Sunday Supplement #2 (May 23rd, 2021)
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 from this post that enriches your week ahead!
Quote of the Week:
“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”
– Muhammad Ali
Book of the Week:
Rock Me on the Water – Ronald Brownstein
The subtitle of this book is 1974 — The Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television, and Politics.
The book is divided into twelve chapters as months of the year and recounts highlights from each month. Brownstein breaks down how musicians, television shows, movies, and political figures shaped the times and the future.
Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Tom Bradley, and Jane Fonda are some of the people highlighted in the music and political arena. All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Chinatown, and Shampoo (among others) are used as examples of TV shows and movies that challenged the previous standards and created a discussion of the current times.
Brownstein did a fantastic job capturing and describing a year in history that reshaped American life. The book is full of rich history and entertaining stories. It also has poignant examples of parallels to today’s times.
Movie of the Week:
If you haven’t heard of Studio Ghibli, there is a whole roster of beautiful Animated films for you to explore. An expert tribute to their movies is a quote from ex-Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Disney, John Lasseter— “Whenever we get stuck at Pixar or Disney, I put on a Miyazaki film sequence or two, just to get us inspired again.”
Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke tells the tale of Ashitaka as he searches to find the source of the curse put on him by a demon that attacked his village. His journey “to see with eyes unclouded by hate” brings him to the middle of a war between forest gods and a mining colony.
The visuals are stunning, and like the majority of Studio Ghibli films, were mostly hand-drawn. Another one of the great attributes to their company is its strong female characters, which Princess Mononoke is a prime example of.
Both the English dubbed and subtitled versions are excellent. Author Neil Gaiman penned the English dialogue for the screenplay with approval from Miyazaki. And Studio Ghibli famously sent Harvey Weinstein an authentic Japanese sword with a note stating “no cuts” after he suggested edits for the film.
Regardless of what version you choose to check out, you will experience a wonderful tale.
* This is one of the more serious films on Studio Ghibli’s roster— the only one rated PG-13. There is some violence, but that shouldn’t detour any viewer. The messages of the movie are clear for all, and the film itself is brilliant.
Brainfood of the Week:
Russell Brand’s interview with Brené Brown on his podcast Under the Skin.
Russell Brand originally came to public notice as a comedian and an actor. While he continues to act, he has done a lot of work on self-improvement over the years and has delved into different arenas as a result. One of his ventures is a podcast where he interviews leaders and specialists across various fields.
Brené Brown is the guest on this episode. She is a 5x New York Times bestselling author and is an expert on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Any of her books are worth checking out, as is her TED Talk, “The Power of Vulnerability.” In this interview, she and Russell have a great back and forth and discuss various topics, including perception, parenting, and communication.
If the length of the episode detours you, check out the (20 min) TED Talk to get a feel for her and to see if you’d be interested in delving into more of her material.
Closing Prayer/Passage:
And God saw everything that He had made and found it very good.
And He said: This is a beautiful world that I have given you. Take good care of it; do not ruin it.
It is said: Before the world was created, the Holy One kept creating worlds and destroying them.
Finally, He created this one and was satisfied.
He said to Adam: This is the last world I shall make. I place it in your hands: hold it in trust.
– Jewish Creation Prayer
When I read this prayer, I think of the impact we all have on this Earth. It is a good reminder for me to be aware of my actions and how they can have a positive effect if I am conscious.
Have a blessed week ahead!
Love this format, and the recommendations I wouldn’t ever think to watch or read myself, but they sound awesome!
Glad you like it! Princess Mononoke is a brilliant film. I highly recommend it. The Rock Me on the Water book is great on many different levels too.
Sorry for the late reply!