The Iliad by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles. My 14-year-old son Gus just finished this Homeric epic, and he really enjoyed it. We’ve had some great conversations about it. Fagles’ translation is my go-to for Homer because it’s accessible without dumbing down the poet’s power. It’s a hefty tome at nearly 700 pages, but Gus said that while it wasn’t an easy book, it read quickly. When I asked what lessons he took from the Iliad, he responded: “Don’t crash out over women.” This is why we read the Great Books!
The Cyclone at Coney Island. During a recent family trip to NYC, we took the Q train out to Coney Island to take in the sights, eat a hot dog, and ride the Cyclone. While we went expecting a slice of Americana, the destination was…decidedly seedier than expected. Nonetheless, the Cyclone rollercoaster was still a highlight. This wooden coaster has been around since 1927, and it’s one of the most exhilarating rides I’ve been on. As one would expect, the Cyclone offers a rougher, more unpredictable ride than modern steel coasters. Every turn feels like it might send you flying out of the cart, there are plenty of satisfying drops, and it goes on longer than you expect. The thing is almost 100 years old and still delivers.
The Night of the Hunter. If you’re looking for a Southern Gothic thriller that’s equal parts beautiful and terrifying, cue up this 1955 masterpiece. Charles Laughton’s sole directorial effort follows a sinister preacher (Robert Mitchum), “LOVE” and “HATE” tattooed across his knuckles, as he hunts two children for their father’s stolen money. Set along the Ohio River during the Depression, it has that distinctly Southern Gothic atmosphere — religious fanaticism and moral decay lurking beneath piety. Laughton’s stark cinematography turns it into a dark fairy tale. It feels at times like a Twilight Zone episode. And Mitchum’s performance is top-notch.
The Great American Fitness Boom. Derek Thompson recently published a fascinating analysis showing that, contrary to what you might assume, Americans are working out more than ever, with exercise participation up 20% since 2003. The trend is being led by young people and older women. Thompson argues the rise in exercising amongst the former group reflects a cultural shift where young people are “health-maxing” instead of partying — trading late nights for early morning workouts. A trend within this trend that’s interesting is how Americans are exercising: while more Americans are working out, they’re increasingly doing it by themselves and at home. Group fitness classes like SoulCycle and CrossFit have cratered, while at-home yoga sessions and garage gyms have skyrocketed. We had Derek on the podcast a while back to discuss his article about the problem of social isolation, and his latest data suggests that the uptick in Americans exercising by themselves might be contributing to it. It’s great that folks are prioritizing physical health, though they might improve their all-around well-being by exercising with others.
On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Average Is Over (In Everything).
Quote of the Week
Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.
—Ernest Hemingway
