Tell us about a book, movie, or song you found to be particularly impactful......

ALEX

Off-Playa Residence: Brooklyn
Years Burned at BRC: 3
​First Year with Bubbles 🍾
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​​Currently reading Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, it's great.

ALEX

Playa Name: Tino
​Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
​First-Time Burner 🔥
​First Year with Bubbles 🍾
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The book that I'm currently reading is called the Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks. It is having one of the most profound impacts on my life that I have ever experienced. Everyday, I'm now finding ways to cultivate joy and focus on what I believe to be the most important things in life: Love, Joy, Happiness, and of course connection. However, I recognize now that love isn't the most important thing, it's the only thing.
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AMRUTA

Off-Playa Residence:  NYC
​First-Time Burner 🔥
​First Year with Bubbles 🍾​

I just finished reading 'Seven Moons of Maali Almeida' and found it incredibly powerful to learn about the civil war in Sri Lanka in the 90s through the fictional point of view of a murdered war photographer. What I found particularly striking was the vivid imagery that made that time in history come alive for me, and how in the process of recalling the events that led to his murder, he is able to reconcile the crazy violent world he lived in and find his peace in the afterlife.

ANYA

Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 5.5
Years with Bubbles: 1

Gaspar Noe "Climax"​
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ASYA​

Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 3
Years with Bubbles: 1
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Of the latest movies I really loved "Everything, everywhere, all at once" - it's a trippy movie that develops into such a beautiful and touching story. Ahhh!
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BEN

​Playa Name: GentleBen
​Off-Playa Residence:  NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 3
Years with Bubbles: 3

Lion King, still gives me nightmares and good dreams equally
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BERYL

Off-Playa Residence: Delaware
Years Burned at BRC: 6
Years with Bubbles: 4
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The Callahan Chronicals (yes, spelled that way on purpose) is a series of short series revolving around people in a bar getting drunk, telling awful/incredible puns, and practicing radical empathy. It is one of the reasons I became a part of the burner community.
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BRIAN

​Playa Name: Duck!
Off-Playa Residence: Tahoe
Years Burned at BRC: 11
Years with Bubbles: 999
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​The Real Mother Goose - Hardcover. It left quite an impact on my right rib cage after my brother threw it at me when I was a kid. He was a real asshole. Still is.

BRIAN

Off-Playa Residence: Seattle
​First-Time Burner 🔥
​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I had a spare day after attending a friend's wedding in upstate New York. I was going through some heavy stuff in my life. I was a big Nicolas Jaar fan, but hadn't heard his Against All Logic compilations of his dancier, sample heavy stuff - the "2012-2017" compilation LP in particular. I put it on in the rental and drove around the Finger Lakes - my mood lifted, the good vibes flowed. The album still makes my smile (and move)
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BRIANA

Playa Name: Aruna Child
​Off-Playa Residence: Denver
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Angel by Sarah McLachian. Tell me you don’t tear up every time you start to hear it, thinking of the puppies on ASPCA commercials? Now come on that is impactful. 😂. But in truth this song gets me every time as animal care is special to my heart. I studied pre-veterinary medicine in hopes of becoming a wildlife veterinarian one day. As I grew older, the reality of working with cheetahs in Africa became less realistic, and priorities shifted. Even though I didn’t become a vet, it’s always been important to me to keep in mind helping others who can’t help themselves. The Dalai Lama once said, ‘Our purpose in life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.‘.

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BRIANNE

Playa Name: Dumbledore
Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 3
Years with Bubbles: 2

Im obsessed with songs by mindchatter. His lyrics are poetry and they’ve gotten me through dark times. I recommend for anyone! Please listen ((:
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CALUM​

Off-Playa Residence: Melbourne
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I am a pretty big reader so will have to go with a book. Usually you'll find me on my way to work reading a business book on the way to my my corporate job but nothing beats a sci-fi fantasy when going to bed and using it as a bit of escape.

