Some favs from last year

I read/watched a lot of things in 2023, so here's a round-up of recommendations.

Books

Eight Bears — Gloria Dickie

Truly the best book I’ve read in a while! It’s an outstanding example of how stories of wildlife conflict can reveal deeper things about human nature.

The book introduces you to all of the bear species in the world — a total of eight. From pandas in China and black bears in Yosemite, each bear has a fascinating history that’s intertwined with cultures around the globe. The result is this wonderful tapestry of our relationship with bears — from entertainment to fear, exploitation to diplomacy.

What My Bones Know — Stephanie Foo

Do you know the feeling when you read something that puts the thing you’re thinking about into words, and everything you’ve ever wondered just falls into place? Well, this is that book for me.

This memoir follows the journey of Stephanie Foo, a journalist who had been diagnosed with complex PTSD. In an effort to understand her diagnosis, Foo digs into the scars of her childhood, the history of her culture as a Malaysian-American, and the sparse science and treatments behind complex trauma. Seeing her experiences laid out put a lot of my own life into context, and brought clarity to the continued mental health struggles that I see so often in myself and my immigrant community.

The book does come with a trigger warning, so approach with care. I do promise it’s worth it if this is something you’re interested in (it’s also a great follow-up to The Body Keeps the Score, which I’ve recommended in a past newsletter).

American Gods — Neil Gaiman

Even though I love a good deep-dive non-fiction book, I’ve been trying to read more fiction lately. I’ve recently felt that a better, easier way to approach a big unfamiliar nebulous topic. Hence, this pick.

I’ve been trying to get a better handle on American history and the beliefs that drive this culture, so this book was a great starting point. It touches on the role of religion in modern America and the conflict between traditional and modern values — all under the guise of the fantastical characters that Gaiman creates. It’s not a book for everyone, but I enjoyed it!

Videos

Life of Riza — Kariza Santos

If you’re a fan of the things I write here, I have no doubt you’ll love Kariza’s videos. I found her work at the beginning of 2023, and since then she’s blown up on Youtube. And it’s for a good reason. Kariza’s videos are not only high-production value, but also convey beautiful deeper messages about navigating life. A few of my favs can be found here, here, and here, just to get you started.

Data visualizations

Invisible Epidemics — The Pudding | Alvin Chang

Data visualizations are a new medium that I started exploring last year, since it’s something I’m hoping to do more of in the future.

This one popped up on my social media feed a few months ago. I wasn’t expecting to be sucked into it as much as I did, but I ended up scrolling through the entire thing. It uses data on how people in each age group chose to spend their time throughout their day. Its conclusion? Many of us spend most of our time alone. And the ones that spend the most time alone are the most dissatisfied with their lives.

It’s a powerful visualization of (like the title says) an invisible epidemic, which is why it’s a pick on this list.

An Extremely Detailed Guide to an Extremely Detailed Map of New York City Neighborhoods — NYT | The Upshot

Okay, this last pick is a little bit selfish, but what can I say? I love maps, and I especially love them when they can add a new layer of understanding about a place that I’m living in. I won’t take too much space here explaining, but basically this is a map showing how people in NYC define their neighborhoods. As you browse, you’ll see that some boundaries are hard and set, but others are blurry, changing as the composition of city of itself shifts year after year. Also, it’s just fun to explore and click around. So if you feel like it, check it out.