In a Test of Adult Know-How, America Comes Up Short. A sobering new study reveals that American workers are falling behind their international peers in basic reading comprehension and math skills, making it increasingly difficult for them to complete everyday tasks like planning a complex travel itinerary, interpreting a thermometer, or extracting information from a website. The U.S. ranks 14th in literacy and 24th in numeracy among developed nations, with 34% of adults now struggling with primary-school-level math. The results align with Tyler Cowen’s thesis in Average Is Over — America is experiencing a growing divide, where a small elite retains competence while a larger segment struggles with fundamental skills. The causes of this know-how erosion are multifaceted — changing reading habits and increased screen time are likely to blame — and addressing the problem will be no easy task.
Secondhand Lions. Ever since I started AoM back in 2008, readers have consistently recommended this 2003 film to me, insisting it embodied the site’s spirit. I finally got around to watching it this week, and now I understand why; the movie indeed captures what we’ve been saying all these years about manhood, romance, and the spirit of adventure. The story follows a shy teenage boy who spends a summer with his eccentric great-uncles (Robert Duvall and Michael Caine) on their Texas farm. Through their wild tales of adventure and hard-earned wisdom about what makes a man, they help shape their nephew’s character. Duvall especially shines as he channels shades of Gus McCrae from Lonesome Dove into his portrayal of Uncle Hub. Yes, the movie has its sappy moments, but sometimes you need a heartwarming story about mentorship, courage, and choosing to believe in something bigger than yourself. I’ll admit it: it made me tear up more than once.
Ressentiment by Max Scheler. I’ve been following Matthew Crawford’s thought-provoking “vitalism” seminar on his Substack. Part of the readings for the seminar included Max Scheler’s 1912 philosophical work, Ressentiment. Scheler builds his book off of Nietzsche’s concept of ressentiment. Ressentiment isn’t just ordinary resentment or envy — it’s a specific psychological phenomenon where a person experiences a profound sense of impotence in relation to something they desire, leading to a peculiar kind of value distortion. Unable to attain what they want (whether that’s success, status, or certain qualities), they don’t just dismiss the importance of those things, they actively invert the value system itself, transforming what was once seen as good into something condemnable. While Scheler builds on Nietzsche’s idea of ressentiment, he offers a powerful critique of the philosopher’s view of Christianity. Where Nietzsche saw Christian morality as the ultimate expression of ressentiment (the weak reframing their impotence as virtue), Scheler argues this fundamentally misunderstands Christian love. For Scheler, authentic Christian love isn’t born from weakness or life-denial but overflows with vitality and strength — it’s an abundance seeking to share itself, not a coping mechanism for the powerless.
Panasonic ARC5 Palm-Sized Electric Shaver. Packing for travel always involves a battle with shaving supplies. No matter how carefully I wrap up my shaving cream can, it inevitably finds a way to spray its contents all over my dopp kit. And honestly, when I’m on the road, I rarely need a perfectly smooth face — just enough tidying up to keep me looking presentable. That’s why I’ve been impressed with this compact Panasonic electric shaver. About the size of a deck of cards, it takes up minimal space and eliminates the mess of traditional wet shaving supplies. While it won’t give you that baby-smooth feel of a proper wet shave with a safety razor, it delivers a perfectly acceptable trim. The USB-C charging is a nice touch — one less specialized cable to pack. If you’re a frequent traveler, this is a great way to simplify your grooming routine while on the road.
Over on our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: Live to the Point of Tears and How I Take Notes in Books.
Quote of the Week
Contentment is a warm sty for eaters and sleepers.
—Eugene O’Neill