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss would have to take the mantle for impactful. I think I've read this about 6 times in my life and even done the audiobook. The author has done so well in creating a character in a world that is full of life. The main character that has some great views on life that I really admire and can funny enough, inspire you in ways you didn't think were possible in comparison to the other books I read.​
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CASANDRA

Playa Name: houseb4titties
Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​Years with Bubbles: 1

Lately this song by Thievery Corporation and the Flaming Lips "Marching The Hate Machines (Into the Sun) has been on repeat.

It's figurative of the state of the US and the world right now. Definitely have had it on repeat some late nights.
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CHELSEA

Playa Name: Beloved
Off-Playa Residence: Tahoe
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Tears of the Sun- Anything can be accomplished with a little sweat and teamwork.​
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CHRIS

Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 4
Years with Bubbles: 1

Zen and Art of Motorcycle Maintenance made a big impact on me when I was younger and made me think more deeply about quality, usefulness, aesthetics, self care, and perspective.

CHRISTINA

Playa Name: ElectricBonBon
Off-Playa Residence: Munich
Years Burned at BRC: 10
Years with Bubbles: 1

Currently vibing on sofiane pamart: His performance with the northern lights is so stunning :
https://youtu.be/2OHFgjuy3DI

CHRISTOPHER

Playa Name: Chrystal Heart
Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 4
Years with Bubbles: 3

“How to Change Your Mind” - it’s about psychedelics and how the brain is trying to teach you something when it’s showing you something scary and to go into it rather than fright it.

CHRISTY

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 6
Years with Bubbles: 3

The Kite Runner (book)

COREY

Off-Playa Residence: Melbourne, Australia
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I'm going to go with Interstellar. Massive space fan, massive Christopher Nolan fan, massive Matthew McConaughey fan, and massive fan of musical scores and Hans Zimmer.

The amount of layers in this film, I could honestly talk about it forever. The way they have put Einstein's general theory of relativity into such a compelling story told to the masses is unreal.

And that score, well there's really no words for it. To either hear or play it as the sun comes up on the Playa would be otherworldly (literally) 🪐
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NICHOLAS

Playa Name: Burner Rodge
Off-Playa Residence: Colorado
First-Time Burner 🔥
First Year with Bubbles 🍾

A walk in the woods by bill Bryson, this book really inspired me to get out and start planning something on the Appalachian trail. It brought about emotions in me that were polar opposites. The excitement of wanting to do it but also the complete fear of some of the unbelievable hazards and challenges that he had to overcome on his journey. I enjoyed his way of lifestyle of just getting out and doing what he loved. He adds a cheeky way of writing that makes it also comical to read.

The power of now was also very impactful. We worry so much about past and future that everything just passes us by. Having some issues with anxiety and depression, I think it really helped me to just enjoy the moment or at least be present whether it's a challenging moment or an enjoyable moment. I really Believe it helped me accelerate my already get out there and live attitude. I bought a van last year, built it out with my friend, and currently live in it. Big jump and big change in lifestyle but if not now then when?​
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EDILA

Off-Playa Residence:  Vancouver
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

One book that has had a significant impact on me is “The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker”. As someone who has always been interested in community building and the role it plays in our lives, this book really opened my eyes to the importance of intentional gatherings versus the passive ones we are accustomed to in our day to day lives. There are various takeaways throughout the book where the author emphasizes the significance of thoughtful gatherings. She also emphasizes the importance of setting the right tone and mood at the start of any gathering, so guests can bring out their authentic selves. I’m really happy to have read this book before attending my first Burning Man and joining a camp as it’s given me a deeper understanding of the significance of intentionality and why it matters in a community setting. Overall, this book is such a must-read for anyone interested in building meaningful connections with others!
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EKATERINA

Playa Name: Virgo
Off-Playa Residence: Zell am See
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Book: The book which I recently found exceptionally impactful is one I am still in the process of reading, and that is The Untethered Soul. Out of many self-development books I have put my hands on, it is really the first one that speaks directly to me, my mind and my heart. It presents a uniquely personal approach to how we can better understand and manage all the seemingly uncontrollable and never-stopping action happening in our minds and souls. To me, this is an unprecedentedly good book for, based on my own feelings and consciousness, finally mastering myself, inner and outer alike.

