This is how to die — and how to live. 💔🎉
Plus . . . . 2 books to read, 2 videos to watch, and 5 words to use.
1. WHY NOT attend your own funeral? 🪦💬
Last year, I launched the Why Not? project with the Washington Post — a yearlong experiment in offering fresh, unexpected ideas for improving our national and personal lives.
My final column came out this morning. And it’s about death.
Well, it’s actually about life.
It’s the story of Dick Hanneman — a man with terminal cancer who threw himself a laugh-filled, tear-soaked send-off, surrounded by the people he loved.
You can read the column here (free gift article). Or you can read a PDF version by clicking the image below.
2. PINK RECOMMENDS. 🍔 Big Macs abroad . . . 😬 Sh*t sandwiches at home . . . 📲 iPhone tricks . . . ❤️ and the science of rom-coms
🍟 READ: Regular readers know that one of my essential, if controversial, tips for overseas travel is to always visit a local McDonald’s. Now I finally have an ally. Photographer Gary He traveled to 50 countries to document how McDonald’s restaurants have customized their menus and architecture to local tastes. The result is McAtlas: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches, one of the most fascinating (and beautiful) books of the year.
🚨 WATCH: A far more serious and urgent read is Timothy Synder’s 2017 book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (Amazon | BN.com | Bookshop | Public library). Snyder examines Europe’s 20th century fascist and communist movements to help readers understand and resist America’s 21st century slide toward authoritarianism. For a taste of Snyder’s guidance, I recommend this video — in which John Lithgow recites those 20 lessons, beginning with “Do not obey in advance.”
🎧 LISTEN: What do rom-coms tell us about the science of relationships? Two professors are now delivering the answer in a smart and highly entertaining podcast. Love Factually is the brainchild of Paul Eastwick (UC-Davis) and Eli Finkel (Northwestern), who explore movies like Say Anything, Barbie, and Pretty Woman for practical insights on communication, vulnerability, and conflict resolution. Think Hidden Brain meets When Harry Met Sally. (Apple | Spotify)
📱TRY: Wirecutter has a nifty list of 18 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPhone Could Do. Wait, you can record your calls? And then transcribe them? Swiping left on the home screen opens the camera? Who knew?
3. FINAL THOUGHTS. Three phrases that will boost your motivation and creativity 🗣️⚡📈
In a new YouTube video, I share how you can swap a few words — saying this, not that — to sharpen your decisions and elevate your performance. You’ll learn why:
“I don’t” deepens your willpower.
“Get to” stirs your motivation,
“Could” expands your creativity.
You can watch the 4-minute video here or by clicking the image below.)