Sunday Share

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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 Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson I rued the day when Bill Bryson stopped writing his series of hilarious travel books. But then he started to author one extraordinary investigation after another, none of which have ever disappointed.

Displaying an immense, yet gentle scholarship, Bryson has an uncanny ability to make ANYTHING become compelling if not downright fascinating. I constantly marvel at his organizational skill, his acumen, his often brilliant word-play and his subtle humor.

The biggest problem I face with Bryson is a problem I face with most of my all-time favorite writers: I stay up way too late at night because it’s too damn good to put down. Oh, and the second problem is that the book eventually ends. And that is painful.

I’ve just started The Body, so I am not about to fake a review of it for you, other than to urge you to do yourself — and that body of yours — a favor and buy it.

What I’m Watching —
Bad Reputation I originally watched this documentary about Joan Jett on a recent trip to China and loved it. Inspirational and very well put together. Having rewritten Debbie Harry’s memoir Face It — and loving that experience — I became interested in the possibility of doing some kind of a memoir with Joan also. Following up on this, I was invited to visit with Joan and Kenny Laguna when they were in town recently for a gig. So I watched Bad Reputation a second time and I am glad I did. The story of how Joan has triumphed against the vicious misogyny directed at her for daring to brandish and play the quintessentially phallic electric guitar is kinda mind-boggling to behold.

What I am putting into my body —
Black Cumin Oil The more I read or listen to wise health advice, the clearer it becomes that reducing chronic inflammation in the body is a non-negotiable, if you are ever going to be truly vital and as resilient as you can be. These days, there a ton of suggested supplements clamoring for us to join their anti-inflammation bandwagon. What to jump on, who to trust, what to take? The problem is partly that it’s very hard to assess their efficacy — particularly when you’re already downing a handful of other supplements.

For me it comes down at least initially to a combination of intuition and trust. Black Cumin Seed Oil has become a hot new product recently but in this case it has a potent history dating back many centuries. So I am taking this oil in capsules at night and sometimes adding it to my coffee in the morning.

Here is a benefit breakdown from a brand I like:

• POWERFUL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTION: With two potent phytochemical compounds, Nigellone and Thymoquinone, this supplement offers essential anti-inflammatory benefits and can be used to treat various chronic diseases that cause or feed from inflammation in the body.
• FORTIFY YOUR PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH: This black seed oil supplement comes in a 1oz or 4oz glass bottle and just 1-2 teaspoons daily will help you accelerate weight loss, strengthen your hair and will even help you get a good night’s sleep on those restless nights. Plus, its cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory and immune system benefits are known even from ancient Arabic cultures.
• Apart from orally, it can also be used topically by rubbing it into your skin to increase vitality and even sexual function.

Quote I am taking to heart —

“I don’t play Jazz; I play John Coltrane.”—John Coltrane

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 —
Significant Objects Austin Kleon turned me on to this extraordinary book which demonstrates in no uncertain terms how a well-told story can help turn the most humdrum bauble into a prized keepsake that will have eBayites forking over insane wads of cash to possess. I mean how about buying a plastic banana for 25 cents and selling it on eBay for $75? Done and dusted!

Or how about buying a simple white tile with a black numeral 4 on it and selling it on eBay for $88? Yup! Done! All by just attaching a well-told story that often has almost nothing really to do with the object being sold. The “profession” that probably best gets the power of story in this manner goes by the moniker of “politician,” right?

The 100 writers who contributed to this experiment are mostly brilliant, but it doesn’t take away from the astonishing example after example of how a well-told story can utterly transform our appreciation of pretty well anything. Want to buy my pet rock, anybody?

What I’m basking in the success of —
Face It by Debbie Harry Debbie’s memoir which I helped write is finally out. The design and artwork is out-of-this-world and the writing, eh, is pretty damn coolJ So, here’s a flagrant pitch for you get Face It then let me know what you thought of it. I am so darn proud of it… Here’s what the official Amazon reviewer has to say about it:

An Amazon Best Book of October 2019: With many of the legendary punk rockers of the 1970s – the Ramones, Richard Hell, the Clash, et al. — what you saw was what you got; they wore their anger, disaffection, and alienation on their ratty sleeves. Not so much with Debbie Harry. The founder and singer for Blondie was striking and aloof, a persona more akin to Lana Turner than Lydia Lunch. The band’s music, a bit more polished and inquisitive than many of their peers’, encouraged the enigma. And it made Harry a bona fide star. So does her autobiography pull back the veils? Kind of. Face It has more than enough detail to satisfy any fan, from her New Jersey childhood, her early days in New York, and the rise and fall and rise of her iconic band, presented in a forthright, almost laconic style not unlike her controlled performance in the “Heart of Glass” video. On the other hand, there’s also an impressionistic element to her presentation — one chapter entitled “Close Calls” is a litany of near-death experiences, from birth to car crashes, told outside of the context of the rest of the book. Taken together, the multiple personalities of Face It gives readers the experience they want: All the dirt without sacrificing the art. Total punk. –Jon Foro, Amazon Book Review

