Everyone speaks of New Years resolutions, but no one seems to focus on taking stock of the previous year as a means to inform the path forward. In my experience, the act of making New Years resolutions–without more– is a recipe for failed dreams. If you don’t know where you’ve been, it’s hard to figure out where you want to go, much less how to get there. I encourage you to sit down with a pen and paper and spend some time asking: what did you accomplish? What did you want to accomplish? What could you have done better? What did you do just right? Who or what are you especially grateful for? As I spent time reviewing my own 2022, here are the books, movies, music, and things that influenced me the most. I hope you find some gems to enjoy and to share in 2023. Happy New Year!
Reading
All Quiet on the Western Front
As I’ve mentioned previously, along with The Things They Carried, this is truly one of the greatest (anti) war novels of all time and is also one of my favorites works of fiction.
The author, Erich Maria Remarque, was a German soldier during the First World War, and subsequently became an ardent anti-war activist before fleeing to America upon the Nazi Party’s acquisition of power.
One point that particularly struck me was Paul’s feelings towards the uber-patriotic adults who give no thought to sending their youth off to war. Those fervent citizens who “were convinced that they were acting for the best – in a way that cost them nothing.”
For us lads of eighteen they ought to have been mediators and guides to the world of maturity … in our hearts we trusted them. The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first death we saw shattered this belief. We had to recognize that our generation was more to be trusted than theirs. They surpassed us only in phrases and cleverness. The first bombardment showed us our mistake, and under it the world as they had taught it to us broke in pieces.
While they continued to write and talk, we saw the wounded and dying. While they taught that duty to one’s country is the greatest thing, we already knew that death-throes are stronger. But for all that we were no mutineers, no deserters, no cowards–they were very free with all these expressions. We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from true, we had suddenly learned to see. And we saw that there was nothing of their world left. We were all at once terribly alone, and alone we must see it through.
As I read the novel, I wondered how much was true, how much was fiction, and whether the truth hides within the fiction. As Tim O’Brien noted in The Things They Carried: “A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.”
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
If you’re looking for a book to set the tone for a new year, I can think of few books better than this compilation of Naval’s ruminations on wealth and happiness. The observations are not necessarily novel and his viewpoint is not necessarily unique, but Naval has the unrivaled patience and wisdom to examine topics from an inverted viewpoint and to break down accepted (and unaccepted) ideas into their fundamental components before rebuilding them into more practical and effective insights. Inherent in these insights is a rare philosopher’s voice that allows him to communicate these truths on Wealth and Happiness in a way that is accessible without being dilutive.
I highly recommend picking up this book to read through once and dip your toes into at least once a year.
This is How They Tell Me the World Ends
In the twentieth century, the world worried itself with mutually assured destruction brought about by nuclear weapons. In the twenty-first century, we’ll worry about computers. A fascinating and terrifying look into the world of cyberweapons and cyberespionage being facilitated or sponsored by nation states and rogue organizations. The book is essentially a compendium of the author’s career as the New York Times’ cybersecurity journalist and catalogues (often in first person storytelling with the caliber of a spy novel) the major cybersecurity events of the past twenty years.
Watching
All Quiet on the Western Front
It’s rare for a movie to capture the storytelling power of an iconic work of fiction. It’s even rarer for a movie to capture the exact feelings and emotions one experiences when reading such a work. As with the book, the film creates scenes from which the viewer tries desperately to look away–not because of violence or gore, but because of the film’s ability to capture the horrific depths of the things men do to one another.
Equally captivating was the director’s choice to utilize a more modern, ominous soundtrack that contrasts with the aged trappings of a century-old war. Similarly, the unique and beautiful cinematography that focuses on such an ugly subject brings an intimacy to and closeness with the soldiers that immerses the viewer in the story’s first-person narrative.
The lead actor, Felix Kammerer, gives an unparalleled and heart-wrenching performance as the young German solider, Paul Bäumer, a volunteer fighting through the depths of the First World War. The movie is in German, but honestly, Kammerer’s performance renders dialogue unnecessary. By the final battle of the war, nothing is left of Paul but mud and smoke and blood and chaos and acceptance. A full, bright, and upstart face has been whittled away to a vacant, hollow stare that is indifferent to death or fear or hope. For why should he fear death when there is nothing left for death to take.
I highly, highly recommend reading the book, taking a break, and then watching this movie. It will truly change your perspective on what our men and women give when we ask them to go to war.
The Righteous Gemstones
This is the kind of show about which my wife and I constantly find ourselves saying, “I really wish there were more episodes!” Well, I am glad to report that, after a brief hiatus, the show is currently filming a second season slated for release sometime in 2023. The show follows a famous, yet utterly dysfunctional family of televangelists, dealing with competitors, petty family squabbles, and the always-entertaining “Uncle Baby Billy.” The show is such a clever, playful storyline that is both entertaining and hilarious, despite the fact that the plot could stand alone as a dark drama.
A Christmas Story Christmas
This movie really went under my radar. I reluctantly watched it, but was pleasantly surprised and happy I did. In the same way the original “A Christmas Story” provided a comically realistic view of childhood, family, and friends, “A Christmas Story Christmas” reminds us of the importance of these loved ones are once we grow older. And perhaps more importantly, it provides comfort in knowing that although we can feel lost after losing a loved one, we can take comfort in knowing that our loved ones have spent a lifetime preparing us for how to carry on their legacy and their lessons. Because in the end, we’ll want to do nothing more than remember the good times and forget the bad. And it’s only at that point that we remember: they were all good times.
