Sunday Paper Recommends—Week of November 1, 2026
This week at The Sunday Paper, we’re sharing a new book, podcast, and film that we believe will add inspiration to your days. We hope these suggestions open your heart and mind and encourage you to come together for meaningful conversations.
What We’re Watching
Sir Patrick Stewart spent nearly seven decades proving one voice could carry a stage, a starship, and a school for gifted mutants. Whether you’re meeting his work for the first time or returning to an old favorite, it’s worth pressing play this week as a way to remember him. Start with Macbeth, the film of Rupert Goold’s Tony-nominated stage production. Then take the bridge of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and finish with Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. And if you’re not ready to say goodbye, there’s more waiting: his Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, his Captain Ahab in Moby-Dick, and his turn in the sprawling sci-fi epic Dune (1984).
Sir Patrick passed away on October 28 at age 86, and his family has asked that memorial contributions go to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in lieu of flowers.
Our Be Lit Bookshelf
Today, November 1, marks the first day of National Family Caregivers Month. We want to shine a spotlight on all that caregivers do, and the love behind it. That’s why we’re recommending My Two Elaines by Martin J. Schreiber, the former governor of Wisconsin. He and his wife, Elaine, were high school sweethearts, and his book is a tribute to the woman he loved and cared for at home. Her own journal entries appear alongside his, so the story is told in both of their voices. Along the way, Schreiber shares the encouragement and hard-won advice he wants to pass on to other caregivers, from accepting help to looking after yourself and keeping your sense of humor. Whether you’re caring for a spouse, a parent, or a friend, his book is a guide for anyone who wants to keep going, and keep laughing, while looking after someone who needs them.
For more than 35 years, Maria Shriver has started her day with a small book Betty Ford signed and handed her in 1989. In her new essay for In Pursuit, Maria explains why that voice has stayed with her, and what Betty’s honesty made possible for everyone who came after. She tells of the 1978 family intervention at Rancho Mirage, the shared four-bed hospital room, and the public statement that carried addiction out of church basements and into the national conversation. It’s also a personal look at how Betty’s example steadied Maria when her own life came apart in public.
Read Maria’s essay, “Betty Ford,” on the In Pursuit Substack here.
What We’re Listening To
The news moves fast, and it can feel impossible to tell what matters. In Politics Chat, historian Heather Cox Richardson slows things down and shows where today’s stories connect to what came before. She talks through questions from her community, so the topics come from what people are wondering about, not what’s trending. In her October 29 episode, the questions range from what really happened with the ballot stacking in Alaska to whether a spoiler candidate has ever made a difference (she takes us back to 1844).
What We’re Eating
Curry-Spiced Nut Mix with Maple and Black Pepper
The Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: 100 Simple, Delicious Recipes for Health―The Bestselling Cookbook with 25+ New Recipes by Amanda Haas
I am always looking for new ways to incorporate anti-inflammatory ingredients into my snacks or appetizers. With nuts, seeds, coconut oil, turmeric (in the curry powder), and black pepper, this spicy and slightly sweet mix is the perfect solution. Serve these as a simple and delicious appetizer before a fall dinner, or as a snack when you need a pick-me-up full of protein, minerals, and anti-inflammatory support.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2 cups, or 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashew pieces
- 1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 Tbsp fresh-pressed coconut oil
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions:
- Preheat the oven 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the cashews, macadamias, and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the coconut oil with the maple syrup, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour over the nut mixture.
- Add the curry powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper and stir well to coat. Spread the mixture on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake, stirring once, until the nuts are light brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Reprinted from The Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: The Delicious Way to Reduce Inflammation and Stay Healthy by Amanda Haas with permission from Chronicle Books. Readers, take note: this bestselling cookbook is being updated and re-released next spring and is available for pre-order now!
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