From the reading list

Hey hey, we're back with another round of recommendations! Here's a list of things I've read or watched recently that I really enjoyed.

My year of rest and relaxation | Amandagram

I primarily know Amanda through her video essays, but I was recently delighted to find out that she’s also a great writer! She posted her inaugural newsletter on her Substack back in March, a beautiful essay about getting laid off — and the year that followed. A terrific example of real and honest storytelling, and an accurate reflection of being in your 20s.

How I fixed my attention span | Answers in Progress

This video is FANTASTIC. The science? The animation? The narrative arc? *chef’s kiss*

It’s by Sabrina Cruz at Answers in Progress, an independent Vox-style Youtube channel that explores science and curiosity. In this particular video, Sabrina delves into focus and attention, diving deep into her own brain to figure out why it’s so hard to get things done without getting distracted. She tests out strategies and goes down rabbit holes — many much to her frustration. Incredibly relatable, funny, and leaves you with a poignant message. Give it a watch.

Note: Sabrina writes about her reflections after this video (conveniently on the same timeline as me: 2 months late. haha.) I’ll link that Substack post here in case folks are interested, since it also touches on the more permanent changes we often have to make in our lives, along with burnout.

The Ones We Send Away | The Atlantic

A couple of my friends urged me to read this article, and man, it. is. top-tier. The storytelling immediately sucked me in, and before I knew it, I was tangled in a heartbreaking narrative. I won’t spoil too much, but it’s a story that really got me thinking about the meaning of family, caregiving, how far society has shifted its thinking on disability — and how far we still need to go.

It’s a long and emotionally difficult read, so remember to take breaks. It took me a couple sessions to get through, and lots of tears were shed. But I promise it’s well worth it.

Ripples of Hate | The Washington Post

The multimedia storytelling at the Washington Post has been on point. There were a couple articles that I could have featured in this newsletter, but I wanted to reserve a spot for this one: a nuanced take on a hate crime in Brooklyn, and the cascade of events that followed. Another long but great read, as the story takes you on this journey what happens when emotions are elevated, as well as the muddiness of justice.

Birding for a Better World | Molly Adams & Sydney Golden Anderson

I purchased this book at a Feminist Bird Club event waayyy back in October (from Molly Adams herself! She’s absolutely wonderful.) On that balmy fall day, I distinctly remember leafing through the pages and thinking, wow, every thought I ever had about birding and birding culture and what it should be was encapsulated in a book. I knew I needed to have a copy.

I recently revisited this book, and man, it’s still a banger. Just check out this excerpt:

We live in a society that doesn’t make it easy to meet all of our basic needs, much less change or exist outside the boundaries and expectations imposed on us. Deliberately forming circles that provide enough comfort and inspiration to embrace our personal and collective evolution is [therefore] a momentous achievement.

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More recs to come, since there were many I couldn’t fit in this newsletter…