Michelle Obama’s Memoir(-ˌwôr,ˈmemˌwär) Nears 10 Million Copies Sold

Runaway(ˈrənəˌwā) success of ‘Becoming’ affirms(əˈfərm) publisher’s bet(bet) in an industry where other political(pəˈlidək(ə)l) nonfiction(nänˈfikSHən) titles have been hot sellers(ˈselər)

By Sara Germano

Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” has sold nearly 10 million copies globally since its release(rəˈlēs) in November, publisher Penguin(ˈpeNGgwin,ˈpengwin) Random House said Tuesday, adding that the former first lady’s tome(tōm) could set a sales record in its genre(ˈZHänrə).

“We believe this could be the most successful memoir in history,” said Thomas Rabe(räbə), chief executive(iɡˈzekyədiv) of Bertelsmann SE, the German media and services conglomerate(kənˈɡlämərət) that has a controlling(kənˈtrōl) stake(stāk) in Penguin Random House.

Book sales historically(-ˈstär-,hiˈstôrik(ə)lē) have proved difficult to track for reasons ranging from the proprietary(p(r)əˈprīəˌterē) nature of some data to the rise(rīz) of digital(ˈdijitl) channels(ˈCHanl), including Amazon’s, for selling e-books and audiobooks(ˈôdēˌō).

Industry tracker Nielsen said it couldn’t confirm whether “Becoming” would break any sales records in part because it doesn’t track global book sales across markets. NPD Group likewise(ˈlīkˌwīz) doesn’t track sales globally but said “Becoming” is already the second-highest-selling adult biography(bīˈägrəfē) by printed copies sold in the U.S. since the organization began its BookScan tracking in 2004—trailing(trāl) only the 10th anniversary(ˌanəˈvərsərē) edition(əˈdiSH(ə)n) of Elizabeth(əˈlizəbəTH) Gilbert’s(ˈgilbərt) “Eat, Pray(prā), Love.”

Still, “Becoming” has made an especially strong showing in a publishing industry where several nonfiction books involving contemporary(kənˈtempəˌrerē) political figures have been hot sellers.

…
https://www.wsj.com/articles/michelle-obamas-memoir-on-course-to-be-most-successful-ever-11553601931

Feeble(ˈfēbəl) Excuses

By Steve Pavlina

Excuses are lies we tell ourselves to avoid dealing with unpleasant(ˌənˈplezənt) truths. But as long as we buy into those excuses, we can never move past them. Instead of addressing the underlying problem, we merely(ˈmi(ə)rlē) hide the symptoms(ˈsim(p)təm). One of the most important steps in personal growth is to uproot excuse-making and confront(kənˈfrənt) the real issues behind the excuses with consciousness(ˈkän(t)SHəsnəs) and courage.

Here are some of the most common excuses and their underlying truths:

I don’t have enough time.

Whenever you hear yourself making this statement, you know deep down it isn’t the truth. The real truth is that you haven’t made that which you supposedly(səˈpōzədlē) lack time for important enough. You’re really saying, “That just isn’t important enough to me.” I don’t have time to exercise. I don’t have time for a relationship. I don’t have time to start my own business. Of course you have time. You have as much time as anyone else does, and other people are already doing these same things. The difference is that they make it more of a priority(prīˈôrətē) in their lives than you do. You aren’t a victim(ˈviktəm) of circumstances(-stəns,ˈsərkəmˌstans). If you don’t like your circumstances, change them.

It’s amazing that people who say they don’t have time somehow find plenty(ˈplen(t)ē) of time for marginal(ˈmärjənl) activities like watching TV. If you don’t have time to exercise, then surely you don’t have time to watch any TV at all. Such people are really saying that exercise simply isn’t important enough to them. It’s easier to blame(blām) the problem on a lack of time, but the real problem is a lack of will.

I don’t know how.

This is one of the feeblest excuses of all. I don’t know how to make a website. I don’t know how to write well. I don’t know how to get a better job. Are you capable of learning? Did you stop after learning to crawl(krôl), complaining, “I don’t know how to walk?” The truth behind “I don’t know how” is “I’m unwilling to learn.” In other words, you have to admit that you’re lazy.

I don’t have the money.

