Floods, wars, pandemic, taxes, divided elections….so much disturbing news, fed to us relentlessly now. Tragedies, conflict, floods, fires, wars….a lot to worry and depress us.
This planet is too small for all this nonsense. We need to get a grip, stop and reverse the damage.
The entertainment business, in its home town Hollywood, has not doing too well either, but I think the upside is that there will be a much needed adjustment. The industry will focus more on its creative contributors and a little less on the financial advisors, who don’t understand it.. We live in hope. And maybe more of us will start reading books again!
One redeeming aspect in all of this, is that we do still seem to have kept some sense of humour.
Today I read about a book just published, which I plan to buy as therapy to combat the gloom: The Knowledge Book of Insults by Jon Connell (Connell Publishing, £12.99). To order a copy go to timesbookshop.co.uk. Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members.
This book appears to be a perfect antidote to the drama and the hype. A couple of examples –
“Wall Street indices predicted nine out of the last five recessions.” Economist Paul Samuelson
“True terror is to wake up one morning and realise that your high school class is running the country.” Novelist Kurt Vonnegut
“So boring you fell asleep halfway through her name.” Alan Bennett on writer Arianna Stassinopoulos”
Lightening the load with a good laugh is good therapy. My thought for the day.
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