Sarah…love the running commentary. One note about your slight political comment regarding Ukraine. Perhaps the new direction from this administration is a better path forward for Ukraine. For the last three years thousands have died in Ukraine, the country may never recover. Perhaps it’s time to get the war to stop. The previous three years have not moved one inch toward that end. It was time for a change. Perhaps it’s time to trust a new path.
You might look at the today's news where Trump calls Zelinsky a liar and a dictator. This after the administration cozies up to Putin's henchmen in Saudi Arabia all the while Trump and his cronies being enticed at investment opportunities in Russia for our merry band of of corrupted oligarchs. Sorry Sarah, but I couldn't refrain. Great post as usual!!
For nonfiction I recommend Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flyn; it's beautifully written and fascinating. And then if you're feeling stressed about the environment after that, I'd recommend Rambunctious Garden by Emma Marris for a shorter and more cheerful take on the same subject.
Not sure if you like memoir, but Steph Catudal's Everything all at Once was beautiful ! And Ina Garten's Be Ready When the Luck Happens was fun... especially if you are a foodie person like me.
Sarah, I love your writing, thank you for this, I’m not sure how the universe aligned that I would find your work right in the peak of a moment when I was struggling with the futility of running, and writing about running, in the midst of so much chaos, but it feels like the antidote I needed for this moment. My non fiction recommendation would be Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith, it’s about octopuses and the evolution of consciousness.
Thank you! I was on a Grand Cyn research kick last summer and read both Sevigny’s book, which I loved, and Fedarko’s Walk in the Park. I did not get to Dead Pool however, even though the author spoke locally. The topic feels so overwhelming, but I know I should read it, and I will because I care about the Colorado River.
Malcolm Gladwell’s new one, Revenge of the Tipping Point, is good fun. Also, one of my very favorite nonfiction books is Helen Garner’s This House of Grief. (Could be the lawyer in me, but I think the story has broader appeal, especially to someone with a journalist background.) Just started Sloane Crosley’s Grief Is for People. Can’t say yet if I recommend it, though the writing so far is beautiful.
Thank you! I periodically check in with your Goodread because you read more than anyone I know! BTW Congrats on your and Zoe's 50K, such a great accomplishment for her and for you as a mom.
Thanks! It is a lot of fun to see her having success in running and, more importantly, enjoying it. I have to confess it’s a little bittersweet to be faced with the reality of how much slower I’ve gotten in comparison, but mostly it’s awesome. Circle of life and all that jazz.
Jim Looney is so rad! One year at Mountainfilm there was a film about an LA postal carrier, Johnnie Jameson, who had run every single LA Marathon, and they had Johnnie and Jim do a panel discussion about running and their USPS jobs. They of course got on like a house on fire. One of my favorite Mountainfilm memories ever.
Darn, I missed that Mountainfilm presentation. This film played at Original Thinkers, yet another cool film/speaker event here. If you come to Mountainfilm this May, let's try to meet up. Thanks for reading my newsletter. I hope you enjoyed the short film ... I feel like I'm copying your Friday Inspiration format with today's newsletter!
Love your posts Sarah...thanks for all you've been sharing. Some nonfiction recommendations I've really liked recently: To the Limit: The Meaning of Endurance from Mexico to the Himalayas; Friday Night Lights; This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
While the tech support line is open let me add this. You know that link you posted to the chat on the Zoom call last night? The link to an earlier Substack post? On iOS clicking that link in Zoom takes you to the Substack app which then hands off the link to Substack in Safari! And I’m not logged into Substack on Safari so I can’t bookmark restack etc. I tried it more than once. Substack app should know to open a Substack link, right?
Sarah…love the running commentary. One note about your slight political comment regarding Ukraine. Perhaps the new direction from this administration is a better path forward for Ukraine. For the last three years thousands have died in Ukraine, the country may never recover. Perhaps it’s time to get the war to stop. The previous three years have not moved one inch toward that end. It was time for a change. Perhaps it’s time to trust a new path.
Perhaps, and I very much hope the war ends, but so far I cannot trust the new administration and don't trust Putin.
It’s fair to not trust Putin. Just consider that more of the same was not working. It was time to try a different approach.