If there’s something you want, “I don’t have the money” is no excuse for not getting it. You can always earn the money or find a way to get the item at reduced cost. The truth behind “I don’t have the money” is “I don’t want it badly enough.” Earning the money you need is only a matter of time, and we already know that not having enough time is no valid(ˈvaləd) reason for giving up, nor is not knowing how to earn the money. If you want to buy something out of your price range, you’re fully capable of setting it as a top priority and then putting in the time to learn how to earn enough to acquire the item.

Don’t let excuses run your life. If you catch yourself using one of these lines, immediately(iˈmēdēətlē) replace it with a statement of the real truth. At first that truth may seem uncomfortable. It’s easier to say, “I don’t know how” than it is to say, “I’m unwilling to learn.” But when you admit your unwillingness, laziness, or lack of motivation(ˌmōtəˈvāSHən), then you’re finally facing the truth, and from that point you’ll have the opportunity to grow. For example, if you face your unwillingness to learn, you may decide that even though it would be a lot of work to learn a new skill, you could do it if you wanted it badly enough and really applied yourself.

…
https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/02/feeble-excuses/

Stand U

STAND UP

INT: A COMEDY(ˈkämədē) CLUB

Jack(jak), a man in his late twenties, is standing at a microphone(ˈmīkrəˌfōn), performing stand-up comedy.

JACK

Hello hello hello, Auburn(ˈôbərn)! My name is Jack Aston-Vanderzanden. Most people find that name difficult to pronounce(prəˈnouns), so they just shorten(ˈSHôrtn) it to “Jackass(ˈjakˌas).” Joke’s on them, though, that is actually my full first name. What can I say? Labor(ˈlābər) was difficult on my mother.

(Polite(pəˈlīt) laughter(ˈlaftər).)

And, hey! Not every “Jack” is a shortening of the name “John(jän).” Jack’s not even shorter than John. It’s not easier to say. It’s not like everyone is going up to these guys and saying, “Jaahan? Yon(yän)? Joan? You know what, man, your name’s too difficult to pronounce, just pick a card, any card from this deck(dek) and-voila(vwäˈlä)-that’s your new name!” Could’ve been worse. I could’ve walked up here calling myself Clubs Aston-Vanderzanden, which is my DJ name.

(Confused(kənˈfyo͞ozd) response from audience.)

That was a weird(wi(ə)rd) joke, heh, sorry about that. So, um, right. Anyway, I’m pretty(ˈpridē) excited(ikˈsītid) to be here in Nebraska(nəˈbraskə), because this will definitely(ˈdef(ə)nətlē) be the last place to go underwater when global warming finally hits the fan. I feel safe.

(Nothing.)

Right. Global warming jokes in the Midwest(ˈmidˈwest), not my brightest idea. It’s okay, though, because you know, liberal(ˈlib(ə)rəl) or conservative(kənˈsərvətiv) or whatever you are, we all have the same initial(iˈniSHəl) response to global warming. I don’t care if intellectually(ˈˌin(t)əlˈˌek(t)SH(əw)əlē) you’re like, “Oh no! We have to change our evil(ˈēvəl) ways!” or if you’re like “It’s just the earth going through another Ice Age only the opposite(ˈäpəzət), I dunno(dəˈnō), I never really watched the movie(ˈmo͞ovē) because Ray Romano(rəˈmänō) can’t be any more bearable(ˈbe(ə)rəbəl) as a woolly(ˈwo͝olē) mammoth(ˈmaməTH).” I don’t care which camp(kamp) you’re in. When you first read that the world might drown(droun) itself by 2075, your first thought was, “Cool, I’ll probably be dead by then.”

(Laughter. He warms to it.)

How bonkers(ˈbäNGkərz) is that? How often in your life do you think that way? I get sad that I’ll probably never get to see people land on Mars(märz). Or live long enough to see the release(rəˈlēs) of the final Game of Thrones(THrōn) book, probably. Most of the time I’m hoping I get to live to be ninety or a hundred years old. Most of the time I hope that science has invented(inˈvent) immortality(ˌi(m)ˌmôrˈtalədē) before I get too far along.

But as soon as global warming comes up?

(Whistles(ˈ(h)wisəl) through teeth and makes neck(nek)-slicing(slīs) motions(ˈmōSHən).)

