Category: amreading

Civility and truth

February 22nd, 2025

Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences.

As read from Pride and Prejudice, chapter 38.

Jane Austin has an uncanny ability to describe situations and emotions so precisely.

How often are we in that mode? In meetings, at church, at parties, at the zoo, where we’re trying to unite civility and truth in a few words?

Austen, Jane. Pride and prejudice. India, Penguin Publishing Group, 2003. pg 209

Jack’s & Gentleman

February 21st, 2025

I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every jack became a gentleman,
There's many a gentle person made a jack.
                                                                        - Richard

The best part of reading Shakespeare is when you read a passage and it dawns on you – THIS IS SHAKESPEARE!

As read from Richard III, the Pelican Edition

Shakespeare, William, et al. Richard III. United States, Penguin Publishing Group, 2017.

A biography nut

February 20th, 2025

I am a biography nut myself. And I think when you’re trying to teach the great concepts that work, it helps to tie them into the lives and personalities of the people who developed them. I think you learn economics better if you make Adam Smith your friend.

– Charlie Munger

Second time this week an Adam Smith reference has found it’s way to me.

I need to make him my friend. First up The Theory of Moral Sentiments.

Munger, Charles T.. Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger. N.p., Stripe Matter Incorporated. pp37
Omiyage

February 9th, 2025

Never show up empty-handed after a trip. “I am a big fan of the Japanese custom of buying local food and drink when travelling, otherwise known as omiyage,” Clark says. “I’ve adopted this custom on a more personal scale, seeking out things to bring home to support local producers whenever I travel, like yuzu kosho from Japan, chilli peanut butter from the Netherlands (it’s a big thing there), or a bottle of Wye Valley mead from a trip to Wales.”

As read from the article, 33 Ways To Improve Your Life, Japanese Style

H/T Recomendo
Newton observed

February 8th, 2025

Newton observed that if others would think as hard as he did, then they would be able to do the same things. Edison said genius was 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. It is hard work, applied for long years, which leads to the creative act, and it is rarely just handed to you without any serious effort on your part. Yes, sometimes it just happens, and then it is pure luck. It seems to me to be folly for you to depend solely on luck for the outcome of this one life you have to lead.

– Richard Hamming

As read from the transcript You and Your Research.

H/T Gwern
Dickens 2025

January 1st, 2025

‘Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,’ said Scrooge. ‘But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!’

The Spirit was immovable as ever.

Ill, so Dickens.

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol: And Other Christmas Books. United States, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2011. pg 78
The Glorious Grocer

December 30th, 2024

It was not alone that the scales descending on the counter made a merry sound, or that the twine and roller parted company so briskly, or that the canisters were rattled up and down like juggling tricks, or even that the blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose, or even that the raisins were so plentiful and rare, the almonds so extremely white, the sticks of cinnamon so long and straight, the other spices so delicious, the candied fruits so caked and spotted with molten sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel faint and subsequently bilious.

Dickens makes you feel like you’re standing right in front of the grocer during the holidays.

A Victorian writer who’s descriptions and similes sounds so modern.

Read it out-loud.

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol: And Other Christmas Books. United States, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2011. pg 46
Christmas Work

December 27th, 2024

Presents are unwrapped. Chocolates munched. A giant turkey dinner with all the trimmings devoured. The queen’s Christmas address is watched, and the national anthem emotionally hummed to. Then I usher the kids out to get some fresh air, which none of them want, but they are nicer for it. They all have to do some jobs every day and Christmas is no different. This way they learn about duties and responsibilities. Working makes the food and family times later in the day more meaningful: we have earned the rest through work, not idleness. I’d hate not to work at Christmas.

James Rebanks

Part of savoring Christmas is learning about other people’s Christmas traditions, whether at the dinner table or through a book.

Rebanks, James. The Shepherd’s Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape. United States, Flatiron Books, 2015. pg 228, 229

How many blogs make it to 900 posts? Thank you dear readers.
Haunches of venison

December 26th, 2024

At Christmas the cheese and fish which the L’Estranges often dined on were set aside and instead roast beef and turkey, venison and goose were served in quantities, enriched with capers and olives, sugar and spices. New Year’s gifts were given, haunches of venison and cuts of veal were dispatched in the hands of retainers to gentry neighbours and civic worthies. At home Sir Hamon presented seasonal tips to his servants, several pounds each to his older grandsons and a few shillings to the littlest boys. The old man might have been ageing, and his health had not been good, but he was still beautifully dressed.

As read from Anna Keay’s The Restless Republic.

A little Boxing Day entry to keep the Christmas spirits flowing.

Keay, A. (2022). The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown. United Kingdom: HarperCollins Publishers. pg 181 & 182
Christmas Day with John Adams

December 25th, 2024

“It is Christmas and a fine day,” “I sleep well, appetite is good, work hard, conscience is neat and easy. Content to live and willing to die. . . . Hoping to do a little good.”
– John adams

Merry Christmas everyone!

McCullough, David. John Adams. United Kingdom, Simon & Schuster, 2001. pg 520