Feldman's Faves: May 10, 2021

Happy Monday everyone and a belated Happy Mothers Day to all of the moms in our group. I hope you were pampered and spoiled by your children (or at least treated nicely by them)….

Unrelated to everything I am giving a SHOUT OUT TO DAN SEIDMAN. This weekend we ordered his burger boxes, which can only be described as crazy delicious. Five Star Rating from Team Feldman. I strongly recommend that you give this a try - https://thechefdan.com/

Once again there is no theme this week – just interesting topics (at least to me).

LINCOLN – TEAM OF RIVALS By: Doris Kearns Goodwin – Two weeks ago my review featured the works of one of my favourite biographers, Walter Issacson. This week’s recommendation comes from another one of my favourites, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin is obsessed with leadership and has written seminal biographies on US Presidents and how they have managed and thrived during major crises (Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and LBJ). This particular book is her classic study of Abraham Lincoln, his unlikely rise to the Presidency and most impressively how he managed to bring his one time rivals (who were all candidates for the Republican nomination for President in 1860 like Lincoln) on to his side and – for the most part - make them not only work with him but love and respect him during America’s greatest crisis, the Civil War. Goodwin paints a vivid picture of Lincoln’s mastery of politics, psychology and humanity. To give some background, on May 18, 1860, William H. Seward (Senator from New York and the absolute frontrunner at the time– who ended up as Secretary of State), Salmon P. Chase (Governor of Ohio, who ended up as Secretary of the Treasury- tried to run for President again in 1864 (since one term presidents were very common back then), resigned but was then appointed to the Supreme Court by Lincoln and become the Chief Justice) and Edward Bates (Representative from Missouri, who ended up as Attorney General) and Lincoln were the four candidates to lead the relatively newly formed Republican Party that was to be decided at the convention held in Chicago. With Seward being the clear favourite it came to everyone’s shock when Lincoln was selected (although he was everyone’s “second choice”). This book describes in great detail the background and rise of each of these four men, other key figures during this era (e.g., patent attorney, turned Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton) and how Lincoln managed them all during the Civil War. Just incredible. Lincoln seemed to operate on a different plane from his peers – not only was he the most astute political operator (possibly in U.S. history - e.g., the way he was able to convince all sides of his party to support the Emancipation Proclamation for both moral and military strategic purposes, depending on who was asking….) but he also handled those conniving/plotting members of his cabinet with dignity and grace, so even his fiercest rivals ended up respecting and supporting him (Chase being the main example). When people rank all of the American Presidents, this book is a good primer in helping the layman like myself to understand why Lincoln is always at the top of the list – he gave a true masterclass in how to be a tough but compassionate leader with a real moral imperative. Honest Abe was one of a kind. Here’s a good review from the NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/books/review/team-of-rivals-friends-of-abe.html

TED Talks Daily How your memory works -- and why forgetting is totally OK | Lisa Genova Listening to this PODCAST gave me hope (or at least a false sense of security) that I am not losing my mind….In this TED TALK, Lisa Genova explains the science of forgetting and how our brains’ normal functioning requires forgetting and that we are designed to forget when we go down the “wrong path” (think of how you forget someone’s name but then recall five minutes later). Listen to this PODCAST to better understand why it is OK for you to forget where your put your keys sometimes. It sure made me feel better. Here is a description of the PODCAST itself from TED: Have you ever misplaced something you were just holding? Completely blanked on a famous actor's name? Walked into a room and immediately forgot why? Neuroscientist Lisa Genova digs into two types of memory failures we regularly experience -- and reassures us that forgetting is totally normal. Stay tuned for a conversation with TED science curator David Biello, where Genova describes the difference between common moments of forgetting and possible signs of Alzheimer's, debunks a widespread myth about brain capacity and shares what you can do to keep your brain healthy and your memory sharp. - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ted-talks-daily/id160904630#episodeGuid=en.audio.talk.ted.com%3A75831

Thank you for your ongoing participation.

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

Jon