Deep Life Reflections: Friday Five
Issue 93 - 2024
Welcome to Issue 93 of Deep Life Reflections.
For those celebrating, I hope you’re enjoying Christmas and the holiday season. In this special seasonal edition, I look back on five of my favourite works from 2024—some I’ve written about before, some I haven’t. Connected by themes of growth, attachment, intention, understanding, and the power of humour, I hope they offer some reflective moments as we approach the year’s end.
Enjoy this week’s Friday Five.
Best Book of 2024
The Right to Oblivion by Lowry Pressly.
A timely work in our age of digital. Writer and teacher Lowry Pressly reexamines privacy as not just a political right but as a key to a life worth living. Pressly argues that embracing ‘oblivion’ allows us to protect our humanity in a hyperconnected world, as well as rediscover the freedom of being temporarily forgotten, paving a new path to creativity, joy, and love. I believe this is a topic that will dominate the next decade.
Best Article of 2024
You Might Be a Late Bloomer by David Brooks.
Brooks is one of my favourite writers, and in this Atlantic article from June, he explores the life secrets of those who flail early but thrive later in life. Brooks reveals how persistence, self-discovery, and evolving passions can lead to success. It’s a reminder that life’s timeline isn’t linear, and growth unfolds uniquely. We all have our own path.
Read the article in The Atlantic.
Best Film of 2024
American Fiction by Cord Jefferson.
Though technically a 2023 release, this sharp and brilliant satire on race, identity, and connection remains a standout in 2024. Oscar-nominee Jeffrey Wright is masterly as Monk Ellison, who exposes stereotypes in the publishing industry through his ironic book creation, My Pafology. Beyond its humour and critique, the film paints a broader canvas: exploring family, loneliness, bitterness, and the healing power of letting others in.
Best Documentary of 2024
Turning Point: The Bomb and The Cold War
This 9-part series explores the pivotal events and decisions that shaped the nuclear age. We see the birth of the arms race, the resulting political tensions, and the human stories behind the Cold War. It’s both a reminder of how close we came to disaster and how the threat remains just as potent today. Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario is the perfect literary companion—just don’t expect to put it down.
Best Quote of 2024
Jerry Seinfeld, Duke 2024 Commencement Address
“What I need to tell you as a comedian: Do not lose your sense of humour. You can have no idea at this point in your life how much you are going to need it to get through. Not enough of life makes sense for you to be able to survive it without humour.”
Thanks for reading and reflecting on this second special seasonal edition. I wish everyone a peaceful, reflective, and enjoyable holiday season.
James
Sharing and Helpful Links
Want to share this issue of Deep Life Reflections via text, social media, or email? Just copy and paste this link:
https://www.deeplifejourney.com/deep-life-reflections/december-27-2024
And if you have a friend, family member, or colleague who you think would also enjoy Deep Life Reflections, simply copy, paste and send them this subscription link:
https://www.deeplifejourney.com/subscribe
Don’t forget to check out my website, Deep Life Journey, for full access to all my articles, strategies, coaching, and insights. And you can read all previous issues of Deep Life Reflections here.