Happy Tuesday All,
And welcome to the Cultural Reads Newsletter! A bi-weekly book, music, and movie recommendation from different countries all around the world.
I was in Mexico last week and got to visit the Maya Temple Chichen Itza, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. I, unfortunately, had to leave Mexico already, but I still have some days in Nicaragua.
In this week’s newsletter: Mexico, Jamaica, Climate Change & Writing Your Personal Movie
One of my favorite all-time Mexican movies is Amores Perros, a movie based on a novel by Guillermo Arriaga with the same title.
A car accident in Mexico City connects a teenager in the slums involved in dog fighting, a model who seriously injured her leg, and a mysterious hitman.
The stories are linked in several ways, featuring dogs as the common element. The title hints at this component (perro = dog in Spanish) but can also be translated as “bad love” or “love’s a bitch” related to the story’s problematic relationships.
You can rent the film for a few bucks on Youtube.
Want to know what happened in Jamaica after Bob Marley?
Check out this 12-minute BBC concert featuring four of Jamaica’s most famous artists right now.
If you’re interested in more, check out Sevana‘s and Lila Ikè‘s individual Tiny Desk concerts.
If you prefer HipHop, try Jamaican Rapper Koffee.
have several friends who are active in the climate change movement. Last week, one of them shared a list of the books that most influenced him.
Since climate change is the main problem of our generation, I wanted to share the list with those interested in learning more.
Most of the books discuss climate, systems change, and capitalism. I’ve listed all of them below, including Goodreads links. Unfortunately, three books are only available in Dutch.
Being The Change, Doughnut Economics, The Sixth Extinction, The Madhouse Effect, Limits, Nu Het nog Kan (Dutch), This is Not A Drill, Fraudcast News, Hoe Gaan we Dit Uitleggen (Dutch), Roofstaat (Dutch), Sapiens, Hope in the Dark, Less is More, The Good Ancestor, The Time of the Black Jaguar, The Ministry for the Future.
JustWatch is a website that allows you to write a story and subsequently shows movies matching your synopsis.
I wouldn’t say it’s the most helpful tool, but it’s definitely fun.
Are you ready to find your movie?
Write your story here.
Ask how and what instead of why during negotiations.
Why makes people defensive, whereas how and what create empathy by forcing them to come up with solutions for you.”
Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss
