Empire of the Summer Moon. There’s hardly a day that goes by that I don’t think about the Comanche empire, and it’s all because of this masterful book by S.C. Gwynne. In Empire of the Summer Moon, Gwynne explores the history of the Comanches through the story of Quanah Parker, the last Comanche war chief. Next to Lonesome Dove, this is the book I’ve recommended the most to people. Make sure to listen to our podcast with Gwynne to get a taste of it.
All-Weather Waterproof Duckboot. We got snow here in Tulsa last week, so it was time to bust out my go-to boots for wintery weather: the All-Weather Waterproof Duckboot from Huckberry. These boots are a hybrid of a traditional duckboot and a go-anywhere adventure sneaker. They’re 100% waterproof, so they can stand up to any type of foul weather, and they’re really comfy, so you can wear them all day. They’re great for both walking snowy city streets to work and hiking muddy trails with your dog. Plus, they look swell; I always get compliments on them when I’m wearing them while out and about.
Challenger: The Final Flight. This compelling Netflix docuseries delves into what went wrong on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe. If you grew up in the 80s, the archival footage of the Space Shuttle program is nostalgic, but not only is the docuseries an interesting look at an episode in history, it also offers leadership lessons in the need for courage in speaking up and taking accountability. It was particularly interesting to see the differences in how those involved with the decision to launch that day have decided to face, or not, their responsibility and regret.
You Don’t Need to Document Everything. In this stirring call-to-arms, Freya India puts into words the discomfort and annoyance I have with our culture of having to digitally document and share everything. It’s a big reason why I don’t share much on social media anymore. She goes after my least favorite social media genre: couples who share incredibly intimate details of their relationships in an effort to be “relatable.” Trading privacy and intimacy for likes and reach feels gross, man. Some things should be just for you and your spouse. As we learn from the Odyssey, secrets between a couple are one of the secrets of a strong marriage.
Quote of the Week
Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor. As the Sandwich Islander believes that the strength and valor of the enemy he kills passes into himself, so we gain the strength of the temptation we resist.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
