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Tag: Haruki Murakami

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1Q84, Benny & Joon, Sadhguru, and a Japanese Proverb

Sunday Supplement #168 (July 28th, 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:

“Always do what you’re afraid to do.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Book of the Week:

1Q84 – Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 is one of his most critically divisive novels. It is over 1000 pages, depending on the edition you pick up, so I recommend it with a grain of salt.

The novel has a dual narrative between childhood friends Aomame and Tengo. Aomame begins to notice strange changes in her world (a fictional 1984 Japan) and embarks on a journey to discover what is real.

Tengo is a math tutor tasked with re-writing a novel by a girl he finds to be an account of her life in a cult. When he follows this thread, his world collides with Aomame again.

For me, reading Murakami’s prose is an experience akin to experiencing a dream. IQ84 isn’t one of my favorite Murakami novels, but it delivers on its epic scale and is worth the look for those interested.

I’ve featured Haruki Murakami’s books in three previous Sunday Supplements, and I highly recommend checking out his work.

Movie of the Week:

Benny & Joon

I watched Benny & Joon a little while ago and was delighted at the film’s scale and its delivery of a heartfelt story. There don’t seem to be as many smaller movies like these lately.

The story follows a mechanic, Benny, who takes care of his sister, Joon. He struggles with her doctor’s opinion that Joon should live in an assisted living facility.

When Benny loses a bet to his friend, he takes on another roommate in the form of Sam, an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton.

Benny finds the living situation surprisingly effective when Sam and Joon form a bond, but he still struggles with living his own life in fear of Joon’s safety.

The Jeremiah S. Chechik directed, Barry Berman and Lesley McNeil written film has a standout cast that includes Aidan Quinn, Mary Stuart Masterson, Johnny Depp, and Julianne Moore.

Brainfood of the Week:

Troubled By Fear? Just Change Your Channel! – Sadhguru

I’ve featured Sadhguru in a handful of previous Sunday Supplements. He is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. His YouTube page has over 11 million followers.

In this video, Sadhguru responds to a question about how to overcome fear. He then discusses how fear can be excessive imagination about things that are not happening.

We can project imaginary scenarios that cause fear instead of overcoming what exists in the present.

Sadhguru advises working on gardening your thought patterns to produce different scenarios in your mind.

I think the video is an interesting reminder to control our thoughts instead of letting narratives run wild in our minds without our choosing.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember, trees lose their leaves every year, yet they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.”

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb reminds me not to let fears spiral out of control. I think when things don’t go as you hoped or planned, it’s easy to feel lost or worthless.

Whenever you get stuck in a bad situation, good times can feel so far away, and it might feel like you’ll never find your way back.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts, but it’s worth remembering that time will pass and things will change.

I think this proverb is a perfect example of the passage of time and how even when things seem bleak, there will be better times ahead. We shouldn’t dwell on what we cannot control.


Don’t let fear run amok, take action, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Jen Sincero, Kafka on the Shore, Bedazzled, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Sunday Supplement #131 (November 12th, 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:

“Gratitude is one of the strongest and most transformative states of being. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance and allows you to focus on the good in your life, which in turn pulls more goodness into reality.”

– Jen Sincero

Book of the Week:

Kafka on the Shore – Haruki Murakami

I’ve featured Murakami stories in three previous Sunday Supplements but had not covered arguably his most famous novel, Kafka on the Shore.

Kafka on the Shore was listed in “The Best 10 Books of 2005” by The New York Times and received the World Fantasy Award for 2006.

While I wouldn’t consider the book a fantasy novel, I’ve stated before that Murakami’s prose often reads like dreams, and he has many stories that contain elements of magical realism.

Kafka of the Shore follows two characters: a 15-year-old boy who runs away from home and an old disabled man with the uncanny ability to talk to cats.

The themes around metaphysics, music as a communicative medium, and dreams are intriguingly explored. Check out the book if it piques your interest.

Movie of the Week:

Bedazzled

2022’s The Whale, which I highlighted in Sunday Supplement #115, marked the “Brenaissance” of actor Brendan Fraser.

Fraser was a big movie star in the 1990s and 2000s before experiencing debilitating on-set injuries and other setbacks that hampered his career.

Thankfully, he’s experiencing a resurgence in the movie industry. And when looking back at his heyday, it’s hard to pass over the Harold Ramis Comedy Bedazzled.

National Lampoon and Ghostbusters alum Ramis directed and co-wrote the film about a hopeless romantic and absolute dweeb who exchanges his soul to the Devil for seven wishes.

Elizabeth Hurley fantastically plays alongside Fraser as the Devil. They both make an excellent duo for this surprisingly heartfelt, campy 2000s Comedy.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Science of Gratitude & How to Build a Gratitude Practice | Huberman Lab Podcast #47

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine.

Huberman’s podcast discusses neurosciences and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.

This video is a deep dive into the science of gratitude and effective gratitude practices. I clipped the podcast to the point where it described receiving gratitude and seeing others expressing gratitude as the most effective gratitude practice.

I thought that was an interesting point in the video worth a quick look, and if you enjoy the content, give the whole episode a watch.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I accept with joy.”

– Bhagavad Gita 9.26

This Bhagavad Gita passage reminds me to look for the good in what I am receiving. 

In this case, the Bhagavad Gita passage refers to the joyful acceptance of a gift coming from a place of love.

But I find it interesting how the passage describes the gifts as a leaf, fruit, or water. Some might not think of these as gifts, and it’s a reminder to look for intention when receiving.

Gratitude can be a powerful perspective to operate from and help you look for the good in the situation you’re in.

Find the positives in your life with gratitude, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Lailah Gifty Akita, Blind Willow – Sleeping Woman, The Princess Bride, Yoga By Candace, and a Japanese Proverb

Sunday Supplement #108 (June 4th, 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:

“The paradox of relaxation is the renewal of the mind, rekindling of spirit, and revitalizing of strength.”

– Lailah Gifty Akita

Book of the Week:

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman– Haruki Murakami

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is a collection of twenty-four short stories from author Haruki Murakami.

The stories range from insightful and captivating looks at the mundane aspects of life to bizarre surrealist experiences.

I’ve featured Murakami in two previous Sunday Supplements, but I could have easily featured as many books of his as I’ve read.

Murakami is one of my favorite authors, and his books always remind me of stepping into a dream and coming out of it refreshed.

I’m suggesting Bling Willow, Sleeping Woman because it is my favorite short story collection of his, and I believe a quick and complete interval of reading is worth pursuing.

Movie of the Week:

The Princess Bride

I recently read The Princess Bride, which is an excellent book for those who loved the film. However, the movie wonderfully captures the best parts of the book.

The story follows a bedridden boy being read a novel by his grandfather about a farm boy turned pirate and a commoner turned princess.

It’s a story about true love, where the two main characters face numerous obstacles, enemies, and allies in their quest to be reunited.

The Princess Bride is a brilliant combination of adventure, romance, and comedy. The story and dialogue are excellent, and the casting is perfect.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming movie to watch or something fun to watch on a rainy day, I highly recommend The Princess Bride

Brainfood of the Week:

20 Min Yoga Flow for Beginners | Yoga By Candace

I typically feature a podcast, interview, or educational video in my Brainfood of the Week portion of the Sunday Supplement.

Sometimes, I’ve featured a meditation video as a mental break for the week, and this video aims to follow that suit.

I’ve used this video at various stages in my life to start the day, and without fail, those days I start with this video are thirty minutes of peace.

The video is a walkthrough of a sun salutation yoga exercise variation. It can be difficult if you’ve never done yoga, but it becomes an easy and relaxing exercise the more you do it.

Candace is the best-selling author of Namaslay and is an international yoga instructor, personal trainer, and writer of the yoga lifestyle blog on www.yogabycandace.com. 

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The winds of tomorrow will blow tomorrow.” (明日は明日の風が吹く)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb highlights the importance of not over-worrying about a bad situation because the winds will change.

In this case, the winds of tomorrow are not there yet, so you can enjoy today. That doesn’t mean you cannot prepare for bad winds, but you should not dwell on them.

If we’re constantly preparing or worrying about bad situations, we can often miss the beauty of what’s around us on good days.

