Pour Over is a collection of items I’ve read, heard, or watched this week that I’ve found challenging, insightful, or compelling. Hope you enjoy.

The Work Required To Have An Opinion

What good are our opinions? We see something on the news, take a stance that aligns with our previously held beliefs, and yell at each other. We get more angry without changing each other’s minds, widening the divide between us.

This short post addresses one problem with our opinions: we haven’t earned them. We don’t know the arguments that could substantiate and persuade. We don’t understand the other side.

What if we did the work that Charlie Munger says is required? How would our discussions change? Would we be more compassionate? More persuasive? Would we come up with better solutions to our disagreements?

How Social Media Impacts Our News Consumption, Behavior, and Productivity

I have been driven to distraction over the last year and a half or so, trying to keep up with the latest breaking political news and the responses by voices I admire and trust.

What has the benefit of this been to me? Not much. Anxiety, worry, and depression about America’s state of affairs. Arguing with friends, family, and co-workers to no avail (see above).

Especially now that the election is over and our new president is installed, I need a change.

Cal Newport, on The Federalist Radio Hour podcast, shows a new way: digital minimalism. Check out his blog also for more on the topic.

Pour Over is a collection of a few items that I’ve read, heard, or watched this week that I’ve found challenging, insightful, or compelling. Hope you enjoy.

Writer, with Kids

Since starting this post this morning, I’ve gotten my daughter from bed, made her breakfast, bounced around a few times with my newborn son, and put my daughter in time-out. Having kids is wonderful—but it is not optimal for getting into the flow of writing.

Cari Luna has put together a treasure trove of wisdom, kindness, and hope for mom-writers and dad-writers in her series Writer, with Kids. Interviews that I love so far: Sean Singer, Javier Moreno, and Austin Kleon.

Cooked

Cooked is a beautiful, four-part Netflix series by Michael Pollan on the importance of traditional cooking to our health, families, and society. Pollan dives into the science, history, and sociology of food and nutrition. It strikes me that Pollan’s case is a conservative one: humans have developed traditional cooking over thousands of years, resulting in nutritious and sustainable practices that should be fostered and protected.

Anthony Bradley | Psalm 23 (1/27/2017)

In an address to students at Wheaton College, Dr. Anthony Bradley graciously reminds Christians that, because of who we are in Christ, we are free from the burdens of proving ourselves to others or to God. The Lord is our shepherd, so we are free. Excellent! Watch!