culture porn 6/16
our summer reading list
screenshot me:
the witches of new york (audible)
after seeing this recommended by our client kaley, i downloaded it on audible. it was the perfect listen for a memorial day weekend motorcycle trip - late 1800s NYC and witches? say no more, i'm so there.
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the overstory (w. w. norton)
my costa rica trip was the perfect backdrop for reading richard powers' pulitzer-prize winning, transcendent epic. the lives of a group of characters become intertwined by the climate emergency, moved by the silently sentient lives of the natural world all around them.
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from strength to strength (portfolio penguin)
i'm a longtime fan of arthur c. brooks' great columns in THE ATLANTIC about happiness, and this book on navigating mid-life and mid-career transitions is my new bible. even if you're in the early stages of your career, this book (along with rick rubin's A THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING) helps you envision and evolve a successful life at any age.
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women holding things (harper collins)
a dear friend gave me this book by maira kalman and it filled my heart. having met tibor kalman (the artist's late husband and founder of the legendary design firm M&CO), when working on the rebrand of LIFETIME in the 90s, her innocent but pointed illustrations connect me to my early days as a creative.
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the light years: a memoir (chris rush)
when one of my local bookshops was doing their big sale of the year, i purchased this gem. it's a compelling memoir of a teenage boy, coming of age and coming out in the 70s. chris recounts his cross-country travel and experimenting (and addiction) with drugs. it may sound heavy, but the book maintains a strong sense of artistic expression and beauty. this would make a great film or series: putting it out into the universe!
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weather (vintage contemporaries)
lately, i've gravitated to stories that explore the interior lives of women. and i loved diving into jenny offill's stream of consciousness, where her everyday musings about home, family, and work are invaded by a growing sense of "eco-anxiety."
insights & inspo
caroline calloway survived cancellation. now she’s doubling down
call it narcissism, call it performative, call it whatever you want- @carolinecalloway has been resurrected from cancel culture and her new book SCAMMER lands this friday. we’re not sure who the authority is that crowns one an “it girl” but she has been crowned. she may be more warhol than edie but only time will tell if she becomes part of the zeitgeist forever. 👑✨
more insights here
cheesier, saucier, and drowning in caviar. how tiktok took over the menu.
if you’re not on TikTok are you even a restaurant? the demands of the “for your pleasure” algorithm have restaurants focused on designing dishes that go viral. do you watch then eat? 🎞️🍽️
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
it seems the pandemic changed my own circadian rhythms. these days i am definitely a morning person, aka a lark. and it was only when i started going to bed with a sleep mask did i realize how much i sleep i was missing thanks to the little lights in my room, and seeping around the shades. with brain health being so top of mind for people, sleep hacks are getting more attention.
even parodies are under attack. a court just ruled that a dog toy spoofing JACK DANIEL'S iconic label violated the distiller's copyright, saying it confused consumers. even marcel (my frenchie) would know the difference: only one of them squeaks when squeezed.
people are hating on THE IDOL for its trashiness, and i’m enjoying the hypocrisy - especially when beauty magazines tout dubious, GOOP-ian like practices as “wellness” and “empowerment.” thanks to @melissataylorblum for resurfacing this 2022 gem just in time for summer. sun’s out, bum’s out!
for linda’s full debrief, head here