Casablanca. I finally got around to watching this 1943 classic. What’s funny is that it’s so embedded in our culture that I thought I’d already seen it. But while I knew the famous lines and the general story, I’d never actually watched the whole thing. Now that I have, I can understand why it’s so iconic — it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. At just 1 hour and 42 minutes, it doesn’t waste a single frame. Every scene moves the story forward. The ending got me: I teared up watching Rick put Ilsa on that plane. When I had Waller Newell on the podcast to talk about the code of manhood, he mentioned Casablanca as a perfect example of how love can inspire noble actions. Rick goes from cynical café owner to a man willing to sacrifice everything for a greater cause. If you haven’t seen this classic yet, queue it up this weekend. 

Why a College Basketball Coach Writes Hundreds of Handwritten Notes Every Month. The New York Times recently ran an article about Buzz Williams, the men’s basketball coach at Maryland, who writes 200 to 300 handwritten notes each month. Every week, each player gets a note in his physical mailbox. Williams also has his players write weekly thank-you letters to people who’ve helped them, then shows them how to address the envelope and mail it (not always common knowledge these days!). One of his players, Pharrel Payne, followed Williams from Texas A&M to Maryland in part because of the bond they formed through those letters. We’ve been big advocates of the handwritten letter for years. Great to see an example of its power out in the wild. 

Burberry London. I featured this cologne in our recent article on three signature fragrances every man should have. I picked it up because I wanted something specifically for the holidays; something that smelled like Christmas. Burberry London delivers. With notes of port wine, cinnamon, and leather, it’s like walking into a Fezziwig party. Most guys stick with one cologne year-round, but there’s something satisfying about having an annual rotation. It adds a bit of seasonal texture to life and marks the passage of time in a small but tangible way. If you’ve been wearing the same fragrance for years regardless of season, consider spicing things up by reaching for something warm and festive during the holidays.

Practice in Still Life by Adam Robbert. This book is a slow, rewarding read. Robbert explores how different practices — whether prayer, contemplation, or philosophical study — actually reshape how we perceive reality. The core idea is that askēsis, spiritual exercise, isn’t just about self-improvement. It fundamentally changes what we’re able to see and experience. The book draws from mystics, monastics, and philosophers across centuries, showing how their disciplines weren’t abstract theorizing but concrete methods for encountering truth. It’s a dense book. You’ll need to sit with it and maybe reread sections. But that’s part of the point. Understanding takes practice, and this book embodies what it’s teaching.

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published How I Work: The FAQ and Sunday Firesides: Yes, Whammies!

Quote of the Week

People who honestly mean to be true really contradict themselves much more rarely than those who try to be ‘consistent.’

—Oliver Wendell Holmes

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Pentax K1000 Film Camera. Our son Gus had expressed interest in getting a manual film camera, so we recently gifted him one for his 15th birthday, choosing the Pentax K1000. This classic tank-like camera was used by high school and college photography classes from the late ’70s through the ’90s. Built like a brick with minimal electronics to fail, it forces you to actually learn photography. There’s no auto anything. You set the aperture, shutter speed, and focus yourself. The only battery it needs is for the light meter. Gus got his first roll of film developed, and the results have been impressive. He snapped a quick picture of me that turned out legitimately cool. Looks like it was taken in the 1970s. The future is analog, friends. 

“In Defence of Men” by Will Storr. We had Will Storr on the podcast several years back to discuss his book on social status. He recently published a piece on masculinity that cuts through the usual “what’s wrong with men?” discourse. His core argument is this: competence is central to male identity. Not power, not dominance. Just wanting to be good at something. He backs this up with research showing how manhood, unlike womanhood, has always been something that must be earned and proven through displays of skill. From tribal hunting tests to modern obsessions with smoking meats and building ships in bottles, men seek mastery. He makes the case that the increase in middle-aged suicide among men might be attributed to men feeling their competencies declining and their usefulness evaporating. He points to the Men’s Shed Movement in Australia as one solution that actually gets it right. They give men communal spaces to fix things and teach skills, acknowledging that men often connect better “shoulder to shoulder” while working on tasks rather than face-to-face over lunch. 

