Dad Books Are a Dying Breed. The WSJ had a piece this week on how serious nonfiction sales are tanking. We’re talking WWII histories, shipwreck narratives, and the doorstop presidential biographies. They’re the kind of nonfiction books you’d give your dad for Father’s Day or Christmas. Sales for these books are down 8% this year, with politics and current affairs down 19%. Jonathan Burnham at HarperCollins blames podcasts. The guy who used to read a 700-page Chernow biography is now listening to The Rest is History on his commute. He’s scratched the itch. I don’t know if I buy that theory completely. Listening to podcasts about a nonfiction dad book usually nudges me to pick up a copy of the book for myself, but I’m a readerly guy so maybe I’m more the exception than the norm. I do think people spending more time online watching YouTube, scrolling Instagram, and the like has displaced time that would have been spent reading. This article made me think about my piece on 90s Dad Novels from a few weeks ago. The Grisham and Clancy mass-market paperbacks used to share the recliner end table with the Stephen Ambrose hardcover. Both a dying breed now.
The Working Man’s Triathlon. This event recently crossed my desk. The Working Man’s Triathlon is an all-day event that’s been going on since 1992 in which guys get together to golf, bowl, and play pool all in one day. The pitch is that all three sports are things average guys can become adept at — no college or pro career required. The WMT has been held in different cities over the years, and this fall it’s coming to Dallas for the first time. It’s set up as a 501(c)(3), and each year they pick a local charity in the host city to support. I’m always for events or groups designed to get men together to do stuff and enjoy some camaraderie. If you’re in the Dallas area, check it out.
Flint and Tinder Slub Henley. Most of my wardrobe comes from Flint and Tinder, and this henley is one of my go-tos. The slub cotton has an irregular thread texture that breathes well in the summer, and it’s garment-dyed so it feels broken-in from day one. I have it in navy. Great casualwear staple that you can throw on with a pair of khakis. Fun fact: the henley gets its name from Henley-on-Thames, the English town where 19th-century rowers wore them as their uniform. So when you put one on, you’re basically dressing like a Victorian-era oarsman; it’s a garment that’s rugged and athletic with a dash of the gentlemanly. Check out our article on how to style a henley.
Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation. I’ve started watching this 1969 BBC documentary series during my Zone 2 cardio. Thirteen episodes of British art historian Kenneth Clark walking you through the history of Western art, architecture, and philosophy from the fall of Rome to the 20th century. He filmed on location across 13 countries, just standing there in his tweed suit explaining why the Roman Empire collapsed or what Erasmus was up to. It’s the opposite of how documentaries are made today. No dramatic music swells, no quick cuts. Just a smart guy leisurely telling you about smart stuff. You can watch the series for free on YouTube.
On our Dying Breed newsletter, we announced a summer book club (read Lonesome Dove with me!) and published Sunday Firesides: Self-Development Is a Duty.
Quote of the Week
“The body of an athlete and the soul of a sage, these are what we require to be happy.”
—Voltaire
