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▶Heartstrings
“Heartstrings” (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music) by Russell Malone.— Tim Ferriss
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Bird by Bird with Annie
Bird by Bird with Annie. I’ve loved Anne Lamott (@ANNELAMOTT) and her work for more than a decade, and ever since I had her on the podcast, I’ve gone even deeper into the Annieverse. This documentary had just the right blend of humor, humanity, and insight to help me with some difficult emotions this week. Description: “Perhaps best known for her widely celebrated book on writing, Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott is one of the rare artists who can teach us not only how to write, but how to live. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision), Bird by Bird with — Tim Ferriss
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“To a disciple who was forever complaining about others, the Master said, ‘If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth.’” —
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Alan Watts and Superposition — Listen, Dream
Alan Watts and Superposition — Listen, Dream. For me, Alan Watts can be hit or miss, but this is definitely a hit. Coupled with the ambient music, I find this meditation perfect for grounding myself when I’m making coffee in the morning. Here’s a shortened description of the project: “Superposition is an immersion into the inner universe, a meditative antidote to a world of digital overwhelm. Created by Justin Boreta (@boreta) and Matthew Davis (@davisville), this ambient project and record label emerged from the shared search for serenity by two curious artists.”— Tim Ferriss
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▶HUMAN Extended Version, Volume 1
HUMAN Extended Version, Volume 1. Sincere thanks to subscriber Dave Thackeray for originally recommending this film on Twitter. It is beautiful, jolting, heart-melting, and brutal... all at once. The footage and stories blend into a powerful visual journey that evoked nearly every imaginable emotion in me. Here’s part of the description: “What is it that makes us human? Is it that we love, that we fight? That we laugh? Cry? Our curiosity? The quest for discovery? Driven by these questions, filmmaker and artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand (@yannarthusbertrand) spent three years collecting real-life st— Tim Ferriss
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“Treat a work of art like a prince: let it speak to you first.” —
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▶Trampoline
“Trampoline” (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music) by SHAED (@shaedband).— Tim Ferriss
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Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think
“Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think.” This remains one of the most empowering articles I’ve read in recent years. It’s hilarious and amazing. For double trouble, pair it with my interview with the author, Tim Urban (@waitbutwhy).— Tim Ferriss
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The DIY Scientist, the Olympian, and the Mutated Gene
“The DIY Scientist, the Olympian, and the Mutated Gene” by David Epstein (@DavidEpstein). This is a fantastic read, especially for science nerds, about how a layperson can spot breakthrough ideas that the experts miss.— Tim Ferriss
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“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” —
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▶The Butterfield Diet Plan
“The Butterfield Diet Plan” via Pippa L., in response to my clip on how to master cheat days. Hoisin crispy owl!— Tim Ferriss
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Pick of the Litter
Pick of the Litter (Amazon, Disney+, YouTube). This feel-good documentary was recommended to me by my mom. It is a little sappy at points, but the training for avoiding automobiles and refusing to follow owner commands is incredible. Fair warning: some of you will shed a tear or two. The official description: “Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Cameras follow these pups through an intense two-year odyssey as they train to become dogs whose ultimate responsibility is to protect their blind partner— Tim Ferriss
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Man of Extremes: The Return of James Cameron
“Man of Extremes: The Return of James Cameron” (The New Yorker). James Cameron is a beast worth studying. His track record is unparalleled, and few humans are as aggressive or as capable. Even if you’re feeling rushed, take 60 seconds to read the first paragraph of this piece, which is incredible. Kudos to Dana Goodyear (@danagoodyear) on the writing.— Tim Ferriss
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▶The Price of Everything
The Price of Everything (YouTube, Apple TV), directed by Nathaniel Kahn. I originally watched this film after both my brother and a close friend raved about it, and I was prompted to rewatch it after Kevin Rose brought it up in the most recent Random Show episode. It is often funny, sometimes nauseating, and always entertaining. Here’s the description: “With unprecedented access to pivotal artists and the white-hot market surrounding them, The Price of Everything dives deep into the contemporary art world, holding a mirror up to our values and our times—where everything can be bought and sold.— Tim Ferriss