Re-Arrange Us by Mates of State. Kate and I discovered Mates of State way back in the 00s, and their 2008 album, Re-Arrange Us, has reappeared on our driving playlist lately. A few of my favorite songs are “My Only Offer,” “Get Better,” and “Jigsaw.” The songs are catchy, and the back-and-forth between the band’s husband-and-wife duo — Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel — is charming. Naturally, I think it’s that marital dynamic that I really appreciate about Mates of State. Gardner and Hammel have been making music together for over two decades, touring with their kids in tow, building both a family and a catalog of great indie pop. Kate and I relate to that partnership aspect, as we both work and raise a family together (here’s how the professional side of our partnership plays out). Not many couples can pull off that level of collaboration without combusting. 

Do One Thing Different by Bill O’Hanlon. After coming across the idea of “solution-oriented therapy” while reading Dan Heath’s book Reset (check out the podcast episode I did with him about it), I wanted to read something on the topic and picked up Do One Thing Different. Unlike traditional therapy that digs into your past traumas and analyzes why you’re messed up, O’Hanlon’s method focuses entirely on what’s working and how to do more of it. Instead of spending months excavating childhood wounds, solution-oriented therapy asks: When is the problem not happening? What are you doing differently then? His classic example: a couple comes in that’s been fighting constantly. Rather than unpacking their attachment styles or family histories, he asks about times they don’t fight. If they don’t fight during walks, the prescription is to take more walks when tension builds. O’Hanlon argues that people already have solutions buried in their daily lives; they just haven’t noticed them. It’s radically pragmatic. 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Adam I, Adam II: On Building, Being, and Living Life Well and Sunday Firesides: Love Is a Mutual Admiration Society.

Quote of the Week

He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.

—Johann Kaspar Lavater

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

David Coggins’ No-Nonsense Guide to Embracing the Holiday Season. The holiday season is approaching, and repeat AoM podcast guest David Coggins has an article on Artful Living on how to embrace the festivities with some grace and style. A few of his suggestions that stood out to me: keep holiday gatherings simple, consumable indulgences like French butter cookies make a solid gift, always write a handwritten thank you note, and use the season to make some bold sartorial choices like wearing tartan pants. This article is classic Coggins: thoughtful without being precious, elegant without being stuffy.

Japanese Rib Knit Beanie. As the temperatures start to fall around here, my morning walks get nippy, and I begin busting out this beanie. Crafted in Japan in a classic fisherman design that never goes out of style. Comes in different colors. Pick up one (or two) for the winter season. They make a great stocking stuffer!

King of the Tenors by Ben Webster. We featured this album in our guide to getting into jazz. And for good reason. Lots of great songs on here. Ben Webster’s version of “Tenderly” shows what made him special. He’s got a breathy, vocal vibrato at the ends of phrases that feels like it’s coming from his throat, not his sax. “That’s All” is a great song to put on your Thanksgiving playlist. If you think jazz is all frenetic bebop or abstract noodling, this will change your mind. Webster’s tone is warm and lyrical. 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: Boredom Cures Boredom and The Wearing-Pajamas-to-the-Airport Theory of Societal Decline.

Quote of the Week

Let us do our duty in our shop or our kitchen, in the market, the street, the office, the school, the home, just as faithfully as if we stood in the front rank of some great battle, and knew that victory for mankind depended on our bravery, strength, and skill. When we do that, the humblest of us will be serving in that great army which achieves the welfare of the world.

—Theodore Parker

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Where Have All the Trick-or-Treaters Gone? Destination Neighborhoods. Maybe you’ve noticed fewer and fewer trick-or-treaters showing up at your door in recent years. There could be several factors contributing to this. Perhaps trunk-or-treats (a phenomenon I’ve never understood) are siphoning them off. Maybe the demographics in your neighborhood have shifted over the years, and fewer families with young kids live there. Ryan Allen offers another possible explanation: winner-takes-all markets. He argues that trick-or-treating has turned into a “destination” event. Families pile into their cars and drive to the “famous” Halloween neighborhoods — where many of the homes are decorated with elaborate spooky scenes and hand out full-size Snickers bars — while the streets in their own neighborhood sit dark and empty. Social media has only exacerbated this trend, as people share all the “hot spots” in town to hit. It’s a perfect little parable of modern consolidation. The neighborhoods rich in trick-or-treaters get richer, and the neighborhoods poor in trick-or-treaters get poorer.