This proverb is a great reminder for me to recognize the moments of peace in my day, take them in, and appreciate them fully.

Work hard on what’s important to you, but make sure you have moments in your day or times set aside to relax and rest. Have a blessed week ahead!

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Gabrielle Bernstein, Man’s Search for Meaning, Drive My Car, Daily Stoic, and a Kenyan Proverb

Sunday Supplement #102 (April 23rd, 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:

“The way we experience the world around us is a direct reflection of the world within us.”

– Gabrielle Bernstein

Book of the Week:

Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor E. Frankl

Man’s Search for Meaning frequently appears whenever I peruse lists for best self-help books or similar searches on the most influential books ever published.

Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist and a Holocaust survivor. His memoir Man’s Search for Meaning recounts his time in various concentration camps and what he learned.

In the book, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope, find meaning, and move forward with purpose.

Frankl’s theory of logotherapy (the primary human drive as the pursuit of meaning, not pleasure) is explained in the book.

Reading about Frankl’s experiences is enough for a recommendation of this book, but it also provides a perspective worth taking a look at.

Movie of the Week:

Drive My Car

The 2021 film Drive My Car won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi wrote and directed the film about a renowned stage actor and director who learns to cope with a personal loss after accepting an offer to direct a production of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.

Hamaguchi adapted the screenplay from Haruki Murakami’s collection of short stories, Men Without Women. Murakami is one of my favorite authors (although I’ve only featured him in Sunday Supplement #5), and this film brilliantly captures his writing.

The film explores themes of trauma, grief, guilt, and recovery in a way that honors Murakami’s writing and provides a special cinematic experience. 

I highly recommend checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

5 Life Changing Journaling Habits from the Stoics | Daily Stoic

The intro of this video is of Ryan Holiday discussing his journaling journey and the different prompts you can focus on for journaling.

Holiday then moves on to the video’s main focus, which is a general guide of five tips for journaling.

One of my favorite parts is when Holiday discusses the Anne Frank quote, “Paper is more patient than people.” He goes on to discuss the utility of journaling in this context.

I featured Ryan Holiday’s book The Obstacle is the Way on Sunday Supplement #36. His Daily Stoic YouTube channel has over a million subscribers. 

The video is worth checking out, and if you like it, check out more of his work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“He who refuses to obey cannot command.”

– Kenyan Proverb

This Kenyan proverb reminds me of the necessity and value of listening to others and keeping an open mind.

I sometimes find myself tuning out when someone offers advice or tells of their experience, which I don’t think has any connection with me.

When my mind wanders, I try to snap back to the present moment and listen without judgment. It’s in these moments that I find a connection.

I think it’s sometimes difficult to listen to others with an open mind, but I think it’s worth doing so even if you later reflect that there wasn’t something to gain.

The exercise of reflecting on ideas from outside ourselves helps us continue to grow and be open to new information.

Be open to new information, reflect on how we want to move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Brianna Wiest, Haruki Murakami, October Sky, Robert Rodriguez, and Romans 12:2


Sunday Supplement #5 (June 13th, 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 away from this post that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“One day, the mountain that is in front of you will be so far behind you, it will barely be visible in the distance. But the person you become in learning to get over it? That will stay with you forever. And that is the point of the mountain.”

– Brianna Wiest

Book of the Week:

Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami

I’ve read eleven Murakami books. His prose always reads like stepping into a dream. Many of his stories have otherworldly elements, but they keep the reader grounded in a setting that feels familiar. It is as if he writes about a place that is around the corner, just out of sight, waiting for you to come and see.

Norwegian Wood is one of Murakami’s more straightforward novels. It follows Toru Watanabe as he reflects on his college days in 1960s Tokyo— a time marked by political and cultural upheaval. The narrative picks up after the death of Toru’s best friend, Kizuki. It explores Toru’s relationship with Kizuki’s girlfriend, Naoko, and how they cope after Kizuki’s death. Even though they take different paths, they are still connected by the past.

