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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 hope you take something away from these 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
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Frans de Waal, News of a Kidnapping, Carrie, William Ury, and a Bible Passage

Frans de Waal, News of a Kidnapping, Carrie, William Ury, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 17, 2024

Sunday Supplement #184 (November 17th, 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:

“Human morality is unthinkable without empathy.”

– Frans de Waal

Book of the Week:

News of a Kidnapping – Gabriel García Márquez

News of a Kidnapping recounts the 1990s kidnappings, including ten prominent journalists, by the Medellín Cartel operated by Pablo Escobar.

Gabriel García Márquez covers the events, from the government’s handling of the situation to the cartel’s experiences and those they captured.

I found the read engaging but intense. In a time and place where presidential candidates and cabinet members were frequently assassinated, I didn’t know how the story would end.

I’ve featured Gabriel García Márquez in Sunday Supplement #79. I highly recommend reading the Nobel Prize-winning author’s works.

Movie of the Week:

Carrie

I’ve featured several Stephen King books in previous Sunday Supplements, but only a couple of the films adapted from his works.

The reason I haven’t featured many Stephen King movies is because I don’t believe most have captured the magic of his stories. Brian De Palma’s Carrie is one of the few that did.

Carrie was Stephen King’s brilliant debut novel. It was also the first of his stories to be adapted to the screen.

The story follows Carrie, a shy, friendless girl who is sheltered by a domineering, religious mother. After years of abuse, Carrie finally finds herself fighting back in an unexpected way.

Brainfood of the Week:

Peace Is A Process – William Ury | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

William Ury spent decades as a peace negotiator and has written several books, including the best-seller Getting To Yes.

Simon Sinek, who I have featured in several previous Sunday Supplements, is a bestselling author and speaker on leadership. His podcast A Bit of Optimism features him speaking with various people, with the aim of leaving those who listen feeling a bit more optimistic.

In this episode, Sinek asks Ury about his experiences as a peace negotiator, and they discuss how these tactics cross over in many different areas of our lives.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

– Colossians 3:12

When I read religious passages, I look for the meaning behind the passages and what valuable lessons they can impart to me.

This Bible passage discusses the importance of showing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It specifically refers to clothing yourself in these traits— in my opinion, so that others can see them.

These traits are more valuable when shared. Others can see these behaviors and be positively affected by them, as well as be provided with an example of how one can choose to be.


Make space for empathy in your life, and have a blessed week ahead!

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John Wooden, In the Woods, Warrior, TED-Ed, and a Chinese Proverb

John Wooden, In the Woods, Warrior, TED-Ed, and a Chinese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 10, 2024

Sunday Supplement #183 (November 10th, 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:

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

– John Wooden

Book of the Week:

In the Woods – Tana French

Tana French’s debut novel In the Woods won several awards, including the 2008 Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author.

French is an American-Irish writer, theatrical actress, and longtime resident of Ireland. Her Dublin Murder Squad series, which started with In the Woods, features two Irish Detectives.

In the Woods follows Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox. Ryan keeps a terrifying childhood incident a secret but finds himself assigned to a case where a 12-year-old girl was found murdered in the same woods of his childhood incident.

French’s writing is gripping, and the story is a well-crafted mystery/thriller. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy the genre.

Movie of the Week:

Warrior

Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior tells the story of the youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer, who returns home to be trained by his father for a mixed martial arts tournament. This tournament puts the younger son on course to face off with his estranged older brother.

Tom Hardy plays the younger son, Joel Edgerton plays the older brother, and Nick Nolte plays the father. Nolte was nominated for the 2012 Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

I believe the movie didn’t do as well as it should have because of the marketing campaign and trailers. It failed to show the depth of each character and their journeys in the film.

This movie has much to appreciate, including a tight script and brilliant performances. If it piques your interest, check it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Overcome Your Mistakes | TED-Ed

This TED-Ed video starts by highlighting a 2019 study that invited participants to learn a mysterious invented language.

The study’s findings showed that the participants who were arbitrarily categorized as failures had a hard time doing better in the next phase of the study.

The video explains how we can avoid situations that will negatively affect our self-confidence, potentially cause pain, and make us feel demoralized or incompetent, causing our brains to stop processing new information.

