Literary Masterpieces, Sobriety, and Women's Expertise

And More Good Reads for the Weekend

Hello and welcome to Mature Content, a newsletter about lifelong learning, where I offer tools, insights, and resources for personal growth and discovery. This is the weekly installment of “Good Reads,” my monthly list of recommended readings.

Let’s get to it!

Photo by Anshu A on Unsplash

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Around the Web

1. As a lover of literature, I was really taken with this article in The Point examing what canonical texts like The Catcher in the Rye and On the Road mean to us as we age. I also loved this very humorous post by

   Daniel Puzzo
   about what it’s like to try and teach “the greats” to a bunch of nine-year-olds.

2. “Nobody tells you when you get sober that if you have the grit and grace to stay that way, to accumulate not just days, but weeks, months, years and even decades of sobriety, just how many people you will bury.” As someone with a fair share of alcoholics in my extended family, I was deeply moved by ths interview with t writer, preacher and recovering addict Nadia Bolz-Weber over on Oldster and The Small Bow.

3. For all the writers—and people-watchers—out there, here’s an absolutely gorgeous list of things Shani, of Skin Contact, notices in other people.

4. Here’s a personal essay from The Memoirist that needs no introduction. It’s called “What I wish I Knew Before Losing My Virginity.” Man, junior high is a hideous place.

5. What a beautiful little story in Oxford American about an information desk at Auburn University in Alabama. The public still calls in regularly—to a landline, no less—to ask questions about all manner of things. Who said civic life is dead?

6. Whoops, I spoke too fast. This McSweeney’s send-up of the current political moment is laugh-out-loud hilarious.

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Books

1. I was already a huge fan of Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead series. But the third novel, Lila, is to die for: so beautiful and poignant. Rare for me to embrace a hopeful book.

2. If you’re a writer hoping to get published, please just order Courtney Maum’s Before and After the Book Deal stat. You will thank me (and her) later.

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Research Corner

1. Here's some fascinating research reported in The Financial Times about women and expertise. Turns out women's expertise is *more* highly valued then men's when they hail from a traditionally male occupation like economics. Apparently, we see women as more credible because they have overcome more hurdles to get where they are. Still sexist, to be sure, but interesting nonetheless. (Note: You can usually read one article per month in this outlet without paying.)

2. I’ve written before about the myriad benefits of walking, one of which is the so-called “awe walk.” I was delighted to learn about new research out of Yale University showing that moments of wonder can help reduce depression and stress.

3. I keep hearing about IFS (Internal Family Systems) as the new "it" treatment in psychotherapy. I’m intrigued...but does it work? Here's a thoughtful piece in The Nation on the purpose, popularity and evidence base for IFS therapy.

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Cool Stuff

1. Ever wondered what it’s like to look *inside* a musical instrument? The photographer Charles Brooks has. Do check out his “architecture in music” series.

2. And speaking of music, here’s the rapper Eminem as you’ve never experienced him. (H/t

   Mark Danowsky
   )

What are you reading these days?

Announcement

As I experiment with this whole Substack thang, I’m going to start rolling out daily shares of the sorts of things I typically include in my monthly “Good Reads” and “Good views/listens” on my chat vertical here. These are items I really enjoyed listening to, watching, or reading, but which didn’t make the monthly cut. Consider it an extra dose of Mature Content! To access those, click here.