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Sunday Supplements

Sunday Supplements

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on April 9, 2023

Guide Page

I started this blog because I wanted to highlight quotes, books, movies, thought-provoking videos, and spiritual passages/proverbs I thought were worth sharing.

The intent was to recommend quality content each week and have a period of reflection.

To mark the occasion of 100 Sunday Supplements (04/09/2023), I made this landing page so it’s easier to navigate previous posts.

* I have since retired the Sunday Supplements (05/16/2021-12/29/2024).

And for those who find this page now…

I hope you take something away from these past recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

DateSupplement#QuoteBook/AuthorMovieBrain FoodProverbTheme
05/16/21#1Mark TwainThe Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction – Alan JacobsMurder on the Orient Express (1974)Mr. Money MustacheBible Passage (Matthew 22:39)Starting
05/23/21#2Muhammad AliRock Me on the Water – Ronald BrownsteinPrincess MononokeBrené BrownJewish Creation PrayerGrowth
05/30/21#3David SuzukiDevil in a Blue Dress – Walter MosleyStand and DeliverJesse ItzlerQuaran Passage (Surah Ar-Ra’d 24)Perspective
06/06/21#4Eleanor RooseveltEyes of the Dragon – Stephen KingCollateralCognitive DistortionsAtharva Veda PassageLeadership
06/13/21#5Brianna WiestNorwegian Wood – Haruki MurakamiOctober SkyRobert RodriguezBible Passage (Romans 12:2)Growth
06/20/21#6Jack KornfieldTales of the City – Armistead MaupinMoonlightDaryl DavisQuran Passage (Surah Ghafir 40:60)Compassion
06/27/21#7Benjamin FranklinThe Courage to Be Disliked – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake KogaThe MartianEckhart TolleBuddhist PrayerEnriching
07/04/21#8Thomas EdisonAtomic Habits – James ClearBad Boys (1983)SadhguruBible Passage (Matthew 7:12)Habits
07/11/21#9Audrey HepburnA Prayer for Owen Meany – John IrvingLife as a HouseYuval Noah HarariSutta Pitaka VersePossibilities
07/18/21#10Dr. SeussAttached – Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. HellerIt’s a Wonderful LifeDavid Foster WallaceQuran Passage (Surat Al-`Asr 103)Appreciation
07/25/21#11Anaïs NinThe Once and Future King – T.H. WhiteArrivalMalavika VaradanBible Passage (Proverbs 3:7)Change
08/01/21#12Maya AngelouThe Untethered Soul – Michael A. SingerCity of GodArnold SchwarzeneggerDhammapada Verse 122Persistency
08/08/21#13Theodore RooseveltBeing Mortal – Atul GawandeKingdom of Heaven (Director’s Cut)Simon SinekBible Passage (2 Timothy 2:15)Doing Your Best
08/15/21#14Bethany HamiltonExhalation – Ted ChiangThe Last DanceNietzscheBuddhist ProverbGratitude
08/22/21#15M. Scott PeckThe Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil GaimanThe Painted VeilMaurice AshleyYajur Veda PassageAcceptance
08/29/21#16PlatoA Clockwork Orange – Anthony BurgessHowl’s Moving CastleAlan WattsQuran Passage 30:21Ego
09/05/21#17Dr. Glenn DoylePersonality Isn’t Permanent – Benjamin P. HardyHacksaw RidgeMarcus AureliusBible Passage (Corinthians 13:2)Self-Worth
09/12/21#18Maxime LagacéWho Moved My Cheese? – Dr. Spencer JohnsonThe MatrixEckhart TolleZen ProverbSelf-Esteem
09/19/21#19James AltucherCujo – Stephen KingThe Full MontyOzro HepworthAfrican ProverbHonesty
09/26/21#20Jackie Joyner-KerseeThe Dog Stars – Peter HellerThe Imitation GameEinzelgängerYajur Veda PassagePerseverance
10/03/21#21Steve MaraboliFrankenstein – Mary ShelleySweeney ToddKati MortonBible Passage (Proverbs 17:9)Forgiveness
10/10/21#22Wayne DyerThe Courage to Be Happy – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake KogaForrest GumpMichael Jr.Quran Passage (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)Perspective
10/17/21#23Joyce MeyerThe Chronicles of Prydain – Lloyd AlexanderGood Will HuntingHugh JackmanZen ProverbProgress
10/24/21#24Pema ChödrönFlowers for Algernon – Daniel KeyesBrokeback MountainEckhart TolleAfrican ProverbAwareness
10/31/21#25Chris GardnerThe Crucible – Arthur MillerSpirited AwayLike Stories of OldBible Passage (Proverbs 25:18)Strength
11/07/21#26Lao TzuThe Power of Myth – Joseph Campbell and Bill MoyersThe Lord of the Rings (Extended Editions)Simon SinekRig Veda PassageJourney
11/14/21#27Judy BlumeThe Alchemist – Paulo CoelhoV for VendettaFreedom in ThoughtAfrican ProverbFear
11/21/21#28Nat TurnerWhen Strangers Meet – Kio Stark12 Angry MenJulian TreasureBible Passage (Philippians 4:6)Communication
11/28/21#29Amy ColletteAll the Light We Cannot See – Anthony DoerrThe Pursuit of HappynessWatchWellCastQuran Passage (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)Gratitude
12/05/21#30Louise May AlcottAwaken the Giant Within – Tony RobbinsFinding ForresterMarcus AureliusZen ProverbLearning
