This & That: March 21, 2023
Embrace optimism.
Hi there readers,
In this edition of the newsletter, I have a few words about cynicism, a fun list of literary biographies, and a few great links to peruse.
There won’t be a Tuesday newsletter next week, but I’ll be back in two weeks with the Anderberg family’s March favorites.
Something I’m Thinking About: Fighting Cynicism
I recently finished Barack Obama’s superb memoir, A Promised Land. One of the aspects that stood out, and part of why I’ve always liked him as a human, is his unwavering optimism in a culture fueled by cynicism.
In fact, Obama put “Fight Cynicism” placards in various places around the White House in order to remind himself and his staff that it was all too easy to allow that dark inclination to take root.
Of all the people and roles that warrant feeling cynical, the presidency is assuredly near the top of the list. The amount of criticism that person faces — regardless of party — is enough to drive anyone batty.
And yet Obama has always maintained that the promise of America’s founding — freedom and happiness for all — is attainable and worth fighting for.
Now, I’m naturally a pretty optimistic guy. I have a sunny disposition and it’s rare that things rankle me too much. But there are times where I feel out of place because our pop culture is so driven by outrage. Social media feeds, news headlines, and plenty of daily conversations revolve around the shitty things happening in the world.
There’s no doubt that there’s plenty to be cynical about. But society still needs optimists.
Though some of it comes down to your natural disposition, it’s also possible to train yourself towards optimism. Instead of leaning into anger and looking for things to be outraged by, think about how you could change the narrative by being more empathetic, more confident, or more creative in thinking about how to help.
Fight cynicism. Embrace optimism.
The Mini List: Literary Biographies
I just started reading a great biography of Edgar Allan Poe, whose life story makes for reading that’s as irresistible as the author’s macabre tales. It got me thinking about great literary biographies that I’ve read, of which there are many. These three, in particular, have stood out.
J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter — Read my review here.
Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon — Read my review here.
Samuel Johnson by W. Jackson Bate — Read my review here.
Miscellany
🔭 Me and the kids are going all-in on astronomy and recently bought this Celestron telescope. We haven’t tested it a whole lot just yet, but it’s great so far. Way less intimidating than what it looks like, I promise. Can’t wait to try it out Utah later this week.
🎨 Was that scene necessary? Did it drive the plot forward? What’s the point? These are questions I’ve asked while reading plenty of novels, old and new alike. Author Lincoln Michel argues, though, that the unnecessary is a vital part of any work of art.
📚 RIP John Jakes, whose historical novels were some of the biggest hits of the ‘80s and ‘90s, selling tens of millions of copies. It’s a shame he’s not very well known these days — I really enjoyed his Civil War trilogy during the start of the pandemic. Perfect escape reading.
— This usage guide and ode to the em dash was penned by my coworker and friend Peter Rubin. It’s one of my favorite punctuation marks, as is clear throughout this newsletter. You know you’ve encountered good writing when a piece about punctuation is genuinely enjoyable.
🗃️ With each passing day, I’m more and more thankful for Libby, the app that thousands of libraries use for lending ebooks and digital audiobooks. It used to be a huge hassle to get these formats from the library, but Libby has made it a breeze, and a nice-looking one at that. Searching is easy, borrowing is even easier, and you can utilize multiple library systems/cards (Google it; you’ll thank me later).
Thanks for the time and attention. I know it’s your most valuable commodity and I deeply appreciate it.
-Jeremy
I was so bummed about the John Jakes news. An absolute legend.
Thank yoy for the message about optimism. I too can feel a bit outside in my optimism and earnestness. I'm fond of Joan Halifax's notion of wise hope.