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Tag: Aaron Sorkin

Nelson Mandela, Will, A Few Good Men, Cory Booker, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Sunday Supplement #93 (February 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.

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

Quote of the Week:

“It always seems impossible until it is done.”

– Nelson Mandela

Book of the Week:

Will – Will Smith & Mark Manson

I only read Will Smith’s autobiography the other week, but it’s still fresh in my mind as a reminder of perseverance and growth. It helps that the book is wildly entertaining too.

For those that don’t know, Will Smith is a Grammy Award-winning musician, Academy Award-winning actor, and NAACP winner.

Smith covers his journey from his youth in Philadelphia to his career as a hip-hop artist, conquering Hollywood, and all the struggles in between.

Mark Manson, the #1 New York Times bestseller of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, pens Smith’s autobiography and helps it flow while still being authentically in Smith’s voice.

I don’t put too many books on my must-re-read list, but this is one of them.

Movie of the Week:

A Few Good Men

Rob Reiner’s A Few Good Men follows a military lawyer assigned a case of two Marines accused of murder despite their claims of being under orders.

Tom Cruise stars as the military lawyer, and Demi Moore, Wolfgang Bodison, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, and Jack Nicholson all give phenomenal supporting performances.

The actors are so brilliant in the film because of the writing by Aaron Sorkin. The story and the characters are wonderfully crafted to supply a compelling drama.

A Few Good Men was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (for Nicholson).

I typically put this film on once a year, and I always find it worth the watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Cory Booker Interview | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)

I wouldn’t usually recommend a politician in a brainfood of the week since I don’t know much about politics.

However, Tim Ferriss’s podcast interview with Cory Booker is one of the more memorable episodes I’ve come across.

The interview was conducted in 2017, so it’s a bit dated, but the conversation has much worth tuning in for.

Booker talks about his mentors, receiving a Rhodes Scholarship, his participation in a hunger strike to draw attention to urban development issues, and much more.

I’ve featured Tim Ferriss’ podcast on many previous Sunday Supplements, but I’m still finding more that are worth highlighting. This is one of them.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“You have the right to work but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.”

– Bhagavad Gita 2:47

This passage from the Bhagavad Gita makes me question the purpose behind my actions.

I think it’s an interesting prompt to consider whether or not you would pursue something if the result isn’t guaranteed.

I don’t think that means we shouldn’t want to achieve our goals, but it helps me focus more on the love of the process.

Thinking about why you’re truly engaged in any endeavor is an interesting insight into what you really want. Sometimes our surface-level wants often have much deeper needs.

Think about what you truly love in your life, nurture it, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Victor Kiam, The Pillars of the Earth, Moneyball, Jim Rohn, and Surah Al-Qasas 28:54

Sunday Supplement #47 (April 3rd, 2022)

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:

“Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.”

– Victor Kiam

Book of the Week:

The Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett

Ken Follett found success as an author in the spy thriller genre. He gradually built his career over the course of a few years in the mid-1970s before becoming an international bestseller.

After a decade of building up his name in the spy thriller genre, Follett wanted to write an epic historical fiction novel.

The Pillars of the Earth focuses on the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England, set in the 12th century. It follows a monk and a man’s dream of building the greatest cathedral in the world.

While the main focus is on the characters involved with Kingsbridge, the novel’s backdrop is the war of succession in English history known as the Anarchy.

Follett brilliantly crafted a story that weaved in fictional characters with a fascinating point in English history. He also captured the development of Gothic architecture from Romanesque architecture with the construction of the church.

After solely writing and having great success in the spy thriller genre, Follett’s venture into an almost thousand-page historical epic was a risky move.

The Pillars of the Earth has sold more the 25 million copies, so it’s safe to say Follett’s bold move worked. 

Movie of the Week:

Moneyball

The trues story around Moneyball is a fascinating insight into the technological evolution involved in sports.

Oakland Athletics’ general manager Billy Beane looked to statistical analysis promoted by Paul DePodesta (Peter Brand in the film) to assemble a competitive team with limited funds.

The movie follows the Athletics’ 2002 season as Beane and Brand look to overturn baseball’s history of scouting by making decisions based on statistical models.

Brad Pitt stars as Beane, and Jonah Hill steps up in one of his first dramatic roles as Brand. Both performances are supported by the brilliant script from Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian.

The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Pitt, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Hill.

While the movie’s description may suggest that you have to be a baseball fan to enjoy it, the story has enough quality for an enjoyable watch regardless of allegiances.

Brainfood of the Week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucfKhVftN6Y

Success Requires Patience and Persistence | Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn was a businessman whose success ultimately led to others asking him to speak at events or hold seminars. 

Rohn then went on to develop his self-development business. In Sunday Supplement #30, I featured a Tony Robbins book. Robbins’ teacher was Jim Rohn.

This video is presented by the YouTube channel Motivational Stories. They aim to share lessons taught by great men and women in the form of small digestible videos.

In this clip, Jim Rohn discusses two qualities that can increase your chances of success: patience and persistence.

He describes patience as learning to handle the passing of time. It takes time to accomplish many great things, and it also takes time to change yourself.

Rohn highlights the importance of going easy on yourself as you make your journey in life. He states that lack of patience is the worst enemy of ambition.

In the video, Rohn then explains the key pointers in patience and persistence. He finishes the speech by saying the greatest gift you can give to yourself and others is personal development.

Check out the video and see if any of the information calls to you. It’s worth taking a look.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured.”

– Surah Al-Qasas 28:54

This passage from the Quran reminds me of how there are always different ways to learn from any situation.

On the surface, I know that when you’ve worked hard to achieve something and finally reach that goal, the bliss from getting there can be even greater, knowing the process you endured.

However, I find an even greater benefit from looking back at your work and seeing that you got there in the end.

The lesson I take from this is knowing that things work out and the dots will connect when you look back. 

After seeing this, I can move forward and know that I will get to the destination as long as I put one foot in front of the other.

Keep moving forward on your journey, and have a blessed week ahead!

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