12/12/21#31Johann Wolfgang von GoetheElantris – Brandon SandersonStardustCalmAtharva Veda PassageBelief
12/19/21#32Emily DickinsonElevation – Stephen KingThe Shawshank RedemptionThe DodoBible Passage (Romans 15:4)Hope
12/26/21#33The Dalai LamaAll Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria RemarqueRain ManThe School of LifeAfrican ProverbCompassion
01/02/22#34Charles KetteringThe Surrender Experiment – Michael A. SingerAbout TimeThe Art of ImprovementQuran Passage (Surah At-Tawbah 126)Reflection
01/09/22#35Desmond TutuCloud Atlas – David MitchellJerry MaguireDavid GogginsBuddhist SayingAccumulation
01/16/22#36Anne FrankThe Obstacle is the Way – Ryan HolidayMrs. DoubtfireAbsolute MotivationJapanese ProverbHappiness
01/23/22#37Brené BrownThe War of Art – Steven PressfieldSlumdog MillionaireWeiyang XieRig Veda PassageSelf-Love
01/30/22#38PythagorasThe Four Agreements – Don Miguel RuizDead Poets SocietyJordan PetersonBible Passage (Lamentations 3:40)Reflection
02/06/22#39Alphonse KarrDiscipline Equals Freedom – Jocko WillinkFlightEckhart TolleAfrican ProverbPerspective
02/13/22#40Bruce LeeCan’t Hurt Me – David GogginsAmadeusEinzelgängerQuran Passage (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:159)Forgiveness
02/20/22#41Napoleon HillLord of the Flies – William GoldingKing RichardHeadspaceBuddhist SayingIntention
02/27/22#42T.D. JakesThe Fountainhead – Ayn RandFever Pitch (1997)Simon SinekJapanese ProverbPassion
03/06/22#43Alice Domar12 Rules for Life – Jordan PetersonKiki’s Delivery ServiceMichael A. SingerAtharva Veda PassageAppreciation
03/13/22#44Rachel WolchinA Wizard of Earthsea – Ursula K. Le GuinThe Last DuelThe Art of ImprovementBible Passage (Proverbs 24:16)Mistakes
03/20/22#45Robert AnthonyThe Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck – Mark MansonThe BankerBrené BrownChinese ProverbBlame
03/27/22#46Katie ReadEinstein’s Dreams – Alan LightmanChasing MavericksSusannah WintersBeninese ProverbSelf-Care
04/03/22#47Victor KiamThe Pillars of the Earth – Ken FollettMoneyballJim RohnQuran Passage (Surah Al-Qasas 28:54)Persistence
04/10/22#48Andy WarholThe Mindbody Prescription – John E. SarnoEverything Everywhere All at OnceAlan WattsBuddhist ParablePerception
04/17/22#49Barbara HallChildhood’s End – Arthur C. ClarkeEddie the EagleMatt CuttsJapanese ProverbTrying
04/24/22#50Henry FordMoney Master the Game – Tony RobbinsGattacaWayne DyerRig Veda PassageManifestation
05/01/22#51Henry David ThoreauThe Graveyard Book – Neil GaimanEl MariachiThe School of LifeBible Passage (Ecclesiastes 5:3)Success
05/08/22#52Viktor FranklThe Really Hard Problem – Owen J. FlanaganCatch Me If You CanFreedom in ThoughtDhammapada 103Meaning
05/15/22#53Albert EinsteinThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – Benjamin FranklinDopeEinzelgängerRwandan ProverbMoving Forward
05/22/22#54Simone de BeauvoirProject Hail Mary – Andy WeirApollo 13Improvement PillQuran Passage (Surah Ar-Rahman 60)Motivation
05/29/22#55Mary Anne RadmacherThe Prince of Tides – Pat ConroyEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindThe School of LifeJapanese ProverbDepression
06/05/22#56Alan CohenWaking Up – Sam HarrisFerris Bueller’s Day OffImprovement PillBhagavad Gita PassageMeditation
06/12/22#57Paulo CoelhoThe 4-Hour Workweek – Timothy FerrissThe BirdcageEmily Esfahani SmithBible Passage (Ecclesiastes 3:12)Meaning
06/19/22#58Sterling K. BrownKindred – Octavia E. ButlerHe Got GameOprah WinfreyDhammapada 21Understanding
06/26/22#59Madeleine AlbrightTeacher Misery – Jane MorrisHidden FiguresBrené BrownJapanese ProverbExperience
07/03/22#60Tim FerrissMoonraker – Ian FlemingLa BambaThe Art of ImprovementAfrican ProverbProductivity
07/10/22#61Helen KellerMindfulness – Mark Williams and Danny PenmanIn the Mood for LoveEinzelgängerSahih al-Bukhari 6126Silence
0717/22#62Roy T. BennettA Monster Calls – Patrick NessStand by MeThe FuturBhagavad Gita PassageAcceptance
07/24/22#63Walt WhitmanI Am Legend – Richard MathesonThe Station AgentThe School of LifeBible Passage (1 Corinthians 15:33)Friendship
07/31/22#64Anne Wilson SchaefThe 4-Hour Body – Timothy FerrissThe Karate KidWendy SuzukiDhammapada 204Health
08/07/22#65Marilyn MonroeWatership Down – Richard AdamsThe Truman ShowImprovement PillAfrican ProverbChange
08/14/22#66Abraham LincolnRoadwork – Richard BachmanFight ClubPsych2GoJapanese ProverbAwareness
08/21/22#67Michael J. FoxTransitions – William BridgesThe Prince of EgyptSimon SinekQuran Passage (Surah Ash-Sharh 94:5)Change
08/28/22#68Evelyn Beatrice HallBattle Royale – Koshun TakamiStraight Outta ComptonThe History ChannelBhagavaGita PassageFree Speech
09/04/22#69Thomas MertonThe Man’s Guide to Women – John Gottman, PhD & Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhDThe Wind RisesTED-EdBible Passage (1 John 4:18)Love
