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Jackie Joyner-Kersee, The Dog Stars, The Imitation Game, The Path of the Loner, and a verse from the Yajur Veda

Sunday Supplement #20 (September 26th, 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 these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If I stop to kick every barking dog, I am not going to get where I’m going.”

– Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Book of the Week:

The Dog Stars – Peter Heller

A few movies and books were highlighted over quarantine, like Contagion and Stephen King’s The Stand. While both discuss relevant issues, a story that deals with a similar situation in a different way is Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars.

While the above stories focus on the downfall of civilization, this novel picks up long after a flu pandemic wipes out most of the population. It follows the narrative of Hig, who continues his existence in semi-isolation in that hangar of a small abandoned airport. He lives with his dog, Jasper, and a recluse military man, Bangley, while they attempt to survive and find purpose. 

The small cast of characters allows for a deeper exploration of what it means to be truly alone. Hig meets additional characters along the way, and each brings something unique to the narrative that makes a fascinating read.

Thankfully, the novel isn’t a downer. The book takes a unique situation and fully explores it from a point of view that isn’t all about chaos. Its narrative provides an introspective read that is well worth checking out. The Dog Stars was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2013. It might not be the most famous novel about a pandemic, but it might be one most deserving of a read.

Movie of the Week:

The Imitation Game

During World War II, mathematical genius Alan Turing attempts to crack the German Enigma code with his fellow mathematicians. Turing faces adversity in the workplace and is ostracized for his antisocial behavior and his private life.

A ranked compilation of unproduced scripts floating around Hollywood is released. “The Black List” is famous in the movie industry, and many brilliant screenplays have topped it over the years. The Social Network and Juno are some of the highlights from past years. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon were linked with the role of Alan Turing at various stages, but Benedict Cumberbatch eventually landed the leading role.

The film has a well-rounded cast supporting Cumberbatch with Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, and Matthew Goode all giving commanding performances. The Imitation Game received eight Academy Award nominations in a tough year and only won one. It arguably should have won more, but Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay for Graham Moore was the only Oscar win.

The Imitation Game has an intricate story that encompasses many different themes to help flesh out the plot. The personal struggles of Turning and Knightley’s Joan Clarke are central to the film and give it an extra dimension of depth that shouldn’t be overlooked. It is a movie worth seeing and one that warrants more than one watch for film buffs.

Brainfood of the Week:

Miyamoto Musashi – The Path of the Loner — video by Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger is a YouTube channel that creates videos exploring different people and ideas of history with the aim of making content that inspires, resonates, and entertains. The tagline of the channel is, “In search of…”

In this video, Einzelgänger recounts the story of Miyamoto Musashi and the legacy he left behind. Musashi was born in the 16th century and embarked on a warrior’s pilgrimage, “musha shugyō,” when he was fifteen. He traveled independently, practicing his sword skills while engaging in a series of duels to the death. Once Musashi gained Ronin status, he faced his most challenging opponent Sasaki Kojiro and won. He then renounced lethal duels and later retired and used his time to pass on his wisdom.

Musashi wrote about the path of the warrior— the samurai way of discipline, focus, restraint, and honor. He compiled 21 principles on how a warrior should live in his work Dokkōdō.

After giving a brief summary of Musashi’s life, the video explores Musashi’s Dokkōdō and its application to the modern-day. There are many lessons about honor, focus, and society that are well worth the look.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Only actions with perseverance can ensure success.”

– Yajur Veda

There are four sections of the Hindu Vedas, and they have many verses and passages worth checking out. The one above, from the Yajur Veda, discusses perseverance and its rewards. I always keep an eye out for passages that jump out to me or those that I come across that remind me to keep pursuing my interests and goals. I smile when synchronicities occur right when I need a sign, and I believe that the universe provides these moments when you most need them.

It can be a challenge to pursue your passion or keep on the path towards your goals, but I believe that perseverance has its rewards. When I encounter difficulties or setbacks, I try to be kind to myself and remind myself that hard work pays off, even if it’s in ways I didn’t expect. If you genuinely believe that what you are working on has meaning for you, keep going for it and don’t give up.

Take a moment to appreciate your hard work, 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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