A Sense of Style, Steven Pinker, 2015
OPM.53
I often write about the grand challenges aspects of this job — eliminating and preserving slack in the system, juggling budget and schedule, fostering a decisive culture, executing a careful process, developing relationships.
But in this world of digital communication, much of my time on the job is trying to write good. A well turned email can make a difference, and it's amazing when a carefully crafted memo gets the needed response.
This book stands out from prescriptive manuals (like Strunk and White) because Pinker carefully explains the why behind the rules. This book's strength is also reflection upon what I do as an OPM.
Yes we must follow our agency standards. And we all got personal preferences. But we're at our best when we can explain the logic behind our decisions. It's important for our team to know why, especially if the institutional logic results in weird choices.
At least that's what I hope. Maybe I just bore my consultants to tears with extended explanations of bureaucratic esoterica.
That's one of the perks and dangers of being a client — no one will tell you to shut up.
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Listening is not the best way to consume this book, but a little is better than none. There are diagrams and complex analyses that warrant a visual reading (either physical or electronic). But I haven't bothered in the past couple of years, so I guess it's not going to happen.
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Some Links
Live performances of electronic music sounds like a contradiction, but they have a spark that is sometimes missing from their albums. Here are a few examples.
I've haven't gotten into his studio albums, but I often play Oupio's concert at Red Rocks with the SYZYGY Orchestra when I'm cranking on work.
Admittedly Caravan Palace's animated music video is wildly vivid, but there's a great vibe in this live performance of Lone Digger.
I used to listen to Moon Safari album on a little blue MP3 player while walking to studio. This video of La Femme d'Argent in a recording studio materializes the music and the memories.
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Thanks for reading!
Justus Pang, RA
Really enjoyed reading this, and thank you especially for sharing various links to the music. I’m now listening to Caravan Palace’s Lone Digger (totally new for me) and just loving it—such fun, awesome energy (both the music and the video, and you’re right, the live performance video is even better). 🙏🤓✨
I'm curious about Pinker-- will definitely check out the physical book to see the diagrams. Thanks for the music recommendations. I love to experiment with music to see what best enhances my thinking and writing time.