09/11/22#70Mahatma GandhiThe Lords of Discipline – Pat ConroyYojimboSadhguruDhammapada 258Action
09/18/22#71Randy PauschThe Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. LewisHot FuzzCatherine PriceAfrican ProverbFun
09/25/22#72Arnold H. GlasowOn Writing – Stephen KingRockyEscaping OrdinaryJapanese ProverbHabits
10/02/22#73Oprah WinfreyThe Law of Attraction – Esther Hicks & Jerry HicksTitanicEckhart TolleQuran Passage (Sur Al Nisa 147)Gratitude
10/09/22#74Mandy HaleThe Old Man and the Sea – Ernest HemingwayThe Lives of OthersSadhguruBhagavad Gita PassageLoneliness
10/16/22#75Mary HallowayThe Mastery of Love – Don Miguel RuizGroundhog DayTED-EdBible Passage (Galatians 6:9)Resilience
10/23/22#76Sri Ravi ShankarGet the Hell Out of Your Own Way – Jan GroblerBefore SunrisePsych2GoDhammapada 33Rest
10/30/22#77John F. KennedyThe Stand – Stephen KingJohn QDeepak ChopraAfrican ProverbGratitude
11/06/22#78James BaldwinAutobiography of a Yogi – Paramahansa YoganandaAmerican History XRich RollJapanese ProverbChange
11/13/22#79Aldous HuxleyLove in the Time of Cholera – Gabriel García MárquezSeven SamuraiThe School of LifeQuran Passage (Surah Al-Baqara 2:286)Experience
11/20/22#80Iyanla VanzantThe Myth of Digital Democracy – Matthew HindmanThe Social DilemmaSimon SinekBhagavad Gita PassageSelf-Reflection
11/27/22#81Leroy Satchel PageThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao – Junot DíazWind RiverParticipantShawnee Nation ProverbGratitude
12/04/22#82Charles DuhiggA New Earth – Eckhart TolleBend It Like BeckhamPsych2GoBible Passage (2 Timothy 1:7)Habits
12/11/22#83Rachel WolchinJourney to the Center of the Earth – Jules VerneCastle in the SkyJamie FoxxDhammapada Ch 5Adventure
12/18/22#84Jane HowardCity of Thieves – David BenioffLove ActuallyBrené BrownAfrican ProverbFamily
12/25/22#85Wayne DyerThink and Grow Rich – Napoleon HillInterstellarDeepak ChopraBible Passage (Matthew 13:12)Abundance
01/01/23#86Amit KalantriWar and Peace – Leo TolstoyLionImprovement PillJapanese ProverbCelebrate
01/08/23#87Antonio BrownThe Way of the Superior Man – David DeidaGarden StateAngela Lee DuckworthQuran Passage (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:139)Self-Belief
01/15/23#88Michael CrichtonThe Hero With a Thousand Faces – Joseph CampbellMulanKen BurnsBhagavad Gita PassageHistory
01/22/23#89Sundar PichaiLittle Scarlet – Walter MosleyA Single MaNavajo Traditional TeachingsDhammapada 78Diversity
01/29/23#90Arthur AsheThe Martian – Andy WeirWhisper of the HeartThe Art of ImprovementAfrican ProverbPreparation
02/05/12#91Abu Bakr al-ṢiddīqThe Power of Now – Eckhart TolleBlacKkKlansmanNeil deGrasse TysonBible Passage (Titus 1:16)Knowledge/Action
02/12/22#92Oscar WildeBlink – Malcolm GladwellMen in BlackSproutsZen ProverbExperience
02/19/23#93Nelson MandelaWill – Will Smith & Mark MansonA Few Good MenCory BookerBhagavad Gita PassagePerseverance
02/26/23#94Stephen HawkingInvisible Man – Ralph EllisonThe Last King of ScotlandBright SideQuran Passage (Surat Al-Hadid 57:20)Illusion
03/05/23#95Mahatma GandhiThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark HaddonThe IntouchablesEinzelgängerChinese ProverbHappiness
03/12/23#96Jackie ChanHarry Potter Series – J.K. RowlingA League of Their OwnSimon SinekAfrican ProverbKindness
03/19/23#97SophoclesMindset – Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.Half NelsonTED-EdBible Passage (Proverbs 11:14)Listening
03/26/23#98James BaldwinThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg LarsonA Beautiful MindThe School of LifeBhagavad Gita PassageLove
04/02/23#99William ShakespeareHow to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale CarnegieLiar LiarSadhguruQuran Passage (Surah Az-Zumar 39:3)Honesty
04/09/23#100Anne FrankYear of Yes – Shonda RhimesCasablancaPractical PsychologyDhammapada 25Improvement
04/16/23#101Jay ShettyThe Seven Spiritual Laws of Success – Deepak ChopraKung Fu PandaAfter SkoolJapanese ProverbMindset
04/23/23#102Gabrielle BernsteinMan’s Search for Meaning – Viktor FranklDrive My CarDaily StoicKenyan ProverbReflection
04/30/23#103John AmattFairy Tale – Stephen KingThe Wizard of OzNational GeographicJapanese ProverbAdventure
05/07/23#104MoliéreTales of the South Pacific – James A. MichenerA River Runs Through ItPsych2GoBible PassageGrieving
05/14/23#105Anatole FranceMoonwalking with Einstein – Joshua FoerDark CitySproutsBhagavad Gita PassageMemory
05/21/23#106Ansel AdamsTo Sleep in a Sea of Stars – Christopher PaoliniThe Lost City of ZInsider TechQuran PassageExploraiton
05/28/23#107Amelia EarhartUnlimited Power – Anthony RobbinsCoach CarterSproutsGuinean ProverbMotivation
06/04/23#108
Lailah Gifty Akita		Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman – Haruki MurakamiThe Princess BrideYoga By CandaceJapanese ProverbRest
