What I Read Q1 2026

A quarter filled with classics -- American and French novels and Buddhist scripture; Dragons and a master myth-teller; health, fitness and fixin' my…

Mar 26 • Russell Smith

2

4

2

Bryan McGrath on Leadership in the Navy, Writing, Retirement, and His 'Own Walden'

Why "Relentless Excellence" became his command philosophy

Mar 5 • Russell Smith and Bryan McGrath

2

2

1:25:25

February 2026

Staring at a Painting for Three Hours

Reflections on doing the focus exercise from Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks

Feb 26 • Russell Smith

7

6

1

A Book Conversation on Hermann Hesse’s Journey to the East - April 16th, 6pm ET

Travel through space and time with Plato, Baudelaire, Paul Klee, Lao Tse, Albertus Magnus and Don Quixote

Feb 12 • Russell Smith

3

2

1

Everything, Everywhere, All the Time

A review of Chuck Klosterman's new book, Football

Feb 5 • Russell Smith

4

3

1

January 2026

A Small Sanctuary of Beauty and Reflection

On visiting Holy Hills Hermitage

Jan 29 • Russell Smith

9

4

1

What I Read Q4 2025

Donna Tartt's The Secret History; Frankenstein and Dracula; More on Traditionalism from Pallis and Coomaraswamy; on freewriting; and the beginning of…

Jan 1 • Russell Smith

5

6

1

December 2025

It’s Christmas Day! The Spirits Have Done It All in One Night!

Reflections on my 30th annual reading of A Christmas Carol

Dec 18, 2025 • Russell Smith

6

10

1

O Christmas Teas O Christmas Teas

Reviewing 12 Teas for the 12 Days of Christmas

Dec 4, 2025 • Russell Smith

6

8

1

November 2025

Solvitur Ambulando

We Transform Ourselves When We Walk

Nov 20, 2025 • Russell Smith

10

4

1

For It Is In Giving That We Receive

A 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Nov 13, 2025 • Russell Smith

6

6

1

October 2025

A Conversation with Sophia and Sarah Boese of Louisville Tea Company

On tea regions and types, why we drink tea, the beauty of kintsugi, and my favorite teas

Oct 30, 2025 • Russell Smith

1

4

1

56:02