Craving smart, remarkable things
Craving smart, remarkable things
fall is for nerding out, going on a quest for depth
I love summer and fall for different reasons. Summer brings out my free-spirited, breezy nature where nothing feels very serious; I don’t want to read or engage with anything heavy.
In contrast, autumn grounds me. My head is out of the clouds, and I’m ready to nerd out on smart, remarkable things and contemplate life more deeply.
My craving for smart, remarkable things is at an all time high in the fall and winter seasons.
I define "remarkable" as something with depth and excellence that stays with me or elicits a "wow" moment.
To be clear, remarkable work doesn’t have to be highbrow; it can manifest in the simplest forms. I’ve seen remarkable memes.
Just last week, listening to two Ezra Klein podcast episodes satisfied this craving during my very autumnal feeling morning walks.
This interview with Zadie Smith covers everything from her avoidance of social media to adult friendships, loneliness, and the zeitgeist. While these topics are written about often, her take was simply brilliant and had a lot of depth.
Also, this episode on Men and Boys opened my eyes and fostered empathy for boys and men navigating a world that no longer tolerates toxic masculinity (rightly so) and is evolving on what manhood means today.
The episode addressed how our culture has been redefining manhood for some time now, and these changes are affecting men and boys in ways that can lead to despair and a sense of aimlessness for some.
I don’t think we’ve taken time to reflect on its impact. I found the episode remarkably, smart and necessary.
I spend a significant part of my days coaching and training women executive leaders in high-tech and law firms participating in women’s leadership programs.
This episode on men and boys really got me thinking about the essential investment in women’s leadership programs AND the importance of fresh perspectives/support for men navigating the world’s evolving expectations of them as bosses, friends, fathers, sons, and partners.
Over the past few years, I’ve encountered several remarkable works: Octavia Butler’s Dawn and Parable of the Sower, Jane Eyre, Middlemarch, The Street by Ann Petry, June Jordan's poems, Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, The Handmaid’s Tale, the film Past Lives and various research on neuroscience, gut biome, blue zones, meditation, new language/thoughts on gender/gender identity and adult development theory.
I’ve thought often about why these books, research, ideas felt very remarkable to me. What is the common denominator?
What stops me in my tracks and gets the neurons firing? It comes down to one or more of the following for me:
Captures the zeitgeist: Remarkable works seem to articulate the essence of the times, providing us with language to express feelings, notions and ideas in a way that meets the moment and transcends it. I’ve seen really good pieces here on Substack that captures the moment. I suppose we are all looking for a bit more remarkable things and Substack is filling the need. Writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates, George Eliot, Zora Neale Hurston, Ida B. Wells, Damon Young and the Brontë sisters all grasped the essence of their eras in ways that will remain significant for years to come.
Textile Exhibit at National Art Gallery in Wash DC, photo by Janet 2024 Intellectual brilliance: The work goes beyond average understanding, demonstrating depth of thought and serious contemplation, really examining life in a way most of us get too busy to do. The author/researcher has really done the work of thinking deeply for us. The work stands out as the class prefect, distinctly setting itself apart from its peers.
Crosses disciplines: The work touches on multiple fields at once —cultural studies, art, history, fashion, philosophy, politics, geography, race, gender, science, and more—adding layers of complexity and weaving together insights that often go unnoticed when we focus narrowly on a single topic, it invites us to see the nuance and interconnectedness of this small world of ours.
As I write this, I recognize that what is considered remarkable varies from person to person. However, the universal response should be a recognition of brilliance, prompting thoughts like, "Goodness, this is smart!" I’ve seen quite a bit of that on Substack so I want to encourage you to keep going if you are writer, creative or artist.
I’m on the hunt for remarkable things this fall, ready to absorb it all.
Are you as activated as I am about discovering remarkable works? What have you encountered lately that felt truly remarkable?
I love seeing the art that’s captured your attention throughout your travels.
I found that Men and Boys episode so insightful and helpful too. I have a six year old son so it had me thinking deeply about how to raise a smart, sweet, sensitive boy in these times. And thank you for your encouragement of us creatives to keep going. It’s always the thing you need to hear more often.