After reading (and writing) too many best-of-2017 lists, we鈥檙e in recovery mode and kicking off our year with fresh discoveries and old favorites.
What We Read
I鈥檓 reading , a memoir by TwitterFriend鈩 Emily Nunn, a former editor at the New Yorker and other great places. It鈥檚 about how food and cooking helped her through a crisis-filled time in her life: a busted engagement, a brother who died, and a lapse into alcoholism. I鈥檓 not that far in, but it鈥檚 a good read so far. Emily has a great voice and is very honest about the trouble that temporarily overwhelmed her.
鈥擜lex Heard, editorial director
I鈥檓 in the midst of Caroline Fraser鈥檚 , a new biography of the iconic pioneer girl who went on to become the beloved children鈥檚 book author. What I love about Fraser鈥檚 approach is that she鈥檚 interested in not only illuminating the nuances and complexities of Laura鈥檚 life, but also showing how an individual woman鈥檚 story can teach us a great deal about the larger themes and forces at play in America at the time. Yes, this book is perfect for anyone who鈥檚 passionate about women鈥檚 history and marginalized narratives (like me!), but it鈥檚 also a compelling story for anyone who cares about the West鈥檚 history and the mythology of the American dream.
鈥擟ate Costley, editorial fellow
For Christmas, my girlfriend gave me a copy of by Ian Whitelaw. It starts in the 1600s with the palmerworm, a classic pattern still used today, and I鈥檓 spending the off-season slowly working my way through the centuries, learning a lot about how the sport has changed and how it hasn鈥檛.
鈥擭icholas Hunt, associate editor
I鈥檓 always a few years behind the new releases, so I鈥檓 sure most of you, our well-read readers, have already come across . If you haven鈥檛, then I highly recommend you pick up a copy. This is one of the most remarkable stories I鈥檝e ever read. The author, Katherine Boo, spent six years reporting from Mumbai, India, to create a nonfiction masterpiece that reads like one of the great novels. The empathy and vividness of this book brought me to tears multiple times. I couldn鈥檛 put it down.
鈥擜xie Navas, executive editor
What We Listened To
I鈥檝e been actively trying to go to bed earlier, but melatonin gives me nightmares and tea just doesn鈥檛 do the trick. Then I found , an hour-long podcast in which the host tells a long, meandering, and often dull story as you drift off. His voice is soothing and calm鈥擨鈥檝e actually never managed to stay awake for an entire episode.
鈥擜bigail Wise, online managing editor
This month I discovered my new favorite podcast: *, hosted by financial guru Shannah Compton Game. I鈥檇 recommend starting with the episode on . It鈥檚 already revolutionized the way I budget for all the climbing and snowboarding trips I鈥檓 planning this year.
*Note: Not just for millennials!
鈥擩enny Earnest, social media manager
What We Watched
A landline is a throwback communication technology, and Vans鈥 first snowboarding film of the same name pays homage to the history of snowboarding films. Captured on Kodak 16mm with Arriflexes and Bolexes, is a beautiful film tied together with tastefully avant-garde music and editing鈥攏ot to mention creative, style-drenched, progressive riding from a heavy-hitting team. Highlights include a from Cole Navin, legends Bryan Iguchi and Jamie Lynn (including John Cardiel, back on a snowboard after a life-changing accident), and insanely graceful backcountry riding from Blake Paul, Arthur Longo, and Pat Moore. For a look at the hard work behind this two-year project, you can watch Landline on or .
鈥擟hris Thompson, visual producer
I saw my first fish ladder on a recent visit to Seattle. Though there were no jumping salmon this time of year, all I could think about afterward was how badly I wanted to rewatch , a 25-minute documentary from Ryan Peterson about one king salmon鈥檚 unbelievable Alaskan adventure. It goes beyond your wildest expectations of how funny a film about fish can be, tells a legitimate environmental story, and features brilliant human characters as well. It鈥檚 probably the only true screen-based cure for winter doldrums. (And you can watch the whole thing .)
鈥擡rin Berger, senior editor