There are movies and books that I return to over and over again. These are not the best movies and books that exist; they are the ones that are particularly meaningful to me.
Movies that I watch or think about repeatedly include Bowfinger, Galaxy Quest, Burn After Reading, and Good Will Hunting. The first three are comedies. One of the reasons I keep watching these movies is that they always make me laugh. It helps that Karilyn and Kris also love these movies. Bowfinger strikes a chord because Karilyn and I have made movies in a way that is somewhat similar to Bowfinger’s approach. The fourth is about a boy genius trying to find his way in a world that has its own ideas regarding what he should do. Is it a stretch to think that I would find this relatable?
Books that I often return to include Lost Horizon, One-Dimensional Man, Journey Through Genius, and Les Miserables. Obviously, there are many others!
Over twenty years ago, I wanted to make a musical adaptation of Lost Horizon. I even wrote some music for this. Of all the projects I have not completed, this is one that I can’t stop thinking about. The story is magnificent. And it may even be entering the public domain…
One-Dimensional Man is a book that I read in college. My brother gave me his paperback copy after he no longer needed it. I’m not sure why it speaks so strongly to me. The idea is that the world is becoming more homogenous and that this lack of diversity is not good. We must beware of the “tyranny of the majority” to be able to think critically about our political circumstances. Diversity of thought is good. Having many different cultures in the world is good. Thinking about the future of humanity is a worthwhile endeavor.
Journey Through Genius, by William Dunham, is a wonderful romp through the great theorems of mathematics. Euclid’s Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem and Archimedes’ Determination of Circular Area are every bit as artistic as the works of Michelangelo. The great theorems of mathematics deserve to be celebrated! While the book is not as fascinating as Mathematics: The Loss of Certainty, by Morris Kline, it is much more accessible. I’m never going to stop recommending it.
Les Miserables is simply the best book I’ve ever read.
Pay attention to the movies and books that you replay. They tell you something significant about who you are in this world.
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