Movie: I watch very different things all the time, I love and studied film, and I am a sucker for a "nice picture" and symbolism, so it's hard to pick one movie. Though, among those I've recently watched, the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once has, of course, especially stood out, particularly for its message about the equal meaningfulness of life's every moment, as well as its idea that even if there did exists multiple universes and versions of our lives, our core values would stay the same in every dimension.
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EZRA

Playa Name: EZRA Everywhere
Off-Playa Residence: Nashville
Years Burned at BRC: 10
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾
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Ghost in the Shell. Hail 2501!

FARZAD

Playa Name: B
Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

It was movie called Women Talking. The movie is about a wholistic view on real struggles women faces against male dominated hierarchies. It was an eye opening take on the challenges they face to earn their rights, even against their brothers and fathers. It made me want to be better and do better in helping this struggle for all women around me.
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FOAD

Playa Name: King Jelleh
​Off-Playa Residence: Iran
Years Burned at BRC: 3
​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. This book was so thought provoking. Did us humans domesticated wild wheat or the other way around??

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GABRIELLA

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Tones and I is one of my top artists of all time!! It's one thing Jeff and I bonded over. I have found that my journey though different matches with her music. It truly speaks to my soul and her voice is just the best dopamine hit. A song I love is the Your So F*cking Cool by Tones and I. It's about not getting lost in the sauce of flashing lights and fame. The value of  genuine connections and remembering to stay true to your community and family that they should always be respected in the spaces where you are as well as you are.  It's a mood and I love it. Though honestly this is such a hard question because there is so many things I could say music is my love language.


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GLENN

Playa Name: Coco
Off-Playa Residence:  San Francisco
Years Burned at BRC: 1​
Years with Bubbles: 3

Book, Many Lives Many Masters; This true story of a decorated psychiatrist/hypnotherapist details a firsthand account of a patient regressing into previous lives. The story brings into question many of the constructs that we in western society bolster our lives upon. The book stirs a buzz from deep inside suggesting there may just be something more waiting outside the boundaries of our reach.​

GRAHAM

Off-Playa Residence: Seattle
​First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Recently finished reading The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli and I can't stop thinking about it. He very artfully took my brain on a journey through dissecting my understanding of time through the lenses of language, art, philosophy and science. Then reconstructing a new understanding from the latest in observations and theories to form a new perspective that places my experience at the center of time.
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JAKE

Off-Playa Residence: Orlando
​First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

One of my favorite books is Cosmos by Carl Sagan. I love reading about natural history and it gives a very cool perspective on our place in time and space. He's a pretty brilliant science communicator but I also relate to his philosophy and humor.
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JAMIE

Off-Playa Residence:  Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 2
Years with Bubbles: 2

From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yammhatta Taylor

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire
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JANE

Playa Name: Eda Burger
​Off-Playa Residence: Miami
​First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I just recently re-fell in love with Carole King and have been listening to "You've Got A Friend" on repeat, especially waking up and doing my morning routine because it's become a part of my day-to-day mantra. It reminds me to be a good person -- to be present and there for the people who need me the most. I've always been a giving person but I've only learned recently in my adult years to be more empathetic and compassionate to those struggling with mental health issues.​
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JEFFREY

​Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 1
Years with Bubbles: 1

I made it by tones and I. It has how I felt recently with my life falling really well into place with friends and family.

JILL

Playa Name: Enables
​Off-Playa Residence:  Bay Area
Years burned at BRC: 4
Years with Bubbles: 1

Dirty Talk, by Wynter Gordon. The initial show that introduced me to what the House community is all about: a Wynter Gordon warehouse party in Miami. The happiness, inclusion, energy, and love at that event got me hooked. This song always reminds me of the night I felt like I finally truly understood that there is so much more to house than the music, its a community and family. I saw something so special, they take care of one another and support eacher other, through all of the best and worst times. There is still so much to learn and give, this song started my journey.

JONAS

Playa Name: Duct Tape
Off-Playa Residence: Tuckee, CA
Years Burned at BRC: 12
​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

The lion king, book, tape, video or digital. The circle of life and a kuna mattata. I went to sleep as a kid with the lion king on tape playing every night. What a great story.

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KAYLAN

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

My favorite song of all time is one called "Skeleton Key," by a poet-turned-rapper-turned-songstress named Dessa. The lyrics all point to the concept that we have all of the tools inside us to make shit happen for ourselves: that there is no need for patriarchal worry about how or when or why a woman will take care of herself, because she's beaten every locked door so far - why would the next one be any more trouble? It's a mindset I've long since adopted and reaffirmed, time and time again.​
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KELLY

Off-Playa Residence:  Berlin
Years Burned at BRC: 1
Years with Bubbles: 1

​Grapes of Wrath is one of my favorite books, Steinbeck writes so poignantly about the human condition and the daily struggles of life. It also has some very sharp commentary on capitalism from the Great Depression that is still relevant today.
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KRISTIN

Play Name: Lush
​Off-Playa Residence: Miami
First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I love Lady Gaga... all her music, and her message. She sings deeply from her heart. I love her message of kindness, acceptance, and embracing your inner BADASS. Also, she always protects the under-dog as noted in her advocacy for anti-bullying, the LGBTQ+ community, and mental health.​
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LARISSA

Playa Name: Lari
Off-Playa Residence: Los Angeles
Years Burned at BRC: 2
​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I recently read the Seven Husbands of Everlyn Hugo, a scandalous novel based on a Marilyn Monroe-like movie star who spent her life trying to prove to herself and the world that she was wonderful, sometimes at the cost of those who loved her most or even at her own expense. After she accomplished everything and was beyond rich, she regretted that it took her so long to realize that the people she loved the most were gone and she would die alone, that she hadn't given them more importance sooner. It was a profound reminder of something we as a society take for granted and lose sight of-- the things that matter most are often the ones that cost the least and can not be replaced.​
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LEIGHANN

Playa Name: Ellie or Pony
Off-Playa Residence:  NYC
Years burned at BRC: 6
Years with Bubbles: 4

How about a broadway show? TINA - The Tina Turner Musical blew me away. Imagine a concert of all her outrageous hits woven together with the live biography of this incredible woman's life, everything she struggled through, from her unstable childhood home and tumultuous early family life, to meeting, marrying and divorcing her abusive husband, who left her with absolutely nothing to raise two kids to raise alone. And only through years of perseverance, slogging through performances at little local clubs in and around NYC, taking cleaning jobs to pay the rent, did all of her strength and power pay off, landing a record deal with Capital Records and launching her solo career at 44 YEARS OLD with a massive comeback album, Private Dancer, going on two win, only one year later, two Grammys, Song of the Year and Record of the Year, for"What's Love Got To Do With It."​

LUISA

Off-Playa Residence: London
Years Burned at BRC: 1
Years with Bubbles: 2

Very late to the party, but finally got around to reading Sapiens and it really made me rethink my beliefs and attitudes looking at the past and how humans and our communities evolved​
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MARA

Off-Playa Residence:  St Petersburg
Years Burned at BRC: 8
Years with Bubbles: 6

I once fell in to and lost love on a dance floor beside the sea to Ferreck Dawn & Jem Cooke's Back Tomorrow.​
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MARY LEIGH

Playa Name: Coach
Off-Playa Residence: HOTLANTA
Years Burned at BRC: 11
Years with Bubbles: 8

Whatever Michelle told me to read​

MAXIME

Off-Playa Residence: Lisbonne
Years Burned at BRC: 4
Years with Bubbles: 3
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One book we read with Teresa lately: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book). And 2 times in a row to really appreciate what it explains. The four agreements are these: Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best.
really inspiring and a great way to become the best version of ourselves.

MAYA

Playa Name: Muze
Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I'm currently reading The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm. It thoughtfully (and sometimes archaically) pokes holes in how we often conceptualize love. Even though I am not finished, it's been impactful in reinforcing that love, in all the ways it manifests itself, is an art form that requires thoughtfulness and patience for development. Even when it brings along pain and despair, the capacity to love deeply is what makes us human.​
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MAYER

Off-Playa Residence:  Vancouver
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I find myself revisiting the Autobiography of Malcolm X every few years, and I am always left feeling inspired by his transformation as a person and the potential we all have to truly become whomever we want to be and to make our dreams a reality.

