John Du Cane

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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 reading —
The Memoir Workbook by C. S. Larkin. I fancy myself a unique writer of the reflective memoir story, but, inspired by my collaboration with Debbie Harry, I have also decided to embark on projects helping other celebrities write their stories in a powerful way that holds true to who they are. This workbook has given me a ton of practical tips and some good strategies for what to concentrate on when organizing the memories into a message that will resonate.

What I am listening to —
Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeon. This is one of those books I wished I had absorbed in my late teens then reread and absorbed every decade after. I have felt very rueful listening to the wisdom here, realizing over and over how much I have wasted so often, through what Greg terms a non-essentialist mindset. As with so many books of this kind, it’s not that the message isn’t one I haven’t heard before. It’s the telling of it that has made the difference— and no doubt the timing. Here’s from the blurb:

The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s about getting only the right things done. It is not a time management strategy, or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution towards the things that really matter. By forcing us to apply a more selective criteria for what is Essential, the disciplined pursuit of less empowers us to reclaim control of our own choices about where to spend our precious time and energy—instead of giving others the implicit permission to choose for us

What I am putting into my body —
Tokelau MCT Coffee. Heading to China a few months ago for two weeks and having just embarked on my keto lifestyle, I researched travel packets of MCT. Fortunately, I stumbled on the Tokelau Mighty Morning Blend which is a truly awesome mix of C8 MCT, coffee and coconut milk. First thing in the morning and on the flights I would add some heavy whipping cream and have the perfect, tasty pick me up. This concoction is the best I have tasted and I love how it makes me feel.

Newsletter/blog I always read —
Brian Kurtz. I first met Brian Kurtz at the stupendous Titans of Direct Response conference a few years back. Since then he’s been one of my most trusted sources of advice on copywriting and marketing. One book he sells (which I will talk about another time) had more impact on the quality of my writing than any other single book of its kind. I always, always read Brian’s weekly newsletter and even more remarkably I read every word of every issue, because he’s just that good. Check him out at www.briankurtz.me

Most thought-provoking quote —
“Art is the lie that tells the truth.” — Pablo Picasso

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

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 reading —
Naked by David Sedaris.  David Sedaris can be incredibly witty about almost anything, but he seems to specialize in the weird and wacky. He has also set the bar very high for his openness about his often tortuous imaginings, obsessions and vulnerabilities. For me, there are extended passages where I am astounded by his brilliance followed by some straight-out boring stuff that I start skipping over. I am revisiting his earlier and perhaps most compelling work, like Naked. I am reading Naked in bed last thing before going to sleep, which can result in some, let’s say, “unusual” dreams. Insert your own joke here…

Gizmo I am starting to appreciate  —
Water Flosser Dental Oral Irrigator. Ever since a got a severe case of gingivitis at the age of sixteen and had to have my gums cut back, those darn gums seemed to have remained a pesky vulnerability for me. But when it comes to good dental hygiene, I’m a poor, inconsistent and unenthusiastic flosser. And I have often reaped the bad consequences… Recently, I bowed to a pitch from my dental hygienist and bought a relatively inexpensive water pick. And actually used it on a regular basis! I am very pleased by how much cleaner my mouth feels as a result and have high hopes that it will help reduce the usual level of inflammation.

Eco-initiative I have embarked on —
No Mow Fescue Grass. What if there was a type of grass that looks gorgeous and requires almost zero mowing, watering, fertilizing or weed killer to maintain its lush look? Well it exists now and one of the best things I have ever done ecologically is to replant my lawn with this no mow fescue. Check out its profile here: https://www.prairienursery.com/store/no-mow-lawn/no-mow-lawn-seed-mix#.XWgPei2ZOeg

I did some research: Americans spent approximately $29.1 billion in 2015 on lawn care for their 63,000 square miles of lawns. And I am sure that number is only going up. Imagine the savings both financially and ecologically if those 63,000 square miles of lawn needed close to minimal upkeep year in year out by switching to no mow?

What I am listening to —
Super Ape Returns to Conquer by Lee Scratch Perry and Subatomic Sound System. Having been born and raised initially in Africa, the music that most resonates for me is African and Reggae. And I have always been massively attracted to Dub Reggae for its hypnotic power, sensuality and adventurous reworking of material. The originator of the whole Dub tradition is Lee Scratch Perry who is credited with a monumental impact as a result on the development of Hip Hop. This latest album is as amazing as anything he has ever done — and the dude is 84 years old! It’s the kind of music that saturates every cell of your body while often taking you into a transcendent place spiritually.

What I would put into my body immediately if I was cut, shot or otherwise bleeding—
Yunnan Baiyao. I first heard about Yunnan Baiyao at a Chinese Herbs class with Ron Teeguarden back in the late Seventies. Apparently, the first thing American soldiers would look for on a captured or dead Viet Cong would be their Yunnan Baiyao, reputed to effectively stop bleeding from cuts, gunshots or other wounds. It’s also considered effective for recovery from exercise. The formula is still a carefully-guarded secret. You can check it out on the link provided or learn more about it on its Wiki page.

Newsletter/blog I always read  —
Mark Sisson’s Daily Apple The world of nutrition, particularly in America, remains rife with misinformation, claims based on flawed or manipulated science, chicanery, quackery and all kinds of conflicting advice. Meanwhile our population gets fatter and sicker by the day… What I like about Mark Sisson is his combination of extreme good sense with a solid grounding in the known science behind a certain proposition for eating in a particular manner. Mark’s clarity helps me make more informed hence better decisions on what to eat.

Most thought-provoking quote —
“Art is theft.” — Pablo Picasso

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

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 reading —
The Tattoist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Not long before he died, Lale Sokolov approached the Kiwi writer Heather Morris with a story that needed finally to be told. Turns out that Lale had been forced to be the official tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau for over a two and a half year period. He falls in love with Gita, a prisoner he tattoos then conducts an affair with for the duration. Miraculously they both survive, marry after the war and live to a ripe old age, kids in tow. The recreation of this extraordinary tale reminds us of the power of love to triumph against a backdrop of unspeakable evil. In a time when we are witnessing a new surge in anti-Semitism and discrimination, this book comes as a salutary meditation on our human condition.

Device I am swearing by —
Air Relax. Visiting a cryotherapy facility three years ago, I inquired about the Normatek compression boots they were offering as an additional service. The lady behind the counter perked up. She had been run over by a school bus in downtown Minneapolis. The bus ran over her left leg, then reversed and ran over it a second time, then stayed on top of her leg for thirty minutes. She credited the Normatek’s therapeutic impact on her leg with having saved her from an amputation. I was sold. I researched a cheaper home version and purchased a brand called Air Relax. I have used it religiously almost every day since and am convinced it has vastly enhanced my recovery from exercise.

Service I am loving —
Cryotherapy. Speaking of… After publishing Wim Hof’s The Way of the Iceman—and after a longtime interest in cold therapy —  I began nitrogen-based cryotherapy using my daughter Nicole’s birthday gift of an introductory three sessions. I loved the exhilaration of it and the enhanced recovery. More recently, I discovered a local facility that offered a radically more powerful full-immersion cryotherapy based on electrically cooled air. Unlike the nitrogen-based system, the full-immersion version fully stimulates the upper chest and face for an optimal impact on the CNS and the vagus nerve. Hopefully, you can find a full-immersion cryotherapy facility near you. The one I am using is called US Cryotherapy. Here’s a link to explore further: https://www.uscryotherapy.com

What I have watched recently —
Trauma Releasing Exercises video by David Bercelli. I was introduced in Taiwan to a simple but extraordinarily powerful tension/trauma releasing method called TRE for short. It deserves far more attention than it has yet received. Here’s the description from the blurb on its Amazon page:

