 1923 series and Reacher series has kept me away from news. (I keep aware with HCR and a few SS journalists here.
I love mysteries and thrillers… just ordered my friend Brian Gruley’s newest book BITTERFROST! You can find him here on Substack! 😉Thanks for these great suggestions, Debbie! I’ve missed connecting with you… will catch up soon! 🥰🤗☺️
Thank you Joan! "Bitterfrost" sounds terrific: https://www.amazon.com/Bitterfrost-Thriller-Bryan-Gruley/dp/1448315409 And Bryan Gruley sounds amazing (he shared a Pulitzer for his coverage of 9/11 for the Wall St Journal). https://bryangruley.substack.com/
I am also reading a lot. Fantasy, murder mysteries and more. Watched "White Lotus" and "1923" and other escape TV. Getting on the treadmill daily. Learning Portuguese on DuoLingo. Anything to avoid listening to too much news.
thank you Anne; yours is the second mention of 1923 so it's definitely going on my list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_(TV_series)
I hope you enjoy it. Helen Mirren is a bad ass in her role as the matriarch.
Alt news source: Know Your Enemy
I will check out Know Your Enemy, Aster. Thank you. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-your-enemy/id1462703434
I am swimming. (I live in Las Vegas, and it's already hot here). When in the pool I look at the delicate leaves on the surrounding trees, an occasional humming bird looking for a bloom.
ooo how lovely to be swimming outside and admiring the trees. Such a nice image; thank you Diana.