As someone who wants to make an impact and help others, I am motivated to dream big and work towards becoming the best version of myself.​
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MELINA

Playa Name: Little Boot
​Off-Playa Residence: Los Angeles
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

​I found the movie Garden State to be quite impactful. It spoke to me both on a level of mental health, and imperfect love - or loving our whole selves, including our imperfections. This was a movie I first saw when I was deep in a depression and it helped me to feel that I wasn't alone. I watched it recently, now that I am feeling happy, healed, and content, and it still resonated as a uniquely relatable and real representation of mental health and love.
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MELISSA

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I just watched a documentary that totally moved me... it's called Jewel's Catch One. It's about amazing women who withstood all sorts of racism, identitism, seismic, etc. But powered through and helped lots of people along the way!​
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MO

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 4
​Years with Bubbles: 2
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MOH

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Playa Name: Mohseph
Off-Playa Residence: Amsterdam/Tehrar
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Dreams From My Father By Barack Obama. I was so inspired by President Obama’s story, and how he rose up to become a senator from a relatively simple background. How he decided to take on huge task of organizing the community and make shit happen!​
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NICK

Off-Playa Residence: Chicagoland
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Holy crap I just read The Alchemist whilst pondering what’s in my heart. Turns out after Burning Man I’m going to make a go at being a musician. As it says in the book, I waited 20 years but at least it wasn’t 40!​
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NICK

Playa Name: N2N
Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 7
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

The Little Prince showed me not to take life so seriously, find beauty in the little things, and always keep my eyes open.​
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NYLA

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I just watched Swimmers on Netflix. I thought that it was going to be some Lifetime movie about swimmers overcoming and triumphing but it was SO. MUCH. MORE.

To not give too much way, essentially these 2 sisters were living in Syria when the bombing started to get really bad and they then trekked over to Europe in an attempt of safety.

Watching this family go from living a normal life to then walking the streets with constant threat of bombs and people with AK47s to then having bombs come really close to them and loosing friends was striking enough for me. We never really get to see that transition as in most media things just start off bad or that "wtf the world is changing" moment isn't relayed very well. It's so relating to me because throughout all of this outside of swimming -- the girls really just wanted to go dance to house music in these secret clubs.

Fast forward, these girls are with their cousin trekking across Europe and really experiencing-by-seeing what they went through (I wont give too much away) was just so striking for me. Like the gravity of what it means to be a refugee really just shattered me over the head. It humanized the term for me and gave it so much context.

And at some point they made it to certain places which were a hub for refugees. Like one country sold life vests on the streets like purses. The other was just massive amounts of people living on the beach by a city with "no refugee" signs on the restaurant windows. When I saw and realized there were groups of SO MANY displaced people, women, children, etc. from so many different cultures it sort of hit me very hard how much of a bubble I live in and how much our world is in crises mode. How could I not know all of this was happening? And why are refugees literally looked at as 2nd-class citizens? They are only humans escaping for their lives -- how can we not be more compassionate?

This experience of watching this move really made me realize that I need to walk around with more humility. I need to constantly check my own privilege and assess my own priorities and pour in to things that matter and things that enable me to pour positively in to others. I'm not going to stop a war in Syria but I can spread love where I am and I can also encourage people to watch this awesome movie in hopes of sparking more passion in others.​
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OLIVIA

Off-Playa Residence:  Orlando
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

A song that's impactful to me is "4AM" by Kaskade. (Hard to choose one because so many of Kaskade's songs are so special to me). 
Right around 2011 is really when I got deep into electronic music and it was at a time when I was graduating high school and becoming my own person; I started going to big festivals/clubs/shows, I was moving across the country with my best friend and I felt like I had the whole world at my fingertips. I had been struggling with depression for a while by then already and I made a promise to myself that I would make a better future, one that wouldn't be ruled by sadness or heaviness anymore. For once in my life I felt truly independent and hopeful. "Dreams are shining, finally they're within reach" - those lyrics remind me of that renaissance I went through, and every time I hear them it reminds me to hold on to that feeling throughout my entire life.

