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Category: Sunday Supplement

Quotes, Books, Movies, Brainfood, and Passages/Prayers.

Sunday Supplements

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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Anne Frank, Year of Yes, Casablanca, Practical Psychology, and a Dhammapada Verse

Sunday Supplement #100 (April 9th, 2023)

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.

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

Quote of the Week:

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

– Anne Frank

Book of the Week:

Year of Yes – Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes is the creator and writer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and the executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder.

In Rhimes’ book, she describes how she used to devise every excuse possible to avoid public situations that made her feel uncomfortable.

But after a comment from her sister calling her out for never saying yes to anything, Rhimes promised to push herself outside her small and safe box.

It took me a few chapters to get into, but Shonda Rhimes’ vulnerability, wisdom, and charm made for an excellent read with many lessons to take away.

The biggest takeaway for me was that even when things are going well, looking for areas of improvement can make a massive difference in how we feel.

Movie of the Week:

Casablanca

The 1942 film Casablanca follows a cynical expatriate American cafe owner as he struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.

You’ve probably heard of Casablanca because it’s considered one of the best films ever made.

The reputation of the movie is well-warranted. Everything from the story, the acting, the cinematography, etc., is phenomenal.

Some classic films don’t stand the test of time, but Casablanca is one that ranks in the highest tier of Cinema regardless of the decade or year.

If you haven’t seen Casablanca yet, put it on your watchlist.

Brainfood of the Week:

8 Simple Self-Improvement Principles | Practical Psychology

Practical Psychology has over 2 million subscribers and uploads inspirational and motivational videos and tutorials on various personal development topics.

In this video, Practical Psychology breaks down eight self-improvement principles with the guide of the two-minute to being implementation.

The principles are pretty basic and are probably things you’ve come across, but it is a good reminder of how little things can help your overall well-being.

If you find the video too introductory/general for your liking, check out other Practical Psychology videos with a more in-depth look at self-improvement.

This is the first time I’ve featured their channel, but I always like coming across new sources of information. Give it a look if it calls out to you.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let the wise one make of himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.”

– Dhammapada verse 25

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha. It is in verse form and is one of the best-known and widely-read Buddhist scriptures.

I picked this verse for the Sunday Supplement because it encompasses our ability to achieve a level where we can withstand any storm against us.

Sometimes life can get overwhelming, and it feels like we are spent. It’s a relief to have support around us, but I believe we must also help ourselves.

Through our efforts, awareness, discipline, and self-mastery, we can become the best versions of ourselves.

Always try to grow and look for areas of improvement, and have a blessed week ahead!

*I’m excited about reaching the 100 post Sunday Supplement milestone. I might take a break or stop at some point in the near future, but I’ve had a blast writing this blog. I hope you’ve taken away something from it that’s brightened your week ahead! Thank you for being a part of the journey 🙂

**Here is a guide page in celebration of 100 posts. I hope it makes it easier to go through the past posts and gives you easier access to the content!

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William Shakespeare, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Liar Liar, Sadhguru, and a Quran Passage

Sunday Supplement #99 (April 2nd, 2023)

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:

“No legacy is so rich as honesty.”

– William Shakespeare

Book of the Week:

How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

I’ve often avoided a few books because of their titles, but in most cases, I’ve found them to be excellent reads.

How to Win Friends and Influence People was a book I knew was considered one of the godfathers of the self-improvement genre, so I eventually read it.

I was happy to find its pages filled with practical wisdom and good advice for engaging with others. The information Carnegie relayed had engaging stories from a diversity of subjects and persons.

At one point in the book, after explaining one of the tips to help others in engagement, Carnegie recalls being asked why he would do something good without expecting to receive something in return. He was appalled at the question. 

The timeless bestseller has sold over 30 million copies to date. If you’ve avoided the book before, consider putting it on your to-read list now.

Movie of the Week:

Liar Liar

The premise of Liar Liar is a pathologically lying lawyer finding himself unable to lie for 24 hours on the most important day of his career after his son makes that his birthday wish.

Liar Liar’s premise is a little corny, but Jim Carrey brilliantly stars in the leading role and gives the movie heart, depth, and many laughs.

The film made over $300 million from a $45 million budget, and Carrey received a nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy at the Golden Globes.

Liar Liar was on television quite a bit when I was a kid. It has a good message and is something I would recommend watching if you come across it.

Brainfood of the Week:

Be Truthful to Yourself | Sadhguru

Sadhguru is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. His YouTube page has over 11 million followers and over a billion video views.

In this video, Sadhguru discusses the necessity of being honest with yourself.

He tells a story about a man who brings an umbrella with him on a walk with a friend. It starts to rain, and the man doesn’t open the umbrella. When questioned, the man says the umbrella has holes in it, and he thought he wouldn’t need it.

The man waited for someone else to catch him in his lies. If you wait for someone else to catch you in your delusions, it might take a rainy day for you to be confronted.

I’ve featured Sadhguru in a few previous Sunday Supplements. Check them out if you enjoyed this video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar and ungrateful.”

– Surah Az-Zumar 39:3

This passage from the Quran makes me think about the paths you can find yourself on if you are dishonest.

I think it’s an interesting metaphor to look at this verse and how it describes the outcome of lying and ingratitude as a lack of guidance from God.

When you are dishonest, you create a fictitious web that you must remember every strand of; otherwise, you can get caught in your own lies.

When you are true with your words, I believe the reflection comes in the peace you feel. Even if you experience pain, you can take solace in the fact that you have been honest.

