It’s free. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want.
Hi All!
Here is the current issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.
What I’m watching —
The Rise of Jordan Peterson
When I told a good friend I was reading The 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson my friend became very alarmed indeed. I was cautioned to think twice about publicizing my admiration for the book. Well, I knew nothing about Jordan Peterson before finally listening to his book on audio so approached him with a clean slate. 12 Rules had been recommended to me by an artistic, soulful lady after she went through a wrenching alcoholic relapse and had found the book immensely helpful in her recovery.
I will discuss the 12 Rules further next week, however for now I will just say that the biggest word I associate with it is “integrity.”
After reading 12 Rules, I saw a recommendation from Tim Ferriss to check out this recent documentary about Peterson and I found it fascinating. What stands out most to me is that Peterson is anti-ideology, whether it be from the far right or the far left. His greatest caution is that we slip back into the kind of blind totalitarianism that resulted in the tens of millions of innocent people murdered by fascists and communists alike.
If you have been put off by his stand against certain elements of political correctness then I would recommend you check this out for a balanced portrait of a very complex and deep thinker.
What I’m listening to —
The Best of U-Roy, Super Boss
Quick quiz for you: Who is considered the “father of rap”—and why? I’ll bet dollars to donuts that hardly one of you would name the Jamaican Reggae legend U Roy. Was I correct? Hard to say for sure, but his toasting had a big impact on the early hip-hop pioneers also.
In my early twenties in London, Reggae became essentially the only music I would listen to. Well, some African, but really it was Reggae, Reggae, Reggae. Because Reggae’s combo of raw sensuality, hypnotic rhythms and passionate spirituality resonated more deeply with me than any other music on the planet. And before Burning Spear came to my attention, the singer who I found myself listening to more than anyone else was U-Roy.
Have a listen on Spotify or wherever and let me know what you think.
What I’m reading —
The Light Years: A Memoir by Chris Rush
John Waters recommended The Light Years on his Amazon page as one of the best books he had read last year and I am so glad I followed up on his recommendation. The poetic prose in this book often almost defies belief for its subtle, evocative beauty. Over and over, I found myself pausing and asking myself “did he really just write something that skillfully beautiful?” And the answer was invariably “yes.”
What is all the more amazing is that this is artist Rush’s first book. I am both deeply envious of his achievement as a writer — while thoroughly thrilled and entertained by his masterly memoir.
What I am putting into my body —
Golden Seal
As a wave of fresh paranoia about a new “killer” virus sweeps through the internet, I am reminded about an old standby of mine that I have used on and off for around forty years. That would be the ancient Native American remedy, Golden Seal. Originally I would glug it in tincture form and I am sure would overdo it, being the compulsive type I am. In fact, I remember getting fairly high on it in a spacey, yinnified kind of way…
While I am not sure how much Golden Seal would truly help against the coronavirus, I have turned to it frequently if I feel a cold coming on and it helps reduce symptoms very quickly.
Here’s a couple of customer reviews from Amazon that I would agree with, based on my overall experience with it over the years:
“I take it 5 days a week and 2 days off. Goldenseal should not be taken every day for very long. It’s a great antibiotic type herb. I take it for inflammation and respiratory, but it’s been helpful for many health issues: Goldenseal is also used for the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stuffy nose and hay fever. Some people use goldenseal for digestive disorders including stomach pain and swelling (gastritis), peptic ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and intestinal gas.”
“This actually does clear up mild infections for me, such as UTI or an ear infection. Pretty amazing what our forebears knew.”
So, if it looks like the coronavirus is going to go nuclear on us, perhaps a bottle or two of Gold Seal may help stack the immune deck in your favor…
Have you checked out my new book The Illustrated Wild Boy yet? Here’s a nice review about it from a reputable source:
“An absorbing memoir perfectly complemented by exquisite art.” — Kirkus Reviews
Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com