5 Bullet Archive

Everything Tim Ferriss has recommended in 5-Bullet Friday — 2,122 books, articles, quotes, films, products and more, gathered from 480 issues since 2015. Browse by category, sort by what the community values or how often Tim has returned to it, and spend your 25 votes on what matters most to you. Each item's note is quoted from Tim's own words in the newsletter.

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Five.sentenc.es

Life HacksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail.com

Five.sentenc.es. “Five.sentenc.es is a personal policy that all email responses regardless of recipient or subject will be five sentences or less. It’s that simple.” Here is an example text to place in your signature: “Q: Why is this email five sentences or less? A: I discovered this ages ago in a guest post from Leo Babauta. As he wrote, “I limit myself to five sentences for each reply (at the maximum — many replies are even shorter). That forces me to be concise, to choose only the essentials of what I want to say, and limits the time I spend replying to email. Keep them short, but powerful.— Tim Ferriss
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An experimental study of a virtual reality counselling paradigm using embodied self-dialogue

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Kevin Kelly · el2.convertkit-mail.com

An experimental study of a virtual reality counselling paradigm using embodied self-dialogue. This study was sent to me by Kevin Kelly, and as he put it, “Use virtual reality to swap bodies and give yourself advice. Weird, but early experiments suggest it works.” Kevin hasn’t tried it and simply forwarded it to me, but I’d love to try it myself. Does anyone know how I might do that? Please let me know on Twitter using @tferriss and #timvr if so.— Tim Ferriss
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The Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail.com

The Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady (The New Yorker). This is a page-turning read and simply outstanding. I’m already planning on rereading it to study the lessons it contains. Amazing characters and beautiful prose.— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters." — Epictetus
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Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin

PeopleTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail.com

Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin was an American medicinal chemist, biochemist, organic chemist, pharmacologist, psychopharmacologist, and author. He is credited with introducing MDMA ("ecstasy" or "molly") to psychologists in the late 1970s for psychopharmaceutical use and for the discovery, synthesis, and personal bioassay of over 230 psychoactive compounds for their psychedelic and entactogenic potential. In 1991 and 1997, he and his wife Ann Shulgin authored the books PIHKAL and TIHKAL (standing for Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved and Tryptamines I Have Known And Loved), which extensively — Tim Ferriss
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Dream Sequence | DREAM CORP LLC | adult swim

Misc VideosTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Dream Corp's absent-minded professor · el2.convertkit-mail.com

Dream Sequence | DREAM CORP LLC | adult swim. For long-term readers or listeners, it should be clear within seconds why I like this video. Here’s the series description: “DREAM CORP LLC is an absurd comedy set in a neglected dream therapy facility. Each week desperate patients have their dreams recorded and analyzed by Dream Corp's absent-minded professor, Dr Roberts (Jon Gries), and his team of unremarkable scientists.” (Rotten Tomatoes)— Tim Ferriss
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Perfect Past” by Vladimir Nabokov. First published in 1950 in the New Yorker, it’s available here

BooksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Vladimir Nabokov · el2.convertkit-mail.com

“Perfect Past” by Vladimir Nabokov. First published in 1950 in the New Yorker, it’s available here online but requires a subscription. Nabokov became a U.S. citizen in 1945, and I found the essay in The Best American Essays of the Century. I chose to read “Perfect Past” for the first few pages, which brilliantly describe the birth of young Nabokov’s perception of time. Nabokov is a dazzling wordsmith and aesthetic savant, but caveat lector: it can get rather flowery at times. This essay is no exception. It’s beautiful and ornate in a style that only Nabokov could pull off. If you’d like to rea— Tim Ferriss
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Deathwatch for the Amazon: Brazil has the power to save Earth’s greatest forest—or destroy it

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · economist.com

Deathwatch for the Amazon: Brazil has the power to save Earth’s greatest forest—or destroy it (The Economist). This just came out yesterday, August 1st, and it is excellent. I'll share another piece I'm reading on the same topic in the NYT, as the NYT doesn't automatically require an account signup to read the full article. Pro tip: if you've hit your limit for free NYT articles, try switching your browser. Under Brazil’s Far-Right Leader, Amazon Protections Slashed and Forests Fall (The New York Times). This is very important. How it is resolved, or not, will almost certainly affect the entir— Tim Ferriss
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Posts about my “office

