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Frans de Waal, News of a Kidnapping, Carrie, William Ury, and a Bible Passage

Frans de Waal, News of a Kidnapping, Carrie, William Ury, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 17, 2024

Sunday Supplement #184 (November 17th, 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:

“Human morality is unthinkable without empathy.”

– Frans de Waal

Book of the Week:

News of a Kidnapping – Gabriel García Márquez

News of a Kidnapping recounts the 1990s kidnappings, including ten prominent journalists, by the Medellín Cartel operated by Pablo Escobar.

Gabriel García Márquez covers the events, from the government’s handling of the situation to the cartel’s experiences and those they captured.

I found the read engaging but intense. In a time and place where presidential candidates and cabinet members were frequently assassinated, I didn’t know how the story would end.

I’ve featured Gabriel García Márquez in Sunday Supplement #79. I highly recommend reading the Nobel Prize-winning author’s works.

Movie of the Week:

Carrie

I’ve featured several Stephen King books in previous Sunday Supplements, but only a couple of the films adapted from his works.

The reason I haven’t featured many Stephen King movies is because I don’t believe most have captured the magic of his stories. Brian De Palma’s Carrie is one of the few that did.

Carrie was Stephen King’s brilliant debut novel. It was also the first of his stories to be adapted to the screen.

The story follows Carrie, a shy, friendless girl who is sheltered by a domineering, religious mother. After years of abuse, Carrie finally finds herself fighting back in an unexpected way.

Brainfood of the Week:

Peace Is A Process – William Ury | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

William Ury spent decades as a peace negotiator and has written several books, including the best-seller Getting To Yes.

Simon Sinek, who I have featured in several previous Sunday Supplements, is a bestselling author and speaker on leadership. His podcast A Bit of Optimism features him speaking with various people, with the aim of leaving those who listen feeling a bit more optimistic.

In this episode, Sinek asks Ury about his experiences as a peace negotiator, and they discuss how these tactics cross over in many different areas of our lives.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

– Colossians 3:12

When I read religious passages, I look for the meaning behind the passages and what valuable lessons they can impart to me.

This Bible passage discusses the importance of showing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It specifically refers to clothing yourself in these traits— in my opinion, so that others can see them.

These traits are more valuable when shared. Others can see these behaviors and be positively affected by them, as well as be provided with an example of how one can choose to be.


Make space for empathy in your life, and have a blessed week ahead!

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John Wooden, In the Woods, Warrior, TED-Ed, and a Chinese Proverb

John Wooden, In the Woods, Warrior, TED-Ed, and a Chinese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 10, 2024

Sunday Supplement #183 (November 10th, 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:

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

– John Wooden

Book of the Week:

In the Woods – Tana French

Tana French’s debut novel In the Woods won several awards, including the 2008 Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author.

French is an American-Irish writer, theatrical actress, and longtime resident of Ireland. Her Dublin Murder Squad series, which started with In the Woods, features two Irish Detectives.

In the Woods follows Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox. Ryan keeps a terrifying childhood incident a secret but finds himself assigned to a case where a 12-year-old girl was found murdered in the same woods of his childhood incident.

French’s writing is gripping, and the story is a well-crafted mystery/thriller. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy the genre.

Movie of the Week:

Warrior

Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior tells the story of the youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer, who returns home to be trained by his father for a mixed martial arts tournament. This tournament puts the younger son on course to face off with his estranged older brother.

Tom Hardy plays the younger son, Joel Edgerton plays the older brother, and Nick Nolte plays the father. Nolte was nominated for the 2012 Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

I believe the movie didn’t do as well as it should have because of the marketing campaign and trailers. It failed to show the depth of each character and their journeys in the film.

This movie has much to appreciate, including a tight script and brilliant performances. If it piques your interest, check it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Overcome Your Mistakes | TED-Ed

This TED-Ed video starts by highlighting a 2019 study that invited participants to learn a mysterious invented language.

The study’s findings showed that the participants who were arbitrarily categorized as failures had a hard time doing better in the next phase of the study.

The video explains how we can avoid situations that will negatively affect our self-confidence, potentially cause pain, and make us feel demoralized or incompetent, causing our brains to stop processing new information.

