ReThinking: Ken Burns on love and grief (Part 2)

All the President's Men is a gripping narrative of the Watergate scandal, written by the two Washington Post reporters who led the investigation. The book chronicles the events from the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex to the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon. Woodward and Bernstein describe their meticulous investigative work, including their interactions with the mysterious source 'Deep Throat,' and the challenges they faced in uncovering the truth despite intense opposition from the White House. The book highlights the importance of investigative journalism in democratic societies and provides a detailed look at the inner workings of the newsroom and the editorial process at The Washington Post.

Published in 1841, 'Self-Reliance' is one of Ralph Waldo Emerson's most famous essays. It advocates for individualism, urging readers to trust their own unique powers and intuition rather than conforming to societal norms. Emerson argues that true happiness and fulfillment come from living an authentic, self-reliant life, free from the pressures of conformity and institutionalized religion. The essay is a cornerstone of Transcendentalist philosophy, emphasizing themes such as nonconformity, the authority of the individual, and the importance of personal growth and self-trust.