PodcastsTim featured this 1× · 2019 · instagram.com

Posts about my “office” and “podcast studio” were popular on social this week, and it took me a while to get them dialed in. For those asking in the comments, you can find my podcast gear on this page.— Tim Ferriss
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▶Hit The Decks" by Cirrus

MusicTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Cirrus · open.spotify.com

"Hit The Decks" by Cirrus.— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“It is amateurs who have one big bright beautiful idea that they can never abandon. Professionals know that they have to produce theory after theory before they are likely to hit the jackpot.” ― Francis Crick
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▶Prender el Alma by Nicola Cruz

MusicTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Nicola Cruz · open.spotify.com

Prender el Alma by Nicola Cruz. Description: “Since releasing his debut album 'Prender El Alma' in 2015, having previously collaborated with Nicolas Jaar, Nicola Cruz has gone on to become one of the leading figures in the scene of producers exploring and mixing indigenous South-American and Afro-Latin sounds with modern dance and electronic music, a sound he then referred to as 'Andes Step'. In that time he has released a slew of sought after 12" releases, been remixed by the likes of Quantic and beGun, featured by Boiler Room and Red Bull, as well as toured the world with shows at Sonar, ADE— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“A serious and good philosophical work could be written consisting entirely of jokes.” ― Ludwig Wittgenstein
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The Game (Amazon

Misc VideosTim featured this 1× · 2019 · amazon.com

The Game (Amazon, iTunes, and Vudu). This film was recommended to me by the maverick Adam Robinson. The Game is intense, idea-catalyzing, and… did I mention intense? If you think you, perhaps, just sometimes, take yourself too seriously (and who doesn’t?), this is good medicine. Here’s the description: “Nicholas Van Orton [played by Michael Douglas] is a very wealthy San Francisco banker, but he is an absolute loner, even spending his birthday alone. In the year of his 48th birthday (the age his father committed suicide) his brother Conrad, who has gone long ago and surrendered to addictions o— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” — Herbert Simon
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Distributed, with Matt Mullenweg

PodcastsTim featured this 1× · 2019 · distributed.blog

Distributed, with Matt Mullenweg. Finally, my friend Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) has a podcast. He is the founder of a ~900-person company (Automattic) that has no offices; employees are distributed across 68 countries. He is one of the friends I call most for advice on a wide range of subjects, including product development, open-source projects, investing, and music.— Tim Ferriss
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Stephen Wolfram

PeopleTim featured this 1× · 2019 · wolfram.com

Stephen Wolfram. Stephen is a computer scientist, physicist, and businessman. He is best known for his work in computer science, mathematics, and theoretical physics. In 2012, he was named an inaugural fellow of the American Mathematical Society. As an entrepreneur, he is the founder and CEO of the software company Wolfram Research, where he has worked as chief designer of Mathematica and the Wolfram|Alpha answer engine.— Tim Ferriss
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SOMM (on Amazon

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · amazon.com

SOMM (on Amazon and iTunes). I first heard about this doc in blog comments after I interviewed the brilliant and well-tattooed Richard Betts. Richard passed the infamous Court of Master Sommeliers’ Masters Exam on his first attempt, becoming the ninth person in history ever to do so. It’s a Mount Everest BITCH of a test, and only 256 people have passed—in total and globally—over the last 40 years(!). I put off watching this film because I feared it would be too highfalutin for this Long Island boy. Now, having seen it, I’m sorry I didn’t watch SOMM ages ago. It’s a wonderful, brutal, endearing— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“I will have to remember ‘I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all the alligators.’” — From The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander
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▶How Wolves Change Rivers

Misc VideosTim featured this 1× · 2019 · youtube.com

How Wolves Change Rivers. This short video (trophic cascade. I have just one edit suggestion for the video owner, which would be to expand the narration mention of “deer” to “deer and elk.” For another quick video summary of trophic cascade and “keystone species,” I suggest 3 Animals That Keep Their Whole Ecosystem Together. I hoped to be a marine biologist for more than a decade, and I’ve spent a good deal of time studying sharks and their role in trophic cascade. Past podcast guests like Stewart Brand, arguably the most interesting man in the world, have looked at the role of elephants/pachy— Tim Ferriss
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Photographer Jun Yamamoto Captures The Magic Of Japan Streets At Night

Products & GadgetsTim featured this 1× · 2019 · designyoutrust.com

Photographer Jun Yamamoto Captures The Magic Of Japan Streets At Night. You can follow Jun on Instagram here: @jungraphy_. His work makes me want to return to Tokyo immediately. #bladerunner— Tim Ferriss
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▶Whistled language

Misc VideosTim featured this 1× · 2019 · youtube.com

Whistled language. This truly boggled my mind. From Wikipedia: “Whistled languages use whistling to emulate speech and facilitate communication. A whistled language is a system of whistled communication which allows fluent whistlers to transmit and comprehend a potentially unlimited number of messages over long distances.” I suggest watching this video first and then this video to see and hear the Mazatec whistle language in action.— Tim Ferriss
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Consciousness Medicine: Indigenous Wisdom, Entheogens, and Expanded States of Consciousness for Healing and Growth

BooksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · amazon.com

Consciousness Medicine: Indigenous Wisdom, Entheogens, and Expanded States of Consciousness for Healing and Growth by Françoise Bourzat. This book is brand-new, but I’m already on my second read. I’ve been waiting a year for it to be published! Françoise is one of the world’s foremost experts in navigating “expanded states of consciousness,” and she has ~30 years of experience combining indigenous training with modern tools. As Michael Pollan recently posted on Twitter, “Françoise Bourzat has written an authoritative book on guided psychedelic therapy with important lessons for anyone thinking— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott
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Dustin Yellin

PeopleTim featured this 1× · 2019 · instagram.com

Dustin Yellin (@dustinyellin). Dustin is a contemporary artist best known for sculptural paintings that use multiple layers of glass, each covered in detailed imagery, to create a single, intricate, three-dimensional collage. His work is notable both for its massive scale and its fantastic, dystopian themes. Yellin is the founder of Pioneer Works (@pioneerworks)—a not-for-profit cultural center in Red Hook, Brooklyn—where I originally discovered his work.— Tim Ferriss
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The King of Kong

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Steve Wiebe · amazon.com

The King of Kong. This doc was originally recommended to me by the world’s most interesting man, Kevin Kelly. I’ve watched it every year or two since. The movie is like a real-life Spinal Tap about becoming king of the nerds. Trust me; it’s well worth the watch. Here’s a shortened description: “In the early 1980s, legendary Billy Mitchell set a Donkey Kong record that stood for almost 25 years. This documentary follows the assault on the record by Steve Wiebe, an earnest teacher from Washington who took up the game while unemployed.”— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“What do you despise? By this are you truly known.” ― Frank Herbert, Dune )
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To Live and Die in LA

PodcastsTim featured this 1× · 2019 · podcasts.apple.com

To Live and Die in LA. Official description: “In Feb 2018, an aspiring actress vanished from her Hollywood apartment. Rolling Stone journalist Neil Strauss was asked to help the family get answers. Together, they found them...sometimes at great personal risk. For the first time in a serial podcast, go inside a gripping multi-state investigation as it unfolds from the moment of the disappearance to each twist and turn in the case.”— Tim Ferriss
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Bertrand Russell

PeopleTim featured this 1× · 2019 · en.wikipedia.org

Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, essayist, social critic, political activist, and Nobel laureate. In 1950, Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.”— Tim Ferriss
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Why I Am a Bad Correspondent

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Neal Stephenson · nealstephenson.com

Why I Am a Bad Correspondent by Neal Stephenson (@nealstephenson), one of my favorite sci-fi writers. This short, anti-comms blog post contains gems like this: “The quality of my e-mails and public speaking is, in my view, nowhere near that of my novels. So for me it comes down to the following choice: I can distribute material of bad-to-mediocre quality to a small number of people, or I can distribute material of higher quality to more people. But I can’t do both; the first one obliterates the second.”— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“It is by logic that we prove, but by intuition that we discover.” ― Henri Poincaré, French mathematician, theoretical physicist, and engineer
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For the last five years or so, I've carried two reminder cards in my wallet: “Notice the best part” and “That which hinders your task...