What I am putting into my body —
Grassfed Beef Organs, from Ancestral supplements  In most countries outside of the US, organ meats are revered as the nutritional powerhouses they indeed are. As a kid growing up in Africa and England liver and kidneys in particular were staples — and God did my mom prepare some heavenly kidney dishes! I have to admit that the hyper-boiled leathery liver served to me in my British boarding school was an atrocity bordering on outright child abuse. But fortunately, superior, civilized preparations elsewhere saved the liver-day for me. Heart, spleen, pancreas? Well not so much darling… However I’ve never had the extreme squeamishness about organ meats that my American friends customarily exhibit.

Recently, the brilliant book Go Wild reminded me of what we are missing out on by not including a variety of organ meats in our diet, so I’ve been helping my health along by at least popping some capsules on a regular basis. Need some convincing? Here’s some info for you to consider from Ancestral’s product page:

• GRASS FED LIVER (600MG) provides nature’s most nutrient dense superfood. Liver is the only meaningful source of natural vitamin A (rich in heme iron and B12). Supports optimal liver health and energy demands.
• GRASS FED HEART (600MG) is the richest source of naturally occurring coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Supports optimal heart health, regulates blood pressure and is a nutritional powerhouse for mitochondria.
• GRASS FED KIDNEY (600MG) is a potent bio-available source of naturally occurring selenium and B12. Supports strong kidney health, aids in detoxification pathways and the antioxidant defense system, bolsters immunity.
• GRASS FED PANCREAS (600MG) provides nature’s all natural source of enzymes. Supports a strong functioning pancreas, supports blood sugar signaling and contributes an abundance of key enzymes for optimal digestion, health and wellness. We are not what we eat… we are what we digest.
• GRASS FED SPLEEN (600MG) is nature’s most concentrated source of heme iron. Supports a strong immune response and aids in the metabolic health of our blood cells… Well known for its ability to build blood.

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 —
Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon. After impulse-buying Keep Going in Whole Foods of all places, Austin Kleon rocketed onto my list of all-time, must-read authors. Why? Kleon’s pages are wisdom-saturated, entertaining, inspiring, thought-provoking and immensely practical. After finishing “Keep”, I eagerly jumped on his other two titles and came away equally enlightened and provoked. I expect to re-read all three of his books a number of times. My biggest problem with Kleon reminds me of the old Chinese man admonishing the rickshaw driver: “Slow down young man, I’m in a hurry!”  Yup, I had to force myself to just take bite-sized chunks of Kleon, preferably in the late evening and early morning to properly savor and absorb his advice.

What I’m listening to —
Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller.  The more I listen to Building a Story Brand the more excited and inspired and hopeful I get. And I am also kicking myself hard for NOT having implemented more of this kind of marketing in my various ventures for a long time now. Donald Miller is acting as a huge wake-up call for me to get my act into high gear and communicate in a truly powerful way with those I want to reach. I have the basic chops, in place, I know, but Miller delivers a golden seven-step story-based formula that can work magic for any person seeking to radically transform their business.

What I am putting into my body —
Korean Onion Juice “Oh yum!” I hear you cry as you edge toward the nearest exit. After Mark Sisson extolled the many health benefits of onion juice when describing a visit to a local Korean store, I thought I’d give it a shot. Next thing I knew this massive Korean gift box showed up with 30 packets of a brown liquid lurking inside. I screwed up my courage and downed a glassful. To my happy surprise it had a very mild almost sweet taste and no one has been complaining about how I smell since. What piqued my desire was a list of potential benefits such as increased testosterone, reduced inflammation, lowering of glucose levels, boosted immunity, and improved sleep. For a list of 12 benefits here is an article with some further information: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-benefits-of-onion-juice/

Helpful service I am using —
Dexafit  You get what you measure for, the old adage goes. Certainly, in the world of the body and health and fitness, measuring certain markers can motivate us to maintain, adjust, enhance or otherwise fine-tune our systems. Given the immense complexity and variability of our individual make up, and given the sheer number of forces impacting every aspect of how we function, it can be helpful to go beyond intuition or a scatter-shot approach to our well-being and get some accurate measurements. Then measure again after the right period of time and we have implemented some clear changes in our behavior. Now, our gizmo-crazy culture has many of us almost obsessed with measurement at our every blush and blink. I prefer a less-is-more approach by concentrating on the Big Boys, like bone density, body fat percent and android/gynoid ratios. Check out Dexafit.com for a state-of-the art analysis.