The Dark Secrets of Adulthood. I had Gretchen Rubin on the podcast a while back to talk about her book Secrets of Adulthood and had a lot of fun discussing her short aphorisms for living well; it was one of my favorite episodes this year. In our conversation, she mentioned she had compiled a separate list of “dark secrets of adulthood” — more negatively-tinged pearls of wisdom — that didn’t fit the book’s more inspiring theme. She recently shared her dark secrets in an ebook available on her Substack, and they’re great to read through. Here are a few that stuck out to me:

• People who behave badly are more likely to become famous, because they’re more interesting; in this way, we reward their bad behavior.
• Some people get energy from being perpetually irritated.
• If we get our sense of purpose from being needed, we may need to feel needed. In fact, we may create need, in order to be able to fulfill need, and in creating need, we foster dependence.

The Wages of Fear. I recently finished this Henri-Georges Clouzot classic. Here’s the plot: four broke men are hired to haul trucks full of nitroglycerin across miles of rough South American terrain. One wrong bump means instant death. It’s such an intense movie, and it’s been a big influence on a lot of directors. You can see hat tips to the film in Sorcerer, The Deer Hunter, and even Mad Max: Fury Road. Besides being a thriller, the movie hits on a lot of existential themes. And that ending! Didn’t see that coming.

LMNT Chocolate Caramel. When you think of electrolytes, you typically think of drinking something fruit-flavored and cold. But LMNT has a line of hot chocolate-esque mixes that are perfect for the fall and winter months. I was introduced to them when LMNT sponsored the podcast way back when (they’re not currently a sponsor), and the drink has become a cold-weather ritual for me. My favorite is the Chocolate Caramel. The tasty flavor is rich and salty (of course!). I’ll sip it while sitting on the porch in the cold after stepping out of the sauna. The contrast between the hot drink and the crisp air, combined with that post-sauna glow, feels awesome. It’s hygge, and I’m getting electrolytes. 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: The Saddest Epitaph and How to Think About Luck.

Quote of the Week

Laziness grows on people; it begins in cobwebs and ends in iron chains. The more one has to do the more he is able to accomplish.

—Sir Thomas Buxton

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents. If you’re looking for a television show that breaks away from the samey-samey feel of contemporary Netflix fare and offers a slice of midcentury style and suspense, queue up Alfred Hitchcock Presents. From 1955 to 1962, the famous filmmaker brought the ethos of his movies to the small screen. You don’t have to commit to a full season or storyline; just drop in anywhere and enjoy each 25-minute, self-contained tale, which often ends with a satisfying twist. The feel is kind of like The Twilight Zone, but without the supernatural element, and whereas Rod Serling intended his storylines to be morality fables, Hitchcock’s narratives have a darker and more sinister vibe. (Hitchcock embodies this same vibe himself — there’s honestly something disquieting about the guy.)

Men Who Don’t Use Soap, Explained. Michael Sebastian at Esquire explores the growing number of men who’ve sworn off soap. The premise, popularized by physician and writer James Hamblin, is that your skin’s bacteria form a natural ecosystem, and constantly scrubbing it with soap wrecks the balance. Give your body time, the theory goes, and it’ll recalibrate: you won’t smell like sandalwood or citrus, but you won’t reek either — you’ll just smell like a human being. I’m not sure if I buy the “you won’t smell if you don’t use soap” thing. I knew a guy in Vermont who didn’t use soap or wear deodorant, and the dude smelled like an oniony BK Whopper all the time. 

Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Shorts. These shorts have recently been getting some attention, as the singer Harry Styles wore them when he ran a sub-three-hour marathon. But I’ve been wearing them for a few years now, and not for running — for my regular weightlifting workouts. They remind me of 70s-era bodybuilder shorts. The short 4″ inseam may not be for everyone (especially those not working out at home), but I really like the comfortable range of motion the shortness provides. I also really like the material — a soft, lightweight, flexible mesh that’s much nicer-feeling than the stiff thickness of other technical fabrics. Kate also swears by these shorts both for running and her weightlifting workouts. 

“Compensation” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This essay by Emerson isn’t as well-known as his one on self-reliance, but it’s definitely worth a read. Emerson argues that everything in nature operates by a universal law of balance; every action has a consequence. Every good (other than pure virtue) comes with a penalty; every crime gets punished, if not externally, then in the deterioration of the nature of the person who commits it. People try to separate out the inextricable parts of things — the cause and effect, the seed and the fruit, the sweet and the bitter — but you can’t pick up one end of the stick without picking up the other. 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: Forget Me Not and Patrick Hutchison on What Restoring a Cabin in the Woods Taught Him About Confidence and Contentment.

Quote of the Week

To every man there openeth

A Way, and Ways, and a Way,

And the High Soul climbs the High Way,

And the Low Soul gropes the Low,

And in between on the misty flats,

The rest drift to and fro.

