Feldman's Faves: December 8, 2025

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

I know that we are all getting excited about our big holiday party this Thursday, which I know will be spectacular. Thank you to Annie, Joeley and Molly (and of course to Alex) for all of your hard work in planning this event. Please let me know how the afterparty goes….

Please join me in wishing the “Dynamic December 6 Duo” of JC and Max very happy birthdays.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Jay and Lara on their engagement. A very nice way to start the holiday season.

Today’s theme is Walter Isaacson’s latest book. But first a special announcement:

If you are looking for some live entertainment over the holidays, check out We Will Rock You, a jukebox musical that is being put on at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre (just south of the Eaton Centre) from now until January 18, 2026. Callum Lurie, the younger brother of BL5’s very own Duncan Lurie, is playing the lead role of Galileo, and I have it on good authority that the show ROCKS. A description of the show from its director is below, and you can use the discount code WWRYFF for tickets until December 19^th. Tickets can be purchased here.

We Will Rock You is, in every sense, a musical phenomenon, a story powered by the timeless and legendary music of the iconic band QUEEN. It’s a celebration of freedom, individuality, and the unifying power of rock. It invites us to live the emotions behind those unforgettable songs, to escape into its vibrant world, and to simply have the time of our lives.

This piece, in many ways, chose me. As someone who has always loved both classic rock and musical theatre, We Will Rock You feels like a perfect marriage of the two, an electrifying blend of storytelling and sound that speaks straight to my heart. It’s not just a show; it’s a celebration of music that has shaped generations, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring that energy to the stage.

My motivation for this production was to let the music truly tell the story. Queen’s songs already hold such depth, emotion, and narrative within them; the story lives in the lyrics. My goal was to weave those songs seamlessly into the heart of the show’s direction, allowing the themes, arcs, and characters to emerge naturally through the music.

The creative process has been one of discovery, collaboration, and boundless imagination. Every department, from video and lighting to costumes, props, hair, and make-up, has approached this production with meticulous attention to detail. Nothing was accidental. Every element on stage was crafted with purpose, right down to the smallest Easter egg. I’m endlessly grateful to this extraordinary creative team, who took the wild ideas, text and sketches from my mind and transformed them into something tangible, dynamic, and alive.

And to you, our audience, thank you. The remarkably talented performers and creative minds behind this show have poured their hearts into every note, every movement, and every moment on stage, all with one vision: to give you an unforgettable, electrifying experience.

On behalf of the entire We Will Rock You team and cast, LET’S ROCK!

Now, on with the show……

THE GREATEST SENTENCE EVER WRITTEN By: Walter Isaacson – It is always an event and a sh%& ton of work every time Walter Isaacson writes a book. His most recent epic tome on Elon Musk was both fascinating and really long.  When I heard he was writing a new book I figured this will be a holiday project for me but I guess when the focus of the book is basically one sentence, then it can be a shorter book, which this one is (only 80 pages). In any case, as always Isaacson has focused on a really interesting topic The Declaration of Independence and the meaning of its most famous and foundational words. The analysis is thorough, thoughtful and insightful and helps the reader get into the minds of its drafters in a unique and nuanced way.  As one reviewer notes, “Words that made a nation. Isaacson is known for expansive biographies of great thinkers (and Elon Musk), but here he pens a succinct, stimulating commentary on the Founding Fathers’ ode to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” His close reading of the Declaration of Independence’s second sentence, published to mark the 250th anniversary of the document’s adoption, doesn’t downplay its “moral contradiction.” Thomas Jefferson enslaved hundreds of people yet called slavery “a cruel war against human nature” in his first draft of the Declaration. All but 15 of the document’s 56 signers owned enslaved people. While the sentence in question asserted “all men are created equal” and possess “unalienable rights,” the Founders “consciously and intentionally” excluded women, Native Americans, and enslaved people. And yet the sentence is powerful, Isaacson writes, because it names a young nation’s “aspirations.” He mounts a solid defense of what ought to be shared goals, among them economic fairness, “moral compassion,” and a willingness to compromise. “Democracy depends on this,” he writes. Isaacson is excellent when explaining how Enlightenment intellectuals abroad influenced the founders. Benjamin Franklin, one of the Declaration’s “five-person drafting committee,” stayed in David Hume’s home for a month in the early 1770s, “discussing ideas of natural rights” with the Scottish philosopher. Also strong is Isaacson’s discussion of the “edits and tweaks” made to Jefferson’s draft. As recommended by Franklin and others, the changes were substantial, leaving Jefferson “distraught.” Franklin, who emerges as the book’s hero, helped establish municipal services, founded a library, and encouraged religious diversity—the kind of civic-mindedness that we could use more of today, Isaacson reminds us. A short, smart analysis of perhaps the most famous passage in American history reveals its potency and unfulfilled promise.”  As always, Isaacson delivers another thoughtful and timely work. Here’s a good review from Bibliobloggityboo- https://bibliobloggityboo.com/2025/11/10/the-greatest-sentence-ever-written-by-walter-isaacson-non-fiction-history-politics/

The Next Big Idea - Walter Isaacson on The Greatest Sentence Ever Written – For those of you not interesting in reading the book, this interview sums it up extremely well. Here’s an excerpt from the PODCAST itself, “What is the greatest sentence ever written? According to Walter Isaacson — former editor of Time, ex-CEO of CNN, and the acclaimed biographer of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Jennifer Doudna — it’s this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yes, it’s eloquent, but more than that, it gave the United States a mission statement, one that we are still striving — fitfully, imperfectly — to meet. Walter’s new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, unpacks that mission statement: how it came to be written, what it meant to the founders, and why it matters today.” https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-next-big-idea/id1482067226?i=1000737223020

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon