This week I finished: The Myth of Race: The Troubling Persistence of an Unscientific Idea, by Robert Wald Sussman: Wow! What a fascinating book on the history of the concepts of race (by more than one definition of the term) and the practice of racism. Sussman was an anthropologist and academic, which are the lenses he mostly looks through. He defines what he means by race and racism, describes some of today's understandings, misunderstandings, and practices around these concepts and practices, then tells their appearance and development in history. He traces the start of the practice to the Inquisition in Spain: the first time people in power defined a group of people as lesser through intrinsic properties they could never change. In that case, the…

This week I finished: Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control, by Ryan Holiday: Like Courage is Calling, Holiday recalls virtues largely abandoned these days with diverse historical examples. It makes sense to practice them, yet we don't. I don't think I'm flattering myself to say I believe I practice discipline, approaching a quarter-million burpees without missing a day in over a decade among other sidchas. I think I also practice courage as he describes it, going against global culture by practicing values like those expressed by do unto others as you would have them do unto you, live and let live, leave it better than you found it, and love your neighbor as yourself. It's hard and takes courage and discipline to practice those…

This week I finished: Matewan: In college, a teammate on the ultimate Frisbee team was a graduate student in the film school and cited this movie as one of his favorites. I watched it a long time ago and re-watched it this week. I found it compelling as a movie. Having taken acting classes, I thought about how much fun an actor could have playing the bad guys since they were so over-the-top. I don't know much of the history the movie plays out in. Now I'm learning about the coal wars and the growth of unions then. I was probably motivated to watch it again in part from finishing Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States. This Changes Everything, by Naomi Klein: I…

This week I finished: Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, by Rob Henderson: I saw Rob Henderson speak about this book in person and met him briefly. I confess I didn't know much about the book before learning about the event, but other attendees shared how much the book meant to them. It also sounded like it resonated with some experiences of my childhood. His sounds more troubled and chaotic than mine. I'm not glad he experienced what he did, but since it happened, I'm glad someone shared as openly as he did. It feels reassuring to know I'm not alone, or even that I had it that bad. After a rough childhood, he ended up at the top of the…