Be honest in your words and actions, and have a blessed week ahead!

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James Baldwin, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, A Beautiful Mind, The School of Life, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Sunday Supplement #98 (March 26th, 2023)

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:

“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”

– James Baldwin

Book of the Week:

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larson

Stieg Larson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo centers around the disappearances of the scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families.

Years later, her aged uncle hires Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist caught up in a libel conviction, to investigate the disappearance.

Blomkvist heads to a fictional small island in Northern Sweden and begins to untangle the mystery. He receives help from a computer hacker with a mysterious past, Lisbeth.

The novel is an exciting read with an intriguing plot and interesting themes. Larson crafted brilliant characters and a fantastic story.

I’ve only read the original trilogy of the Millennium series. Larson died before completing the third novel, and the series has since been continued with a new author.

Movie of the Week:

A Beautiful Mind

Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind is a biographical drama about the asocial mathematician John Nash and his battle with schizophrenia.

The film follows Nash’s journey as a mathematician, his work on game theory, and his relationship with his wife, Alicia Larde, as he faces his hallucinations.

A Beautiful Mind won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2002 Academy Awards. It is currently #143 on IMDBs’ Top Rated Movies list.

In addition to the Best Picture win, Jennifer Connelly won an Oscar for her role as Alicia, Ron Howard won an Oscar for Best Director, and Akiva Goldsman won an Oscar for Best Writing – Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

The 2001 film is an excellent film with a fantastic story and is one of Russell Crowe’s best performances as John Nash. Check it out if you haven’t seen it.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Love | The School of Life

The School of Life’s video starts by describing the puzzling question of why some people are so awful. The often simplistic answer is that there are terrible people.

The video then offers an experiment of looking at others through the eyes of love. It requires stamina and is best attempted at a quieter, less agitated time of day. 

We often identify people at their worst moments and can be ingenious in our judgments. The enemy of generosity in this context is the sense that we may be beyond fault ourselves.

The video offers an interesting look at how we can rush to judgment and overlook our capacity to view the world through the eyes of love.

I’ve featured The School of Life in a few previous Sunday Supplements. Their channel consists of content from psychologists, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people lead calmer and more reliant lives.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The only way you can conquer me is through Love, and there I am gladly conquered.”

– Bhagavad Gita (Krishna)

The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse scripture that dates back to around 500 BCE and is considered one of the holy scriptures for Hinduism.

There are phrases like “kill them with kindness” and “turn the other cheek” to emphasize the futility of answering violence with violence.

This particular verse addresses the God Krishna’s views on the power of love. The Krishna quote shows me the way to overcome all obstacles.

It can be taxing to be aligned with love in all matters, but it is worth striving for. I only find when my heart is full of love that I am truly at peace.

Try your best to approach yourself and others with love, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Sophocles, Mindset, Half Nelson, TED-Ed, and a Bible Passage

Sunday Supplement #97 (March 19th, 2023)

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 were to offer a thirsty man all wisdom, you would not please him more than if you gave him a drink.”

– Sophocles

Book of the Week:

Mindset – Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.

Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck researched the power of mindset and how success can be significantly influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities.

Dweck’s book Mindset delves into how a fixed mindset (those who believe that abilities are fixed) are less likely to succeed than those with a growth mindset (those who believe abilities can be developed).

While the outcomes behind these findings might seem obvious, the extent to which they are accurate and how mindsets are developed is extraordinary.

In Dweck’s book, she covers how these different mindsets can be picked up from various sources and at various times in your life.

I highly recommend checking this book out, if only to familiarize yourself with Dweck’s research findings and seeing how you’ve been influenced and how you influence others.

Movie of the Week:

Half Nelson

Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s film Half Nelson follows a junior high school teacher with a drug habit and the friendship he forms with one of his students after she discovers his secret.

Ryan Gosling plays the teacher, and Shareeka Epps plays the student. Both give outstanding performances, and Gosling was nominated for an Oscar for the role.

Half Nelson avoids many of the inspirational clichés of the teacher-student genre and instead offers a glimpse of those trying to get by and doing their best.

The film isn’t on many best-movies lists, but the performances of Epps, Gosling, and Anthony Mackie, combined with a nuanced script, make it worth putting on your watch list.

Brainfood of the Week:

4 Things All Great Listeners Should Know | TED-Ed

This TED-Ed video starts with a quote from Laurie Buchanan, Ph.D., “When we listen, we hear someone into existence.”

The video then delves into what studies about what excellent listening requires and how it can improve our relationships and develop our worldview.

There are four tips about what great listening looks like in the video, including asking questions to confirm understanding and asking for a moment to reflect.

The video breaks down the different tips and provides valuable tools worth picking up to see if you’re utilizing the best methods for connection.

I’ve featured TED-Ed videos on a few other Sunday Supplements. Check them out if you enjoyed this video!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Where there is no guidance, the people fall. But in an abundance of counselors, there is victory.”

– Proverbs 11:14

I picked this Bible passage because of its link to the quote at the beginning of the Supplement. For me, the standout of the verse is focused on what makes a good counselor.

The idea of a counselor or someone who gives guidance can often get scrambled when the person offering help thinks they know what’s best for the person receiving without listening.

What everybody needs sometimes is not someone who tells them what they should do but someone who can listen to what the person needs.

The space for conversation allows for the needs to arise, and only then can they be addressed.

Don’t jump to conclusions; listen to yourself and others, and have a blessed week ahead!

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