The Gear Issue

Or, Your 2026 Father's Day Gift Guide

May 14 • Russell Smith

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April 2026

Reminder -- TONIGHT's Conversation on Hermann Hesse's Journey to the East

I am hosting a conversation on Hermann Hesse’s 1932 novel, The Journey to the East, this evening, Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm ET.

Apr 16 • Russell Smith

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March 2026

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

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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

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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

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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

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Everything, Everywhere, All the Time

A review of Chuck Klosterman's new book, Football

Feb 5 • Russell Smith

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January 2026

A Small Sanctuary of Beauty and Reflection

On visiting Holy Hills Hermitage

Jan 29 • Russell Smith

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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

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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

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O Christmas Teas O Christmas Teas

Reviewing 12 Teas for the 12 Days of Christmas

Dec 4, 2025 • Russell Smith

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November 2025

Solvitur Ambulando

We Transform Ourselves When We Walk

Nov 20, 2025 • Russell Smith

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