Catching Vibes

Explore the collective obsessions of the moment

You know that feeling when suddenly everyone you know is talking about that thing? They say things like: 

Have you heard about this? 

I'm obsessed!  

You've gotta try it!   

Welcome to Catching Vibes, our new series dedicated to the latest, hottest, and most viral trends percolating on the web, in the water, and all around us. Today's topics include Lego & brick-building, Con culture, and Long-distance hiking. If any of these are your current obsession or just something you'd like to explore, read on for ways that you can dive in deeper.  

Lego & brick-building

Building toys like Lego have been around since the early 20th century. The Lego group began in the workshop of Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen. The company's name comes from the Danish leg godt, a phrase meaning "play well." Initially, made of wood, Lego began producing the ubiquitous interlocking plastic blocks in 1947. While Lego (and other building toys) have been primarily thought of as toys for children, there have long been adult fans and users.  

In 2011, Lego kits were even brought to the International Space Station where astronauts built models to see how they would react in microgravity. And in 2020, Lego introduced sets aged 18+ in response to customer demand. The activity of building with LEGO has been shown to activate multiple brain regions, sharpen spatial skills, and reduce stress. Lego has moved into the pop culture space with The The Lego Movie, and the reality series Lego Masters, along with a huge variety of other Lego artworks.   

What's so great about Lego and brick-building?   

• It's good for our brains: the activity of brick-building is spatial, tactile, iterative, and rewarding, a combination that lights up neural circuits underused by most adults.  

• Tangible rewards: Lego creations can be used for further imaginative play or as decorative pieces to display around your home.   

•  Multigenerational fun: Lego and brick-building is an all-ages activity that parents and children can (and often do) enjoy together. It's an activity that can be ongoing and intermittent throughout the day, like this.  

Ready to explore? Here are the books! 

For the history: 

The Secret Life of Lego Bricks: The Story of a Design Icon by Daniel Konstanski 

The Lego Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World's Imagination by Jens Anderson 

For the business story: 

Brick by Brick: How LEGO rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry by David C. Robertson 

For design ideas: 

Lego Awesome Ideas by Daniel LIpkowitz 

Build It! Volume 1: Make Supercool Models with Your Lego Classic Set by Jennifer Kemmeter 

The Lego Ideas Book: You Can Build Anything 

For advanced building techniques: 

The Lego Architect by Tom Alphin 

Incredible Lego Technic: Cars, Trucks, Robots & More by Pawel "Sariel" Kmiec 

For birding Lego lovers (tying back to our last Catching Vibes): 

Birds from Bricks: Amazing Lego Designs That Take Flight by Thomas Poulsom Books | List of books by author Thomas Poulsom 

For all the LEGO trivia: 

The Big Book of Lego Facts by Simon Hugo 

Con culture

The first-ever Comic Book Convention was held in New York City in 1964. The event drew only about 50 attendees, including only a few comics creators. Those early participants likely couldn't have imagined what a major force Con Culture would become.  

In recent decades, the world of conventions, aka Cons—essentially fan festivals—has absolutely exploded with designated events focused on a variety of topics including anime, gaming, sci-fi, and much more. These multi-day events attract hundreds of thousands of zealous fans in cities around the world. Con culture is celebrated for its creativity, inclusivity, and the deep sense of belonging and joy it fosters among fans.  

What's so great about Con culture? 

• Built-in community: Nerd alert! Geeks united! Con culture has long represented a place where people who exist on the edges of the social scene can fit in and find their peeps.   

• Obsession accepted: You want to go deep about the hidden themes in Star Trek, The Buffy Musical Experience, or the Marvel timeline? The Con environment is perfect for these kinds of niche rabbit holes.   

• The looks: One of the best things about attending a Con are the outfits. Attendees go all out to pay tribute to their favorite characters and genres with custom costumes and elaborately coordinated "lewks."  

Ready to explore? Here are the books! 

For the history:  

The 1964 New York Comicon: The True Story Behind the World's First Comic Book Convention by J. Ballmann 

See You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture by Mathew Klickstein 

Get to know the community: 

It Happens at Comic-Con: Ethnographic Essays on a Pop Culture Phenomenon  

Con-fiction for kids: 

Con Quest! By Sam Maggs—Two young Comic-Con attendees set off to win the ultimate prize. A chance to meet their nerdy celebrity hero. (Ages 8–12) 

For teens: 

Queens of Geek by Jenn Wilde— Three friends, two love stories, one convention. A fun feminist love letter to geek culture, fandom, and friendship. (Ages 13–18) 

For grown-ups: 

One Con Glory by Sarah Kuhn—Diehard fangirl Julie braves an epic con-quest to reclaim the eighties super-hero action figure that's long eluded her grasp. 

Long-distance hiking

Whether you call it backpacking, thru-hiking, or trekking, long distance hiking is experiencing a sustained boom in popularity, driven by movements like eco-conscious travel, digital detox, and health-focused lifestyles. In 2024, hiking became the most popular U.S. outdoor activity, with 63.4 Americans hitting the trails, nearly double the numbers from a decade earlier.  

Unlike a day hike or even a weekend backpacking trip, a long-distance hike is more of a commitment. We're talking about a week, a month, or even up to six months for the full Pacific Crest Trail. This kind of endeavor takes a great deal of training, preparation, and perseverance, both mental and physical. But beyond the challenges of such a journey, the rewards are tremendous. Long-distance hikers experience transformation on every level, locating hidden wells of endurance, building strengths that will carry them through future difficulties, and experiencing emotional breakthroughs and insights.  

What's so great about long-distance hiking? 

• Physical health and fitness: Along with the cardiovascular benefits of hiking, long-distance walking improves musculoskeletal strength and metabolic health. The activity may also lead to reduced inflammation, better immunity, and longevity.  

• Personal growth: With benefits like stress-reduction, improved mood and attention, and enhanced mental well-being, long-distance hikers often report transformative epiphanies and huge leaps in self-esteem and maturity. 

• The scenery: Long-distance hikers get to see once-in-a-lifetime views amidst remote, protected, and beautiful wildlands that are often inaccessible otherwise. 

Ready to Explore? Here are the books! 

For basic backpacking: 

How to Suffer Outside: A Beginner's Guide to Hiking and Backpacking by Diana Helmuth 

The Backpacker's Field Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills by Rick Curtis 

For thru-hiking, i.e., Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, etc: 

Thruhikers: A Guide to Life on the Trail by Tim Beissinger and Renée Miller 

For the hiking culture and philosophy: 

The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher and Chip Rawlins 

The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane 

For safe journeys:  

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales 

For the inspiration:  

Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Pharr Davis 

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed 

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon