Rather than some poorly thought out reflection, I’m just going to leave you all with some lists of things I’ve enjoyed throughout 2021, who knows maybe you might enjoy them too? The lists are not exclusive or ranked, just what I think is worth sharing.
Things and stuff I’ve enjoyed this year
Books
Maybe I Don’t Belong Here, David Harewood – I’d recommend the audiobook, as it’s read by David Harewood and includes an exclusive conversation between the author and historian and writer David Olusoga.
The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel in Two Semesters, Chip Kidd
A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine – Stoicism, philosophy for the real world.
The Practice, Shipping Creative Work, Seth Godin – Breaks down misconceptions of barriers to getting stuff done, for the right people.
Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most, Greg McKeown
One Percent Better, Hiut Denim yearbook.
There’s a full list of books over on my Reading List page if you’re interested.
TV shows
Grayson’s Art Club – Bringing creativity into Britain’s homes during the lockdown, long may it continue
Designated Survivor – An attack on Washington decimates the government, leaving only one survivor to run the country.
Clarkson’s Farm – This series probably started out as a bit of a laugh, Grand Tour meets farming, but it takes a turn and shows how hard it is to run a farm.
Hellbound – Unearthly beings deliver bloody condemnations, sending individuals to hell and giving rise to a religious group founded on the idea of divine justice.
The Silent Sea – A team is sent to the moon to visit an existing base, five years after an accident, to retrieve some samples. What could possibly go wrong?
The Boys – What if superheroes were bad and corporately owned? This is not Marvel.
Taskmaster – No thinking required, highly entertaining basic humour.
Salvation – An asteroid hurtling towards Earth, who can save us? More West Wing than Armageddon.
Films
Seaspiracy – Shocking documentary about the corrupt fishing industry, the harm humans are needlessly inflicting on marine life and the in turn on ourselves.
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret – Learn how factory farming is decimating the planet’s natural resources and why it’s largely ignored by major environmental groups.
You And The Thing That You Love – A short film about a skateboarder, which made me feel grateful.
Blackfish – Documentary about the treatment of Orca whales in places like SeaWorld.
People
Jason Lee – Photographer, pro-skateboarder, actor, director. American photography road trips.
Ray Barbee – Skateboarder, musician and photographer.
Yves Deshommes – More than a New York City doorman.
Juliet Elliott – Multi-discipline cyclist
Sean Tucker – Photographer more interested in the ‘why’ of photography than in the ‘how’.
Articles
Why It Feels Like You Never Have Enough Time – Break the vicious cycle of distraction
Welcome to your Bland New World – How and why so many ‘disruptive start-up brands’ look, feel and sound exactly the same.
Talking jackets with Paynter – A conversation with Paynter about reshaping the clothing industry, one chore coat at a time.
Positive news – website, newsletter and printed magazine about good things.
Your World is Full of Placebo Buttons (and That’s a Good Thing) – Discomfort is often alleviated by action—by our doing something that makes us feel in control, even if, in reality, we have no control whatsoever.
Random links
Telling stories through photographs – It’s about free education more than photography.
Blueprint: Jimmy Iovine – Founding Interscope Records, Apple Music & Selling Beats By Dre.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? – Take a peek into the world of the man behind the Peanuts pencil.
Busting The Dyslexia Myth – Talk from Alessia Nicotra & Bruno Maag.
Random things
Platinum Preppy – Old school fountain pen, with carbon ink.
Ribble Gravel AL – Yes I was suckered into the gravel fad, but it’s opened up so much more riding for me.
Fuji X-Pro3 camera – Almost back to basics rangefinder-style camera.