Sunday Paper Recommends—Week of April 14, 2024

At The Sunday Paper, we're always discovering books, podcasts, films, and other works that move the needle and spark inspiring change. We hope these suggestions—plus this this one item we've been loving lately—open your heart and mind and encourage you to come together for meaningful conversations.

What We’re Reading

Lyn Slater is the force behind the popular style blog Accidental Icon, which she started when she was 61. In the years since, the pro-aging activist has delivered candid, irreverent insight on owning your sixties, growing older with power and confidence, and expanding one's mindset around aging. Her new memoir, How to Be Old, takes a deeper dive into all of this, offering an inclusive, break-the-rules look at loving all of life's chapters. 

What We’re Watching

Master manipulation. Militant rules. Conspiracy to commit murder. These are just a few layers of this multi-faceted story told in the new documentary The Synanon Fix: Did the Cure Become a Cult? What began with a seemingly philanthropic mission to provide healing soon spiraled into a complex and destructive web of coercion, lies, control, and abuse. Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy brings to MAX this heart-pounding film—one of the most important of the year. 

What We’re Loving

Just in! Our new Sunday Paper Architect of Change t-shirt is the perfect way to show the world that you are, indeed, a person moving humanity forward. Made of soft white cotton and emblazoned with 'I Am an Architect of Change' on the front and 'Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper' on the back, this t-shirt is an inspiring basic you can wear anywhere.

What We’re Listening to

Hello Sunshine has released a new podcast, 'The Bright Side, that offers a daily dose of all that's happening in culture, wellness, media, and arts. Journalists and podcasters Danielle Robay and Simone Boyce interview women breaking ground and offer their take on culture-shifting news and more. This show is a rare mix of realness and positivity, and offers an optimistic way to start the day. If you're looking for an episode to kick off your journey, we suggest 'The Stunning Effects of Optimism' episode.

Our Sunday Dinner Recipe

MELON-FIG SALAD WITH MACADAMIA NUTS & MINT

Serves 6-8

Layers of flavor in this salad are held together with a base of sweet melon, making it a delicious side dish to serve in the summertime. When finger limes are squeezed over the top, their spectacular little caviar-shaped pulp brings delicious flavor and interest to the salad, but if you don’t have access to any, fresh lime juice will work just fine. Also, if dairy isn’t an issue, a bit of shaved manchego is a great addition. 

 1 small melon (sugar kiss or cantaloupe) 
1 cucumber, cut into 3-inch matchsticks 
5 fresh figs, cut into ¼-inch-thick rounds 
½ cup fresh mint, thinly sliced 
½ cup macadamia nuts, toasted and roughly chopped 
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
Pulp of 2 finger limes or juice of 1 lime 
1 teaspoon flaky sea salt 
1 teaspoon pink peppercorns (optional) 

Remove the skin from the melon. Cut the melon in half lengthwise and spoon out the seeds. Cut the melon halves into ¼-inch slices, creating thin half-moon shapes. Spread the melon slices on a serving platter. 

Arrange the cucumber matchsticks, fig rounds, mint, and macadamia nuts on top of the melon. Pour the olive oil over the salad and top with the lime pulp. Sprinkle with salt and pink peppercorns (if using) and serve. 

The Way We Eat encourages ingenuity in the kitchen for those looking to find more balance and vitality in the way they eat. Throughout this book, Aubree Holmes demystifies anti-inflammatory eating and shows that a lifestyle free of grains, refined sugar and dairy—with the occasional splurge—can become second nature.