Bellroy Hanging Toiletry Kit. My old dopp kit finally gave up the ghost after years of faithful service, so I’ve been in the market for a replacement. I’ve carried a Bellroy wallet for years (here’s why it’s the best wallet I’ve ever owned), so when I discovered they made a toiletry kit, I decided to purchase it. The design is smart: it sits upright on a counter, hangs from a retractable aluminum hook that fits over doors and towel rails, and has a flat profile for packing in your luggage. Inside, there are well-thought-out pockets to organize your toiletries, like one just for your toothbrush so you don’t get shaving cream on it. It seems durable and capable of taking a beating. If you’re in need of some tips on what to pack in your dopp kit, check out our handy visual guide.
The Seven Samurai. I finally got around to watching Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1954 epic The Seven Samurai this past week. It’s been on my “to-watch” list for several years. Now I understand why film buffs never shut up about it. The story is pretty simple: a farming village hires seven ronin to defend them against bandits. But Kurosawa uses this simple story to explore honor, sacrifice, and what it means to be a warrior when the old ways are dying. Each samurai gets a distinct personality and fighting style, from the wise leader Kambei to the wild, unpredictable Kikuchiyo. The acting is top-notch, and the cinematography is awesome. For an American adaptation of The Seven Samurai, check out the Western The Magnificent Seven.
The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’ by Bill Zehme. I can still remember browsing the aisles at Barnes & Noble back in 1999 when I stumbled across this book. Sixteen-year-old me was deep into a swing music phase and obsessed with the whole ’50s Rat Pack era. I bought it on the spot and still have that same dog-eared copy on my shelf. Zehme drew on interviews with Sinatra himself, plus Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, and others to capture how Ol’ Blue Eyes approached everything from friendship to fighting to the proper way to wear a tuxedo. It’s a fun read full of insights about living with swagger. Over the years, it’s inspired a few AoM articles, including Frank’s guide to tipping and talking. I still thumb through the book when I need a reminder that style isn’t just about what you wear — it’s about how you carry yourself.
The Right Kind of Stubborn. Paul Graham wrote an essay distinguishing persistence from obstinacy. They look identical (both involve not giving up), but they’re fundamentally different. When you point out problems to persistent people, they listen intently. The obstinate won’t listen at all. Graham argues that the key distinction between the two is that the persistent are attached to the goal; the obstinate are attached to their ideas about how to reach it. The persistent are open to different ways to accomplish the same aim; the obstinate are not. Besides a focus on the overall goal, Graham lists four other qualities of the persistent: energy, imagination, resilience, and good judgment. Something to think about the next time you find yourself banging your head against a problem: Are you being persistent or obstinate?
On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published The Passionless Game: Kierkegaard on Why Sports (and Life) Feel Flat and Sunday Firesides: The Common Denominator Is You.
Quote of the Week
There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousand truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away.
—Henry Ward Beecher