Life HacksTim featured this 1× · 2019

For the last five years or so, I've carried two reminder cards in my wallet: “Notice the best part” and “That which hinders your task... is your task.” What reminders or other important items do you carry with you or put where you’ll see them often? Let me know on Twitter (@tferriss) and use hashtag #5BulletFriday so I can find them.— Tim Ferriss
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SHIFTPOD2

Products & GadgetsTim featured this 1× · 2019 · store.advancedsheltersystemsinc.com

SHIFTPOD2. I first saw a SHIFTPOD at Burning Man, where the 60-second set-up blew me away (here’s a video example of a first-time set-up). The reflective material allows you to sleep comfortably in hot environments, and while too heavy for backpacking (best guess is 60 pounds), it’s perfect for packing into the desert or wilderness via car or horse. It comfortably sleeps 4-6 people. I’ve been testing the SHIFTPOD2 in forest environments, and it’s been fantastic thus far. Here’s a description (source): “Shiftpods are the best heavy-duty, pop-up shelter system on this planet — great for festival— Tim Ferriss
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Coders’ Primal Urge to Kill Inefficiency—Everywhere

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Clive Thompson · wired.com

Coders’ Primal Urge to Kill Inefficiency—Everywhere by Clive Thompson (WIRED). Sample quote: “Larry Wall, who created the Perl programming language, and several co-authors wrote that one of the key virtues of a programmer is ‘laziness’—of the variety where your unwillingness to perform rote actions inspires you to do the work to automate them.” Also see Clive’s guest post on my blog about learning to code.— Tim Ferriss
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A fan-engaged option for the podcast

PodcastsTim featured this 1× · 2019 · tim.blog

A fan-engaged option for the podcast. From June – Dec., 2019, I’m removing ads and sponsors from the podcast for a six-month experiment. It’s a big deal for me and might end sooner if it doesn’t work at all. The podcast will continue to be 100% free for everyone. Then, there is a new upgraded option: for people who would like to contribute a few dollars (or more) per month to support the podcast and everything else I do, I will offer a live video Q&A each month... just for this much smaller group of supporters. You can ask me anything. The first one will be on July 1st. I think it will be a lo— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection.” — Henri Poincaré
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Stranger in a Strange Land

BooksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Robert A · amazon.com

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. Ever feel like you don’t quite fit in? Don’t want to follow society’s silly rules? Then you’ll probably relate to human-born and Martian-raised Valentine Michael Smith. In this controversial 1960’s cult classic, Heinlein questions long-held assumptions on religion, government, and sexuality (free Martian love for all!). It’s also where the term “grok” originates.— Tim Ferriss
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Spectrogram Pro

Apps & SoftwareTim featured this 1× · 2019 · itunes.apple.com

Spectrogram Pro. A vocal teacher adept at overtone singing showed me this tool, and it’s my first introduction to visual representation of sound outside of simple waveforms. I’ve been making more progress with singing since being introduced to this, as I now have another “peg” for feedback: visual signatures. Are there better tools for this? Please let me know on Twitter (@tferriss), if so.— Tim Ferriss
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David Yarrow

PeopleTim featured this 1× · 2019 · davidyarrow.photography

David Yarrow (@David_Yarrow). David Yarrow is a British fine-art photographer, financier, conservationist, and author. I recommend checking out the wildlife category on his website. I was recently gifted a copy of his Wild Encounters deluxe edition book (scroll down to see), and it might be the most beautiful book I’ve ever seen. It’s ENORMOUS, the craftsmanship is incredible, and the price tag is suitably high (~£1,500!). If you love his art but prefer something smaller and less car-down-payment, I recommend checking out the non-deluxe option at the top of that same page.— Tim Ferriss
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The Amazonian Travels of Richard Evans Schultes

MiscTim featured this 1× · 2019 · banrepcultural.org

The Amazonian Travels of Richard Evans Schultes. This is exceptionally cool, and it captures the adventures of a real-life Indiana Jones in interactive form. I’m hoping I won’t immediately break their website. Here’s the description: “In this interactive map, explore the magical landscapes and indigenous cultures of the Colombian Amazon through the travels of the legendary ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes.”— Tim Ferriss
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The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr

BooksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Mary Karr · amazon.com

The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr. I’ve long been fascinated by Mary Karr (@marykarrlit), and I finally picked up her book on the craft of memoir writing after a recommendation by Michael Pollan. It applies to much of life, and I’d consider it a philosophical guide in many respects, replete with the dead serious (e.g., how to communicate past abuse) and spit-up-your-coffee funny (e.g., catshit sandwich metaphors). Highly recommended if you work with the written word in any capacity.— Tim Ferriss
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Pressure Cooker

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · amazon.com

Pressure Cooker. This is a real tearjerker, a life-affirming story of a teacher in Philadelphia who trains at-risk high school students to win full scholarships to culinary school. She epitomizes the kind of tough love that I think we need more of in this country, *especially* in these infantilizing times. Official description: “Infamously blunt, Wilma Stephenson runs a ‘boot camp’ teaching Culinary Arts at Frankford High, disciplining her students into capable chefs and responsible students. But behind her tough exterior is a teacher who cares passionately about getting the best out of her ki— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” ― James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son
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San Miguel de Allende

MiscTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

San Miguel de Allende. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Miguel has been ranked “2018 Best Small City in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler (@CNTraveler). If you need convincing, check out this slideshow from Travel + Leisure. Where else should I go in Mexico? Let me know on Twitter (@tferriss) with hashtag #TimInMexico— Tim Ferriss
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Beats Antique

MusicTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

Beats Antique. I find their instrumental tracks fantastic for writing flow. Pair with Gramatik’s upbeat instrumentals, and you’re set.— Tim Ferriss
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The Art of Spirited Away

BooksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Hayao Miyazaki · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

The Art of Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki. Spirited Away—as mentioned in my chat with Adam Savage—is my favorite movie of all time. This book is awe-inspiring and shows the depth of world-creation that makes Miyazaki a legend.— Tim Ferriss
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One Strange Rock

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Will Smith · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

One Strange Rock (“Gasp” episode, specifically). This series is truly incredible. Executive produced by the acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (director of Black Swan, producer of The Wrestler, and much more) and hosted by Will Smith (@willsmith), it is unlike any documentary series I’ve ever seen. If interested in digging deeper into Darren’s creative process, you can listen to my interview with him: "Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky — Exploring Creativity, Ignoring Critics, and Making Art.”— Tim Ferriss
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QuotesTim featured this 1× · 2019

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” ― Pablo Picasso
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Katharine McCormick

PeopleTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

Katharine McCormick. Katharine McCormick (August 27, 1875 – December 28, 1967) was a U.S. suffragist, philanthropist, and, after her husband's death, heir to a substantial part of the McCormick family fortune. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1904, earning a BSc in biology. She funded most of the research necessary to develop the first birth control pill, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sale of in 1957 for menstrual disorders and added contraception to its indications in 1960. In sum, she provided roughly $2 million ($23 million today) o— Tim Ferriss
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Macho Duck (1979)

MusicTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

Macho Duck (1979). This was my hands-down favorite song when I was 2–3 years old, which I somehow found on YouTube. Back in the day, I had it on a tiny LP and played it over and over and over again, ad nauseam. My poor mom probably needed a straightjacket.— Tim Ferriss
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The Structure of Stand-Up Comedy

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

The Structure of Stand-Up Comedy. Visually explores and dissects Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra stand-up comedy special.— Tim Ferriss
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Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

BooksTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Anne Lamott · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (@ANNELAMOTT). If you plan on any creative undertaking, whether business, writing, or art, I strongly recommend this book. If you spend a lot of time working alone and get trapped in your head, it’s required reading. It saved my sanity and has done the same for several friends who’ve gone from “I want to quit” to New York Times bestsellers.— Tim Ferriss
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It’s been a very big and busy week for me and the world of psychedelic science.

ArticlesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · el2.convertkit-mail2.com

It’s been a very big and busy week for me and the world of psychedelic science. I’m going to cheat here and add a few sub-bullets, the first of which has been in the works for a very long time: ***Imperial College London just launched the world’s first Centre for Psychedelics Research. This is a very big deal. Never before has such a center (centre = British spelling) existed in the world, and I am one of the five founding funders backing it. Psychedelic medicine is experiencing a renaissance of scientific interest, and this first-ever center has the potential to be the tip of the spear. These— Tim Ferriss