I love blogs. I read a lot of them, I write in some. Here’s a list of some of my favorites.
You don’t have to cruise around my blog for too long to know that I pretty much love this guy. There’s a 100% chance that I pretty much just want to be him. (Still trying to make that sentence sound less creepy.) I wrote before that “Most days, I alternate between wanting to write exactly like him and trying to make sure I don’t” and it’s still true. I read Blue Like Jazz in a season of incredible doubt and discouragement, reading it was a kind of gift, the timing couldn’t have been any better. Miller’s blog is updated all the time with stuff that I’m sure will find its way into coming books. He’s generous in sharing his stories; they’re as honest as they are compelling. I hope to have coffee with the guy one day. For now, I’ll settle for him having replied to one of my tweets and being jealous of a friend I have who works for his foundation. He’s living an amazing story – his blogs inspire me to do the same. And there’s an occasional typo, which I appreciate enormously.
If I believed in some kind of “early-adopter” social point system (are people really proud of these things?), I’d get a few for this one. It’s written by Jon Acuff, and I’ve been reading it since it was actually a blogspot and “Stuff” was actually spelled with three “f’s” (stufff) because, I guess, someone already took stuffchristianslike.blogspot.com – either way, it’s is a sometimes hilarious, most-times poignant blog written almost exclusively for Christians who have some semblance of a Christian upbringing. It’s turned into a book published by Zondervan and Acuff has been speaking a bunch of cool conferences. He writes about Breaking up after Church Camp, Christians Converting other Christians, Metrosexual Worship Leaders, and other things Christians do to invite good-natured ribbing. Maybe the thing I love most about SCL is its balance of satire without straying into smarm. I’m growing to hate the smarm, and irony is exhausting.
I haven’t heard of anyone as prolific as Seth Godin, seriously. He publishes pithy, brilliant blogs almost everyday. He’s got the kind of insight that comes from leading the charge, rather than predicting the trend. He’s almost Zen-like in his clarity, like the Phil Jackson of business. I’ve read a few books by him; he says it’s OK to be an artist, and I believe him. If you’re young in your career – any career – read Linchpin, I’ll buy you Chipotle if it doesn’t change the way you engage. Godin seems like a pretty private dude, doesn’t share too many personal anecdotes, so I’ve created for him a story in which he just sits around all day typing with one hand while his other concentrates on fervently rubbing his crazy bald head to keep the genius flowing – all the while collecting a (probably substantial) percentage of the profits of his multiple companies. I’m probably not that far off, I have a way of knowing these things.
OK – I admit to being almost embarrassed to list this one. Actually, I’m not. Actually, I’ve got one of their shirts in the mail. This is just a rad site. Its got everything from Boxing Tips to How to Stop Living for the Approval of Women to Learning How to Shave like your Grandfather . One of my favorite bits is the “So You Want My Job” series, where they interview dudes in rad jobs. Part of me (most of me) wants to create the Christian equivalent of this site. You probably don’t have to be a man to enjoy this one, but then again, I wouldn’t really know that.
There’s a growing movement of minimalism, and from what I can find, Leo Babauta is leading it. As our generation begins the work of rebuilding the American ideal, lots of us are disillusioned by the excess that characterized most of my American perspective. America has been a heavy-laden ship for so long, it’s time to toss overboard the stuff we don’t need. If materialism is what got us into this mess, minimalism is the only appropriate response. Zen Habits has a ton of great resources, and Babauta has another great blog, the aptly titled mnmlist.com chiefly (obviously) focused on minimalism – and a healthy disdain for vowels, which I also share. For writers, he’s started Write To Done – a good resource for the inevitably necessary “cold-glass-of-water-in-the-face” I too-often need in order to get anything done.
- Obviously, you might not have the same confusing array of interests as I do (boxing tips and loving Jesus?) but I’m sure you’ll find value somewhere in any or all of the blogs.
What did I miss? What blogs are you reading lately?
dharmasatori.blogspot.com – A good friend of mine. He writes a lot about music, fashion, living in Vegas and about cycling. I discovered a lot of great music by reading his blog (The Velvet Teens are currently on repeat on my ipod)
domesticatedcarbon.blogspot.com – Another fellow cyclist of mine, who’s also vegan/straight edge, blogging about his trials and tribulations of racing/training/working.
offthebackblog.blogspot.com/ – Yet ANOTHER great cyclist friend who talks about his training, racing, and life in general. His blog, and yours, have inspired me to write more (even though I haven’t been able to lately)
Obviously these three blogs have a common theme, which may bore some people; but the people who I have referred these blogs to have all thought they were interesting and good reads (even the non-cyclists).
Paige, I have to say – your passion for cycling makes me want to be THAT into anything. I love it.
I get that a lot. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I was going to be so involved with a sport/community like I am with cycling. In high school, I barely did what I was told in p.e., and rarely dressed in my p.e. clothes. I always walked the mile, sat in the outfield during softball and refused to play flag football. My p.e. teachers passed me because I was funny. Fast forward 5 years later, I raced against one of my old p.e. teachers and am now receiving training from her coach. Small world! You should definitely try to make it out to a race (Redlands Classic is the only one I can think of that’s near you), it’s a lot of fun to watch.
i love the art of manliness blog. lots of thought provoking and well written articles. these guys have thought through a lot of this stuff. thanks for the heads up and glad to see you blogging again
I’m tempted to read Linchpin with the determination not to change the way I engage simply for the sake of obtaining free Chipotle.