Contemplify Nonrequired Reading List Email for April 30, 2017
The April NonRequired Reading List
Contemplifyers,
Did you see you the movie Captain Fantastic? Here is the trailer. Initially, I thought it would be a film on the idealization of fleeing the masses for a pristine livelihood in the mountains. The story is much more subtle, and left me with far more thought provoking questions than I could have anticipated. After watching the lead character pursue his vision of a right life while being blind to any shadow side to his choices, the overarching question I sat with was - How then shall I live? A simple yet perennial favorite question of mine, but with much deeper implications after seeing Captain Fantastic. If you get the chance to see it, do. You will see the thread of this question running through each of this month’s nonrequired reading recommendations.
Be Suspicious of Simple Stories by Tyler Cowen (Ted Talk)
Tyler Cowen is a delightful contrarian. I am new to his work; and his book Create Your Own Economy was highlighted by a friend, so I dove into it. I don’t recommend it here because I only mildly enjoyed it and it doesn’t necessarily connect to what we are about in Contemplify. But...there is one particular section of the book that I want to pass on that Cowen focused on in his 2009 Ted Talk - Be Suspicious of Simple Stories. Never afraid of being unpopular, Cowen deconstructs the illusions of believing stories (internal or external). This riveting talk slices through all games we play when we tell, hear or validate stories. Take the 16 minutes to watch this video and keep the following questions in mind to reflect on after:
1) What do you think are the limitations of viewing your life as a story?
2) What have been your personal benefits of viewing life as a narrative?
3) What is a story that you tell within your life that is no longer true? Or no longer useful?
4) What margin within your life would be difficult to be agnostic about? Why?
Watching with these questions in mind, I discovered a few unrevealed biases of my own. In an effort not to bore you, I’ll share just one. I fall into the category of viewing my life as a journey, casting myself in the heroic lead role of the wandering seeker. My over attachment to this identity has opened many doors, but it dawned on me that it has equally pigeonholed my decision making ability. I have dismissed opportunities and friendships that didn’t support this story. This lesson was the big takeaway and it took a contrarian like Cowen to question my motives from see my motivation from another angle of life.
How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer by Sarah Bakewell
The personal essay was invented by Michael de Montaigne (and therefore the blog post too). In fearless examination of self and the world around him, Montaigne gave the very public gift of a backstage pass to his heart. Sarah Bakewell book, How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer, is no sentimental tour. The context of Montaigne's soulful reflections amidst the dark and dirty conditions of war, death, plagues, and existential strife are as relevant today as when he first wrote them (and then rewrote and rewrote them).
Bakewell exhibits Montaigne’s devotion to self-examination through his own blended philosophical channels of Stoicism, Epicureanism and Skepticism particularly in the aptly titled Chapter 7. ‘Q. How to live? A. Question everything’ (By the by, this book pairs well with the Tyler Cowen’s Ted Talk mentioned above). As you drink in the genius of Montaigne, it is overtly pounded into your memory that he was owning his takes on life with all humility, there was no overstep of certainty that he was correct in his reflections. This dash of humility freely distributed across his writings makes me appreciate his work all the more, because it shines a light on the purity of his intent.
The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why The Liberal Arts will Rule the Digital World by Scott Hartley
This book reached out to me for reasons that may seem obvious, it was a congratulatory slap on the back for studying the liberal arts (again combining Montaigne with Cowen’s talk, helped me see my own self-interest in picking up this book). Nonetheless, Hartley creates a strong case for the partnership of ‘techies’ and ‘fuzzys’; that more thoughtful innovation stems from integrating these two arenas of study. Hartley shares case after case of those with backgrounds in philosophy, political science, marketing, and so forth have excelled in the gaps that those with a more technical background overlooked. Additionally, I would point out that the ‘techies’ have vastly reshaped culture and commerce in part due to the oversights of those solely seeing the world through the liberal arts. The Fuzzy and the Techie is a worthwhile read because the ultimate goal is not to pin these two stereotypical groups against one another, but to envision the possibilities when these two camps collaborate for a healthier future. In case you missed it, I interviewed Scott Hartley recently and am doing a giveaway for a copy of Scott’s book, The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why The Liberal Arts will Rule the Digital World. If you want to enter the giveaway for a chance to get Scott’s book for free, all you have to do is rate and review Contemplify on iTunes and then reply to this email (or contact me at hello@contemplify.com) with your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Scott.
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Listen well + read often,
Paul