06/11/23#109Karen SalmansohnWalking to Listen – Andrew ForsthoefelLilo & StitchElizabeth DunnBible PassageSupport
06/18/23#110James BaldwinNarrative of the Live of Frederick Douglass – Frederick DouglassFruitvale StationWeird HistoryAfrican ProverbHistory
06/25/23#111Marcel ProustTigana – Guy Gavriel KayThe Banshees of InisherinRichard ReevesBhagavad Gita PassageFriendship
07/02/23#112Maya AngelouThe Psychology of Money – Morgan HouselMinority ReportPhilosophies for LifeDhammapada VerseControl
07/09/23#113Rollo MayThe Other Wes Moore – Wes MooreDunkirkStephen Jon ThompsonKitab al-Kafi PassageCommunity
07/16/23#114Alia BhattGwendy’s Button Box – Stephen KingRoundersImprovement PillJapanese ProverbPassion
07/23/23#115Thomas CarlyleBecoming Supernatural – Dr. Joe DispenzaThe WhalePsych2GoAfrican ProverbHealth
07/30/23#116Leo TolstoyThe City and the Stars – Arthur C. Clarke28 Days LaterSadhguruBible PassageChange
08/06/23#117Elizabeth WurtzelBrave New World – Aldous HuxleyLittle Miss SunshineTherapy in a NutshellDhammapada VerseDepression
08/13/23#118Mark TwainThe Great Gatsby – F. Scott FitzgeraldShattered GlassJim RohnBhagavad Gita PassageAmbition
08/20/23#119Rosa ParksIt – Stephen KingLars and the Real GirlTim FerrissJapanese ProverbFear
08/27/23#120Anne McCaffreyDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – Philip K. DickDas BootBrené BrownQuran PassageCompassion
09/03/23#121John WoodenA Briefer History of Time – Stephen Hawking with Leonard MlodinowBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)Jocko WillinkAfrican ProverbFailure
09/10/23#122John D. RockefellerCold Mountain – Charles FrazierChariots of FireSimon SinekBible PassagePerseverance
09/17/23#123Robert UrichBreath – James NestorWin WinLittle List ProjectBhagavad Gita PassageHealth
09/24/23#124Sadiq KhanShoe Dog – Phil KnightThe Nightmare Before ChristmasTim FerrissArmenian ProverbCelebrate
10/01/23#125Victor HugoStardust – Neil GaimanWarm BodiesBrad TroegerEthiopian ProverbLove
10/08/23#126Willie StargellThe Great Santini – Pat ConroyHolesSimon SinekHadith PassageFamily
10/15/23#127Octavia ButlerThe Power of Habit – Charles DuhiggRemember the TitansJames ClearBible PassageHabit
10/22/23#128ConfuciusReady Player One – Ernest ClineCODAImprovement PillJapanese ProverbSelf-Belief
10/29/23#129Theodore RooseveltA Contemporary Introduction to Free Will – Robert KaneThe Worst Person in the WorldLike Stories of OldDhammapada VerseDecisions
11/05/23#130Hilaire BellocInto the Wild – Jon KrakauerThe Best Exotic Marigold HotelThe School of LifeEthiopian ProverbTravel
11/12/23#131Jen SinceroKafka on the Shore – Haruki MurakamiBedazzled
Huberman Lab Podcast		Bhagavad Gita PassageGratitude
11/19/23#132Ginni RomettyThinking in Bets – Annie DukeSafety Not GuaranteedSproutsJapanese ProverbGrowth
11/26/23#133Vivek MurthyThe Inheritance Cycle – Christopher PaoliniGrave of the FirefliesStephanie BriggsBible PassageEmpathy
12/3/23#134Carl JungTimeline – Michael CrichtonFiddler on the RoofRich Roll PodcastQuran PassageChange
12/10/23#135Leonardo da VinciThe Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason25th HourThe School of LifeDhammapada VerseReflection
12/17/23#136Helen KellerThe Bartimaeus Sequence – Jonathan StroudThe King’s SpeechMotivation2StudyAfrican ProverbPerseverance
12/24/23#137Leo BuscagliaGreat Expectations – Charles DickensWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory The DodoBhagavad Gita PassageGiving
12/31/23#138Jackie RobinsonA Walk in the Woods – Bill BrysonTrue Grit (2010)After SkoolJapanese ProverbHonesty
01/07/24#139Nadia ComăneciThe Dark Tower Series – Stephen KingThe Theory of EverythingSadhguruBible PassagePassion
01/14/24#140Andrew CarnegieCreativity, Inc. – Ed Catmull and Amy WallaceLockeSimon SinekQuran PassageLeadership
01/21/24#141HeraclitusSlade House – David MitchellLost in TranslationThe Art of ImprovementDhammapada VerseExperience
01/28/24#142Ray BradburyThe Century Trilogy – Ken FollettOffice SpaceSteve JobsAfrican ProverbWork
02/04/24#143Troy PalamaluTao Te Ching – Lao Tzu (Ursula K. Le Guin)ConcussionJordan PetersonBhagavad Gita PassageRest
02/11/24#144Zora Neale HurstonThe Princess Bride – William GoldmanDirty DancingWentworth MillerBible PassageLove
02/18/24#145VoltaireSnow Crash – Neal StephensonThank You For SmokingThe School of LifeJapanese ProverbChoice
02/25/24#146George EliotBarsoom/Mars Series – Edgar Rice BurroughsBig FishBanff Centre for Arts and CreativityQuran PassageAdventure
03/03/24#147Jürgen KloppRules of Civility – Amor TowlesWaking Ned DevineMarlo AndersonDhammapada VerseCelebrate
03/10/24#148Jeanne MoreauStart With Why – Simon SinekAdaptationEinzelgängerAfrican ProverbMeaning
03/17/24#149Maya AngelouThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay – Michael ChabonHitchCarol DweckTao Te ChingGrowth
