Happy Friday! ☀️
Happy new year, I hope that 2023 will be a rewarding year for you on all dimensions that you wish. I am hibernation mode in the sun and warm air until February and am taking the time to unwind, rest, and read.
What I’m reading 📖
I’ve always been fascinated and sobered by the history of World War II but beyond movies and some odd books I never really went deep. After researching for the best books about the era, I found one common recommendation. Published in 1960, just mere 15 years after the end of the war, ‘The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich’ appears on the top of all lists. Written by William Shirer, a journalist (not an academic historian, as has been noted in some of the book’s criticism) who actually spent time in Germany and Austria during the time leading up to and during the war, it’s one of the most exhaustive accounts of the time. It’s dense, it’s detailed, and it’s a big read. I’m 25% into the book, haven’t even reached the invasion of Poland, but already closed many knowledge gaps. More about the book.
What I’m listening to 🎧
Every month of the year, for the past few years now, I compile a playlist on Spotify with new and rediscovered music that I enjoy. Now that 2022 came to a close, I’ve collected all monthly playlists into one which nets to 199 songs and 13 hours and 50 minutes of music. If you find one you like, let me know.
What I’m watching 📺
2022 was another great year for television and way too much content to keep track of. According to some podcasts covering television and its industry, 2023 will bring another wave of great tv. Of all the shows I watched, here are my Top 5 and some notable mentions:
The Bear
The White Lotus
Andor
A Spy Among Friends
The Patient
Notable mentions: Bad Sisters, The Dropout, and Yellowjackets
What I’m thinking about 🧠
“I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.’”
— Kurt Vonnegut
What else?! 💯
Six years ago, Paul Ripke and his family went on an adventure and moved to Southern California where Paul lives a portfolio life (podcaster, content creator, apparel maker, and more). A few weeks ago, Kai Pflaume spent a day with Paul where he takes people behind the scenes. I’m always a fan of people who create the life that they want and Paul is a great example in his own way.
Thanks for reading, have a great weekend, and happy new year!
David
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