Navel Gazing

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: The Meaning Behind All This Navel Gazing

In this week’s essay, John discusses instinct versus obligation, his daughter’s wit, how he has changed since episode one, and more. Notebook Entries:Notebook 58, page 10. September 16, 2021“You don’t measure your life the way you measure your writing.” - NanNotebook 75, page 46-47. September 2021When your dog dies and son goes to college and you are confronted with your life’s work it all boils down to one alarm: the clock is ticking. If a scream is better than a thesis, I was hearing some kind of scream, but what was the thesis?References:Everything Is Copy – HBODocs  The Power of Regret – Daniel PinkThe Mezzanine – Nicholson Baker “The Creative Process” – James BaldwinSlouching Towards Bethlehem – Joan Didion“Three Paths Toward the Meaning of Life” - Arthur Brooks for The AtlanticPodcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Time Travel Via an Assortment of Journal Entries

In this week’s essay, John discusses Mothers’s Day, playing tennis with the Attorney General, medical scares, and more. Notebook Entries:Notebook 19, page 16. April 2011Is it possible, through applied thought, to become systematic in an approach to life? If you were to do that how would you proceed? Notebook 16, page 6. July 26, 2005“I’m here with a bunch of midshipmen and wondering what there is to do around here.” - Boy trying to hit on a girl working @ The Reef in Castine, ME.Notebook 15, page 30. September 2004Head problems:Sunday 9/5 morningTuesday 9/7 eveningWednesday 9/8 before lunchNotebook 22, page 22. April 24, 2014Question: What did you want to be when you were a kid?  What do you want to be now? Why the difference? Notebook 9. 1995“That’s just the ticket the doctor ordered”Notebook 13. 2001“Free as a clam”Notebook 17, page 67. December 2006The man sitting next to me has a face on the boil and garlic and old booze on his breath. When he sleeps, he sighs. For this leg of the flight I am wrapped in his breathy gumbo.Notebook 15, page 7. April 2004“In all these there are messages for those who use their reason.” - Quran quotationNotebook 15, page 80. 2005Would like to meet her.Notebook 54. July 26, 2020“Writing requires a reader. You can’t do it alone.” - John CheeverNotebook 15, page 71. 2005In the light of sobriety not sure what this meansNotebook 13. March 2001Yesterday I played tennis with John Ashcroft the atty. general of the U.S.Notebook 13, page 108. December 11, 2001Anne just called. There is one little heartbeat beating in her today. Everything is okay for this hurdle. I must say, I was really worried.Notebook 20, page 10. December 24, 2013“Sometimes Dad says weird stuff, just ignore him” - Anne to kids about meNotebook 15, page 84.“Life goes on,” Hayawi says. “We are in the middle of a war [in Iraq] and we still smoke the water pipe.”Notebook 45, page 24. April 16, 2019Our savior lives by the manner in which we live.Notebook 19, page 23. 2011People on their mobile phones in England say goodbye a lot: “Cheers, alright then, speak to you soon, ta.” (That’s four ways of saying goodbye). Amelia tells the story of a man who thanked a ticket-taker by saying “Ta, magical, cheers.”References:Disaster on the Penobscot - John Henry Fay for Naval History MagazineOne Man’s Meat by E.B. WhiteThe House at Allen Cove I E.B. White House Tour - New England MagazineLittle Plastic Castle - Ani Defranco“Two Years of War: Taking Stock” - Anthony Shadid for the Washington PostWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Moving in New York Twenty Years After September 11th.

In this week’s essay, John discusses the differences between moving around New York in 1991 and 2021; remembering 9/11 twenty years later; and more.  Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 12. September 2021Notebooks to GarretNotebook 75, page 13. September 2021Can you make a typo with handwriting? What’s a typo with handwriting called?Notebook 4. 1991We have to unplug the light to run the vacuum, so we do a lot of our vacuuming in the dark.Notebook 75. September 11, 2021Fritz want something?References:Smythson Notebooks in Blue9/11 ceremonies, events and coverage on 20th anniversary - CBS NewsRichard Drew on Photographing the “Falling Man” of 9/11 - CBS NewsWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: The Sneaky Pitfalls of the To-Do List

In this week’s essay, John discusses the Pomodoro Routine (among other productivity routines), why he especially needs a meditation pillow, and how a particular teacher captured his heart.   Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, pages 8 and 9. September 2021OReinstating the Pomodoro Routine…Starting Marshall again…Write Brice…Send Laura the larger project list…Work on budget to get accounts in orderMeditation pillow upstairs.Notebook 18. December 6, 2009InstapaperAlpha SmartRichard Hugo on poetryDegrees of Gray In Philipsburg.Notebook 18, page 105. June 4, 2011Visit to Mr. Mead. He was playing piano as we entered. [During our conversation, he asked]: do you find your work fulfilling? Do you have a close circle of friends? Questions about life and living it well…References:Getting Things Done - David AllenThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey The Questions That Will Get Me Through the Pandemic - John Dickerson43 Folders - Merlin Mann The Hardest Job in the World - John DickersonEssays of E.B. White“Merlin Mann” - Tina Essmaker for The Great DisconnectMore about Ernest “Boots” Mead“Because Buying New Running Shoes is More Fun Than Actually Running” - Merlin Mann for 43 FoldersAtomic Habits - James ClearThe Creative Habit - Twyla TharpFree Agent Nation - Daniel Pink“Sharon Salzberg On: Openness, Not Believing the Stories You Tell Yourself, and Why the Most Powerful Tools Often Seem Stupid at First” - Ten Percent HappierWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Remembering Early 1990s New York

In this week’s essay, John discusses an onboarding memo for his assistant Laura, and recounts his early days living and working in New York City.  Notebook Entries:Notebook 75Onboard memo for LauraNotebook 3, page 44. May 1991June 17 start job. Good stuffNotebook 3, page 46. May 1991Tips on buying renting in NYCAsk about broker20s and 30s East side. Murry HillLive on no major avenueInterest bearing account for security depositMedeco locksNotebook 4, page 15Scared standing on 34th and Broadway$6 cab fareNotebook 4, page 42Getting lost in the villageReferences:The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman Medeco Locks“Here is New York” by E.B. White“Silly Job Interview” - Monty Python John Cleese on Creativity in ManagementHerbie Hancock: Miles Davis’ Essential Lesson On MistakesWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com HostJohn Dickerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices