Spinning Tops: Video to Soothe You

In this seven-minute film by Charles and Ray Eames, we see spinning tops from around the world. It's stunning seeing the variety of tops that are out there -- many use wound-up string to start, others use a pumping mechanism, and others do amazing things like break into multiple independently spinning bits. And yes, there's a whole segment on different styles of dreidel.

If you're sick and tired of storms and elections and hyperactive internet videos, jump in my 1969 time machine and enjoy this mellow-but-engaging look at the simple beauty of toys.

If you like this video, there's five more hours on the massive Films of Charles & Ray Eames collection.