I actually just saw Kaskade recently (for probably the 125th time) at a festival called We Belong Here and started crying during his set... not something I expected to be doing at the ripe age of 30 but here we are. LOL. 
I got to go there with my little sister so it was really a full circle moment for me :)​
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OLYMPIA

Off-Playa Residence: Melbourne
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I'm going to go rogue here and say The Little Mermaid, the Disney movie, which I've seena GAZILLION times.

For one, it's a classic tale of following your dreams and taking risks, even when others may discourage you or not understand your aspirations. Ariel's journey to become human and pursue a life on land despite the challenges and obstacles she faces can be inspiring and relatable to anyone who has ever had a dream that seemed out of reach.

Secondly, the movie's themes of identity, belonging, and self-discovery resonate with me as someone who has gone through various stages of personal growth and development, some big ones quite recently. Ariel's struggle to find her place in the world and reconcile her love for her family with her desire for something more is extremely relatable to me, someone who has struggled with my own sense of identity and belonging.

Finally, the timeless music and charming characters provide a nostalgic sense of joy and whimsy, transporting you back to a simpler time in your life and reminding you of the power of imagination and creativity, and who doesn't feel like they are still a 10 year old kid stuck in an adult's body.​
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PAOLO

Playa Name: Prince of Nerds
Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 2
​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

I'm a huge movie buff, past avid reader (I know, it's sad, but time now is limited :/) and eclectic music lover, so I could stay here writing for the next three days. I'll pick a short stories collection from Edgar Allan Poe I read when I was in 4th grade, my first adult book, and the beginning of my unofficial career as a horror genre connoisseur. Personal highlights being The Mask of the Red Death & The Cask of Amontillado, just  fyi​
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PETER

Off-Playa Residence:  NYC
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined is a great read. It highlights that while it's easy to feel disheartened and like change doesn't happen quickly enough, progress takes time. It's slow and methodical - and it, like most good things in life, requires patience.​
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SHANI

Off-Playa Residence:  NYC
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

​I'm reading a book called Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram. Really fascinating how he's converging magic, shamanism, animism, philosophy toward a greater understanding of how we exist in our world and natural environment.

PETER

Playa Name: Peter Raven Rabbit
Off-Playa Residence: Melbourne
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

'Breaking the Habit of being yourself' by Joe Dispenza. this has been such an impactful book for me as its given me such insight into who I am, who I;ve been and where I want to be. acknowledging the habits that I want to cultivate and the others I've held on to that do not serve the person I want to be. 

"Nothing is more important than personal expansion and the unravelling of your potential"

this epitomizes what motivates me and the objective I have.
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​RUSS

Playa Name: Atlas
Off-Playa Residence: London
Years Burned at BRC: 6
​​Years with Bubbles: 10

Morena by Mariana Nolasco and Vitor Kley - the acoustic version that is on Youtube. I don't speak Portuguese but the adorable connection they have is a wonder to behold. You don't need to know the words to understand it perfectly. It's a song that cheers me up no matter what and it reminds me not to always be listening to four-to-the-floor house bangers. Please watch it https://youtu.be/AlLid7sY4NE​

RYAN

Off-Playa Residence: San Diego
First-Time Burner 🔥
​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain has always been a very impactful book to me. The dedication to his passion despite the many challenges he faced spoke to me as I feel many have to endure similar ebbs and flows on their journey before they find success.​
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SABRINA

Off-Playa Residence: Kenya, Washington
First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Oooh, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", the long Temptations version, is the first piece that came to mind. Every time I hear that song I want the whole room to just stop and listen and appreciate the composition of the music. The slow build, starting with bass, then strings get introduced, then brass layers in, then finally, after an eternity, this casual voice starts his story like it's no big deal you've been waiting 4 minutes. The song has the listener in constant anticipation. It's full of soul. I think it's impactful for demonstrating how orchestral instruments can be funky. And for getting the listener (or maybe it's just me) to sit riveted, and keep thinking about it even after it's over. It's expands the mind, which is all art should do.​​

SARAH

Off-Playa Residence:  Bay Area
Years burned at BRC: 2
​​Years with Bubbles: 3

Midnight Library - A fantasy novel reminder that life is infinite. The premise of the book includes the many worlds theory, in which a new reality unfolds from every choice and decision. 

