What A Year
"To learn, and be fascinated and surprised on a continual basis" - Rick Rubin
In retrospect, 2023 stands out as arguably the best year of my life, and considering I've been fortunate to lead a pretty great life thus far, that's saying something. I share these experiences not to boast, but to reflect on the remarkable moments that shaped this exceptional year—officially launching Loaf Made, capturing numerous memorable photos, embarking on exciting travels, and, of course, tying the knot. Undoubtedly, one of these moments marked a pinnacle in my journey.
Looking ahead to the new year, my aim is to create new items for the loaf made shop. Im going to be working heavily on prototyping some ideas in January and hopefully moving forward with 1 of them to production. The Loaf mag Vol 1 and loaf bag will be available for now at Loafmade.co. The bag will not be back in stock for quite a while once sold out. Volume 2 of the magazine is already in early stages of development, and we are going much much bigger with this one, more on that soon.
In the coming months, expect to find additional content, including recommendations and write-ups on topics I find intriguing and believe others will too. Here are some of my personal recommends from this past years consuming. Also I made this video recapping the Loaf Made Editions.
Books
I enjoyed quite a few books this year. I also read two big-time books that took three months to finish: Don Quixote and The Brothers Karamazov. Both were really good, but they were also quite lengthy. If you're interested in old-time classic literature, I would recommend the first 400 pages of Don Quixote. According to Craig, it stands as some of the best stuff ever written. I might be paraphrasing, but the sentiment remains.
If I were to recommend one book from my 2023 reading list, it would be The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Regardless of your level of creative involvement, this book offers valuable insights. Whether you're looking to learn, find inspiration, or simply appreciate creativity, it's a compelling read. Accessible to readers of all ages, each page has the potential to offer a connection or a meaningful takeaway.
People
There are a lot of people out in the world making really cool things. One person, in particular, named Van Neistat, creates YouTube videos (he's the brother of the famous Casey Neistat) under the name 'The Spirited Man.' His content rocks, and I find myself emulating a lot of what he does because the skill barrier to entry is not too high, but it still requires effort.
Films
This year, I've found more joy in revisiting my favorite films than in exploring new releases. Nonetheless, there have been some noteworthy movies. Oppenheimer, from a technical filmmaking standpoint, achieves a level of excellence that is truly top-notch. I consider it almost a tragedy if you didn't experience it through film projection, though I understand that some might find it less impactful.
My ultimate film recommendation, however, leans towards exploring the cinematic gems of the past. There's an abundance of incredible classics to discover. Recently I got Kelley to watch The Princess Bride for the first time, it is a film that should be viewed an inconceivable amount over ones life[wink, wink].
Photography
I took a lot of photos I am happy with this year, even looking back at them. I have technically gotten a lot better, and I think I am continuing to hone my eye. I wouldn’t say I have a favorite, but I'll just pick one and let it be. (if you have any interest in purchasing prints go to bertocentofante.com pick one out and email me or text me if you have my number.