At the end of the video, one of the guiding points for overcoming your mistakes is to be mindful of your self-talk.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.”

– Chinese Proverb

This Chinese proverb reminds me of the power of practice and how any success worth achieving requires effort.

When I discovered self-improvement books, I finally understood how studying things you were interested in made learning fun.

However, if you want to learn something new, you have to be okay with failure. You have to be okay with putting in the practice, which will eventually allow you to find success.


Learn to have fun failing, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Marie Kondo, The Quiet American, Children of Men, Eckhart Tolle, and an African Proverb

Marie Kondo, The Quiet American, Children of Men, Eckhart Tolle, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 3, 2024

Sunday Supplement #182 (November 3rd, 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:

“Have gratitude for the things you’re discarding. By giving gratitude, you’re giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it becomes a lot easier to let go.”

– Marie Kondo

Book of the Week:

The Quiet American – Graham Greene

Graham Greene’s The Quiet American is narrated in the first person by journalist Thomas Fowler and depicts the breakdown of French colonialism in Vietnam and early American involvement in the Vietnam War.

A central subplot to the narrative involves a love triangle between Fowler, a Vietnamese woman named Phoung, and an American CIA agent named Alden Pyle.

Greene’s novel questions the American involvement in Vietnam in the 1950s and explores the subject through its three main characters.

The novel, published in 1955, received much recognition due to its exploration of American involvement in the War, given its eventual outcome.

I featured Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana in Sunday Supplement #153. I’m grateful I’ve come across his writing and highly recommend his books.

Movie of the Week:

Children of Men

Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men, based on the Phyllis Dorothy James novel, tells the story of a world set in 2027 that struggles to survive after women have become infertile.

A former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea amid a world in chaos.

The film features standout leading performances from Clive Owen and Clare-Hope Ashley and a brilliant supporting cast that includes Michael Kane, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Julianne Moore.

The Children of Men is an excellently crafted story and a wild viewing experience. I’ve only seen this film a couple of times, but it sticks in your memory.

Brainfood of the Week:

Practicing Gratitude for the Present Moment | Eckhart Tolle

I’ve featured Eckhart Tolle in previous Sunday Supplements and may have featured the longer source from which this week’s clip originates.

I’m highlighting this short clip because I believe it addresses a crucial misunderstanding of common experiences of practicing gratitude.

Tolle discusses how being grateful for what you have puts you in a state of comparison. Instead, Tolle suggests shifting toward appreciation in the present moment.

It’s an interesting one-minute lesson worth pondering. If you enjoy it, I’d recommend checking out Tolle’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A cat that dreams of becoming a lion must lose its appetite for rats.”

– African Proverb

This African proverb reminded me of the old habits that had helped me in the past but were no longer helpful as I grew older.

I believe it is easy to get stuck in an old routine because it can be safe, familiar, and comfortable. At certain points in our lives, these habits can help us, but if we wish to grow, we must embrace change.

One of my friends taught me a helpful exercise for letting go of old habits. It involves recognizing that the behaviors were there to help us deal with a certain part of our lives, being thankful but acknowledging they no longer serve us, and committing to moving forward.


Be grateful for the things that have helped you survive, continue to grow, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Lao Tzu, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, The Iron Giant, Mark Kelly, and a Japanese Proverb

Lao Tzu, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, The Iron Giant, Mark Kelly, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 27, 2024

Sunday Supplement #181 (October 27th, 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:

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

– Lao Tzu

Book of the Week:

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? – Dr. Julie Smith

Clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Smith answered a patient’s question, “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” with this debut novel.

Smith discusses while some people need and could benefit from a trained psychologist or psychiatrist, there are many everyday tools that you can use to help improve your mental health outside of a therapist’s office.

Psychologists use these tools to help their patients, and Smith wanted to write a book that shares the basics for anyone to pick up.

I’ve encountered most of the principles and teachings in Smith’s book, but I think it’s an excellent guide for those interested in taking control of their mental well-being.

Movie of the Week:

The Iron Giant

Brad Bird (writer/director of Ratatouille and The Incredibles) made his first writer/director debut with the 1999 animated film The Iron Giant.