Nope, done, too much work. I hope I’m dead by fifty. Let my kids deal with it, not me, those ungrateful(ˌənˈgrātfəl) little hypothetical(ˌhīpəˈTHetikəl) monsters.

Hey, what can I say, I’m a stand-up guy(gī). Eh? No? Okay. Let’s move on.

https://www.instantmonologues.com/preview/Stand-Up

Why I took my wife’s surname(ˈsərˌnām) in my 40s

By Drew(dro͞o) Dias(ˈdēəs, ˈdēˌäSH)

I’m very much a Capricorn(ˈkapriˌkôrn) mountain(ˈmount(ə)n) goat(gōt) in my approach to life. I achieve goals slowly but surely, and meander(mēˈandər) up the mountainside(ˈmountnˌsīd) chewing(CHo͞o) grass(gras) along the way. As such, I was pushing 40 by the time I got married and became a father.

Choosing a name for my first son was no easy task. My wife and I produced a list of more than 100 boys names – everything from legendary(ˈlejənˌderē) men to great uncles(ˈəNGkəl). And by a steady(ˈstedē) process of elimination(əˌliməˈnāSH(ə)n), we whittled(ˈ(h)widl) it down during her final trimester(trīˈmestər,ˈtrīˌmes-) until five names remained(rəˈmān), and chose(CHōz) Benjamin(ˈbenjəmən) because we agreed that almost every “Ben” we had known, we had liked.

My wife kept her surname after we got married, but was open for our son to take mine, if I wanted, once we had rejected the unwieldy(ˌənˈwēldē) pairing of both of our surnames. I thought about the most appropriate(əˈprōprēət) family name for my son. I had emigrated(ˈeməˌɡrāt) from England to Canada alone, and have since been accepted into my wife’s rather extensive Portuguese(ˈpôrCHəˌgēz)-Canadian(kəˈnādēən) family. Ben will grow up as part of this family, be immersed(iˈmərs) in their language and culture every day, and form a much closer identification(īˌden(t)əfəˈkāSH(ə)n) with her name than with mine(mīn). In consideration of this, we gave him my wife’s surname.

We got lucky with naming our second child, another son. The grunt(grənt) work had been done on our list of boy names, and we immediately(iˈmēdēətlē) agreed on Miles(mīl). He also took my wife’s surname because there was now an even stronger case to do so.

When Ben started attending kindergarten(-ˌgärdn,ˈkindərˌgärtn), the school addressed me by my wife’s surname. It was just assumed that his name was my name, and I didn’t mind, so I didn’t feel the need to correct it. But on paper I had a different surname to my family; or put another way, they had a different surname to me. This bothered me more than I cared to admit(ədˈmit).

…
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-why-i-took-my-wifes-surname-in-my-40s/

How neuroscience(ˌn(y)o͝orōˈsīəns)| is exploding(ikˈsplōd) the myth(miTH)| of male| and female(ˈfēˌmāl) brains(brān)

Stereotypes(ˈsterēəˌtīp,ˈsti(ə)r-)| of how biological(ˌbīəˈläjikəl) sex| influences(ˈinflo͝oəns) ability(əˈbilədē)| and behaviour(bəˈhāvyər) abound – but the latest(lāt) research| reveals(rəˈvēl) a very different story

By Gina Rippon

Men(men) are good at map-reading; women(ˈwimin ˈwo͝omən)| can’t park cars. Men are better at fixing stuff – but only one thing at a time. Women, in contrast(ˈkänˌtrast), can multitask(ˈməltēˌtask, ˈməlˌtīˌtask), and do empathy(ˈempəTHē)| and intuition(ˌint(y)o͞oˈiSHən) better, too. Just don’t ask them to think logically(ˈläjək(ə)lē) in a crisis(ˈkrīsis).

So say the stereotypes, anyway. It is a widespread(ˈwīdˈspred) idea| that men and women| are distinguished(disˈtiNGgwiSHt) not only by their genitals(ˈjenədl)| and related(rəˈlādəd) sexual(ˈsekSHo͞oəl) characteristics(ˌker(ə)ktəˈristik), but also| by their brains. Take the notorious(nōˈtôrēəs) Google internal memo(ˈmemō) from 2017, in which now ex-employee(emˈploi-ē,ˌemploiˈē) James(jāmz) Damore(dā)| asserted(əˈsərt) that there were more men| in the company’s workforce| because women’s high level of empathy| and lower interest in coding| made them less suited| to Google-type work.