Dr. David Berceli is a former monk who spent 15 years as trauma specialist in war zones and areas of natural disaster before leaving his order to establish Trauma Releasing Exercises within the professional and therapeutic community. Dr. Berceli developed these simple physical exercises to help individuals and groups recover from periods of horrendous stress and trauma. The exercises are revolutionary in their calming effectiveness, and ability to work across in all cultures, nationalities ,and religions. The exercises can assist in counseling or be used a self- help tool. Don’t be fooled by the title of this DVD. You do not need to have experienced trauma to benefit from the technique. Anyone who is experiencing mental stress, excessive worry and even the feeling of financial trauma can use these simple exercises to enhance well being. If you are stressed and no matter how many times you talk the negative feelings keep coming back, these exercises are for you. In addition to explaining how stress, anxiety, and trauma affect our mental well-being and physical health, The Revolutionary Trauma Release DVD explains the body’s amazing ability to permanently release tension by using this technique. By reestablishing our equilibrium, stabilizing our lives, and returning us to emotional health, the exercises allow us to enjoy a vibrant state of being. The exercises are easy .The DVD contains a step by step demonstration. The DVD concludes with interviews of individuals and therapists who are using the exercises with success and experiencing significantly greater well-being.

What I am putting into my body —
Liposomal Vitamin C. At a PCC in Dallas, Texas I met the former US Olympics Team chiropractor and all-around strength athlete Dr. Steven Horwitz. Steven recounted how he had insisted on receiving massive infusions of Vitamin C before and after undergoing a particularly radical surgery. He swore by the healing results. Intrigued, I followed up with local Vitamin C infusions. But they were very pricey indeed. Then, after reading Dr Levy’s Curing The Incurable, I discovered his recommendation that liposomal Vitamin C, is five to ten times more powerful/absorbable than normal delivery systems and has the same clinical efficacy as the infusions. For a much reduced cost and no long clinic visits with an IV in your arm! I have been taking liposomal vitamin C daily ever since and am convinced it has helped me remain robust and illness-free.

Newsletter I love to get  —
Tom Furman Every week, Tom sends out rock-solid tips which he has curated from the best-of-the-best training programs worldwide. Tom is eminently down-to-earth, sensible and practical in his recommendations and it is clear that he truly knows his stuff. You can count on his advice. To subscribe, email him here: physicalstrategies@gmail.com

Most thought-provoking quote —
“The critical distinction for me is not the difference between fact and fiction but the distinction between fact and truth. Because facts can exist without human intelligence but truth cannot.”—Toni Morrison

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

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 listening to —
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr. Having written Wild Boy, my own set of memoir-like reflections on the presentation of self and having collaborated with Debbie Harry on her upcoming memoir Face It, I have realized this is a perfect vehicle for me to express myself creatively — and grow greatly in the process. So, I was delighted to fall upon Mary Karr’s brilliant, inspiring and immensely trenchant deep dive into what it takes to craft a compelling memoir. Any writer, whatever their niche, would benefit from her wisdom.

What I’m reading —
The Art of Money Getting, or Golden Rules for Making Money by P.T. Barnum. Austin Kleon recommended this short book in the back of his excellent Show Your Work and I am so glad I followed through and bought it. In fact I liked it so much, I might just publish an illustrated version of it with an intro by one of the “money-makers and -keepers” I admire. Barnum’s advice is deceptively simple and seemingly obvious. But I only wish I had devoutly implemented his strategies and mindsets about true wealth building from the outset of my career. This is one of those books you want all of your loved ones to read — and then reread.

Service I am Using —
Factor75. Since embarking on my Keto lifestyle a few months back — and loving the results — I’ve been keeping my eyes out for any product or service that might further enhance this wonderful way to eat. Factor75 popped up on my radar a while back and I started to order four meals a week from them. I have been delighted by the quality, freshness and taste of each and every meal. Frankly, I’m a most lazy cook and with Keto, my Achilles heel is ensuring I eat enough of the appropriate vegetables. That vulnerability is fully addressed for me with Factor75. Oh and if you are not a Ketoist, they also do Paleo and high-protein meals. If you want to try them out, here’s a link that will get you $40.00 off your initial order: https://www.factor75.com/get-started?referral=BQQNW

What I have watched recently —
Honeyland documentary by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov. This elegiac paean to the beauties of living in harmony with the natural ecology is both heart-wrenching and deeply thought-provoking. A stunning achievement by all involved and a must-see.
Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHNkNSZpJxg

