Editor’s Comment:My son and I finally saw the Cirque du Soleil  performance of “LOVE” last month.  Since then, I’ve spent some time going through my collection of Beatles music remembering how incredibly diverse their music is; their themes, their instruments and their orchestration and production values were all ahead of their time.  This song, from the Revolver album was and is a great reminder about the pace we choose for our lives. 

Editor’s Comments: You must bring at least an interest in economics to this reading or it’s pretty tough. I’m not business trained for economics but have interest enough to have passed a few courses and I eagerly read every issue of the Economist. The reason I read Economist is the same reason this book fascinated me: the political, social and policy implications of how economies run are massive. Haskell and Westlake hypothesize in fact that the rise in populism and tribal responses both in the USA elections and in England’s “Brexit” are fueled by frustration and misunderstanding. The big transition both the US and England are experience is from tangible capital to intangible capital. In 2006, for example, Microsoft was worth $250 billion, only $3 billion of which was tangible capital, assets such as buildings, manufacturing lines and cash. 99% of Microsoft’s worth then was in intangible capital including their technology, innovation (patents, research and development) and such things as branding and business models. This could change not only the definition of our economies but capitalism itself. The hardest to understand for me are the four affecting impacts the authors describe.

Editor’s Comments: Thanks, David Levine, for sending me this book.  I stumbled onto the “whole man theory” in my 20s and later shared it with my adolescent children by having them size a four quadrant box of “spiritual, mental, physical and social” when they needed to be reminded to seek balance.  In this easy to read book, authors Loehr and Schwartz 15 years ago went way beyond that simple theory.  I learned a ton and was reminded of plenty of healthy disciplines to keep in mind as I try to progress in this mortal coil.  It is filled with stuff you’ll want to highlight or write in your daily journal.

"The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning.
Uncertainty is the very condition
to impel man to unfold his powers."

Editor’s Comment: This popped up (as so many of my monthly favorites do) on my ITunes while running and it took me way back.  I recalled the rumor that this was a song about marijuana so I hit repeat a few times and realized (again) that it is no more than a memorable fable about growing up or perhaps enjoying youth. 

Editor’s Comments: This author and this book have been around for a long time but I’d forgotten about it until someone recently made fun of me for my fantasy sports addiction.  Being in the flow (same as zone or groove) for me is a mental state where regular worries and my ego disappear.  Season long fantasy team construction and change is just one of many flow activities.  Others include prayer, playing music, losing myself in a good book, golf and more.  What are your flow activities?

Editor’s Comment: My friend, Marty Grothe, reminded me of this wonderful song.  Really it’s a poem.  Then my son, Kevin, sent me all the verses.  Then while looking it up on youtube, I found this cover version by Josh Lava, who I had never heard of before.  Great delivery of a brilliant poem, every word of which has been meaningful to me since the first time I heard it.