Hi, I’m Lou Blaser.
I spend an unreasonable amount of time reading, asking questions, then writing about the head-scratchers.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I used to be a corporate-ladder climber, and during that time, most of my attention was focused on one thing only: building a career.
I left that career in 2014 and oh my goodness! A whole new world opened up for me — after quite a bit of fumbling around, that is. I’ve spent much of the time since then reading, writing, asking questions, following ideas. For better or worse, I self-identify as a writer these days, and could not be any happier.
“I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened or full of argument. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
WHAT I DO NOW
Shaping Life is a weekly conversation about ideas we encounter through books and films, and where they lead us.
There’s a boat load of things competing for our attention on the daily. I’m interested in the ones that stick around and shape our thinking.
I start with books and films and follow ideas that snagged my attention. There may occasionally be other things — podcasts, videos, conversations, etc. But mainly books and films.
A FEW PLACES TO START
“My reading life”
If there is one activity that I have always engaged in, from the time I was a kid, it is reading. It has taught me, shaped my thinking, and shaped who I became.
“Why Jean never left the hotel”
Inspired by the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel — about first impressions, premature certainty, and leaving room for surprises
“Here’s one way to decide when to use AI (if you must)”
A podcast conversation with an anthropologist gave me a useful framework.
If Rick Blaine had a website instead of a bar in Casablanca, he might have said, “Of all the websites on the internet in all the world, you landed on mine.” I'm thrilled that you found your way here. I hope we can extend this momentary connection.