What I am putting into my body —
Petadolex. Since my mid-twenties, I have had an interest and played around with all kinds of nootropics. A big standby for me over the last 20 years or so has been Butterbur, for its gentle enhancement of my faculties. Great when I am writing or giving a talk and need to be that much more articulate. Like many of the gentler nootropics, it enhances circulation by expanding the capillaries. While you can get various generic preparations of Butterbur, my favorite is Petadolex by Enzymatic Therapy. I get mine at Vitacost, where it is dramatically less expensive than the normal retail: https://www.vitacost.com/enzymatic-therapy-petadolex-pro-active-60-softgels-1

Newsletter I love to get  —
Austin Kleon After reading and thoroughly enjoying three of Austin Kleon’s books, I happily subscribed to his newsletter. He’s a voracious curator of fascinating pieces from a dizzying array of media and sources. I open with anticipation and am never disappointed.

Most thought-provoking quote —
“Be cautious and bold.”—Victor Rothschild

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

Hi All!

Here is the first issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.

What I’m listening to —
Go Wild: Eat Fat, Run Free, Be Social, and Follow Evolution’s Other Rules for Total Health and Well-Being by John Ratey and Richard Manning. Every now and then I get so excited by the information I am learning in a particular book that I share it with friends at every possible moment. Go Wild is one of those works, just jammed with eye-opening arguments, studies and stories about how and why to re-introduce evolutionary survival skills back into our overly-domesticated lifestyles. What I like is how intuitive, actionable and sensible the authors’ approach is.

What I’m reading —
Show Your Work!  By Austin Kleon. I just love Austin Kleon! And guess what, a section in this book inspired me to finally put this Sunday Share out into the world. I read a small section in the morning and a small section in the evening, which has proved more than enough to stoke the fires of my imagination and nudge me into practical action. The bad news about Kleon’s books: they end at some point and you want them to go on forever. The good news? You want to read them again — and perhaps again.

Dance style I have taken up —
Brazilian Zouk. Perhaps because of having being brought up originally in Africa, I’ve favored free-form dancing to African and Reggae. I’ve shied away from more formalized dancing, although I did do a one-year stint of Argentinian Tango around the year 2000. A few months ago I was getting a chemical peel to clean up my sun-ravaged face and my diminutive Guatemalan cosmetician told me about her obsession with Zouk. After checking out a few videos of this highly sensual, flamboyant style, I was attracted and am welcoming a new addiction into my life. Here’s a sample for you: https://youtu.be/4CncoyoIbYA

What I have watched recently —
Son of Saul by Lazlo Nemes. My illustrator/collaborator Judit Tondora told me my Wild Boy stories had a cinematic perspective that reminded her of the approach in Son of Saul. Now, this brilliant film is also harrowing in the extreme as it portrays a brutal story of the Sonderkommando in Auschwitz-Berkenau. No surprise it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. It takes a lot for me to stare man’s inhumanity to man straight in the face but the payoff personally is almost always immense. Given the current level of prejudice, hate and divisiveness being engendered in our country right now, this masterpiece is one to watch then reflect on the fragility of our civilization.

What I am putting into my body —
TRU Niagen I first started using flush-free Niacin in the early 90s, on the recommendation of Qigong/Tai Chi master and all-around wild man Gary Clyman. He would pass it out before classes to help stimulate qi and blood flow. I have used it pretty well every day since then and swear by it. So I was intrigued, if initially skeptical, when I started seeing ads for a supposedly more potent version called Nicotinamide Riboside. I have been using it now for several months and am convinced that it is indeed more powerful than the regular Niacin.

Newsletter I love to get  —
5-Bullet Friday from Tim Ferriss Every Friday I ALWAYS open and read Tim’s newsletter. And it is a rare issue where I don’t follow it up by watching a great film, reading an excellent book or picking up some other golden nugget from one of my favorite guys. You can see I’m kinda imitating his approach here in my own Sunday Share. Learn from the best, then implement, right?

Most thought-provoking quote —
“What we call thinking is the evolutionary internalization of movement.”—Rodolfo Llinas

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com