Lydia Wacasey, Acquisitions and Cataloging Manager

Swim Wild & Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 Days a Year by Simon Griffiths

Armed with new ideas for winter happiness, I borrowed a copy of Swim Wild & Free: a practical guide to swimming outdoors 365 days a year, which offeres advice on gear, preparation and tips for swimming outdoors on the coldest days. Even if you’d rather stick to the shore during winter months, this book is worth browsing for the photos of blissed-out and smiling, post-swim faces.

The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu by Katja Pantzar

Moving in to winter, I hoped to develop a bit more grit and resilience, so I looked to Katja Pantzar’s The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu and learned about the Finnish virtue Sisu, which is a mix of determination, courage and fortitude. Thanks in part to their Sisu mindset, Finland is consistently ranked the “Happiest Country on Earth.” I’ll have what they’re having, thank you very much.

There are Places in the World Where Rules are Less Important Than Kindness: And Other Thoughts on Physics, Philosophy and the World by Carlo Rovelli

I was intrigued by the title of Carlo Rovelli’s There are Places in the World Where Rules are Less Important Than Kindness: and other thoughts on physics, philosophy and the world, and the book did not disappoint. It’s packed full of the theoretical physicist’s musings on subjects ranging from Copurnicus and Einstein to the nervous systems of octopi and blackholes. He manages to show connections between ancient thought and current ideas in a way that kept me reading through the night. Recommended for non-fiction loving polymaths, who enjoy building reading lists from footnotes.

Asteroid City DVD and Library of Things Projector

Wes Anderson movie releases are cause for celebration at my house. We borrowed the projector from the Library of Things and had a family viewing of Asteroid City, which is vibrant and beautiful and the perfect film for the big screen.

Music: Texas Moon by Khruangbin & Leon Bridges 

Describing Khruangbin & Leon Bridges’ Texas Moon album is almost as tricky as pronouncing the band’s name, but I’ll give it a shot: neo-funk meets spaghetti western, crossed with soul and wrapped in Leon Bridges’ silky vocals. It was released in 2022, so I was late to its discovery this year. With each listening, I find something new to love.