This week’s selected media: June 4, 2023

June 4, 2023 by Joshua
in Tips

I read and watched this week:

Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa: A movie-buff friend recommended the movie. It’s almost 2.5 hours long so it took me a few nights to watch it. It’s from 1952. I didn’t know what to expect. At first I didn’t think much of it. Then for the next few nights I kept thinking about it: little details that fit together, things characters said, how it connected to my life and life in general, and so on. It kept growing on me. I read and watch many reviews, commentaries, and interpretations. They mostly focused on the main questions of what life is about, what gives it meaning, getting stuck in bureaucracy, and its main themes. They’re important, but the closing scene and its final message meant the most to me, which I found positive and meaningful.

People who have talked about family dramas with me know how much the three movies Yi Yi, Fanny and Alexander, and Hannah and Her Sisters mean to me. I’ll have to watch it again to confirm, but it looks like Ikiru will join the team.

I highly recommend Ikiru.


I read a few articles on avoiding flying from the Flight Free USA newsletter.

I recommend the first one especially, from Outside Magazine, which recounts the writer’s struggle reducing her flying. The last one exposes yet another way the term ‘sustainable’ for jet fuels is a scam.


I saw Peter Singer speak at Cooper Union, where I met him in person for the first time. I know few professors who would get standing ovations when they walk in and finish, but no other philosophers. I was pleasantly surprised to see he spoke fireside chat style with podcast guest A.J. Jacobs.

Peter and I recorded a podcast conversation the next morning, so you’ll have to wait to hear it for more, but I found it a wonderful conversation on topics most people react defensively about but he spoke openly. You’ll enjoy it.

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