At the end of the video, one of the guiding points for overcoming your mistakes is to be mindful of your self-talk.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.”

– Chinese Proverb

This Chinese proverb reminds me of the power of practice and how any success worth achieving requires effort.

When I discovered self-improvement books, I finally understood how studying things you were interested in made learning fun.

However, if you want to learn something new, you have to be okay with failure. You have to be okay with putting in the practice, which will eventually allow you to find success.


Learn to have fun failing, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Marie Kondo, The Quiet American, Children of Men, Eckhart Tolle, and an African Proverb

Marie Kondo, The Quiet American, Children of Men, Eckhart Tolle, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 3, 2024

Sunday Supplement #182 (November 3rd, 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:

“Have gratitude for the things you’re discarding. By giving gratitude, you’re giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it becomes a lot easier to let go.”

– Marie Kondo

Book of the Week:

The Quiet American – Graham Greene

Graham Greene’s The Quiet American is narrated in the first person by journalist Thomas Fowler and depicts the breakdown of French colonialism in Vietnam and early American involvement in the Vietnam War.

A central subplot to the narrative involves a love triangle between Fowler, a Vietnamese woman named Phoung, and an American CIA agent named Alden Pyle.

Greene’s novel questions the American involvement in Vietnam in the 1950s and explores the subject through its three main characters.

The novel, published in 1955, received much recognition due to its exploration of American involvement in the War, given its eventual outcome.

I featured Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana in Sunday Supplement #153. I’m grateful I’ve come across his writing and highly recommend his books.

Movie of the Week:

Children of Men

Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men, based on the Phyllis Dorothy James novel, tells the story of a world set in 2027 that struggles to survive after women have become infertile.

A former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea amid a world in chaos.

The film features standout leading performances from Clive Owen and Clare-Hope Ashley and a brilliant supporting cast that includes Michael Kane, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Julianne Moore.

The Children of Men is an excellently crafted story and a wild viewing experience. I’ve only seen this film a couple of times, but it sticks in your memory.

Brainfood of the Week:

Practicing Gratitude for the Present Moment | Eckhart Tolle

I’ve featured Eckhart Tolle in previous Sunday Supplements and may have featured the longer source from which this week’s clip originates.

I’m highlighting this short clip because I believe it addresses a crucial misunderstanding of common experiences of practicing gratitude.

Tolle discusses how being grateful for what you have puts you in a state of comparison. Instead, Tolle suggests shifting toward appreciation in the present moment.

It’s an interesting one-minute lesson worth pondering. If you enjoy it, I’d recommend checking out Tolle’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A cat that dreams of becoming a lion must lose its appetite for rats.”

– African Proverb

This African proverb reminded me of the old habits that had helped me in the past but were no longer helpful as I grew older.

I believe it is easy to get stuck in an old routine because it can be safe, familiar, and comfortable. At certain points in our lives, these habits can help us, but if we wish to grow, we must embrace change.

One of my friends taught me a helpful exercise for letting go of old habits. It involves recognizing that the behaviors were there to help us deal with a certain part of our lives, being thankful but acknowledging they no longer serve us, and committing to moving forward.


Be grateful for the things that have helped you survive, continue to grow, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Lao Tzu, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, The Iron Giant, Mark Kelly, and a Japanese Proverb

Lao Tzu, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, The Iron Giant, Mark Kelly, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 27, 2024

Sunday Supplement #181 (October 27th, 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:

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

– Lao Tzu

Book of the Week:

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? – Dr. Julie Smith

Clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Smith answered a patient’s question, “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” with this debut novel.

Smith discusses while some people need and could benefit from a trained psychologist or psychiatrist, there are many everyday tools that you can use to help improve your mental health outside of a therapist’s office.

Psychologists use these tools to help their patients, and Smith wanted to write a book that shares the basics for anyone to pick up.

I’ve encountered most of the principles and teachings in Smith’s book, but I think it’s an excellent guide for those interested in taking control of their mental well-being.

Movie of the Week:

The Iron Giant

Brad Bird (writer/director of Ratatouille and The Incredibles) made his first writer/director debut with the 1999 animated film The Iron Giant.