The backstory of how Murakami became a writer is as wondrous as his books. He married while in university and worked multiple jobs with his wife to make enough money to open a jazz café. After years of hard work -finding solace in music and books- Murakami went to a baseball game that changed his life. At the crack of a base-hit late in the game, the idea came to Murakami that he could write a novel. Over the next six months, he hand-wrote Hear the Wind Sing, his first novel. The first draft was understandably bad, but Murakami pursued the next draft in an intriguing way. He wrote it in English, then translated it back to Japanese. This allowed for Murakami to write in a much simpler style, differing from the literary language used by most Japanese writers at the time. 

When Murakami finished writing Hear the Wind Sing, he sent it off to the literary journal Gunzo. He didn’t realize he sent his only copy. A year later, Murakami received a call that his book had been shortlisted for their new writer’s prize. He has written fourteen novels and six short story collections to date. All but one short story collection is translated into English.

Norwegian Wood is one of the best novels to start with for readers new to Murakami. It is one of his shorter works and doesn’t have as many mystical elements that might distract some new readers. There is some graphic content in the book, and it splits opinion among his ardent fans, but I think it’s worth the look.

Let me know what you think!

*The backstory on how Murakami became a writer is from his introduction to Hear the Wind Sing

Movie of the Week:

October Sky

October Sky is based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son from a small town in West Virginia. Homer was inspired by the first Sputnik launch and began to learn about and experiment with rocketry. His endeavors were ridiculed by most of the town and severely discouraged by his father. Despite the negativity, and with the help of a few supporters, Homer and his friends reached far beyond the small coal-mining town they were born to.

Jake Gyllenhaal stars alongside veteran actors Chris Cooper and Laura Dern. His performance showcased his talent and ability as an actor even at a young age. It’s not too surprising that he would shine in front of a camera, though, given that his father Stephen is an Emmy-nominated director and his mother Naomi Former is an Oscar-nominated writer. Despite being around the entertainment industry, his parents wanted Jake to grow up outside of the Hollywood bubble. They kept Jake grounded and didn’t let him take many roles early on. October Sky was the first leading role his parents OK’d and was filmed when he was 17.

The movie came out in 1999, an excellent year for television and film. Debut seasons for The West Wing and The Sopranos, and release dates for The MatrixFight Club, and The Green Mile are just some of the famous milestones from Hollywood that year. Unfortunately, October Sky isn’t often remembered when recounting films from that time. 

Even though it didn’t make waves at the box office or in the press, the movie performed well with critics and audiences— a 91% critics rating and a 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes support that statement. It is an excellent feel-good film and one you should check out if you’re looking for an uplifting watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Tim Ferriss’s interview with Robert Rodriguez on his podcast The Tim Ferriss Show

Rodriguez is a director, writer, producer, editor, composer… the list goes on. He is mainly known for his movies: DesperadoThe Spy Kids franchise, Sin City, and Machete

This interview is one of my favorite episodes so far on The Tim Ferriss Show. Tim’s prep work shows in the questions he asks and allows Rodriguez to cover a lot of his life story. His accomplishments in film are immense, and there are many tidbits in the interview that I picked up and incorporated into my own routines.

In part of the episode, Rodriguez delves into the making of his first movie— told in full in his book Rebel Without a Crew. While he was on break in film school, he raised $7,000 (partly by volunteering for a clinical pharmaceutical research trial) and wrote a feature-length screenplay. He then went to Mexico and virtually as a one-man crew shot the entire film with some help from friends and their connections. Rodriguez then did all of the post-production and drove to Hollywood to shop the finished product around. The result was a deal with Columbia Pictures and a spot at Sundance.

The episode also delves into other areas of Rodriguez’s career since his breakthrough and what he’s learned from the journey. There are some cool stories with name-drops like Robert De Niro and Quentin Tarantino sprinkled throughout. It’s an exciting listen and one you will surely gain something from.

Closing Prayer/Passage:

Romans 12:2 — Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The passage from Romans above reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend in college. My friend told me a Nigerian saying that I will never forget. Roughly translated, it means— “Only dead people cannot learn. If you are not continually learning, you are equivalent to a dead person.”

It’s a heavy reminder of what it means to believe we know everything. 

But to approach it from a positive place, I look at the Romans 12:2 passage and set the goal to keep growing and learning, to keep striving to be a better person each day.

Have a blessed week ahead, and I hope you learn something new!

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