Reader. Writer. Thinker.
Former sailor seeking bold coffee, sublime jazz, and deep connection.
Dear friends,
The record-setting heat wave blasting across the country has made for an interesting summer. I typically love to spend significant time outdoors in the summer. Mornings on the back porch with my coffee, firing up the grill for some BBQ, and swimming in the pool to cool off. This year I haven’t been able to do much of that. The heat and humidity are already so intense early in the morning that the thought of drinking coffee outside makes me sweat. Our pool absorbs the intensity of the sun for about 10 hours a day and as such as turned into a giant pot of soupy bath water. I went for a dip last night at 7pm and the thermometer in the water said 94F. I wasn’t expecting to take a bath but that’s what it felt like. I don’t like to rush the seasons, or time for that matter, but I am ready for the cooler temps of fall.
These dog days of summer are filled with activity however. We are preparing to drop our daughter off at college next week. She is starting her freshman year, our son is finishing up his Master’s program, and we will have an empty nest at home for the first time in 22+ years. It is a transition time. Lots of things to think on and ponder. But we are excited for our kids and what their futures hold.
Voices I trust:
If I link to someone’s work, that is typically an indication they are someone I trust. Often I have built a friendship or relationship with them and know they write from the heart. This list is not in any way exhaustive but I believe it is important to share those voices we know and value. I will try to share a few each time I send this out.
Quote:
“Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy.” - Leo Babauta
Links of interest:
A. Jay Adler explores translation and adaptation in his exceptional essay on Odysseys, examining Nolen’s recent film alongside other versions of Homer’s timeless tale.
Ted Gioia is one of the most trusted voices online. He doesn’t need me to vouch for him but I enjoyed his backstory which he shared in How I Became the Honest Broker.
Sam Alaimo thinks deeply on a wide range of topics. His essays are informed by his experiences as a Navy SEAL. In this essay he explains How Dogs Keep Us Calm.
Simon Haisell introduced me to Substack about three years ago with his, now legendary, slow read of War & Peace. Since then, he has become a global phenomenon and is often referred to as the OG Slow Read Master. Recently, Jo Hutton sat down for a chat with Simon. You can watch their discussion here:
Camilla Dugonjic discusses how we can Shift Functional Pathways when times get hard.
Martha Adams explores Women in Translation in her new series, Word of Mouth.
Matthew Morgan helps us understand the wisdom of not having answers too soon in his essay Sitting With Uncertainty.
Jared Henderson digs deep into The Literacy Crisis where he debunks false narratives while trying to get to the root of the problem.
Kate Jones gives us some tiny habits to reignite the reading spark in her essay, Romanticise Your Reading Life.
Mel Joulwan & Dave Humphreys are my favorite podcasters. I have listened to every episode of Strong Sense of Place, all seven seasons! They recently announced Season 8 and I am very excited to listen to the upcoming episodes. If you love reading books that have a strong sense of place, check out this podcast. Dave and Mel always have great recommendations.
Music:
Jazz on the Beach - my go to jazz radio show each week.
I have been listening to this playlist during my writing time in the mornings:
Personal Reading:
I’ve highlighted one fiction and one nonfiction title as my top recommendations from this list.
Recommendations:
Fiction - Whistler by Ann Patchett
Nonfiction - none this time
The rest of the fiction:
Terminal List by Jack Carr (#1 in the Terminal List series)
Berlin Game by Len Deighton (#1 in the Bernard Samson series)
Personal by Lee Child (#19 in the Jack Reacher series)
The Exchange by John Grisham (sequel to The Firm)
The rest of the nonfiction:
none this time
Link up with me on Goodreads to see everything else I have read and want to read:
In 2025 I spent a year with Homer and wrote about the experience each week. I have taken down those original posts but have consolidated everything into PDFs, one for each book. You can find them at Reading Guides.
Matthew Long is a retired sailor, reading, and writing in rural western Tennessee.
Good luck to your daughter as she begins college, Matthew!
I’m planning to check out the Strong Sense of Place podcast on your recommendation.
Empty nesting ... there is a story to be ...