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▶Orchestrated Incident
“Orchestrated Incident” (YouTube, Spotify) by Gramatik. I wrote a good portion of The 4-Hour Chef (in fact, a book on accelerated learning) to this track on repeat. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I find the upbeat instrumentals fantastic for writing flow. I have a lot of Gramatik and Beats Antique—try “Circulation”—in my playlist for writing sessions.— Tim Ferriss
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How 30 Days of Kindness Made Me a Better Person
“How 30 Days of Kindness Made Me a Better Person.” Click here for an easy-to-print image of the 30 acts of kindness.— Tim Ferriss
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▶Eau Rouge, Pt. 1
“Eau Rouge, Pt. 1” (YouTube, Spotify) by Gelka (@gelka).— Tim Ferriss
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“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” —
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Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube). This was repeatedly recommended to me by my friend Kevin Rose. It was particularly reassuring that Mister Rogers basically took the good TV playbook of the time and did the exact opposite, which helped lead to mega-success. Description: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Morgan Neville about the life and guiding philosophy of Fred Rogers, the host and creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The trailer for the film debuted on what would have been Rogers’ 90th birthday, March 20, 2018. It received acc— Tim Ferriss
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“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” — “You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.’” — Maya Angelou
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Yellowbird’s habanero sauce
Yellowbird’s habanero sauce. This stuff is magical and crafted right in my backyard of Austin. The last time I featured Yellowbird in 5BF, you seemed to love them in a big way. Here’s the official description: “Meet the cult classic that’s now 100% organic with no added sugars! Our organic habanero condiment boasts a flavorful, balanced heat with a complex blend of organic habanero peppers, carrots, and tangerines.”— Tim Ferriss
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▶Una Rosa Blanca
“Una Rosa Blanca” (YouTube, Spotify) by Ibrahim Maalouf (@ibrahimmaaloufofficial). Ibrahim is widely regarded as one of the most gifted trumpeters of his generation. He is also a pioneer in fusing pop, soul, electro, hip-hop, and French chansons with the music of his Lebanese roots.— Tim Ferriss
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▶Nothing At All
“Nothing At All” (Spotify, YouTube) by Santana (feat. Musiq). This tune helps me set the tone for the day. For that shift, it’s more about the melody than the lyrics, but the whole track is beautiful.— Tim Ferriss
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A Procrustean bed: “Something designed to produce conformity by unnatural or violent means.
A Procrustean bed: “Something designed to produce conformity by unnatural or violent means. In Greek mythology, Procrustes was a robber who tied his victims to a bed, either stretching or cutting off their legs in order to make them fit it.” (Source: Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms). Nassim Taleb (@nntaleb) has a related book of aphorisms titled The Bed of Procrustes. He explains the title thusly: “Every aphorism here is about a Procrustean bed of sorts—we humans, facing limits of knowledge, and things we do not observe, the unseen and the unknown, resolve tension by squeezing life and the— Tim Ferriss
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Reality has a surprising amount of detail
“Reality has a surprising amount of detail” by John Salvatier (@johnsalvatier). This 2017 beauty was sent to me by my dear friend, Pineapple-Eating Cat (long story). It made me recall my conversation with Tim O’Reilly and his daily habit of pausing to take a photograph of a flower. If you read this article, and it only takes 5–10 minutes, be sure to read to the end. Here are two teaser sections: This means it’s really easy to get stuck. Stuck in your current way of seeing and thinking about things. Frames are made out of the details that seem important to you. The important details you haven’t— Tim Ferriss
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Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself
Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself (Hulu). Derek’s feats of magic are rivaled by his feats of social engineering, memory, and more. I found the entire show incredibly inventive. Even if you don’t have Hulu or won’t subscribe, the trailer here is worth watching. Description: “Storyteller and conceptual magician Derek DelGaudio (@derekdel) attempts to understand the illusory nature of identity and answer the deceptively simple question ‘Who am I?’” Quote I’m pondering, and the underlining for emphasis is mine — “One of the big traps we have in the West is our intelligence, because we want to know — Tim Ferriss