According to this way of thinking, the biological blueprint(ˈblo͞oˌprint)| that determines(dəˈtərmən) fixed(fikst) and inevitable(inˈevidəb(ə)l) differences| in our reproductive(ˌrēprəˈdəktiv) apparatus(ˌapəˈradəs, ˌapəˈrādəs)| also determines similarly(ˈsimələrlē) fixed| and inevitable differences| in the structure of our brains| and how they work. If you want to know what underpins(ˌəndərˈpin) differences| between women| and men| in ability, behaviour, temperament(ˈtemp(ə)rəmənt)| and even lifestyle(ˈlīfˌstīl) choices, you will find the answers in genes(jēn), genitals and gonads(ˈgōnad).

The slow recognition(ˌrekəɡˈniSH(ə)n)| that gender identity(ˌīˈden(t)ədē)| and even biological sexual characteristics| don’t fit into a neat(nēt), binary(ˈbīnərē, ˈbīˌnərē) division(dəˈviZHən)| already calls such assumptions(əˈsəm(p)SHən) into question. Recently, too, we have begun to understand| just how plastic(ˈplastik) our brains are, capable(ˈkāpəbəl) of being moulded in all sorts of different ways throughout our lives.

…

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24132190-100-how-neuroscience-is-exploding-the-myth-of-male-and-female-brains/

Loving what I used to hate(hāt)

By Derek Sivers

You have to be careful when you say like or dislike something, because you could change your mind soon.

The first time I heard Tom Waits’ music, when he was a guest on David(ˈdāvid) Letterman(ˈledərmən), I thought it was so horrible(ˈhär-,ˈhôrəbəl) that it must be a joke. Even years later(ˈlādər) when I heard him again, I hated it passionately(ˈpaSH(ə)nətlē). But then I heard his cover version(ˈvərZHən) of “It’s All Right With Me” by Cole(kōl) Porter(ˈpôrtər), and loved it. So I got his album(ˈalbəm) “Rain Dogs” and fell in love with it, and the rest of his music too. The funny thing is I found his old performance on YouTube of my new favorite song, and realized it was that same appearance(əˈpi(ə)rəns) on David Letterman that I hated so much before.

I had no prejudice(ˈprejədəs) against Indonesia(ˌindəˈnēZHə) at first. I was running cdbaby.com out of my bedroom, selling CDs to the world. I started getting huge orders from Indonesia, shipping thousands of dollars of CDs there. Then after a few months, the banks told me those were fraudulent(ˈfrôjələnt) orders placed with stolen(ˈstōlən) credit(ˈkredət) cards, and took the money back. I cursed(ˈkərsəd, kərst) Indonesia as a “nation of thieves(THēvz)” and blocked all Indonesian(ˌindəˈnēZHən) orders on my site.

Ten years later I was living in Singapore(ˈsiNGəˌpôr), and was invited to speak at TEDxJakarta(jəˈkärtə). I listened to twenty Indonesian speakers telling their stories, and showing their amazing(əˈmāziNG) work. It was so heart-warming and endearing(inˈdiriNG, enˈdiriNG). I spent a week in the home of my new Indonesian friends, and fell in love with the people there. It wasn’t until afterwards that I remembered I used to hate Indonesia. It’s a nice reminder(rəˈmīndər) how experience erases(əˈrās) prejudice.

Same thing with weightlifting(ˈwātˌliftiNG). For decades I mocked it as the mindless activity of dumb(dəm) vain(vān) jocks(jäks). Then I kept reading scientific(ˌsīənˈtifik) research showing it’s one of the best thing you can do for your health. So I tried it, and loved it.

Of course there are examples going the other way, too: food and music I used to like as a teenager, that I don’t like anymore.

I have to smile, thinking what my former self would say. But the former self is not always right. We shouldn’t preserve(prəˈzərv) our first opinions(əˈpinyən) as if they are our pure(pyo͝or), untarnished(ˌənˈtärniSHt), true nature. They’re often just inexperience(ˌinikˈspi(ə)rēəns) or a temporary(ˈtempəˌrerē) phase(fāz). It would be dangerous to decide and declare that those past opinions define who we are in the future.

So now, when I hear myself saying I love or hate something, I have to remember that could change soon, and I should give it another try.

https://sivers.org/hate

iPad mini

Mini just got mightier(ˈmītē).

iPad mini is beloved(bəˈləv(ə)d) for its size and capability(ˌkāpəˈbilədē). And now there are even more reasons to love it. The A12 Bionic(bīˈänik) chip(CHip) with Neural(ˈn(y)o͝orəl) Engine(ˈenjən). A 7.9‑inch(inCH) Retina(ˈretn-ə) display with True Tone. And Apple Pencil, so you can capture your biggest ideas wherever they come to you. It’s still iPad mini. There’s just more of it than ever.

Design

Compact(kəmˈpakt, ˈkämˌpakt). Portable(ˈpôrtəbəl). Pocketable(ˈpäkət). iPad mini features(ˈfēCHər) a thin(THin), light, and portable design that makes it the perfect on-the-go companion(kəmˈpanyən). At less(les) than a pound and 6.1 mm((ˈmiləˌmēdər)) thin, it’s easy to carry with you in one hand or take out of a pocket or bag whenever inspiration(ˌinspəˈrāSHən) strikes(strīk).

Performance

Power beyond its size.

The A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine enables a remarkable level of power and intelligence(inˈteləjəns). It uses real-time machine learning to recognize patterns, make predictions(prəˈdikSH(ə)n), and learn from experience. With all this power, you can run apps like Adobe(əˈdōbē) PhotoshopCC, experience augmented(ˌôɡˈmentəd) reality(rēˈalədē), or play an immersive(iˈmərsiv) game with console(kənˈsōl,ˈkänˌsōl)-level graphics(ˈgrafiks).

Retina Display

It’s not the size of the display. It’s the quality of the pixel(ˈpiksəl). iPad mini packs over 3 million pixels into a 7.9‑inch display. And we made them all count. Whether you’re reading(ˈrēdiNG) in the park or editing a video in your home office, the high brightness(ˈbrītnəs), wide color, and antireflective(ˈantē,ˈanˌtī rəˈflektiv) coating(ˈkōdiNG) offer true-to-life-detail and razor(ˈrāzər)-sharp text. And True Tone dynamically(dīˈnaməklē) adjusts white balance so images look natural in any light.

Cameras(ˈkam(ə)rə)

Stay in touch. Shoot in HD. Play in AR.The front and back cameras in iPad mini let you take vivid(ˈvivid) photos and cinematic(ˌsinəˈmatik) videos. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Make FaceTime calls with friends, scan documents and mark them up, or even use augmented reality to plan out your living room decor(dāˈkôr).

https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/

“I Don’t Know How”| Is Not a Valid(ˈvaləd) Excuse(ikˈskyo͞oz)

By Steve Pavlina

When you say something like this:

I wish I could write better, but my writing skills aren’t very good.

… many intelligent(inˈteləjənt), self-directed(dəˈrekt, dīˈrekt) people| are actually hearing this:

I wish I could write better, but I’m too lazy and undisciplined(ˌənˈdisəplind)| to do anything about it. I also have low self-esteem(əˈstēm), which prevents(prəˈvent) me from believing I can correct this deficiency(dəˈfiSHənsē). You should probably avoid me| and spend your time with someone more worthy.

As an adult(əˈdəlt,ˈadˌəlt)| you’re responsible for your own education. If you find it deficient(dəˈfiSHənt)| in some area(ˈe(ə)rēə), educate(ˈejəˌkāt) yourself| into proficiency(prəˈfiSHənsē).

…

If you’re going to get anywhere in life, you must assume(əˈso͞om) 100% responsibility| for your ongoing education. Maybe your parents and the school system| got you off to a good start. Maybe they didn’t. Whatever happened in that regard(rəˈɡärd), the past| is the past. You must now look to the future. Whatever you didn’t learn back then, you can start learning today. A few years from now, you can have the equivalent(əˈkwiv(ə)lənt) of a Ph.D| in a subject you never studied before. You can master a new language. You can become an expert| on a subject| in which you’re merely(ˈmirlē) a novice(ˈnävəs) today.

Using| “I don’t know how”| as an excuse| is truly pathetic(pəˈTHetik) today. In the information age| where you can begin searching for such answers in seconds, this tired excuse| only makes you look foolish(ˈfo͞oliSH), lazy, and unworthy of success. Even young children wouldn’t be stopped by such a phony(ˈfōnē) obstacle(ˈäbstəkəl).

