My Ultimate Best Books 2025 | A Top 10
Now that we’re entering the holiday season, it’s an excellent time for reflection. And what a year it’s been. I changed jobs, got married, and
Good morning,
And welcome to the Cultural Reads Newsletter with worldwide book, music, and movie recommendations.
In today’s newsletter: Afrobeat(s), Poems, War Movies, Food Delivery, Japanese Manga & Musical Poetry.
“I think you fundamentally misunderstood the difference between Afrobeat and Afrobeats.”
I opened my blog and received this comment from a reader. Although it’s not the nicest message, he was right.
Like most articles on Google, I used the terms Afrobeats and Afrobeat interchangeably, which is wrong.
Here is why.
I sometimes write short poems to process my emotions.Â
Although I initially felt hesitant to share them because they are personal and probably not that good, I decided to do so anyway.Â
After reading Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, I realized that art is sharing a human experience through one’s personal lens, hoping others will resonate with it. It’s neither good nor bad; the artist’s only responsibility is creating and sharing the art.Â
So here are three poems.
After the best historical movies, it’s time for the best war movies.
Because Hollywood often romanticizes war, I tried to create a list from different countries, highlighting the various aspects of war.Â
How much do you know about food and food delivery around the world?
Find out by doing the global food delivery quiz. I only got 4/9 right.Â
Despite its popularity, I’ve never been into Manga (Japanese comics).Â
Recently, I decided to try it because it’s an intriguing art form and a different way of reading.
Several people recommended Shuna’s Journey by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki is famous for movies like Spirited Away, which I featured in the best Japanese movies.
Do you have any favorite mangas or comics? Let me know!
Sometimes, it takes weeks before you find a song you love. Last week, I came across Aja Monet’s “Why My Love?” and it blew me away.Â
Aja is a poet but found a fantastic way to combine poetry and music, turning it into a jazzy, soulful, and R&B-like sound.Â
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Now that we’re entering the holiday season, it’s an excellent time for reflection. And what a year it’s been. I changed jobs, got married, and
I went to Cambodia in 2025. Although it’s a cliché that people are friendly in the countries you go to, Cambodians are truly exceptionally friendly.
Literature of any country is associated with its past and present. Thailand is no exception. Despite its beauty, great food, and marvelous temples, it also
