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Good morning and welcome to the Sunday Culture edition of the Daily Atlantic The writer reveals what amuses them.
Today’s special guest is staff writer John Hendrickson, who has just published a new book. Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter, you can read an excerpt from here. John wrote Atlantic Most recently, on President Joe Biden’s stuttering, among other topics. I didn’t see you thereAn experimental documentary about living with a disability, he calls it “moving and compelling.” Buy tickets to Richard Price’s five upcoming NYC reunion shows and John will read anything by Richard Price. The Fugitive 50 times.
But first, three Sunday readings from here Atlantic:
Culture Survey: John Hendrickson
The upcoming event I’m most looking forward to: For almost a decade I waited and prayed that the Walkmen would ever reunite, doubting that it would ever happen. To me, they’re the unsung heroes of the New York rock renaissance of the millennium (think: The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Interpol—everything). Meet me in the bathroom bands). Recently, when The Walkmen announced a five-night run in Manhattan in April, I excitedly bought tickets to all five shows. I would scream every word to every song.
My favorite television show right now: After cycling Office, The Larry Sanders Show, Parks and RecreationA series of Ken Burns documentaries, plus several seasons aloneMy wife and I started watching News Radio At night before we sleep. Again: Unsung! Every single line delivered by Phil Hartman is brilliant. Stephen Root, Off Barry And Office space Fame does deadly humor like no other. It’s a little surprising to see Joe Rogan playing a meathead named Joe in one of his early roles.
An actor I look up to in anything: Bill Hader
My Favorite Blockbuster: The Fugitive For lack of a better phrase, the popcorn movie is about as close as you can get to the best. Fast pacing! Awesome dialogue! A few big action sequences balanced with grizzled guys in frumpy suits working on phones! I must have watched it 50 times. [Related: Hollywood doesn’t make movies like The Fugitive anymore.]
Best Novel I’ve Read Recently: I’m currently reading Laura Sigman small world, two middle-aged sisters who bring home decades of family baggage live together. I don’t want to give too much away, but I marvel at Sigman’s ability to weave humor and tenderness so closely together.
As a writer I will read anything: Richard Price [Related: Two good old-fashioned young novelists]
A song I always dance to: Le Tigre, “Deceptacon.” Press play and try to keep your body still. It is not possible!
My Karaoke Song: Patti Smith, “Because of the Night.” I am a terrible singer, but singing is my salvation. I like to belt it out on a Friday or Saturday night at Montero, an old fisherman’s dive bar near the East River in Brooklyn. I usually throw in a kick when the pre-chorus starts. I write a little about this in my book, Life on DelayBut singing depends on a different part of the brain than we use for speaking, and so do I never I stutter when I sing. It’s freeing. Many current or former stutterers have turned to music at some point in their lives: Elvis Presley, Kendrick Lamar, Carly Simon, Ed Sheeran, Bill Withers, and Noel Gallagher—just to name a few.
My Favorite Sad Song: Charles Bradley’s cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” absolutely kills me. It transcends what you might think of as recorded music—it’s almost as if Bradley’s soul is imprinted on the track. The whole backstory about Bradley and his mom during the recording makes it even worse.
My Favorite Angry Song: The O Sees, “I come from the mountain.” Whenever I feel stressed or anxious, I hum it as loud as I can and lay my head down on my desk. Coulson Whitehead said 60 minutes That they are on his writing playlist!
One of my favorite stories I’ve ever read Atlantic: Annie Lowry’s deeply vivid, personal account of her pregnancy experience was the most memorable piece of journalism I read last year, full stop. It will stay with me forever.
A good recommendation I received recently: David Sims recently recommended the Apple Series to me For all mankindKind of like mad Men Passed along Apollo 13. [Related: How the space fantasy became banal]
Last thing that made me laugh: Watch this clip from “Pricemaster.” This is a minute of your life. trust me.
Read previous editions of the Culture Survey Gal Beckerman, Kate Lindsay, Xochitl Gonzalez, Spencer Kornhaber, Jenisha Watts, David French, Shirley Lee, David Sims, Lenica Cruz, Jordan Calhoun, Hannah GiorgisAnd Sophie Gilbert.
The week ahead
- Maybe I doDiane Keaton, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Luke Bracey, William H. A romantic comedy starring Macy and Emma Roberts (in theaters Friday)
- Pirate Enlightenment, or the original LibertaliaDavid Graeber’s Posthumous Book (Tuesday)
- documentaries 1619 planAn extension of Nicole Hanna-Jones’ book (the first two episodes premiere Thursday on Hulu)
More on culture
catch up Atlantic
Photo album
Check out some of the entries in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition (and vote for your favourites).
Isabel Fattal contributed to this newsletter.
