Feldmans Faves: August 11, 2025

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

First, on a personal note, I wanted to thank all of you who supported me in this weekends’ Northern Pass Ride to raise money for Princess Margeret Hospital. It was a spectacular day and ride and a lot of money was raised. So thank you!!

To continue on the theme of “high end” athletics it was really fun to see a Canadian star being born in the world of women’s tennis – Vicky Mboko’s historic and championship run at the NB Open was epic.

Just a friendly reminder to meet and start involving our new students on your files. We are shortening the usual training period as best we can.

To that end, another reminder that we are having a Bagel Breakfast today at 9:15 – thank you Alex as always, for organizing.

Finally, please join me in wishing Tara a very happy birthday this week.

No theme this week – just topics of interest.

VERA, OR FAITH By: Gary Shteygart – Gary Shteygart is a very unique individual with an highly unusual writing and personal style (just Google him and you will see what I mean). Shteygart is very effective in using humour to deal with very serious issues. In his latest (very short) novel, Vera, or Faith, he does it again, even going to absurd places to make his point. The way he describes this story is as a modern day Kramer vs Kramer from the perspective of Bobby (their son). I didn’t quite see it that way but I hear what he is saying. One major theme in his writing deals with the breakdown of society ranging from the rise in childhood anxiety, to identity politics to the current fractured state of the union in the USA. One of the key plot lines in this book is about a bizarre proposed Constitutional Amendment that would alter voting rights. As one reviewer notes, “A brilliant fable about childhood, and so much more, in our broken country. “It was said by both her pediatrician and her psychologist that Vera, while presenting as a very bright ten-year-old, suffered from intense anxiety.” Vera Bradford-Shmulkin really does have a lot on her plate for a kid. Among the 23 chapter titles in this slim and explosively lovely novel: “She had to hold the family together.” “She had to survive recess.” “She had to expand her Things I Still Need to Know Diary.” “She had to figure out if Daddy was a traitor.” “She had to fall asleep.” The novel is set in a delicately constructed near future, with self-driving cars and smart chessboards and a proposed constitutional amendment that will give an “‘enhanced vote’…counting for five-thirds of a regular vote to so-called ‘exceptional Americans,’ those who landed on the shores of our continent before or during the Revolution¬ary War but were exceptional enough not to arrive in chains.” These are the words of Vera’s teacher, who is dividing the class into teams to debate the topic. She makes half-Korean, half-Russian Vera the lead for the pro-Five-Three side, while the opposition will be led by an "exceptional American" type her parents call Moncler Stephen because of his jacket. Winning this debate is another thing Vera has to do, along with getting up the nerve to deliver “Ten Great Things About Daddy and Why You Should Stay Together with Him,” and its counterpart, “Six Great Things About Mom” to the parents in question, who fight constantly. This mom is the one she calls “Anne mom,” her WASP stepmother Anne Bradford; “Mom Mom,” her Korean biological mother, has long been out of the picture and she has never known why. (“She had to find out the truth about Mom Mom.”) This book is about so many things: the drama of the gifted child, nativism and immigrant culture (“She had to visit Baba Tanya and Grandpa Boris in the suburbs”), technology and oppression, the role of intellectuals, the way we learn language. As the political situation in the United States evolves, Shteyngart’s particular flavor of black humor—Russian wry?—reconnects with its roots in sorrow and resistance and becomes essential and lifesaving. Shteyngart is doing his most important work ever, illuminating the current tragedy with humor, smarts, and heart.” Vera, or Faith is a great example of big things coming in small packages. Here’s a good review from the NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/books/review/gary-shteyngart-vera-or-faith.html

MASTERS OF SCALE - Simon Sinek: How to identify great leaders & find your why – It’s been 15 years since Simon Sinek published his famous book Find Your Why, which is a classic when it comes to understanding how tipping points start and well beyond. His focus on leadership in business and understanding the psychology of leadership (and his deep understanding of psychology and how the brain works is just fascinating). In this PODCAST Simon discusses where and how his thinking has evolved over the years throughout his engagement with leaders, students and so many others. It’s all about finding ways to make others care about what they do why they do it – that is, everyone needs to be the hero of their own journey. Here’s an excerpt from the PODCAST itself, “Author Simon Sinek joins host Reid Hoffman for a lively chat about how to identify good leaders, scale ideas, and leverage the “ultimate hack” for success. They also discuss why missionaries beat mercenaries in Silicon Valley and whether AI can ever really be your friend. Simon Sinek’s 15th anniversary edition of “Start With Why” https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/masters-of-scale/id1227971746?i=1000711448121

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

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

Jon