The next time you feel inclined(inˈklīn) to say| “I don’t know how,”| say instead, “I’m learning how.” At least have the sense(sens) to Google| “how to ___(blaNGk).” The information you need to get started| is already at your fingertips(ˈfiNGgərˌtip).

Think about an educational deficiency| you’d like to correct, and set a new educational goal| right now. What exactly do you wish to learn, and how soon? Then plan out some of the steps you’ll need to take. Identify books to read, courses(kôrs) to take, and experts(ˈekˌspərt) to talk to. Now get to work| and start learning. Start by picking one book, buying it, and reading the first chapter. No more feeble(ˈfēbəl) excuses!

https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2012/04/i-dont-know-how-is-not-a-valid-excuse/

“What did you last learn| from a child?”

a child-centered school

By Henry H. Walker

The child| is central(ˈsentrəl).

a teacher for the early school| is asked|
“What did you last learn| from a child?”
and she is hooked(ho͝okt)| on Carolina(ˌkarəˈlīnə) Friends School,
other places that had talked to her|
questioned(ˈkwesCHən) credentials(krəˈden(t)SHəl), history, titles,
she finds a home| where the child| is central,

a former CFS teacher| speaks of his faith(fāTH),
and the power| of the practice here, the walk| of the talk,
how the school embodies(emˈbädē)| that of the spirit(ˈspirit), makes it real,
for his own children, for the community,

a current(ˈkə-rənt,ˈkərənt) CFS teacher,
a guy who| “fixes it”| with things| and with kids
who need to express(ikˈspres) self| through tools and wood,
appreciates(əˈprēSHēˌāt) what the school has done|
for him, for his own children,
and now hopes to continue| for his grandchildren,
that each will be seen| and loved| for who| each is,
that the school| will stay true| to person| and mission,

a former head of school
speaks of the vision(ˈviZHən)| of a Promised(ˈpräməs) Land| a school can have,
and the effort| to create that school,
while holding no structure| as set in stone, except,

“The child is central.”

https://henryspoetry.blogspot.com/2019/02/what-did-you-last-learn-from-child.html

Karl Lagerfeld, Designer(dəˈzīnər) Who Defined Luxury(ˈləgZH(ə)-,ˈləkSH(ə)rē) Fashion(ˈfaSHən), Is Dead

By Vanessa(vəˈnəsə) Friedman

Karl Lagerfeld, the most prolific(prəˈlifik) designer of the 20th and 21st centuries and a man whose career(kəˈri(ə)r) formed the prototype(ˈprōtəˌtīp) of the modern(ˈmädərn) luxury fashion industry, died on Tuesday in Paris(ˈperəs).

Though his birth year was a matter of some dispute(disˈpyo͞ot), Mr. Lagerfeld, who lived in Paris, was generally thought to be 85. His death was announced by Chanel(SHəˈnel), with which he had long been associated(-SHē-,əˈsōsēˌātid).

“More than anyone I know, he represents(ˌreprəˈzent) the soul(sōl) of fashion: restless(ˈrestləs), forward-looking and voraciously(vəˈrāSHəs) attentive(əˈtentiv) to our changing culture,” Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue(vōg), said of Mr. Lagerfeld when presenting(priˈzent,ˈprezənt) him with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British(ˈbritiSH) Fashion Awards in 2015.

Creative director of Chanel since 1983 and Fendi since 1965, and founder(ˈfoundər) of his own line, Mr. Lagerfeld was the definition(ˌdefəˈniSHən) of a fashion polyglot(ˈpäliˌglät), able to speak the language of many different brands at the same time (not to mention(ˈmen(t)SH(ə)n) many languages themselves: He read in English, French, German(ˈjərmən) and Italian(iˈtalyən)).

In his 80s, when most of his peers were retiring(riˈtīriNG) to their yachts(yät) or country estates(iˈstāt), he was designing(dəˈzīniNG) an average of 14 new collections a year, ranging from couture to the high street — and not counting collaborations(kəˌlabəˈrāSHən) and special projects. “Ideas come to you when you work,” he said backstage before a Fendi show at age 83.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/obituaries/karl-lagerfeld-dead.html