Thursday Thoughts - 09/29/2022
In this short newsletter, I share the most interesting things that I’ve read, heard, and/or watched over the past week.
What I Read:
Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary is the latest book by Andy Weir. Weir is best known for The Martian, a Sci-Fi story about an astronaut’s journey on Mars after being left behind by his crew. This story was adapted into a feature film starring Matt Damon.
Project Hail Mary shares a bunch of similarities with The Martian. It begins with Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher, waking up from a coma abroad a spaceship. He has no idea where he is or how he got there. His memory starts coming back slowly as he discovers the terrible situation that he and humanity are in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down and finished reading it in about 5 days. I loved how Weir used science and logic to solve the problems that the hero faces while in space. Without giving too much away, I also like Weir’s take on alien encounters.
What I Heard:
What Alcohol Does to the Body | Huberman Lab Podcast
In this podcast episode, Dr. Andrew Huberman goes over the medical research regarding alcohol and its effects on the body. He covers a wide range of topics including sleep, the gut microbiome, cancer, and tolerance. He also recommends a preferred amount of alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks per week) and offers tips on dealing with hangovers (cold showers, probiotics, and water).
This was my first time listening to the Huberman Lab Podcast. I enjoyed the wealth of knowledge that Dr. Huberman presented on alcohol. He has obviously done his research. I thought some parts dragged on. But I understand that he is trying to give a nuanced take and cover all the available research.
I changed my behavior after listening to this episode. I started using an alcohol tracking app, Less, to monitor my alcohol consumption. I also committed to staying within a 2 drinks per week limit.
What I’m Pondering:
Honesty matters. Vulnerability matters. Being open about who you were at a moment in time when you were in a difficult or an impossible place matters more than anything. Having a place the story starts and a place it’s going: that’s important. Telling your story, as honestly as you can, and leaving out the things you don’t need, that’s vital.
Neil Gaiman, The Moth Presents All These Wonders