One of the pleasures of getting to know a group of your friends well is becoming familiar with the things that they like (and what they don't like). My friends and I often joke that "you can't fault a man for knowing what he likes," somewhat ironically at times. Because of course, one thing I like, and I think everyone should like, is trying new things and new experiences. Discovering a new things to like in the world around you and new things about yourself is thrilling and also lets you better understand others. That last sentence risked devolving into platitudes, so without further ado, here is a short list of things I like. My hope is that you might find something new to like on it, and you'll also be inspired to share one of your likes with me.
-Reading (Authors: David Foster Wallace, George Saunders, Roberto Bolano, Ta-Nehisi Coates, William H. Gass, Vladimir Nabokov, Junot Diaz, William Faulkner, Thomas Pynchon, Teju Cole, Alice Munro, Don DeLillo, Michelle Alexander - The New Jim Crow, ...)
-Listening to music and going to concerts (the Mountain Goats, Kamasi Washington - about to see him tonight!!, Protomartyr, Kendrick Lamar, Julien Baker, Titus Andronicus, Father John Misty, Sufjan Stevens, The Knife, Joanna Newsom, Burial, Flying Lotus, Run the Jewels, Trampled By Turtles, ...)
-card games and board games (Dominion, Carcassonne, King Mao, Catan, hearts, ...)
-playing goofy songs at open mic nights with my friends to provide comic relief for the people trying too hard
-eating pizza and drinking craft beer
-cooking new things with my girlfriend
-currently, playing pokemon go
-science (not in the flashy, clickbait-y way but in the beauty of incremental progress toward understanding the natural world a little better)
-faith (had to put this after science as a plug that yes, they are compatible, also the PC(USA) is awesome)
-TV, sparingly (Arrested Development, The Wire, Breaking Bad (and Better Call Saul), Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job, Mr. Show, ...)
-tennis (sadly, Federer looks like he's waning)
That about does it for me for now because I'm starting to get that solipsistic feeling that I am giving too much information about myself, assuming someone should have similar preferences to me. Best wishes and please email if something here resonates with you! Or if it doesn't, that's cool too.
J.B.
[email protected]
Indiana