06/16/2026
What are you reading this summer??
I love reading history because it is a great reminder that throughout violences and chaos, strongmen and the pursuits of the powerful, people continued to live, love each other, raise families, have friendships, and create good things. I remind myself that, at some point, selfish individuals believe that the power grab is what matters most, but they are like clouds in the wind. They blow on by with little memory of their actions.
Of course, there are serious and notable exceptions. Generational violence and trauma is a real, impactful, and ongoing thing. There’s no denying that. But when I open a book and read about people who thought they were so important, only to be forgotten, it reminds me that the most important part of living is to be present with what is right in front of me.
Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry, The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe (Harper Collins, 2022)
