What I’m Reading - 11.24.24
*Note: Some books have been linked to Amazon to provide additional information about book titles, but I hope you’ll source them from your local independent seller if you can.
Evolutions In Bread - Ken Forkish
The ultimate guru of sourdough bread and pizza king of Portland, Ken Forkish has been baking bread for a really long time. He may have sold Ken’s Artisan Bakery and Ken’s Artisan Pizza to friends and co-workers and exited the general culinary scene, but that doesn’t mean he stopped baking bread. In his latest book, “Evolutions In Bread”, Ken shares that there’s an easier way to bake really great bread at home with not nearly as much effort as is required in his foundational book, “Flour Water Salt Yeast”. If you’re like me and you tamed the demon of sourdough bread making, you’ll find Ken’s simpler process provides just as much complex flavor as his traditional sourdough process on a much more flexible schedule - great for those of us who are back in the office more these days. If you’re new to bread making but want a bakery quality loaf, this is your open invitation.
Hidden Brain (Podcast): The Gift of Other People
Okay, technically this is “what I listened to”, but I’m sharing it nonetheless. Introversion is ingrained in my being, and yet I talk often about an incessant longing for “connection”. Shankar Vendantam’s enlightening podcast never disappoints, but this episode really resonated with me. Even though I love my alone time, I’m always happier and feel healthier when I’m reaching out and connecting with others through social behavior—because we’re social beings and that’s how our brains are wired. This holiday season, I hope you’ll give this podcast a listen (or read the transcript) and recognize the true value of taking a true interest in the person right next to you.
Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve - Alison Fragel, Ph.D
It’s one thing to be competent and assertive when you’re trying to get ahead, but women must also consider their status in the workplace—how they’re perceived (something that doesn’t equally affect men’s success). If you’ve ever worn a skirt or were born with two x chromosomes, you already know the game is rigged. This book sheds light on how to play the game and win by being both kind and competent - something we can all aspire to.
Why Do We Aspire To Live Alone?
Yep, I’m still noodling on this idea. I lived alone for close to 25 years before I moved in with my sister on her farm in western Washington. We co-habitat nicely (pretty sure she wants to kill me daily) but I can’t get rid of the “voices” telling me I need to be independent. Self-reliant. On my own. But why? Haley Nahman asks this question in her “Maybe Baby” substack newsletter. "if it’s not actually natural to our species to be self-sufficient, why is it considered aspirational?" Inquiring minds (like mine) want to know.
