The myth of "I don't have," how to open a new book, Lao Tzu, and more

Seven links to worthwhile thin(g/k)s

Hello dear readers,

Small housekeeping: My apologies for the slight delay in sending out this week’s newsletter. The usual Friday newsletter turned into a Saturday night one, because yesterday I lost my data when my laptop unceremoniously decided it was time to RIP. A friendly reminder to back up your work, files, digital life, and so on. And now, onward!

Here are seven links to bits of the world I have been exploring this week, shared with the hope that you will find them to be an inspiring springboard for deeper thinking.

1. Gregory Hays (the translator of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations edition I am currently exploring) writes about the modern revival of Stoicism, with a foreboding prediction: “[T]he current vogue for Stoicism tells us something rather bleak about our own society. ‘Unhappy is the land in need of heroes,’ said Brecht’s Galileo; unhappy too, perhaps, the society that produces Stoics.”

2. Currently listening: @artidote’s Modern Classical playlist on Spotify.

3. Ayaan Hirsi Ali sat down with Joe Rogan for a new podcast episode. Couple it with her 2017 book, Infidel, and her latest from 2021, Prey.

4. Vera Nabokova as Lolita’s greatest champion.

5. Do you know how to open a new book?

6. Ursula K. Le Guin on her translation of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching: “I was lucky to discover him so young, so that I could live with his book my whole life long.” What a beautiful sentiment.

7. The myth of “I don’t have” by way of Mat D’Avella

---

Readers’ Circle

If you’d like your response to be shared anonymously in upcoming newsletters, in the spirit of connectivity in this digital landscape and to recover from pandemic blues, drop a line (or a few!) via email to anielizaveta@gmail.com sharing where you are from or how you would introduce yourself.

---

I value your feedback and would love to hear from you, so please feel free to interact here in comments or by email at anielizaveta@gmail.com (I read all your emails!)

And please note I’d consider it a huge favor if you forward this newsletter to someone you think would enjoy it.

Until next Friday, friends!

Warmest wishes,
Ani