03/24/24#150Kemi SogunleDaring Greatly – Brené BrownMagnoliaThe School of LifeBible PassageVulnerability
03/31/24#151John F. KennedyThe Dead Zone – Stephen KingThe Last Samurai Kurzgesagt — In a NutshellQuran PassageGratitude
04/07/24#152Michael J. FoxFahrenheit 451 – Ray BradburyPhiladelphia SadhguruJapanese ProverbAcceptance
04/14/24#153Ernest HemingwayOur Man in Havana – Graham GreeneHamiltonDr. Russ HarrisBhagavad Gita PassageAction
04/21/24#154Pablo PicassoHits, Flops, and Other Illusions – Ed ZwickLegally BlondeLuis Von AhnAfrican ProverbLearning
04/28/24#155Blake LivelyThe Hound of the Baskervilles – Sir Arthur Conan DoyleFree GuyDavid GogginsDhammapada VerseSelf-Belief
05/05/24#156Carl JungIkigai – Héctor García and Francesc MirallesNapoleon DynamiteThe School of LifeTao Te Ching VerseCalmness
05/12/24#157Katori Hall1984 – George OrwellHarold and MaudeSimon SinekBible PassageListening
05/19/24#158ConfuciusThe White Album – Joan DidionDonnie DarkoTim FerrissIslamic SayingReflection
05/26/24#159Edward R. MurrowThe Day of the Locust – Nathanael WestFrost/NixonTED-EdJapanese ProverbHistory
06/02/24#160Douglas AdamsThe Green Mile – Stephen KingLord of WarBrainy DoseYiddish ProverbHonesty
06/09/24#161Margaret FullerDopamine Nation – Anna Lembke, MDDallas Buyers ClubPhilosophy TubeTao Te Ching VerseKnowledge
06/16/24#162PeleThe Wheel of Time – Robert JordanCreedSimon SinekAfrican ProverbPerseverance
06/23/24#163Kristin ArmstrongGone, Baby, Gone – Dennis LehaneTrue Detective (Season 1)HeadspaceChinese ProverbPerspective
06/30/24#164Crystal PaineJaws – Peter BenchleyThe Bridge on the River KwaiAfter SkoolBhagavad Gita PassageIntention
07/07/24#165Dalai LamaNapoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking – Michael J. Ritt Jr.Searching for Bobby FischerTony RobbinsBible PassagePositivity
07/14/24#166Sigmund FreudSleep No More – Greg IlesOrdinary PeoplePsych2GoQuran PassageGrieving
07/21/24#167Gilbert K. ChestertonThe Spy Who Came in from the Cold – John Le CarréIn BrugesIsland Hopper TVIrish ProverbTravel
07/28/24#168Ralph Waldo Emerson1Q84 – Haruki MurakamiBenny & JoonSadhguruJapanese ProverbFear
08/04/24#169Marcus AureliusInvitation to a Beheading – Vladamir NabokovThe Seventh SealThe School of LifeItalian ProverbDeath
08/11/24#170Omar KhayyamZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – Robert M. PirsigPerfect DaysEinzelgängerTao Te Ching VerseHappiness
08/18/24#171Michael JordanThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd – Agatha ChristieThe IllusionistQuirkologyAfrican ProverbIllusion
08/25/24#172Andrew GroveSurrounded by Idiots – Thomas EriksonNotting HillKatherine HampstenBible PassageCommunication
09/01/24#173Angela DuckworthThe War of the Worlds – H.G. WellsThe HuntThe Art of ImprovementBhagavad Gita PassageResilience
09/08/24#174Susan SontagDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert StevensonBoyhoodEckhart TolleQuran PassageCompassion
09/15/24#175Jen SinceroPeter and the Starcatchers – Dave Barry & Ridley PearsonBlowDeepak ChopraJapanese ProverbAbundance
09/22/24#176Sylvia PlathThe Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick RubinPan’s LabyrinthEthan HawkeAfrican ProverbCreativity
09/29/24#177Drew HoustonCongo – Michael CrichtonThe Peanut Butter FalconTony RobbinsChinese ProverbAdventure
10/06/24#178Bob MarleyTesla: A Man Out of Time – Margaret CheneyTo Kill a MockingbirdEinzelgängerBible PassageIntegrity
10/13/24#179Paulo CoelhoThe Hero’s Journey – Joseph CampbellForgetting Sarah MarshallCalmBhagavad Gita PassageSelf-Care
10/20/24#180Leonardo da VinciThe Rum Diary – Hunter S. ThompsonThe Name of the RoseTED-EdQuran PassagePerception
10/27/24#181Lao TzuWhy Has Nobody Told Me This Before? – Dr. Julie SmithThe Iron GiantMark KellyJapanese ProverbKindness
11/03/24#182Marie KondoThe Quiet American – Graham GreeneChildren of MenEckhart TolleAfrican ProverbGratitude
11/10/24#183John WoodenIn the Woods – Tana FrenchWarriorTED-EdChinese ProverbMistakes
11/17/24#184Frans de WaalNews of a Kidnapping – Gabriel García MárquezCarrieWilliam UryBible PassageEmpathy
11/24/24#185Louise L. HaySiddhartha – Herman HesseThe FountainDaily StoicBhagavad Gita PassageBalance
12/02/24#186Eleanor RooseveltThe Diamond Age – Neal StephensonThe Boy and the HeronLogicQuran PassageExperience
12/08/24#187Bryant H. McGillNobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t – Steven PressfieldThe ConversationTim FerrissJapanse ProverbListening
12/15/24#188Bruce LeeThe Outsiders – S.E. HintonAtonementEinzelgängerAfrican ProverbForgiveness
12/22/24#189Benjamin FranklinThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. CoveyField of DreamsFreedom in ThoughtBible PassageImprovement
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Culmination of the Sunday Supplements

