Greetings from the University of New Hampshire! The crazy weather we’ve been getting with pseudo-Hurricane Lee gave us a gorgeous sunset. It looks like a wildfire, but it was just a fabulous evening driving home from seeing the in-laws. We’re bumping back down - September is always hotter than I remember it from my childhood. It’s like one more blast from the furnace to get us all to say, “OK - we’re ready for cooler weather.” I busted out my slippers this weekend - after having only put them away in July.
That’s life in New Hampshire. I run around barefoot for a couple of months, then it’s back to Sorrells and Uggs.
But you know, my father keeps bringing us apples, so this week I found a new recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction (one of my favorite food bloggers) for brown butter apple blondies. It’s got apples in it, so it’s pretty much health food.
I’m off to Portland Thursday and Friday to speak at a long-term care conference, but I’ll be back Sunday with the last installment of the Three Justices. As usual, willing good for all of you!
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Read
What: Tracy Kidder, Rough Sleepers
Why: This is a book I just finished reading and I really want to recommend it to any of you who are looking for good non-fiction, especially around social services and public health. I heard about it on the Long Form Podcast and shared that interview back in the spring. I’ve been telling my colleagues about it and giving it to a couple of physicians in my life. “Rough sleepers” refers to homeless people who choose not to live in shelters for whatever reason. The book is about a Dr. Jim O’Connell who has spent his medical career working in the Boston Health Care for the Homeless program. It is truly inspiring to read about the commitment of so many people to the most fragile among us. Kidder (the author) tells a great story that humanizes all the participants. If you are in healthcare, you should read this book to help remind you of our mission.
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What: Danusha Lameris, Small Kindnesses
https://www.danushalameris.com/poems
Why: I saw this poem on someone’s social media and went to find the author's page. I have her book on order, but do click through and read this poem (it is the second one down when you hit the link above). It concludes:
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here,
have my seat,” “Go ahead—you first,” “I like your hat.”
Yes, this isn’t a question for me. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
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What: Marshall Goldsmith, Try Feedforward instead of Feedback
https://marshallgoldsmith.com/articles/try-feedforward-instead-feedback/
Why: “We can change the future. We can’t change the past. Feedforward helps people envision and focus on a positive future, not a failed past.” This is an interesting approach to leadership training and coaching.
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Watch
What: Seth Godin, Quieting the Lizard Brain (19 min)
Why: Seth Godin is hard to characterize - marketing maven, motivational speaker, innovative thinker, guru, empty suit? Sometimes I like him, sometimes I think he is just selling himself. This isn’t exactly a raving endorsement. But I think this short talk is actually pretty good. He brings together several interesting themes in a clever way. I’m working on a book chapter I agreed to write for a text book and I have a hard deadline of Nov 1. I “shipped” a draft to my co-author on Saturday. It’s a long way from perfect, but it went out. That puts us one step closer to done. Shipping - that’s the important thing. Good message.
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What: Bloomberg, How China Plans to Win the Future of Energy (17 min)
Why: This is actually a relatively non-political, neutral review of how China plans to make the green transition, along with some reasons as to why they need to do it for their own interests. Some interesting lessons and thoughts about greening.
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Listen
What: Hard Fork, Casey v. Kevin on US v. Google + Walter Isaacson on Two Years With Elon Musk (58 min)
Why: I recently discovered this NYT tech pod and I really like it. I’m recommending this ep because of the interview with Walter Isaacson who has recently published a biography of Elon Musk. I am a big Isaacson fan, having read his Steve Jobs, Ben Franklin, and Leonardo Da Vinci biographies. The Isaacson part of the interview starts at about 21 minutes. As I have mentioned before, I am a huge fan of Musk, and Bezos, too. Both have driven fundamental change in our economy. If anything, I think those two are underrated. I haven’t picked up the book yet, but definitely will be reading.