The story is set during the Cold War in the 1950s and follows a young boy, Hogart, who befriends a giant alien robot from outer space. A paranoid government agent leads the charge of finding and destroying Hogart’s new friend.

Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, and Christopher McDonald are just a few of the voice actors involved in the production.

Although The Iron Giant flopped at the box office, it went on to become a classic in animation. I highly recommend checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

How One Act of Kindness a Day Can Change Your Life | TEDx – Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly’s podcast What I Know Now introduces listeners to inspirational leadership and personal development stories.

In this video, Kelly discusses his journey of looking for more ways to perform acts of kindness and how that benefits the giver as well as the receiver.

The TEDx Talk is a six-minute video, but it’s an interesting story with an important message about incorporating acts of kindness into your day for yourself and others.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“One kind word will warm for three months of winter.” (つの優しい言葉は冬の三カ月を温める)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb has a fairly straightforward message of how kind words can have positive effects long after they are spoken.

However, I particularly enjoy the words used to describe the effect of one kind word spoken. For me, winter in this proverb describes a time when you are isolated, and the warmth of a kind word offers connection, comfort, and hope.

The proverb reminds me of moments when someone has gone out of their way to say something kind to me. They may never know the impact of their actions, but I remember how much they helped, and I try to pass that on when I can.


Look for moments where you can be kind, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Leonardo da Vinci, The Rum Diary, The Name of the Rose, TED-Ed, and a Quran Passage

Leonardo da Vinci, The Rum Diary, The Name of the Rose, TED-Ed, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 20, 2024

Sunday Supplement #180 (October 20th, 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:

“All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.”

– Leonardo da Vinci

Book of the Week:

The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and author famous for establishing a genre of journalism called “Gonzo,” where the writer becomes a subjective central figure and participant in the narrative.

Thompson’s most famous works are probably Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas and Hells Angels, the latter being a book Thompson wrote after spending a year with the motorcycle club to write a first-hand account.

The Rum Diary was Thompson’s second attempt at a novel (it was started in the late 1950s), but it was published in 1998, a long time after he became famous.

Set in the 1950s, the story follows a journalist, Paul Kemp, who moves from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to work at a major newspaper. The novel depicts a messy, violent love story involving the Americans who work for the newspaper.

Thompson wasn’t a fan of the novel and, apparently, only agreed to publish it because he needed the money. I found the book engaging and a brilliant exploration of idealism, disillusionment, and lust.

Movie of the Week:

The Name of the Rose

The 1986 film The Name of the Rose was based on Umberto Eco’s 1980 Italian novel, which sold over 50 million copies worldwide.

Sean Connery stars as a Franciscan friar, William of Baskerville, who investigates a series of mysterious deaths in a medieval abbey.

In addition to Sean Connery’s BAFTA-winning performance, the supporting cast includes a young Christian Slater, F. Murray Abraham, Valentina Vargas, Michael Lonsdale, William Hickey, and Ron Perlman.

Jean-Jacques Annaud brilliantly directed the murder mystery period piece. Check out the reasons for the film’s R rating, but definitely give it a watch if it calls to you.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Make Smart Decisions More Easily | TED-Ed

This TED-Ed video focuses on decision fatigue. It starts by highlighting a 2011 study on judges’ parole cases and how the time of day significantly impacted decisions.

Decision fatigue occurs when there are too many big decisions in our day. When we experience decision fatigue, we become prone to errors.

The video then highlights different ways decision fatigue can impact our lives and provides strategies for avoiding it.

I find it incredible how our perception of a matter can significantly change depending on our fatigue level. This video is a good reminder to avoid overloading yourself.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“And do not (contemptuously) turn your face away from people, and do not walk through the earth exultantly.”

– Surah Luqman 18

This Quran passage speaks to staying humble in life. Arrogance and cockiness come in many different forms, and I appreciate the examples in this verse.

When I typically think of unhealthy pride, I think of boasting. The first part of the Quran verse discusses turning away from people in contempt. This is a great reminder to check your ego and not judge others.

For me, this verse is a timely reminder to quiet my mind and attune to gratitude and humility. Our perceptions are our own to control, and this verse gives examples of wayward paths.


Decide how you want to perceive the world, and have a blessed week ahead!

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