The Craftsman. Philosopher Richard Sennett came up in a podcast interview I did this week, and it reminded me of a book of his that I read several years ago that I still mentally chew on today. In The Craftsman, Sennett sets out a philosophy of good craftsmanship. For him, good craftsmanship is where you focus on developing the skills that will allow you to do good work for its own sake and where you focus on the work itself and not your vain desires. We published an article several years ago highlighting insights from this book.
TIMELAPSE OF THE FUTURE: A Journey to the End of Time. I stumbled upon this YouTube video last week and watched all 30 minutes of it in one sitting. It’s a hypnotic journey trillions upon trillions of years into the future that offers an idea of what will happen to our universe. Short answer: lots of black holes and empty space, with the black holes eventually evaporating into nothing. It’s a video that’s both terrifying and oddly comforting. As one YouTube commenter put it after watching the video: “This is the most soothing existential crisis I’ve ever had.”
So, you’ve been challenged to a duel. What are the rules? If you ever find yourself challenged to a duel, make sure to glance through this 19th-century rule book, so you fight to the death correctly and like a proper gentleman. What’s interesting is how many of the rules are about who you’re allowed to duel. As we discussed in our series on traditional honor, honor is the respect due to a man who is your equal. So as Article 18 of the Rules of Dueling indicate, if a man of lesser standing insults you, you just have to ignore it. This is an interesting peek into a bygone era.
Brownflex Chukka Boot. The chukka boot is a timeless men’s footwear staple that can be worn with both casual and dressier duds. I’ve owned a pair of Italian-made chukkas from Astroflex for coming up on seven years now, and they’re still going strong. They’re super comfortable and pretty dang versatile. I’ve worn them with a t-shirt and jeans or a button-down and chinos. Always looks good. Check out our highly informative FAQ on the chukka.
Quote of the Week
Every man is his own ancestor, and every man is his own heir. He devises his own future, and he inherits his own past.
—H.F. Hedge