Culmination of the Sunday Supplements

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 29, 2024

After much consideration, I have decided to take a break from the weekly Sunday Supplements. 

While I love compiling these sources of inspiration and sharing them with everyone, I am taking some time to explore my other writing pursuits.

Also, I’m running out of books to suggest! —For now 🙂

That said, I want to make this last Sunday Supplement post a collection of some of my favorite recommendations from the past three and a half years.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your weeks ahead!

Quotes:

“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”

– Muhammad Ali

(Sunday Supplement #2) – Theme: Growth

“Self-care is giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you.”

– Katie Read

(Sunday Supplement #46) – Theme: Self-Care

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

– Maya Angelou

(Sunday Supplement #112) – Theme: Control

“A healthy outside starts from the inside.”

– Robert Urich

(Sunday Supplement #123) – Theme: Health

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.”

– Confucius

(Sunday Supplement #128) – Theme: Self-Belief

Books:

The Courage to Be Disliked – Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi

(Sunday Supplement #7) – Theme: Enriching

Atomic Habits – James Clear

(Sunday Supplement #8) – Theme: Habits

The Untethered Soul – Michael Singer

(Sunday Supplement #12) – Theme: Persistency

Autobiography of a Yogi – Paramahansa Yogananda

(Sunday Supplement #78) – Theme: Change

The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle 

(Sunday Supplement #91) – Theme: Knowledge/Action

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

(Sunday Supplement #189) – Theme: Self-Improvement

Movies:

October Sky

(Sunday Supplement #5) – Theme: Growth

Spirited Away

(Sunday Supplement #25) – Theme: Strength

Amadeus

(Sunday Supplement #40) – Theme: Forgiveness

In the Mood for Love

(Sunday Supplement #61) – Theme: Silence

Thank You For Smoking

(Sunday Supplement #145) – Theme: Choice

Ordinary People

(Sunday Supplement #166) – Theme: Grieving

Brainfood:

Rich Roll’s interview with Jesse Itzler 

(Sunday Supplement #3) – Theme: Perspective

David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” Commencement Speech

(Sunday Supplement #10) – Theme: Appreciation

Miyamoto Musashi – The Path of the Loner — video by Einzelgänger

(Sunday Supplement #20) – Theme: Perseverance

Simon Sinek – The Truth About Being the “Stupidest” Person in the Room 

(Sunday Supplement #26) – Theme: Journey

Tony Robbins | The Tim Ferriss Show 

(Sunday Supplement #177) – Theme: Adventure

Practicing Gratitude for the Present Moment | Eckhart Tolle

(Sunday Supplement #182) – Theme: Gratitude

Closing Spiritual Passages:

“For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

– Matthew 13:12

(Sunday Supplement #85) – Theme: Abundance

“Even monkeys fall from trees” (猿も木から落ちる)

– Japanese Proverb

(Sunday Supplement #42) – Theme: Passion

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

– Quran 13:11

(Sunday Supplement #134) – Theme: Change

“Knowledge is a garden. If it isn’t cultivated, you can’t harvest it.”