You might look at the today's news where Trump calls Zelinsky a liar and a dictator. This after the administration cozies up to Putin's henchmen in Saudi Arabia all the while Trump and his cronies being enticed at investment opportunities in Russia for our merry band of of corrupted oligarchs. Sorry Sarah, but I couldn't refrain. Great post as usual!!
For nonfiction I recommend Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flyn; it's beautifully written and fascinating. And then if you're feeling stressed about the environment after that, I'd recommend Rambunctious Garden by Emma Marris for a shorter and more cheerful take on the same subject.
Not sure if you like memoir, but Steph Catudal's Everything all at Once was beautiful ! And Ina Garten's Be Ready When the Luck Happens was fun... especially if you are a foodie person like me.
Sarah, I love your writing, thank you for this, I’m not sure how the universe aligned that I would find your work right in the peak of a moment when I was struggling with the futility of running, and writing about running, in the midst of so much chaos, but it feels like the antidote I needed for this moment. My non fiction recommendation would be Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith, it’s about octopuses and the evolution of consciousness.
❤️ thank you, just found your Substack and look forward to reading.
Enjoyed the post! Here are a couple of my favorite recent non-fiction reads (I'm a Colorado River geek):
- Brave the Wild River, by Melissa Sevigny - the story of the two women who were the first botanists to survey the Grand Canyon's plants, in 1938. https://melissasevigny.com/books/brave-the-wild-river/
- Life After Dead Pool: Lake Powell's Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River, by Zak Podmore https://www.torreyhouse.org/life-after-dead-pool
Thank you! I was on a Grand Cyn research kick last summer and read both Sevigny’s book, which I loved, and Fedarko’s Walk in the Park. I did not get to Dead Pool however, even though the author spoke locally. The topic feels so overwhelming, but I know I should read it, and I will because I care about the Colorado River.
Life After Dead Pool is a really fun read, so don't dread it! First time I've read anything but sadness about Glen Canyon.
Malcolm Gladwell’s new one, Revenge of the Tipping Point, is good fun. Also, one of my very favorite nonfiction books is Helen Garner’s This House of Grief. (Could be the lawyer in me, but I think the story has broader appeal, especially to someone with a journalist background.) Just started Sloane Crosley’s Grief Is for People. Can’t say yet if I recommend it, though the writing so far is beautiful.
Thank you! I periodically check in with your Goodread because you read more than anyone I know! BTW Congrats on your and Zoe's 50K, such a great accomplishment for her and for you as a mom.
Thanks! It is a lot of fun to see her having success in running and, more importantly, enjoying it. I have to confess it’s a little bittersweet to be faced with the reality of how much slower I’ve gotten in comparison, but mostly it’s awesome. Circle of life and all that jazz.
Jim Looney is so rad! One year at Mountainfilm there was a film about an LA postal carrier, Johnnie Jameson, who had run every single LA Marathon, and they had Johnnie and Jim do a panel discussion about running and their USPS jobs. They of course got on like a house on fire. One of my favorite Mountainfilm memories ever.
Darn, I missed that Mountainfilm presentation. This film played at Original Thinkers, yet another cool film/speaker event here. If you come to Mountainfilm this May, let's try to meet up. Thanks for reading my newsletter. I hope you enjoyed the short film ... I feel like I'm copying your Friday Inspiration format with today's newsletter!
Non-fiction A Fever in the Heartland. Feels like what's happening today.
Ooh ... that looks good, and intense. Historic nonfiction as a bonus. I put it on my want-to-read list, thank you.
Love your posts Sarah...thanks for all you've been sharing. Some nonfiction recommendations I've really liked recently: To the Limit: The Meaning of Endurance from Mexico to the Himalayas; Friday Night Lights; This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
Thank you!
While the tech support line is open let me add this. You know that link you posted to the chat on the Zoom call last night? The link to an earlier Substack post? On iOS clicking that link in Zoom takes you to the Substack app which then hands off the link to Substack in Safari! And I’m not logged into Substack on Safari so I can’t bookmark restack etc. I tried it more than once. Substack app should know to open a Substack link, right?
sorry about that!