Best of 2020
December 2020
Somehow "best" and "2020" look strange together in the same
sentence. All things considered, 2020 was unusual: scary, tragic,
revealing, but still far from the worst. At the time of writing most of the
world is hit by hard lockdowns due to the second wave of Covid-19.
But we have a vaccine now. In a hopeful anticipation of the new year,
I am remembering the best things I have experienced in
2020.
Books
- Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl G. Jung – Similar to my last
year's obsession with Nassim Taleb, this year was about Dr. Jung. I
used to think that for something so crucially important, we know so
little about our brains. Now I'm convinced that we know even less
about our souls. And it's more important than the brain. I've told
about jungian analysis to a few close friends, retold them some curious
things about the unconscious and dream interpretations – and got back
polite nods. I understand that jungian analysis sounds weird at first,
but the more I gaze into in, the more convinced I get that there is a
lot of truth to it. Or is it the jungian abyss gazing back into
me?
- How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams
– I like this type of books. Some people would place it in the
self-help genre. If so, this is one of the best self-help books I've
read.
- Stories by Anton Chekhov – Find myself coming back to these
stories every couple of years. One thing I realised during this
re-read is that both funny and sad stories are... sad. They capture
the human condition so perfectly, so deeply.
Music
TV shows
- Fleabag – Possibly became one of my favourite shows ever. What is
certain is that I've become a huge fan of Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Just
check it out, the writing is amazing!
- Sex Education – I started watching it during what is now known as
"The First Wave". The show grows on you because of the excellent
character development.
- How I Met Your Mother – I watched it in German, as part of my
ongoing efforts to learn the language. Surprisingly, I found this
naive show quite insightful about relationships: friendly, familial,
and romantic.
Movies
- Bab'Aziz – I refuse to tell you anything about this movie.
- Eighth Grade – I've been a fan of Bo Burnham since forever. What a
great film!
- Paterson – Don't know how I managed to go four years since its
premier without seeing it. Somehow the film shows a lot by having
little action, and tells a great deal with only a few dialogues.
Some of my favourite movies I rewatched: Casino Royale, Burn After Reading, Die Hard.
Podcasts
Best things I did
I hope you have a great, healthy year ahead of you. In words of the great Kendrick Lamar, we gon' be alright. Happy new year!