But to every man there openeth

A High Way and a Low,

And every man decideth

The Way his soul shall go.

—John Oxenham

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

The Age of Innocence. I recently asked ChatGPT for a random movie recommendation from the Criterion Collection (I wrote a Dying Breed article this week about what that is and how I’ve been using it in my approach to watching films). It spit out The Age of Innocence. I was initially intrigued by the fact that it was a rated PG movie from Martin Scorsese who’s more famous for his R-rated fare. Based on the Edith Wharton novel of the same name, The Age of Innocence is set in 1870s New York high society. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Newland Archer, a man torn between duty and desire in a world ruled by unspoken codes. It’s a typical romance story, but what I really like about the movie is Scorsese’s eye for historical detail. He highlights the unspoken and forgotten meaning of social gestures, like the significance of giving a woman certain types of flowers or the way you fold a calling card. The cinematography is really rich; even though it sometimes only focuses on the little details of a Gilded Age household, it truly captures and holds your attention. 

Ask What Your Gym Can Do for Your Country. Elisabeth Braw at the Financial Times writes about an interesting trend among Gen Z: they’re not only hitting the gym in droves (more than a third exercise regularly), they’re volunteering for civil defense groups. At least in Europe. Germany’s voluntary military service applications are up 15 percent, and Finland’s Reservists’ Association has added 4,000 new members this year. Braw argues that governments should capitalize on this trend by expanding civil defense organizations to be more like Sweden’s. During the Cold War, Sweden had nationwide groups of radio operators, truck drivers, and dog trainers, all supporting the armed forces indirectly; today, 380,000 Swedes are active in these organizations. The article makes a compelling case that we should be channeling today’s abundant gym energy into something bigger than individual gains and welcome the idea of coupling personal fitness with civic service. 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Back in September, my son, Gus, and I decided to tackle this massive tome together. All 1,200+ pages of it. He beat me to the finish line by a week. But man, what a ride. This book is pure fun from start to finish. As Gus put it, the Count of Monte Cristo has “aura.” The guy can do anything. He’s impossibly wealthy, speaks every language, knows every secret, anticipates every move. He’s basically a 19th-century Batman. But beneath all the swashbuckling adventure, there’s wisdom on the value of patience and the corrosive nature of vengeance. The intertwining storylines can be tough to follow, but that complexity is part of the fun. You’re constantly discovering how everything connects. Wait and hope!

Cleveland Kitchen Classic Kimchi. Every morning, I eat a scoop of kimchi with my eggs. My go-to for a while now has been from Cleveland Kitchen. You can find it in most grocery stores. I started eating it for gut health. As I discussed with Dr. Brett Finlay on the podcast, fermented food (like kimchi) can help your gut microbiome. I don’t know if it’s changed my body’s bugs, but I like how it tastes. It’s got that vinegary burn that makes my eggs taste less boring. I reckon my dad would say kimchi puts hair on your chest.

On our Dying Breed Newsletter, we published 7 Stellar Biographies I Highly Recommend Reading, Becoming a Cinephile, Fifteen Minutes at a Time, and Sunday Firesides: True Free Speech. 

Quote of the Week

Trouble is the next best thing to enjoyment; there is no fate in the world so horrible as to have no share in either its joy or its sorrows.

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Bellroy Hanging Toiletry Kit. My old dopp kit finally gave up the ghost after years of faithful service, so I’ve been in the market for a replacement. I’ve carried a Bellroy wallet for years (here’s why it’s the best wallet I’ve ever owned), so when I discovered they made a toiletry kit, I decided to purchase it. The design is smart: it sits upright on a counter, hangs from a retractable aluminum hook that fits over doors and towel rails, and has a flat profile for packing in your luggage. Inside, there are well-thought-out pockets to organize your toiletries, like one just for your toothbrush so you don’t get shaving cream on it. It seems durable and capable of taking a beating. If you’re in need of some tips on what to pack in your dopp kit, check out our handy visual guide.

The Seven Samurai. I finally got around to watching Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1954 epic The Seven Samurai this past week. It’s been on my “to-watch” list for several years. Now I understand why film buffs never shut up about it. The story is pretty simple: a farming village hires seven ronin to defend them against bandits. But Kurosawa uses this simple story to explore honor, sacrifice, and what it means to be a warrior when the old ways are dying. Each samurai gets a distinct personality and fighting style, from the wise leader Kambei to the wild, unpredictable Kikuchiyo. The acting is top-notch, and the cinematography is awesome. For an American adaptation of The Seven Samurai, check out the Western The Magnificent Seven.