Nightmare Alley
I honestly cannot believe that I had never heard of this movie when my wife suggested we watch it one night. I was blown away: from the incredible writing, to the simple yet gripping visual storytelling, and a truly top-notch performance from each member of the stellar cast. Every single actor gave one of their best performances that I can remember. I cannot believe that this movie did not win dozens of awards.
Bradley Cooper plays the role of a grifter who joins a travelling carnival and surprisingly (to everyone but him) becomes the star charlatan of the production. He has that Saul Goodman-like ability to grasp wins out of the most hopeless of situations. After Cooper’s character sets his sights on a bigger prize, we wait to discover whether this flawed hubris will be his downfall.
The story itself reminded me of the slow, methodical moral character studies that were prevalent with movies like Memento, Chinatown, or American Beauty, but seem to be somewhat lacking of late. Stories where the director has expertly crafted the viewer’s journey to be a maze of chaos and ambiguity, all while leaving a subtle blindspot into the true nature of our protagonist.
I have always known that Guillermo del Toro is an incredible storyteller, but this movie takes him to entirely new pedestal. I will be reading the book upon which this movie is based, but I cannot imagine it being better than del Toro’s adaptation.
Listening
The Lord of the Rings Audiobook by Sam Gamgee
For fans of the movies and books, this is a perfect audiobook production that blends Tolkien’s writings with the splendor of the Peter Jackson movies. The narrator/voiceover actor delivers a performance on par with the movie productions, and his voices hearken back to the movies’ actors, yet are unique and clever in their own right. The background features a steady supply of sound effects, giving the quality of a perfectly executed radio show. But perhaps the best part is the near-constant backing soundtrack of Howard Shore’s original movie score. And the best part of all? It’s free!
Father’s Day – Armchair Expert Podcast
Some people just know how to tell a good story. Taylor Sheridan. Stephen King. The teetering drunk on the last barstool, spinning yarns to anyone who will listen.
You know the characters. You feel the action. You accept (and sometimes regret) the end. And while Dax Shepard has had plenty of practice studying the craft, something tells me that it comes naturally for him. His painful and joyful remembrance of a man who was not always the best father (a near real-life Royal Tenenbaum) is a lesson in mistakes, regrets, and ultimately, redemption and salvation.
Etc. – Things I’m Using
GORUCK Rucker 4.0
For the last year, I’ve made it a point to take a 20-60 minute walk each night with my dog, Indy. It’s good for my mental and physical health, and it makes Indy insanely happy (each night at 8pm he won’t leave my side until I agree to his demands for a walk.) One of my health goals has always been to maintain the ability to walk long distances uphill, carrying a heavy pack. So what better way to systemize that goal than combining my nightly walk with a heavy pack?
I have used dozens of packs carrying weights from 5 to 75 pounds, and this one is the most comfortable and overbuilt of them all. GORUCK is independently-owned, which means they answer to no one, and accordingly, don’t scrimp on quality or cutting corners. They’ve recently branched out to footwear, and I’ve been impressed by the shoes and boots they have developed. The Rucker is an amazing product that has really turned my nightly walk into a way to fit some quality weight training into my day. I’d highly recommend it as an easy way to work in some training and get outside in your neighborhood.
Ember Mug 2.0
My wife bought me this mug for Christmas, and I was a bit skeptical at first. Much to my surprise, however, once I dialed in the “set it and forget it” temperature regulation, the Ember Mug was able to keep my coffee at the perfect state of maximal flavors and aromas. And if nothing else, it keeps my coffee warm when my dog demands a walk in snowstorm.
But most importantly, it has resurfaced two universal truths: (1) reserve judgment until it is earned/warranted and (2) a good spouse often knows you better than you know yourself.
Todoist
I spend the early part of 2022 evaluating task management software that would help tame the chaos in my job and my personal life. My work as a patent attorney requires that I have multiple balls (sometimes dozens) in the air, with my own tasks to complete, tasks I’ve delegated, and tasks for which I am waiting from responses from clients or third-parties. Keeping track of all these different tasks was proving cumbersome and unwieldy. I was also worried that something might slip through the cracks if I did not find a system that was simple, quick, and allowed me to easily view and update a task’s status as the responsibility for the task moved across the different parties during the lifetime of a project.
I pored over productivity reviews and watched countless videos, searching for that Holy Grail of task management, and I was surprised how many other people seemed to be in the same boat. I tried at lease five or six other other software solutions before settling on ToDoist, and even with ToDoist’s free trial, I’ve found the perfect mix of a simplicity of use and a surprising robustness of features, even on the Free Plan. Considering that paid plans start at around $3/month, I could easily see myself upgrading in the future.
I should also mention that around this time, I read David Allen’s Getting Things Done book, which is probably one of the most practical and helpful books I’ve read in a long time. I found that ToDoist was easily adapted to my modified version of the “GTD” method. For almost a year now, I have been able to use ToDoist to offload all the tasks bouncing around my brain, while staying easily organized and focused on my tasks and keeping abreast of tasks on which I am awaiting deliverables from someone else.
If this sounds like you and the “Holy Grail” of organization that you seek, I would seriously recommend giving ToDoist a try. And if you’re looking to implement a GTD method of task management, it is extremely easy to implement this system on the ToDoist platform. Best of all, the Free Version is completely adequate for all but the most complex of needs, and even then, the pricing is more than reasonable.
