Flint and Tinder Reverse Sateen Fatigue Shirt. Years ago, I picked up a vintage military-inspired field jacket from Flint and Tinder that’s become one of my go-to pieces. They discontinued it, but this reverse sateen fatigue shirt (really more of a shacket) is pretty close to that field jacket. The reverse sateen weave is the same fabric used in classic M-51 military uniforms. Flint and Tinder added just enough stretch to make it comfortable for all-day wear without losing that rugged, broken-in military heritage. Perfect for the coming spring when you need that lighter layer for in-between temps.
“Arthur’s Theme” by The New Edition. I’ve got a weird soft spot for muzak. You know what I’m talking about: smooth, instrumental versions of pop hits that filled department stores in the ’80s or were played in elevators. It provides some background stimulation without being distracting. The New Edition has a muzak take on Christopher Cross’ “Arthur’s Theme” that slaps and is nostalgia-soaked. Takes me right back to Saturday afternoons at Montgomery Ward in the 1980s. It’s great to listen to while you’re doing puzzles. Check out my complete muzak puzzle playlist.
Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World by Tyler Cowen and Daniel Gross. I like reading Tyler Cowen. He’s always got some interesting, contrarian takes. Talent didn’t disappoint in that department. The premise of the book is that most of us are terrible at spotting talent, whether we’re hiring employees, choosing business partners, or just trying to figure out who’s worth listening to. Cowen and Gross argue that traditional interviews and résumés miss what actually matters. Instead, they offer practical frameworks for identifying high performers. Look for people who are “energizers” rather than “de-energizers.” Ask candidates what they’ve been learning lately or what they’re obsessed with. One bit that stuck with me: people who’ve overcome real adversity often have a kind of resilience and resourcefulness you can’t teach. It’s a quick read, but packed with lots of interesting insights.
“Frank Sinatra Has a Cold” by Gay Talese. This 1966 Esquire profile is one of those pieces that gets referenced constantly in discussions about magazine writing, so I finally got around to reading it. Journalist Gay Talese wanted to do a profile of Sinatra, but the singer was sick and refused to be interviewed. So Talese built his piece by spending months hanging around Sinatra’s entourage, talking to everyone in his orbit, and observing the crooner at work and play. You’re with Sinatra in recording studios, watching him brood in restaurants, and feeling the tension when his mood darkens. Talese uses something as mundane as Sinatra having a cold as a way to reveal the guy’s character — his volatility, generosity, paranoia, and charisma. This is one of the canonical examples of “New Journalism,” which uses the tools of fiction to write nonfiction. If you’re interested in what great writing can look like, it’s essential reading.
On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: The Sweet Taste of (Healthy) Revenge and DB Dialogues: On Happiness in Action.
Quote of the Week
A man who has never enjoyed beautiful things in the company of a woman whom he loved has not experienced to the full the magic power of which such things are capable.
—Bertrand Russell
