All Success Is A Lagging Indicator | Always The Same

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

Originally published in 1926, 'The Sun Also Rises' is Ernest Hemingway’s first novel and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style. The novel follows a group of young American and British expatriates as they wander through Europe in the mid-1920s, capturing the moods, feelings, and attitudes of the cynical and disillusioned Lost Generation. The story centers around Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran and journalist, and Lady Brett Ashley, as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain. The novel portrays an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions, reflecting the existential disillusionment characteristic of the Lost Generation.

In 'American Rust,' Philipp Meyer delves into the catastrophic effects of economic devastation on the lives of six characters in Pennsylvania’s Mon Valley. The story centers around Isaac English, a brilliant but socially awkward young man, and Billy Poe, a former high school football star, who embark on a journey to escape their dying town. However, their plans are derailed by an act of unintentional violence that haunts the rest of the narrative. The novel employs multiple narrators to reveal the complexities of the characters and the town, highlighting themes of economic decline, personal struggle, and the human condition. Meyer’s vivid descriptions and use of stream-of-consciousness narration bring the characters and their environment to life, evoking a sense of desperation and hopelessness in a town left behind by industrial decline.

The book examines the origin, spread, and consequences of the 1918 influenza pandemic. It traces the virus to Haskell County, Kansas, and details how it spread globally through military camps and troop movements during World War I. Barry discusses the scientific efforts to identify the pathogen, the failure to develop an effective vaccine at the time, and the significant social and political factors that exacerbated the pandemic. The book also highlights the long-term impact of the pandemic, including the revolutionary scientific discoveries that followed, such as Oswald Avery's proof that DNA carries genetic information.

The Son is a meticulously researched novel that follows the lives of three main characters from the McCullough family: Eli McCullough, the first child born in the Republic of Texas who is taken captive by the Comanche and later becomes a Texas Ranger; his son Peter, haunted by the family's history of violence; and his great-granddaughter Jeannie, the inheritor of the family fortune. The novel delves into themes of violence, cultural identity, and the complexities of American history, particularly the interactions between white settlers and Native American tribes in Texas. Meyer's detailed and nuanced portrayal of historical events and characters makes the book a compelling exploration of the American creation myth.

This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers. Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life. The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism.