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Good morning,
And welcome to the Cultural Reads Newsletter with worldwide book, music, and movie recommendations.
Now, onto the newsletter with Spirit Animals, Best Books 2024, Japanese Jazz, Kenyan Psychedelic Art, Unbelievable Uruguayan Survival & World Geography Games.
What’s your spirit animal?
I always thought it was just a silly game.
That was until I read the book Think Indigenous by Native American healer Doug Good Feather.
The book changed my life in a mysterious way.
You can find out how in this post.
Are you unsure what to read this year?
Don’t worry any longer!
Here’s a list of the best books to read in 2024 based on my favorite novels from the previous months.
I recently discovered this fantastic Japanese Jazz album on Vertigo Vinyl, a record store that recommends albums on Instagram.
It’s soothing and perfect for those who like chilled jazz records.
Last week, I discovered Kenyan artist and photographer Thandiwe Muriu.
She just released her first book, complete with stylish psychedelic photographs. She works with traditional textiles and somewhat jokingly said she sees them as people, some serious, some playful, and some aggressive. I hope I can see one of her exhibitions someday!
Society of the Snow is a brand new popular Netflix movie with an 8/10 on IMDB and several Oscar nominations.
The film is based on the true story of a Uruguayan plane that crashed in the Andes, leaving the surviving passengers in the cold of an unforgiving snowy terrain.
Although this true survival story is incredible, I always wonder if we don’t exploit these stories at the expense of the people involved. The director seems to have done a thoughtful job, though.
It reminded me of Jungle with Daniel Radcliff, about three guys who get lost in the Bolivian jungle. Go here for more Uruguayan movies.
How good is your geography?
The other week, a friend came over and told me he discovered a fun game: World Geography Games.
The simple website offers several games, from guessing the country to recognizing a nation’s flag. It’s fun, easy, and a great way to improve your world knowledge.
