A secret before the world knows

In this week's newsletter: an app for concentration, poolside recommendations, eye and ear candy, and more...

In this week's newsletter: an app for concentration, poolside recommendations, eye and ear candy, and more... View this email in your browser Hey y'all, Here are 10 things I thought were worth sharing this week: It's fun to have a secret before the world knows. I'm reading Mary Ruefle's short prose collection, My Private Property, slowly, at breakfast, a piece or two at a time. (I love her work — her newest poetry collection, Dunce, was one of my favorite books I read this spring.)   Elisa Gabbert's second essay collection, The Unreality of Memory, is out this week. (Her first, The Word Pretty, was on last year's list of my favorite reads. Another book on that list was Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy's memoir, Let's Go (So We Can Get Back). He just announced a new book about songwriting, How To Write One Song.)   Want quick knowledge? Read a non-fiction book from the children's section! I've been stealing Once Upon A Word, an etymology book for kids, from our second grader. (Here's the author, Jess Zafarris, explaining the origin of "pumpernickel.")   The new Ruth Asawa stamps from the USPS are wonderful. ("Every time life dealt her a blow, she turned it into something wonderful, something creative.")   If you are lucky enough to be poolside in these dog days: I love my Wonderboom bluetooth speaker, my Rite in The Rain waterproof notebooks (AquaNotes work great, too, but I like to keep them in the shower), this dorky pizza raft like the one Andy Samberg floats on in Palm Springs, and this "Poolside '86" Spotify playlist by Ryan Schreiber. (He also made this playlist of Aphex Twin piano works I like to write to.)   Forest is an app that helps you stay focused by planting a digital tree — if you look at your phone before it's fully grown, it dies. Sounds ridiculous, and it is, but it's been working for me! (Thanks to @hayleycampbell for the recommendation.)   Movies: If you'd like to watch a quiet, lovely movie about poetry and everyday life, I recommend Jim Jarmusch's Paterson, the movie he made after his even more excellent vampire movie, Only Lovers Left Alive. (Throw in his old classic Down By Law while you're at it — all three are great lockdown movies, for different reasons.)   Podcast: This American Life ran a segment called "Time Bandit," with stuttering composer, JJJJJerome Ellis. (More about my interest in stuttering.)   The addictive joy of watching someone listen to Phil Collins. Thanks for reading. This newsletter is free to read, but not cheap to send. To show your support, forward it to someone who'd like it or buy a book or a t-shirt. If you're seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can read previous issues and subscribe here. xoxo, Austin PS. I like the looks of this library! (Thanks @librariabuzuku) Austin Kleon is the author of Steal Like An Artist and other books. Subscribe to this newsletter   Copyright © 2020 Austin Kleon, All rights reserved. My mailing address is: Austin Kleon 1101 W 34th St Box #102 Austin, TX 78705 Please read this before sending me snail mail! You're getting this email because you signed up for it at austinkleon.com. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Amazon Affiliate links offset the cost of sending these missives. Support your local bookstore if you have one.