– African Proverb

(Sunday Supplement #19) – Theme: Honesty

“For those who have conquered the mind, it is their friend. For those who have failed to do so, the mind works like an enemy.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:6

(Sunday Supplement #80) – Theme: Self-Reflection

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I’m grateful to have been able to share these recommendations each week for the past three and a half years. 

If you are interested in checking out a glossary of my Sunday Supplements (here) is the pinned page on my blog that lists all the supplements in order with their recommendations.

I aim to post updates on the main page of my website of any updates on my short story, novel, and screenwriting career as they come in.

I might revisit the Sunday Supplements later on, but until then, thank you, and have many blessed weeks ahead!

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Benjamin Franklin, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Field of Dreams, Freedom in Thought, and a Bible Passage

Benjamin Franklin, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Field of Dreams, Freedom in Thought, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 22, 2024

Sunday Supplement #189 (December 22nd, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”

– Benjamin Franklin

Book of the Week:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R. Covey was an educator, author, speaker, and businessman. His highly acclaimed book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, sold over 20 million copies by his death in 2012.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is the culmination of years of research by Stephen Covey into the principles behind stirring positive personal change and achieving effective results.

Covey highlights the importance of focusing on character rather than personality ethics and focusing first on self-improvement as essential to success in interpersonal relationships.

I’ve read many self-improvement and self-help books in my life, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one I’d recommend for your top-shelf.

Movie of the Week:

Field of Dreams

The 1989 film Field of Dreams follows Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella as a mysterious voice prompts him to pursue an unbelievable dream.

Kevin Costner plays Ray Kinsella, Amy Madigan plays his wife, and the brilliant supporting cast includes the likes of James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster.

Field of Dreams was nominated for Best Picture, Best Writing – Based on Material from Another Medium, and Best Music – Original Score in the 1990 Academy Awards.

Some films have a magic quality to them that can lift you up and inspire you. Field of Dreams is one of those movies for me.

Brainfood of the Week:

Miyamoto Musashi – How to Build Self-Discipline | Freedom in Thought

Freedom in Thought is a YouTube channel that breaks down philosophical concepts and explores them through dialogue.

In this video, Freedom in Thought explores the first five principles in Miyamoto Musashi’s Dokkōdō.

Miyamoto Musashi is considered the greatest swordsman in Japan’s history. However, he wasn’t just a master of the sword; he was an artist, a philosopher, and a Buddhist.

I recommend watching the video for valuable tips on building self-discipline. If you enjoy the tips, check out the other Sunday Supplements featuring Musashi or Freedom in Thought.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Pray without ceasing.”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I was once told that all prayers can be divided into two categories: asking for help and giving thanks.

When I come across this Bible passage, I think of the utility of continuously asking for help and giving thanks.

If we wish to improve our lives, asking for help will create opportunities for us to learn and grow. If we give thanks, we will always attune to the good in our lives.

Praying without ceasing is a good way to consistently reflect on your life and create awareness of the direction in which you want to head.


Continue to better yourself, give thanks, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Bruce Lee, The Outsiders, Atonement, Einzelgänger, and an African Proverb

Bruce Lee, The Outsiders, Atonement, Einzelgänger, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 15, 2024

Sunday Supplement #188 (December 15th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them.”

– Bruce Lee

Book of the Week:

The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton

S.E. Hinton began writing the classic novel The Outsiders when she was in high school, and it was published in 1967 when she was 18.

Hinton’s novel follows the conflict between two rival gangs divided by socioeconomic status in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The story is told in first person narrative from the point of view of a young “Greaser” named Ponyboy. 

I first read this book in middle school, and it was one of the earliest books in my reading journey that has stuck with me over the years.

Movie of the Week:

Atonement

The 2007 film Atonement chronicles a thirteen-year-old’s accusation that irrevocably changes several lives over the course of six decades.

Christopher Hampton adapted Ian McEwan’s novel, and Joe Wright directed the film. The cast included Kiera Knightley, James McAvoy, a young Saoirse Ronan, Brenda Blethyn, Harriet Walter, Juno Temple, Alfie Allen, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Atonement was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (for Ronan).

I don’t want to spoil anything about the story. It is a movie that is well worth putting on your watch list.

Brainfood of the Week:

5 Ways to Forgive Someone Who Wronged You | Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger’s YouTube channel features videos that explore different people and ideas of history with the aim of inspiring, resonating, and entertaining.

In the video’s introduction, Einzelgänger emphasizes the Viktor Frankl quote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Einzelgänger’s video then explores five healthy ways to forgive and let go based on philosophy and psychology.

I’ve featured several Einzelgänger videos in previous Sunday Supplements. If you enjoyed this video, check out the other posts or his YouTube channel.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you offend, ask for pardon; if offended, forgive.”

– African Proverb

This African Proverb is a straightforward reminder for us to forgive others and to seek forgiveness when we have wronged.

However, I think both require awareness and reflection, which isn’t always easy. We can often fall victim to believing our narrative is the only correct one.

