Looking Sideways: 10 Things
A forthcoming Substack Live on reading, a Right to Roam counterpoint, and if Black Sabbath were folkies.
1. Author and friend-of-the-show
got in touch this week to ask if I’d be interested in taking part in a Substack Live conversation about reading, and why books are so important to us both.Naturally, I said yes, so we’ll be chatting this coming Thursday evening. I’ll post about this nearer the time over at Substack Notes. In the meantime, here’s my current France reading stack (and don’t forget you can see my ongoing 2025 Reading List here, and add your own recommendations, here).
2. I loved this amazing BBC Freak Zone episode on the wonder of Black Sabbath, in which presenter Stuart Maconie pretty convincingly argues they’re the most influential British band after the Beatles. Listen here, and while you’re at it check this ace ‘if Black Sabbath were acid folkies’ playlist, above.
3. Another great thing I listened to this week: an unsettling documentary on 100 years of Mein Kampf.
4. And yet another -
’s Totally Wired Radio Show. Worth it for the Grey Reverend tune alone.My code LOOKINGSIDEWAYS10 will get you 10% off any order from Finisterre.
5. Substack seems to be ground zero for Salt Path outrage. I must admit this book rather passed me by (other than to notice that it had cut through enough to be one of those life-changing-must-reads for people who don’t read many books), so it’s been kinda fascinating to see the reaction.
Here’s the original Observer piece that kicked the whole thing off, and here’s Raynor Winn’s rebuttal.
6. Journalist Patrick Galbraith’s new book Uncommon Ground has caused a stir among the Right to Roam community. This Country Life piece is fairly representative of his take - read Right to Roam’s counterpoint here.
And if you’d like to find out more about Right to Roam, check out my Type 2 interview with Nick Hayes, above, which I think it is fair to say split opinion among the Looking Sideways community.
7. My pal Becky Coley’s excellent film Point of Change is showing in Bristol on Saturday 12th July, where Becky will also be taking part in a post-screening q&a.
Point of Change really is one of the best surf films of recent years (with none other than William Finnegan among those singing its praises recently), so if you’re in Bristol don’t miss it.
Use my code LOOKINGSIDEWAYSDB for 15% off anything from Db.
8. Also on Saturday 12th - Rollersnakes Derby are back with their fourth edition of the Voltarol Open. Expect ‘Stupid challenges, moaning about mobility, wishing it was the 90’s… juicing up on all that midlife skateboarder vibe’. Plus, they’ve persuaded Jason Adams to come along. More above.
9. A New Yorker profile on chief MAGA intellectual Curtis Yarvin. Read it and weep (both at the asininity of the ideas and writing, and the fact that so many people are taking it seriously).
10. Finally, a really moving short film in which, as his life draws to a close, B Corps co-founder Andrew Kassoy reflects on the legacy of the organisation he helped establish.
Insights gang! Working on a project, and you need some input? I want to hear from you. Start things off by joining the thread, above, or DM me.
Thanks for reading and supporting Looking Sideways! If you have any thoughts about any of the stories I discuss this week, let me know: