Odds & Ends: April 4, 2025

“Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton. Chris Stapleton seems to be quite popular, but I wasn’t familiar with his music until I stumbled upon this absolute gem of a song. It perfectly captures the feeling of needing a fresh start — whether geographically, relationally, or professionally — and the bittersweet feelings that come with having to build something all over again. Stapleton’s raspy, soulful voice combined with the simple acoustic arrangement hits just right.

Clarence Bass’ Website. Clarence Bass was a bodybuilder and writer for Muscle & Fitness for 16 years. Even though he’s 87 years old, he’s still shredded and still writing about the science of getting lean and strong. I discovered his website, where he continues to publish articles, and it’s amazing. I love Bass’ site for two reasons: first, his articles offer evidence-based, experience-tested training advice without the hype. Second, the website’s gloriously outdated design — unchanged since the late 90s — provides a refreshing counterpoint to today’s slick fitness content mills. It’s a digital time capsule that perfectly complements this veteran bodybuilder’s straightforward approach to lifelong fitness.

Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. My recent podcast with Tasha Eurich about her book Shatterproof reminded me of the themes that Nassim Taleb hits on in his book Antifragile and inspired me to thumb through it again. The former trader and intellectual provocateur who gave us the concept of “Black Swan” events doesn’t just advocate for resilience — he proposes systems that actually benefit from chaos and disorder. While all Taleb’s books offer valuable insights, Antifragile is the one I revisit most frequently. It’s partly the counterintuitive wisdom, but I’m equally drawn to Taleb’s pugnacious style and the running debate between street smart Fat Tony and academically brilliant but clueless Dr. John. Even his digressions are illuminating, making complex ideas not just digestible but genuinely entertaining.

Lacoste Polo Shirt. I’ve been on something of a menswear nostalgia trip lately. My dad, like many men in the prime of their life in the 1980s, was partial to the iconic Lacoste polos with the little crocodile emblem. After years of wearing polos that never quite fit right — either too boxy or too slim — I decided to pick up a couple of Lacostes. Game changer. The proportions are perfect: not too tight in the shoulders, just the right amount of taper, and sleeves that hit at exactly the right spot on the bicep (I will say it’s a shirt that looks best when you’re in shape). I’ve been wearing them tucked into jeans, paired with a simple leather belt and cowboy boots — a classic look that channels 1980s Tom McKay and, according to Kate, is the outfit I look most handsome in.

On our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Sunday Firesides: Treat Life Like an Experiment and Dying Breed Field Trip: A University Library.

Quote of the Week

I should hate to spend the only life I was going to have here in being annoyed with the time I happened to live in.

—Robert Frost

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.