The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’ by Bill Zehme. I can still remember browsing the aisles at Barnes & Noble back in 1999 when I stumbled across this book. Sixteen-year-old me was deep into a swing music phase and obsessed with the whole ’50s Rat Pack era. I bought it on the spot and still have that same dog-eared copy on my shelf. Zehme drew on interviews with Sinatra himself, plus Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, and others to capture how Ol’ Blue Eyes approached everything from friendship to fighting to the proper way to wear a tuxedo. It’s a fun read full of insights about living with swagger. Over the years, it’s inspired a few AoM articles, including Frank’s guide to tipping and talking. I still thumb through the book when I need a reminder that style isn’t just about what you wear — it’s about how you carry yourself.

The Right Kind of Stubborn. Paul Graham wrote an essay distinguishing persistence from obstinacy. They look identical (both involve not giving up), but they’re fundamentally different. When you point out problems to persistent people, they listen intently. The obstinate won’t listen at all. Graham argues that the key distinction between the two is that the persistent are attached to the goal; the obstinate are attached to their ideas about how to reach it. The persistent are open to different ways to accomplish the same aim; the obstinate are not. Besides a focus on the overall goal, Graham lists four other qualities of the persistent: energy, imagination, resilience, and good judgment. Something to think about the next time you find yourself banging your head against a problem: Are you being persistent or obstinate? 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published The Passionless Game: Kierkegaard on Why Sports (and Life) Feel Flat and Sunday Firesides: The Common Denominator Is You.

Quote of the Week

There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousand truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away.

—Henry Ward Beecher

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Land’s End Striped Rugby Shirt. While researching the rugby shirt guide we published earlier this week, I purchased one from Land’s End. At around $50, it’s reasonably priced and well-made. It’s 100% cotton that’s been garment-washed so it feels broken in, not stiff. They’ve got several color options; I went with the dark walnut brown/navy stripe. Looks sharp and will definitely be a style staple for me this fall. 

America Gave Up on the Best Home Technology There Is. The McKays have been looking into getting an old-school AT&T landline installed in our house. Surprisingly, our 12-year-old daughter Scout has been the one pushing for it. What’s funny is that I’ve been seeing more and more articles about people bringing landlines back to their homes after a decade of relying solely on cellphones. Ian Bogost recently made the case for it in The Atlantic, arguing that we lost something important when we ditched home phones. A landline belongs to the family, not just one person. When phones became personal property, we lost a sense of the household as a unit; when you’re sharing a line, handing off calls, and taking messages, you naturally know more about each other’s lives and function more as a team. Plus, there’s the safety angle of having a landline (your children know exactly where to find a phone in an emergency, no passcodes required), and it’s just a fun way for kids to talk to their friends before they have a smartphone (which is why Scout wants one). 

Gone With the Wind. After Kate recently read Gone With the Wind (and pronounced the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel magnificent), we decided to watch the film adaptation as a family. We split the nearly four-hour runtime over several nights. It was my first time seeing the 1939 epic starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, and I honestly really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure the kids would stick with it, but they were into it too. My daughter kept muttering, “She’s so cringe,” every time Scarlett threw a tantrum or manipulated another man (so these utterances were made a lot). The movie is beautifully shot, the story is compelling (though Kate says you lose an unforgivable amount of it from the novel), and the acting is top-notch. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend giving it a watch.

Range (Adapted for Young Readers) by David Epstein. We had David Epstein on the podcast several years ago to talk about his book Range. It’s one of my favorite episodes. His core argument is that generalists often outperform specialists, especially in complex fields. Epstein’s research shows that sampling widely before specializing often leads to better outcomes than drilling down early. So when I saw he’d adapted Range for young readers, I immediately picked up a copy for my kids. I’m always encouraging them to try a bunch of different things while they’re young, and it’s nice to have another voice reinforcing that message. The kids’ version has the same great stories but with a shorter length and without the academic jargon. 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: Don’t Judge a Decision Based on the Result and Dying Breed Dialogues: Baseball as a Way to God.

Quote of the Week

There are parts of a ship which taken by themselves would sink. The engine would sink. The propeller would sink. But when the parts of a ship are built together, they float. So with the events of my life. Some have been tragic. Some have been happy. But when they are built together, they form a craft that floats and is going someplace.

―Ralph W. Sockman

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Winchester ’73. After years of knowing James Stewart primarily for It’s a Wonderful Life and Hitchcock thrillers, I finally dove into his Western work with this 1950 gem directed by Anthony Mann. Stewart trades his aw-shucks everyman persona for something grittier as Lin McAdam, a man on the hunt for his stolen Winchester ’73 rifle. The film follows McAdam’s pursuit as the rifle changes hands across the Old West, linking together a cast of characters whose fates intertwine in unexpected ways. The ending delivers an awesomely unexpected twist. If you’ve only known Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, Winchester ’73 will change how you see him as an actor.

Live a Little. This is one of my favorite Substack newsletters. It’s written by John Thompson, a men’s lifestyle writer who’s done stints at Men’s Health and BroBible and is the current copy editor at Huckberry. Thompson curates products the way a well-traveled buddy would. No fluff, just the good stuff. His weekly “Field Journal” covers everything from selvedge denim to camping gear and cool stories he’s come across on the interwebs. I’ve grabbed a few items based on his recommendations. Check it out and subscribe.

Feetures Elite Max Cushion Tab Socks. These are my go-to daily socks. What sets them apart is the targeted compression and anatomical design — they actually have left and right foot specific construction, which seems to make a difference in fit. They feel like they properly hug your feet and provide a little support. Made in the USA and long-lasting.

Walt Whitman’s Guide to Manly Health and Training. Before Walt Whitman became America’s most famous poet, he moonlighted as a 19th-century fitness guru. In 1858, he anonymously penned newspaper columns dispensing advice on diet, exercise, grooming, and sports, and this book collects extracts of his health-related writing. For Whitman, bodily vigor was the foundation of true manliness. He encouraged readers to walk daily, do calisthenics, take cold baths, and eat beef (because it was strengthening). Basically the sort of advice you see from bro influencers today, but couched in more interesting prose. It’s a fun, short read with plenty of timeless advice. 

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published The Mystery of Moods and Sunday Firesides: You Get What You Pay For.

Quote of the Week

Life is a leaf of paper white

Whereon each one of us may write

His word or two, and then comes night

Greatly begin! Though thou hast time

But for a line, be that sublime—

Not failure, but low aim, is crime.

—James Russell Lowell

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Vero Smokey Bear Watch. I’ve been looking for a nice field watch and was stoked to come across this Smokey Bear edition watch from Vero. It’s very well-made and handsome (as is the box it comes in, which would make it great for gifting), and it features an automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve. If you’ve read the site for a while, you know my grandfather had a big influence on the Art of Manliness. He worked for the US Forest Service during his entire career, so I love the nod to the organization emblazoned on the watch’s face. Whenever I look down to check the time and see Smokey Bear, I think about my grandpa . . . and the admonition to put out my fire completely when I’m camping. 10% of proceeds from each watch directly support fire prevention efforts. Grandpa Hurst would dig that.

The biggest issues facing youth sports? Early specialization. Former NFL tight end Greg Olsen, now a Fox broadcaster and youth sports coach, tackles what he calls “the single greatest issue facing youth sports”: early specialization. Kids and families feel immense pressure to pick one sport young or risk falling behind peers who’ve been grinding at basketball or baseball year-round. Olsen’s solution? Buck the trend and expose kids to as many sports as possible for as long as possible. Each sport develops athletic aptitude in its own way and imparts different lessons — baseball teaches mental toughness and how to handle failure, basketball sharpens speed and situational awareness, football builds grit and the ability to grind through pain. Seek to raise well-rounded competitors rather than narrowly-focused specialists. This piece reminded me of a podcast I did several years ago about the myths around kids and sports.

The Red Shoes. I’ve been having ChatGPT randomly suggest movies from the Criterion Collection to shake up my usual viewing habits. When this 1948 film about a ballerina popped up, I was dubious. But I really enjoyed the film. The movie is visually stunning, and the acting is top-notch. What really hooked me, though, was the story. It’s about the sometimes agonizing choice between love and professional ambition. It’s a theme that transcends ballet and hits anyone who’s wrestled with competing passions. No wonder Scorsese and Tarantino cite this flick as a major influence on them.  

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: The Sandals That Never Wear Out and Why I Love Reading Biographies.

Quote of the Week

Cynicism such as one finds very frequently among the most highly educated young men and women of the West results from the combination of comfort with powerlessness. Powerlessness makes people feel that nothing is worth doing, and comfort makes the painfulness of this feeling just endurable.

—Bertrand Russell

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.