Realizing our mistakes and asking for forgiveness can be challenging. We might not receive the forgiveness we seek. But it is important to acknowledge our wrongdoings. It is also important to forgive others to release them and ourselves from the burdens.


Forgive yourself and others when you can, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Bryant H. McGill, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, The Conversation, Tim Ferriss, and a Japanese Proverb

Bryant H. McGill, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, The Conversation, Tim Ferriss, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 8, 2024

Sunday Supplement #187 (December 8th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”

– Bryant H. McGill

Book of the Week:

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t – Steven Pressfield

I featured Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art in Sunday Supplement #37. Pressfield is most famous for his novels The Legend of Bagger Vance and Gates of Fire. His life story includes bouncing around jobs, like advertising, tractor-trailer driver, and fruit picker, amidst bouts of homelessness.

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t is primarily aimed toward writers, but I found it to be an excellent guide for connecting with others.

In chapter four, Pressfield states, “When you understand that nobody wants to read your shit, you develop empathy.” He explains how putting yourself in your reader’s shoes allows you to develop this empathy skill.

The book is short and easy to read. The chapters exemplify the message they impart. Whether you’re a writer or not, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t is an excellent book on how to move past your ego.

Movie of the Week:

The Conversation

The 1975 Academy Awards featured many classic films, including Chinatown, Murder on the Orient Express, Lenny, and The Godfather Part II. 

Francis Ford Coppola won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing for The Godfather Part II. However, he was also nominated in each of these categories (Original Screenplay for Writing) for his film The Conversation.

The Conversation follows a paranoid surveillance expert as he experiences a crisis of conscience after he suspects the couple he is spying on will be murdered.

Gene Hackman performs brilliantly in the leading role of the surveillance expert, along with a notable supporting role performance from John Cazale.

The Conversation can be overlooked in Cinema history, but it is worth watching for film buffs or moviegoers who enjoy a slow-burn story.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Negotiate (or, “The Art of Dealmaking”) | Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, top-rated podcaster, and lifestyle blogger. I’ve featured his books, interviews, and quotes in previous Sunday Supplements.

This video is a seven-minute breakdown of Tim’s principles of negotiation. He starts the video by expressing how you have to persuade others in some capacity throughout life.

While listening to others is important, you shouldn’t have to belittle yourself to make someone else feel understood or accepted.

Tim shares many valuable tips in this video and recommends further reading for those interested in the art of negotiation.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The mouth is the origin of disasters.” (口は災いの元)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb is a fairly straightforward reminder that you should be mindful of what you say because your words might have unintended consequences.

I’m also reminded of how it can be easy to interrupt someone when you have something you want to say rather than actively engaging in listening to what the other person has to say.

What I take away from this proverb is not to rush when conversing with someone. Take time to listen and understand what the other person is saying.


Create space to listen to yourself and others, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Eleanor Roosevelt, The Diamond Age, The Boy and the Heron, Logic, and a Quran Passage

Eleanor Roosevelt, The Diamond Age, The Boy and the Heron, Logic, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 1, 2024

Sunday Supplement #186 (December 1st, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. That is how character is built.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Book of the Week:

The Diamond Age – Neal Stephenson

I featured Neal Stephenson in one other previous Sunday Supplement. He is a Hugo, Locus, and Clarke-award-winning author whose works have been classified as Science Fiction and Cyberpunk.

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer is a coming-of-age story about a girl named Nell set in a future where nanotechnology affects all areas of everyday life—the novel deals with themes of artificial intelligence, education, social class, ethnicity, and education.

I only recently read The Diamond Age, and I picked it up because I remembered Neal Stephenson’s work as a truly unique experience.

This novel won both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novel and Best Science Fiction Novel, respectively, and it certainly delivered a unique experience.

Movie of the Week:

The Boy and the Heron

I’ve featured several Studio Ghibli films in previous Sunday Supplements. I continue to highlight the animation company’s work because it is of the highest quality.

The Boy and the Heron was director/writer Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film for the prestigious animation company.

The film is set during World War II in Japan and follows a headstrong boy who ventures into a dreamlike world shared by the living and the dead after the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage.

Check out the Studio Ghibli catalog and pick a movie from their list that calls to you. I believe their films are a special experience that you shouldn’t skip over.

Brainfood of the Week:

Confident Ignorance with Logic and Simon Sinek | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

Logic is a Grammy-nominated platinum-selling rapper, songwriter, New York Times bestselling author, and filmmaker.

Simon Sinek, who I have featured in several previous Sunday Supplements, is a bestselling author and speaker on leadership.

On this episode of Sinek’s A Bit of Optimism Podcast, the two discuss how confident ignorance allows you to acknowledge your deficiencies while creating the opportunity to learn and grow.

I only recently stumbled upon Sinek’s podcast, but I’ve found it to be worthwhile for those interested in listening to an hour-long conversation with leaders across various industries.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so shaken that even the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is [always] near.”

– Surah Al-Baqarah 214

This Quran passage prompts me to reflect on difficult times in my life when it seemed like there would be no relief in sight.

Everyone has their own difficult periods in life, and I believe that relief does eventually come in some way or form.

Navigating these difficult times isn’t easy, but I think the experience we gain from them can help us learn and grow and prepare us to face tough times in the future.


Reflect on your experiences, continue to move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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