Quote I am taking to heart —
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” — Mary Oliver

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 —
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. There are certain authors who enrich my mind by the fresh insights they bring to the human condition. I rush to buy their latest offering and am never, ever disappointed by what I read. Well, there is always one disappointment: the book eventually ends and I sigh with a longing for more as I reluctantly close the covers. Such an author is Malcolm Gladwell and his new book is exceeding my already-high expectations. I love Gladwell’s depth of research, his fascinating speculations, his bold conclusions and his inspirational mindset. I don’t care how right he necessarily is all the time. What I value is just how much he stimulates me to think anew about deep topics. This is one of his most nuanced efforts. I urge you to check it out…

What I’m watching —
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool. As a teenager, I went through a period where I would play certain jazz records over and over and over. John Coltrane was in a class of his own, for me at least. Ornette Coleman was another big favorite. In terms of overall stature, though, neither of these two matched the towering genius that was Miles Davis. This new documentary is often wrenching in its portrayal of addiction and daunting in its damning revelations about racism as Miles experienced it in America. The interviews are wide-ranging and the evolution of Miles’s craft amazing to contemplate. A fine, fine work.

What I’m listening to —
Neu! 75. In 1971 I bought and loved Neu’s first album which was at least twenty years ahead of its time. Neu had a big impact on David Bowie and his Berlin period, although I am not sure many folk know that. While nothing beats the first album, Neu! 75 is transcendent in its own right. Interesting anecdote: I attended Neu’s concert at the Royal Albert Hall back around 1972. They began the show with one of the most startling intros ever: this burly, bearded dude in a big black leather trench coat breaking up a massive piece of rock with a jackhammer. Damn! Turns out Richard Branson had come up with the impromptu idea after noticing this road worker banging away outside just before the concert. And invited him to “open” the act. Branson tells the story in Losing My Virginity which is a great read by the way.

What I am putting into my body —
Plus CBD Oil  Ah, CBD! Man o man, this stuff is just everywhere now — from shampoos to lip balm to salves to capsules and eh, vapes… It’s enough to make your eyes roll and then roll some more. I am immensely careful not to put addictive substances into my body (let’s describe me as having an “allergy” in that regard) so I approached the pitch for the wonders of CBD with some genuine concern for my future well-being. But I took the plunge. The Plus CBD brand was the first I saw on sale, perhaps two years ago, in all my local health food stores and co-ops, so I trusted their recommendation. Since then, I have popped a capsule every evening. When I’ve flown abroad, I’ve doubled the dose for the flight. Why have I continued to take it? A better quality of sleep. End of story.

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 —
Damn Good Advice by George Lois.  Ah, wow, this George Lois is the kind of creative that shows up once in a hundred years. His impact on modern advertising has been monstrously large. Father of the Big Idea with balls that would look over-sized on a stallion… I like to read a few pages of this book to give myself some well-deserved hard slaps in the creative face. As George modestly puts in his subtitle, this is a book “for people of talent.” If that would be you, then get this!

What I sometimes put into my body —
BrainQuicken.It must have been around 2004. Pavel and I were busy promoting our kettlebell programs at that grotesque event known as the Arnold Fitness Expo, replete with its jacked-up steroidals, bikini-clad, high-heeled, bodalicious eye candy, goofy, nerdish fans, earnest con men, shifty-eyed pedlers of bogus supplements, waddling, fat-bellied powerlifters and so much more… I was wandering the aisles when I come across this bright-eyed, smiling, handsome fella promoting his nootropic formula now known as BrainQuicken, but then BodyQuicken. It was pre-superstardom, pre-4-Hour Workweek Tim Ferriss. I found him charming, bright and engaging. And I bought some of his product. And have used it ever since when I need to be on top of my game mentally. I have played around with a lot of different nootropics over the years but for whatever reason this is still my go-to noggin-enhancer… I am not seeing it currently available on Amazon but hopefully it will be back some time soon.

Device I still use after all these years —
The Chi Machine. I was introduced to the Chi Machine I believe around 1993 when I was in a tiny office above a car wash, struggling to get Dragon Door off the ground. You lie down and put your ankles on it, while it oscillates backwards and forwards at a pace and duration of your choosing. When you stop the obvious waves of energy pulsing through your body have to be experienced to be believed. Sometimes it feels akin to an orgasm, frankly. Other times, you just welcome the disappearance of most-all of the stress and tension you’ve been holding on to… If I am still using the Chi Machine after around 26 years, I might be on to something, right?

Newsletter I always read  —
Ryan Holiday. Speaking of Tim Ferriss, one of the highlights of his legendary Opening The Kimono workshop was befriending Ryan Holiday, one of the gentlest, most brilliant men I have had the good fortune to meet. Ryan is a voracious reader. I mean VORACIOUS. And he puts out a goldmine of a newsletter just chock-a-block-full of excellent reading suggestions. He is of course also the author of some highly influential books, like The Obstacle Is The Way, which I purchased thirty copies of to give away to friends.. Check him out at https://ryanholiday.net/reading-newsletter/

Most thought-provoking quote —
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” — Samuel Beckett

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