5 things making me happy
This isn’t a purchase that would appeal to everyone, but I was happy to find “STET!” It’s a grammar-based game, where players compete by spotting the errors in sentences. It’s based on Benjamin Dreyer’s terrific book, Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style.
A while back, I decided to visit the Metropolitan Museum every day for a year—and I’ve kept going for much longer than a year, because I love this daily museum time so much. It’s both calming and energizing, and by giving me the opportunity to let my mind off its leash, it sparks my imagination. A thoughtful listener sent me this article about how psychiatrists are offering a “museum prescription” for people facing burnout, depression, and anxiety.
As someone who reads a lot of books and who also writes books, I love looking at beautiful books. I’ve always admired the old-fashioned style pictured above, which, I now know, dates from 1820-1914. These covers are so beautiful. What are some of your favorite book jackets?
Because of my study of the five senses, I’ve become much more aware of sounds, including the soundscape of New York City. A thoughtful listener sent me this fascinating short essay about the sounds used by street vendors in Mexico City—including examples of sounds used. Scroll through the article to hear the sounds of Mexico City.
While accepting an award at this year’s Nashville Songwriter Awards, Taylor Swift talked about her writing process. When she’s working on lyrics, she imagines writing them with the type of pen that’s appropriate for the tone of the song. Her three categories of lyrics are “Quill Lyrics,” “Fountain Pen Lyrics,” and “Glitter Gel Pen Lyrics.” Fascinating. My handwriting is so illegible that even in my imagination, I don’t write with a pen; it’s always a keyboard for me. But I like the idea of making a choice that sets the mood for a certain kind of creation.
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