The story is set during the Cold War in the 1950s and follows a young boy, Hogart, who befriends a giant alien robot from outer space. A paranoid government agent leads the charge of finding and destroying Hogart’s new friend.

Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, and Christopher McDonald are just a few of the voice actors involved in the production.

Although The Iron Giant flopped at the box office, it went on to become a classic in animation. I highly recommend checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

How One Act of Kindness a Day Can Change Your Life | TEDx – Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly’s podcast What I Know Now introduces listeners to inspirational leadership and personal development stories.

In this video, Kelly discusses his journey of looking for more ways to perform acts of kindness and how that benefits the giver as well as the receiver.

The TEDx Talk is a six-minute video, but it’s an interesting story with an important message about incorporating acts of kindness into your day for yourself and others.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“One kind word will warm for three months of winter.” (つの優しい言葉は冬の三カ月を温める)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb has a fairly straightforward message of how kind words can have positive effects long after they are spoken.

However, I particularly enjoy the words used to describe the effect of one kind word spoken. For me, winter in this proverb describes a time when you are isolated, and the warmth of a kind word offers connection, comfort, and hope.

The proverb reminds me of moments when someone has gone out of their way to say something kind to me. They may never know the impact of their actions, but I remember how much they helped, and I try to pass that on when I can.


Look for moments where you can be kind, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Leonardo da Vinci, The Rum Diary, The Name of the Rose, TED-Ed, and a Quran Passage

Leonardo da Vinci, The Rum Diary, The Name of the Rose, TED-Ed, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 20, 2024

Sunday Supplement #180 (October 20th, 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:

“All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.”

– Leonardo da Vinci

Book of the Week:

The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and author famous for establishing a genre of journalism called “Gonzo,” where the writer becomes a subjective central figure and participant in the narrative.

Thompson’s most famous works are probably Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas and Hells Angels, the latter being a book Thompson wrote after spending a year with the motorcycle club to write a first-hand account.

The Rum Diary was Thompson’s second attempt at a novel (it was started in the late 1950s), but it was published in 1998, a long time after he became famous.

Set in the 1950s, the story follows a journalist, Paul Kemp, who moves from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to work at a major newspaper. The novel depicts a messy, violent love story involving the Americans who work for the newspaper.

Thompson wasn’t a fan of the novel and, apparently, only agreed to publish it because he needed the money. I found the book engaging and a brilliant exploration of idealism, disillusionment, and lust.

Movie of the Week:

The Name of the Rose

The 1986 film The Name of the Rose was based on Umberto Eco’s 1980 Italian novel, which sold over 50 million copies worldwide.

Sean Connery stars as a Franciscan friar, William of Baskerville, who investigates a series of mysterious deaths in a medieval abbey.

In addition to Sean Connery’s BAFTA-winning performance, the supporting cast includes a young Christian Slater, F. Murray Abraham, Valentina Vargas, Michael Lonsdale, William Hickey, and Ron Perlman.

Jean-Jacques Annaud brilliantly directed the murder mystery period piece. Check out the reasons for the film’s R rating, but definitely give it a watch if it calls to you.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Make Smart Decisions More Easily | TED-Ed

This TED-Ed video focuses on decision fatigue. It starts by highlighting a 2011 study on judges’ parole cases and how the time of day significantly impacted decisions.

Decision fatigue occurs when there are too many big decisions in our day. When we experience decision fatigue, we become prone to errors.

The video then highlights different ways decision fatigue can impact our lives and provides strategies for avoiding it.

I find it incredible how our perception of a matter can significantly change depending on our fatigue level. This video is a good reminder to avoid overloading yourself.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“And do not (contemptuously) turn your face away from people, and do not walk through the earth exultantly.”

– Surah Luqman 18

This Quran passage speaks to staying humble in life. Arrogance and cockiness come in many different forms, and I appreciate the examples in this verse.

When I typically think of unhealthy pride, I think of boasting. The first part of the Quran verse discusses turning away from people in contempt. This is a great reminder to check your ego and not judge others.

For me, this verse is a timely reminder to quiet my mind and attune to gratitude and humility. Our perceptions are our own to control, and this verse gives examples of wayward paths.


Decide how you want to perceive the world, and have a blessed week ahead!

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