SEAN

Off-Playa Residence: NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​Years with Bubbles: 1

STEFAN

Playa Name: EIO
Off-Playa Residence: Zürich, Bangkok
​Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾
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"Universe in a Nutshell" - by Stephen Hawking
Looking back at my life, this was probably the most impactful book for me, as it led me to study physics. And though my career has taken me somewhere completely different, I am still a very analytical person who is constantly seeking truth and at the same time very open to challenging and extending "apparent truths".​​​

STEPHANIE

Playa Name: The Oracle
Off-Playa Residence: Los Angeles
Years Burned at BRC: 4
​​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

Shantaram (the book) by Gregory David Roberts has been a lifelong favorite. To step into an unknown land build a community centric life, gifting one’s strengths with humility while opening your heart to receive the beauty in our shared differences - this is what life is all about.​​
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TERESA

Off-Playa Residence: Lisbon
Years Burned at BRC: 1
​​​Years with Bubbles: 1

Eastern Philosophy by The School of Life is a book that draws together the greatest ideas found in Eastern philosophy (from Buddha to Lao Tzu). It is written in a very practical way and has helped me become a bit wiser and start the day with perspective (as I read it in the morning).​
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VIVIAN​

Off-Playa Residence:NYC
Years Burned at BRC: 9
​​Years with Bubbles: 8

I just finished Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie. The characters are compelling, I learned about a place in the world I’ve never been, and it made me consider some interesting questions about society, technology, and what it means to be a good person today.​
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WILL

Off-Playa Residence: Denver
​First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

This is tough one to pinpoint. Music is so incredibly important to me. I could say Pitbull's Give me Everything (I know :)) because it introduced me to the dance music scene. I could say Lose Myself by Alesso because of the magical experience I had at my first Ultra. Us in Motion by Laszewo because it was the first song I sent to my current girlfriend and was at a time when we first started dating and I wanted her to fully dive into our relationship. Kyle (i found you) by Fred Again.. because we discovered him prior to Electric Forest and got to see him in an empty field playing his Actual Life album. And of course, I can't forget songs like Heaven by Yanou, Cry for you by September, and Exploration of Space by Cosmic Gate for being those early songs that seeded my love of dance music when I was just a pre-teen.​
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YULIA

Off-Playa Residence: Bay Area
Years Burned at BRC: 4
​​​Years with Bubbles: 1

I recently read a fairytale called "Momo" - I was so impacted by how serious matters were described in easy words in this beautiful book. We need more of this light in our lives!​​
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ZACHARY

Playa Name: Zack
Off-Playa Residence: Manhattan, KS
​First-Time Burner 🔥​
​​​​​​​​​​First Year with Bubbles 🍾

A few years ago, I started playing basketball.  It was all super informal, but a few of us would regularly show up on the same days.  Most of those days would end with a group standing around talking for as long as we had played, part of that being book discussion.  Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum isn't going to be found in anyone's fine lit cannon, but the borrowed copy became the impetus of the Yuma Street Basketball Association Book Club.  Trying not to be overly reductionist, but that shared media directly led to one of my strongest friendships. 

Other books have provided a new lens through which to see the world,  but this one feels like the nucleation point in what's become an important friend group.  It's a development that the author probably wouldn't care too much about; being alone was sort of his thing.​​​​

ZACH

​Playa Name: Chaz
Off-Playa Residence: New York
​Years Burned at BRC: 5
Years with Bubbles: 1
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Recapturing the rapture - read it!  A lot of real world examples and thought exploration around ethical cult building, how society is fractured and how we might find our way back.