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“Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.” ― , 2021
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Mike Wallace Is Here
Mike Wallace Is Here (Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube). This doc found me at exactly the right time. I was in the midst of studying many different types of interviewers (Terry Gross vs. Larry King vs. Joe Rogan vs. Charlie Rose vs. James Lipton, etc.) to improve my own game. Mike is an archetype of the Southern Tiger Claw kung fu style of interviewing, kicks to the balls included. He can be brutal. And while I wouldn’t duplicate all aspects of his approach, I think there is much to learn. Some of the clips in this doc are tense beyond words. The footage of Mike with Ayatollah Khomeini, as one exampl— Tim Ferriss
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Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality
Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality. This short book has completely captured me since it was first recommended to me by Peter Mallouk, who said it gave him durable peace for weeks at a time. I originally grabbed the Kindle version with low expectations. I devoured it in three days, and a shelf in my guest bedroom is now permanently stocked with copies for friends. It won’t resonate with everyone, but it found me at the right moment. I’ve now read it roughly a dozen times.— Tim Ferriss
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30 Animals That Look Like They’re About to Drop the Hottest Albums of the Year
“30 Animals That Look Like They’re About to Drop the Hottest Albums of the Year.” For when you simply need a two-minute break from the online doom and gloom…— Tim Ferriss
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▶Puente
“Puente” (YouTube, Spotify) by Chancha Vía Circuito (@chancha_via_circuito) From Wikipedia: “Pedro Canale, better known as his stage name Chancha Vía Circuito, is a producer, DJ/remixer, and composer from Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fusion of electronic music and cumbia is a key factor of Chancha Vía Circuito’s music. He explores the minimal side of digital cumbia with inspiration from Afro-dance, murgas, minimal dub, IDM, and downtempo.”— Tim Ferriss
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Coming of Age in a Mausoleum
“Coming of Age in a Mausoleum” by George Dawes Green. This is one of many gems I found in The Moth Presents — All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the Unknown, which has a permanent spot on my coffee table. Hat tip to The Moth (@TheMoth), Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself), Catherine Burns (@burnzieny), and all the amazing contributors involved.— Tim Ferriss
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“Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state. Being in love shows a person who he should be.” —
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Fountain Pen Hospital
Fountain Pen Hospital. Now that I’m fully vaccinated, I’m excited to get back to the Fountain Pen Hospital, which was “founded in 1946 by Phil Wiederlight and Al Wiederlight (the father and grandfather, respectively, of today’s proprietors – Terry and Steve Wiederlight). Terry and Steve have a combined 60 years experience in all phases of vintage and modern writing instruments.” Special thanks to Neil Gaiman for recommending it during our conversation together, in which he described how and why he does so much writing by hand.— Tim Ferriss
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The French Burglar Who Pulled Off His Generation’s Biggest Art Heist
The French Burglar Who Pulled Off His Generation’s Biggest Art Heist (The New Yorker). After my previous mention of the Sour Grapes doc in 5BF, my brother, who’d also read Billionaire’s Vinegar, said, “Oh, if you like that, I have something you’ll really like.” He sent me this New Yorker piece. It blends theft and art in more ways than one.— Tim Ferriss
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Exhalation: Stories
Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang. I’ve previously recommended Ted’s incredible collection of short stories titled Stories of Your Life and Others. Despite the fact that Ted started off as a part-time science-fiction writer with a full-time technical writing job, he is the equivalent of Martin Scorsese or Wayne Gretzky in the sci-fi world—he has won four Hugo, four Nebula, and four Locus Awards, among others. The hit film Arrival (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), one of my favorite recent movies, is based on one of Ted’s short stories. Gizmodo has written that “the arrival of a new piece of short fict— Tim Ferriss
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RBG
RBG. Description: “At the age of 85, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a lengthy legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. Explore her unique and unknown personal journey of her rise to the nation’s highest court.” May she rest in peace.— Tim Ferriss
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▶Jim Carrey Motivational Video — WHO IS THE REAL YOU?
