Spring break edition!
RWL #386
Greetings from the Last Homely House! It’s spring break! Woop-woop! And this week on “professors gone wild”, we find Bonica sitting at home… reading! It’s going to be an exciting episode! Stay tuned as he makes a sandwich and goes for a walk! Does it get any more boring than that?
I don't see you guys rating
The kind of mate I'm contemplating
I'd let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite youThere’s a little 80’s throwback for you! Now you can’t get it out of your head! You’re welcome. Seriously, I’m enjoying relaxing a bit, though I have lots of projects cooking. The lovely wife (TLW) is neck-deep in taxes (she’s a tax accountant), so I have a lot of time on my hands this week. It’s nice to have an extra scoop of freedom on top of the large dollop I normally enjoy. Life is good.
Meanwhile, outside the crocuses have raced ahead of the daffodils to have the first blossoms, as usual. It is so lovely to have those delicate drops of color return. TLW told me this morning that the forecast is calling for a 15 inch snow storm next week - we’ll see. A lot could chance between now and then. I’m about ready to put the snow blower away for the season - but she may get one last ride for glory!
On to the links! As usual, willing good for all of you!
**
Read
What: Steve Martin, Born Standing Up
Why: I’m not a Steve Martin fan. I have bad second hand embarrassment and I don’t like absurdism - so his comedy just never worked for me. However, I really liked this memoir of his early career in stand up comedy. The book has an occasional wry quip, but it’s mostly not meant to be funny. Instead, it’s a meditation on pursuing your calling. I came to have an admiration for Martin through reading this book. Even though I don’t like his comic work, I respect the focus and discipline he applied to have a chance at being great. He describes thousands of repetitions of his material, constantly testing new ideas and keeping what worked and tossing what didn’t. The degree of dedication is almost superhuman - which is why so few people stick with a discipline like this.
I blew through the book in two days, which is rare for me these days, but his story spoke to me. You don’t have to like his work - this is a great book about doing The Work.
**
What: Abigail Shrier, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up
Why: Also a book recommendation. I recommended an interview with Shrier a couple of weeks ago, and I got the book shortly after. The premise of the book can be summed up with this quote: “American kids are the freest, most privileged kids in all of history. They are also the saddest, most anxious, depressed, and medicated generation on record.” Why? She makes an argument throughout the book that the therapeutic turn in our culture, and the over use of therapy by providers but also an over use of therapeutic interventions by non-therapists in our schools and elsewhere is having an adverse effect. I had never really thought of therapy as possibly having iatrogenic potential, but upon reflection, of course it does. Iatrogenic means medicine that causes harm. It’s easy to see how chemotherapy, for example, has iatrogenic properties. It’s basically poison that an oncologist is feeding you in metered doses, with the hope that your healthy cells will be able to stand up to the treatment while the cancer cells will not. But talk therapy? I, like most parents of my generation, assumed at best it could help, and at worst it would be harmless. But therapy can cause harm. Furthermore, the language and approach of therapy has leaked out into the mainstream where its tenets are being used by unqualified people. Shrier makes a strong case of, as the British say, “keep calm and carry on.” That’s actually a healthier approach to stress than ruminating on it. When everything is trauma, nothing is trauma, but we are all traumatized. If you didn’t check out the interview, do that first, then get a copy of this book, especially if you have kids.
**
Watch
What: Living WITHOUT - How Much is Enough? (11 min)
Why: I’ve written on this topic - how much is enough? - many times. It’s one of life’s Big Questions. This short film has really lovely cinematography and sound editing, along with explaining the hedonic treadmill (they don’t use that term). I think I am less anti-consumerism than they are - I believe in having enough to take care of yourself so that you do not make yourself dependent on others. That requires a degree of thought and balance. The film implies that high earners must sell their souls - I don’t think that is true. You can be a senior executive and be living your true calling. Or you can sell your soul because you’re doing something that is not your calling. Life is not black and white.
But that said, this short film is lovely.
**
Listen
What: Health Leader Forge, Darin Roark, President of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (84 min)
Why: My latest HLF podcast is with Darin Roark, the President of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH, the next town over from UNH. I enjoyed this conversation with Darin, who is a nurse by training, and became a nurse after being accidentally electrocuted when he was vacuuming up live coals (spoiler alert: don’t do that!). Seriously, he’s a great guy who has an incredible work ethic. If you’re a young person looking to make your way in the world, this is worth listening to. A bit along the lines of Steve Martin’s story.
**
What: Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast, The Single Most Egregious Violation of the Fourth Amendment (40 min)
Why: I didn’t like Charles when I first heard him on the National Review Editor’s Podcast, but what I have found is he gets a lot of stuff right, and that makes him worth listening to. As an immigrant, he brings a slightly different (if British) perspective to American politics. It’s a nice lens that is just one degree off, but because of that one degree, it helps you see things in better relief. In this episode he talks with Institute for Justice (IJ) attorney Robert Frommer about an absolutely bonkers case of civil forfeiture the IJ has stepped in to fight. Civil forfeiture is when the police or similar entity steps in and takes your stuff, ostensibly because it was being used in a crime, and you have to prove you weren’t engaged in a crime to get it back. No trial, no presumption of innocence. I don’t really have an issue with the police taking drugs from criminals, but anything other than contraband should have some process that requires the police to prove that you were up to no good. The case discussed her involves the FBI using civil forfeiture on a company that provides safe deposit boxes. The FBI had evidence that some of the boxes were being used illicitly, so they used that to confiscate all of the boxes! Now legitimate owners are having to prove their innocence to get their stuff back from the FBI.
I am a fan and supporter of the Institute for Justice because it takes on cases like this to protect civil liberties. This pod is worth a listen - skip to about 10 minutes to get past Charlie’s introductory commentary and ads.
**
What: Unherd, Rob Henderson: How Luxury Beliefs took over the elite (25 min)
Why: I recently discovered this pod and I like it so far. We’ll see how long it stays in rotation. On this episode he interviews the psychologist Rob Henderson about his new memoir, Troubled. Henderson grew up in foster care and troubled homes, but then made it to Yale and Oxford. He now has an interesting substack and writes with great insight on social issues, especially around class. He’s credited with coining the term “luxury beliefs” which refer to beliefs that are harmful to the poor, but rich people can hold them because their wealth protects them from the policy impacts. Worth a listen.
**
What: Hard Fork, A Looming TikTok Ban + A Royal Photoshop Mystery + Your Car is Snitching (76 min)
Why: I want to recommend this podcast generally, not just this episode. I discovered this pod a few months ago and I am really enjoying it. If you have an interest in tech, but you aren’t a tech-head, this pod is for you. They hit just the right level of techno-babble without losing me. The hosts are funny and insightful.