2021 Favorites

After another year of reading, watching, and creating, I felt like it would be nice to put all my personal favorites of the year together.

BOOKS

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

Once I finished reading this book, my immediate reaction was the urge to reread it. I think that is enough praise to have it be one of my favorites of the year.

Upstream by Mary Oliver

This was a book of selected essays, which are often hit or miss, with one or two good ones throughout. However, Upstream is the exception. I thoroughly enjoyed every piece in this and found Mary Olivers writing to be some of the lushest and descriptively beautiful work I have read.

The Art Of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

This book is straight to the point; it points out all of our modern-day flaws and does not hold back. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to be better at life.

FILMS (new and old/rewatched)

New

Another Round Dir Thomas Vinterberg

Technically this is a 2020 film, but it was the first movie I watched in 2021, and it is by far one of the best films I have seen that is considered a new release.

Dune Dir Denis Villeneuve

If you didn't watch this in a theater, you didn't watch it. Built for the cinema experience and delivered.

Inside Dir Bo Burnham

This piece of art blew me away. The fact that Bo did it all by himself in every aspect of its creation is absolutely infuriating. I loved it.

Licorice Pizza Dir Paul Thomas Anderson

I saw this beautiful film projected on 70mm, which in my opinion, is the best way to watch anything ever. The movie is small, masterfully directed and shot, and overall as joyful and weird as one could ever hope a PTA movie to be. Also, HAIM rocks.

Old / Rewatch

Layer Cake Dir Matthew Vaughn

I somehow let this fantastic film slip through my watchlist almanac for far too long. Daniel Craig is so cool, and British drug rings are way cooler than American ones.

Steve Jobs Dir Danny Boyle

This was a rewatch, and it's better the third time. Steve Jobs was an absolute dick, and Fassbender makes me want to be Steve Jobs. That doesn't make too much sense, but it is the best way to describe it at this current time.

The Before Trilogy Dir Richard Linklater

I waited a long time to watch these films, and I am glad I did. I do not think these are for everyone, but they are all you could ever want if they are for you.

The Last Black Man In San Francisco Dir Joe Tablot

One of the most enjoyable and original films I have watched throughout the year. So good, the style, the direction, the acting. Can't wait to watch it again.

PHOTOS

These are my five favorite photos I took this year. Four of them are shot on film and one is on digital, see if you can spot the digital.

Sunset Surfer

STAN Quilted Coats

Morro Bay Hoop

San O Mist

Noir House

TV / Youtube

Succession

Better then I ever could have imagined, HBO doesn't miss.

Peaky Blinders

Not sure what took me so long to watch this, it bleeds style and energy, literally.

Van Neistat (The Spirited Man)

A truly original youtube channel. Luckily he was spotlighted by his very famous brother Casey, because I am not sure a channel this uniquely different would have succeeded naturally.

Quotes

I've just about finished my 25th book of the year, for some a considerable number for others a tiny one. My co loafer Craig is excellent at taking down quotes from what he has come by and read; he even writes down quotes from people's conversations. It is a great habit and something I started to do. Here are some of my favorites from a variety of books.

“That you will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.” - David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

"Neither is it possible to control, or regulate, the machinery of creativity. One must work with the creative powers-for not to work with is to work against; in art as in spiritual life there is no neutral place." - Mary Oliver, Upstream

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone," wrote Blaise Pascal. At home, in his study." - Rolf Dobelli, The Art of Thinking Clearly

"Like all good cowboys dead and alive

on fighting and grit and blood they thrive

with a little strong whisky to keep hope alive."

-Edward Abbey, The Brave Cowboy, Balled of

The Brave Cowboy

"To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation has a rendezvous with destiny" President Franklin Roosevelt... Though the scenario and outcome are uncertain, the schedule is set: The next Fourth Turning - America's next rendezvous with destiny - will begin in roughly ten years and end in roughly thirty." - William Strauss and Neil Howe, The Fourth Turning (published in 1997)

"Never take your position for granted and never let any favors you receive go to your head"

"people easily mistake sincerity for honesty" - Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power

"The value that is most vilified today is most certainly the value of freedom" - Albert Camus, Create Dangerously

“Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else ... Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.”

- Herman Hesse, Siddhartha

Peace 2021