Jim Carrey Motivational Video — WHO IS THE REAL YOU?. I found the very beginning points and the story about his father to be most impactful. Jim is endlessly fascinating to me. Ignore the “law of attraction” stuff in the last 10–15 seconds, which is not from Jim Carrey himself.— Tim Ferriss
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“If you absolutely can’t tolerate critics, then don’t do anything new or interesting.” —
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Amazon’s internal leadership principles
Amazon’s internal leadership principles. Pair it with Every Amazon Shareholder Letter in a Single Downloadable PDF. Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos) never ceases to amaze, and these letters really highlight how prescient and strategic he and Amazon have been since the 1990s. If you prefer a shortened version via audio, this is worth a shot and includes some fun trivia (e.g., What was the original name idea for Amazon.com? Click on this: Relentless.com…). Big hat tip to Ricardo of Most Recommended Books, whose site is also worth checking out.— Tim Ferriss
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▶Kurt Vonnegut on how to write a short story
Kurt Vonnegut on how to write a short story. There are some exceptional gems in this two-minute video. Most of the rules apply to good nonfiction writing, too, IMHO.— Tim Ferriss
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▶The art of misdirection | Apollo Robbins
The art of misdirection | Apollo Robbins. Apollo (@ApolloRobbins, website) was first recommended to me by Tristan Harris (@tristanharris), with whom I recorded a podcast in 2019. The subject of that portion of the conversation was attention. This part of the video description explains how it relates: “Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch.” It’s a fantastic demonstration of what also happens to you when you’re outmatched on social media by companies whose scientists, engineers, and business models focus on hi— Tim Ferriss
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Yaktrax
Yaktrax (official website, Amazon), for modifying normal shoes when you need to walk on snow or ice. These are amazing and fit in a jacket pocket when folded up. I bought the basic “Walk” model, but there are many options. They’ve been a lifesaver on slippery sidewalks, slick hiking trails, and much more.— Tim Ferriss
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Praying It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. —
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The Glorious, Almost-Disconnected Boredom of My Walk in Japan
The Glorious, Almost-Disconnected Boredom of My Walk in Japan by Craig Mod (@craigmod). This remains one of my favorite pieces ever published by WIRED. I printed it out more than a year ago and reread it often, continuing to highlight new things. If you feel overwhelmed by the noise, or if you simply fantasize about being a stranger in a strange land, this is a wonderful transporter. Told through the lens of an ultra-marathon walk through Japan, Craig’s story contains a lot of gems, including paragraphs like these: I have configured servers, written code, built web pages, helped design product— Tim Ferriss
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Brilliant Minds of Trash and Sewage
Brilliant Minds of Trash and Sewage. Alec Baldwin (@ABFalecbaldwin) — yes, that Alec Baldwin — is absolutely one of the best interviewers in the podcast game. Polymath Matt Mullenweg recommended this short episode of Here’s the Thing to me, and it doesn’t disappoint. Here’s a teaser: “New York City generates 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater every day. 16 million pounds of trash. Eight million pounds of recyclables. Think of the awesome engineering and effort behind making all of that ‘go away’ without our thinking about it.” Listen to this one for ten minutes. It will help you to see and appr— Tim Ferriss
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The Work
The Work. This documentary tore my heart apart but simultaneously gave me tremendous hope. It strikes me as particularly important for men (or those who want to better understand men) to watch, but the intensity isn’t for everyone. It’s exhausting to watch. Check out this short trailer, and you’ll see what I mean. As one reviewer put it, “The Work is a ‘prison film’ but not as you know it, and yet it is perhaps the most emotionally draining the genre has ever seen…. Set in Folsom prison, a group of men from the outside participate in a group therapy session with convicts, many of them violent — Tim Ferriss
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Amy’s Black Bean Chili
Amy’s Black Bean Chili (Amazon, Amy’s website). This chili (plus 1–2 soft-boiled eggs) has returned as my default low-labor breakfast. I eat it straight out of the can because I’m still feral.— Tim Ferriss
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Waboba Pro water bouncing ball
Waboba Pro water bouncing ball. Be careful and start slow! This travels like a skipping stone in ocean whitewash or the pool, and it bounces much farther than you’d expect. Ensure no one is behind you or your partner, and remember the boxing maxim: keep your hands up. It’s not a soft impact if you take a shot in the face. For this week, no Lyme and no face shots.— Tim Ferriss
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ElimiTick Insect Repellent Ultra Lite Pant / TLP
ElimiTick Insect Repellent Ultra Lite Pant / TLP. I’ve contracted Lyme disease twice. Lyme seems to be a tax for many people who grow up on Long Island, and I have no desire for a third experience. These ElimiTick pants were gifted to me by a dear friend, and… they really seem to work. I wore them on a recent hike (forgoing tick-repellent spray) and came back with no ticks whatsoever. The person with me later found more than a dozen ticks on their clothing and skin. I’ll roll the dice with intermittent permethrin—or whatever they use—instead of rolling the dice with ticks and then downing 200m— Tim Ferriss
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“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” ―
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Siddhartha
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. This is one of the books most frequently recommended by podcast guests. Long ago, Naval Ravikant (@naval) highlighted for me the protagonist Siddhartha’s response to “What can you give?” His simple answer is “I can think, I can wait, I can fast.” There’s much more to his response (search “Kamala” here for a good excerpt), and I think about it often. Skip the Amazon description, as it gives away too much plot, but consider reading or rereading this short gem. If you’d prefer an even shorter read, try this: Can We All Be Like Texas? by David Byrne (@DBtodomundo).— Tim Ferriss
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The Risk of Discovery
“The Risk of Discovery” essay by Paul Graham (@paulg), which is only a few paragraphs long. It’s worth rereading a few times.— Tim Ferriss
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“Beware the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world.” —
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Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy
Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat (@mgawdat). This was recommended to me by a type-A MD who runs his life at 200 mph. He is also an engineer and strongly dislikes most woo-woo thinking. He gave this book his highest recommendation. To my relief, it doesn’t require any technical background. Here is part of the description, slightly edited for space: “Mo Gawdat, Chief Business Officer at Google’s [X], applies his superior logic and problem solving skills to understand how the brain processes joy and sadness—and then he solves for happy. In 2001, Mo Gawdat realized that desp— Tim Ferriss
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starting with Season 1, Episode 1. To decompress and destress at the end of each day, I’ve been watching one 22-minute episode of this show, which features an all-star cast and is wonderfully ridiculous. The show gets stronger and stronger with each episode. My 2017 interview with Terry Crews (“Terry Crews — How to Have, Do, and Be All You Want”) convinced me to start with the very first and work my way through.— Tim Ferriss
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“Every day of our lives, we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference.” —
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“Don’t postpone joy until you have learned all of your lessons. Joy is your lesson.” —
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▶Don’t Talk PSA | Angry Voicemail (Uncensored)
Don’t Talk PSA | Angry Voicemail (Uncensored). This might not be a productive use of time, but it’s hilarious enough to highlight. Alamo Drafthouse theaters (@alamodrafthouse) are probably my favorites in the country. The food, booze, and experience are fantastic. This is partly due to a simple rule: Do not fucking talk or use your phone, or we’ll kick your ass out. The above video is a consequence of that rule. It’s worth watching the whole thing.— Tim Ferriss