November 15 25 Newsletter | Take the Back Roads

 This newsletter was originally sent on November 15, 2025

Each month, I share new essays, books, and stories from the road.

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Welcome, Friends, to News from the Back Roads! Hello friends, As the days grow shorter and the light shifts into that soft, golden angle that only November seems to carry, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about beauty—where we seek it, how it shapes us, and why certain places or stories stay with us long after we’ve left them behind. This past week’s work led me down several very different roads: back into the quiet galleries of Crystal Bridges, into the ancient teachings of Mencius, across the wandering life of Burl Ives, and finally into the turbulent pre-WWI world of Upton Sinclair’s World’s End. What I love is that each of these pieces, in their own way, touches on the same idea: That beauty, goodness, and truth are worth pursuing, even when they ask us to slow down, pay attention, and think a little deeper. It’s been a comforting thought as we move toward the holidays, and I hope this collection brings you the same sense of reflection and calm. Thank you, as always, for walking these back roads with me. xoxo, a.d. elliott Art and Other Odd Adventures

Stories Found Along the Way

Crystal Bridges Museum: Returning to Art, Architecture & the Ozarks This week, I returned to one of my favorite sanctuaries in Northwest Arkansas: the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In this essay, I reflect on Alice Walton’s remarkable vision to bring world-class art to the Ozarks, as well as Moshe Safdie’s architecture, its bridges, curves, and quiet reverence for the landscape. Inside the galleries, I revisited old favorites like O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed and Henri’s unforgettable Jessica Penn, while also navigating the museum’s transition as it prepares for a major expansion. Much of the collection is currently stored away, but the heart of the museum —the sense of peace, curiosity, and shared human experience —remains as strong as ever. This visit became a meditation on how art shapes us, how spaces can feel like old friends, and how creativity continues to grow even in seasons of construction and change. Read the essay →

Another Book in the Bucket

The Books of Mencius – Reflections on Virtue, Governance, and the Nature of Goodness In this installment of the Bucket List Book Adventure, I explore The Books of Mencius, one of the foundational texts of Confucian philosophy. Written during the turbulence of the Warring States Period, Mencius’s teachings argue that human beings are inherently good—that virtue lives in all of us like tiny “sprouts” waiting to be cultivated. The review examines Mencius’s compelling insights into moral leadership, justice, compassion, and the responsibilities of those who hold power. He believed that rulers existed for the welfare of their people, not for personal gain, and that unethical leaders could lose their “Mandate of Heaven,” a remarkably early argument for accountability in government. Though written over 2,000 years ago, Mencius’s reflections feel strikingly modern. This book challenged me, slowed me down, and reminded me that goodness, though delicate, has a remarkable strength when tended with intention. Read the review →

A Story of Service Corporal Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives A Soldier's Story Before he became a beloved folk singer and the voice of Sam the Snowman, Burl Ives served during World War II, bringing comfort and song to troops at home and abroad.  This profile examines his military service, his artistic legacy, and the gentle patriotism that is woven throughout his life’s work. Read more

A Fun Read for the Road World’s End by Upton Sinclair A sweeping pre-WWI epic following the early life of Lanny Budd. My review highlights the political undercurrents, Sinclair’s vivid historical world-building, and the questions the book raises about truth, power, and belief. It’s dense, thoughtful, and surprisingly rewarding. Read more

From the Studio Wall

Loch Lomond Sunset Skyscape  a.d. elliott, Take the Back Roads There is a moment at dusk when the world softens, when the sky turns amber, the water grows still, and time seems to hold its breath.  This photograph of Loch Lomond captures that fleeting quiet: warm light spilling across calm water beneath a drifting sky. 🛒 View the print →

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