5 Bullet Archive — everything Tim Ferriss has recommended

An Honest Liar

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2024 · amazon.com

An Honest Liar. An Honest Liar is a documentary about James ‘The Amazing’ Randi, the world-famous magician, escape artist, and enemy of deception. Randi publicly exposed psychics, faith healers, and con artists with quasi-religious fervor. But when there is a shocking revelation in Randi’s personal life, it isn’t clear whether Randi is still the deceiver… or the deceived. Entertaining and informative, this is a real joy to watch. Special thanks to filmmaker Jon Favreau for first mentioning ‘The Amazing’ Randi to me.— Tim Ferriss

Free Solo

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2018 · Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi · nationalgeographic.com

Free Solo, a new documentary in theaters now, should have been titled WHATTHEFUCKOHMYGODHOLYSHIT. I think everyone in the audience lost at least a pound through palm sweat alone. It chronicles free-solo climbing phenom Alex Honnold as he prepares for the ridiculous, the death-inviting, the absolutely impossible: climbing “El Capitan,” the legendary 3,000-foot monster in Yosemite National Park, without any ropes. Beautifully directed and produced by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, this is one movie that will not let your mind wander one iota. Go see it on the biggest screen you can fi— Tim Ferriss

▶David Hockney: The Art of Seeing

DocumentariesTim featured this 3× · 2019–2024 · youtu.be

David Hockney: The Art of Seeing. David never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Here’s part of the doc description: “David Hockney, widely considered to be Britain’s best-loved living artist, has taken over the Royal Academy [RA] in London with his exhibition A Bigger Picture, made up of recent works depicting the landscape of his native Yorkshire. In this programme, Andrew Marr, a friend of Hockney’s and an amateur painter himself, is in conversation with the artist, both at his home in Bridlington and in the galleries of the RA.” Some quotes from the documentary: “The harder you look, the more— Tim Ferriss

The Painter and the Thief

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · primevideo.com

The Painter and the Thief. This doc never gets old. It’s stellar and was originally recommended by author and former rocket scientist Ozan Varol, who served on the operations team for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers project. Here’s the official description of The Painter and the Thief: “Desperate for answers about the theft of her two paintings, a Czech artist seeks out and befriends the career criminal who stole them. After inviting her thief to sit for a portrait, the two form an improbable relationship and an inextricable bond that will forever link these lonely souls.” The two main protag— Tim Ferriss

▶The Thinking Game

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · youtube.com

The Thinking Game. I recently asked many of you for good documentaries, and you didn’t disappoint. The Thinking Game hooked me instantly. You can watch the entire documentary for free. A lot of the milestones were familiar to me, but the archival and behind-the-scenes footage is what makes it super special. >From the description: “The Thinking Game takes you on a journey into the heart of DeepMind, capturing a team striving to unravel the mysteries of intelligence and life itself. Filmed over five years by the award-winning team behind AlphaGo ), the documentary examines how Demis Hassabis’s e— Tim Ferriss

Tim’s Vermeer

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2019 · Teller · amazon.com

Tim’s Vermeer. I first saw this film in 2014, and I decided it was worth a revisit, given my renewed interest in art. It’s absolutely marvelous. Here’s a description from Wikipedia: “Tim's Vermeer is a documentary film, directed by Teller, produced by his stage partner Penn Jillette and Farley Ziegler, about inventor Tim Jenison's efforts to duplicate the painting techniques of Johannes Vermeer, in order to test his theory that Vermeer painted with the help of optical devices.”— Tim Ferriss

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2021–2025 · amazon.com

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville. I deeply appreciated the nuanced portrayal. The archival and outtake footage alone made it well worth watching. The official description: “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain is an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at how an anonymous chef who lived his life unabashedly became a world-renowned cultural icon.” Find the trailer here. There are certainly lessons to be learned from the light and the dark, and this film raises important questions for me. For example: How can you emulate certain chara— Tim Ferriss

Sour Grapes

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2019–2020 · amazon.com

Sour Grapes (on Amazon, Netflix, and iTunes). This film scores ~95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and both the story and its cinematic telling are simply fantastic. Here’s the description: “Controversy erupts when an unassuming young man floods the American wine market with fake vintages valued in the millions, bamboozling the wine world elite, in this humorous and suspenseful tale of an ingenious con on the eve of the 2008 stock market crash.” This is a hilarious and nearly unbelievable case study in factors that make humans vulnerable to deceit, hubris, and more.— Tim Ferriss

Winnebago Man

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · Ben Steinbauer · amazon.com

Winnebago Man (Amazon, YouTube, Apple TV). From Wikipedia: “Winnebago Man is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Ben Steinbauer. The film follows the Internet phenomenon created by a series of twenty-year-old outtakes from a Winnebago sales video featuring profane outbursts from a salesperson named Jack Rebney. Originally intended as an inside joke, the video spread across the globe—first on VHS and then via YouTube and other online video sites, earning the salesman the title of ‘The Angriest Man in the World.’ The documentary explores the story of the clips’ origins and how, two deca— Tim Ferriss

The Alpinist

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2021 · amazon.com

The Alpinist (Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play). If you want an incredible infusion of wonder and adrenaline, this doc delivers. It’s stunning. Description: “Marc-André Leclerc climbs alone, far from the limelight. On remote alpine faces, the free-spirited 23-year-old Canadian makes some of the boldest solo ascents in history. Yet, he draws scant attention. With no cameras, no rope, and no margin for error, Leclerc’s approach is the essence of solo adventure. Nomadic and publicity shy, he doesn’t own a phone or car and is reluctant to let a film crew in on his pure vision of cli— Tim Ferriss

Dealt

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2018 · Luke Korem · amazon.com

Dealt documentary (Amazon, other options) directed by Luke Korem. This absolutely blew my mind, and I don’t want to spoil it with description. Trust me and watch the short trailer here. Truly amazing. I can’t remember the last time I finished a documentary, only to want to immediately watch it again. I also can’t remember a doc that made me as emotional as this did, pushing me from laughter to tears. It’s a masterful visual biography.— Tim Ferriss

Icarus

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2017 · netflix.com

Icarus -- This documentary was strongly recommended to me by several world-class athletes. It’s one hell of a ride and worth the watch. If you’re interested in self-experimentation, performance-enhancing drugs, or state-sponsored doping, this is for you. The Financial Times named it "The Best Non-Fiction film of 2017.” Synopsis: “When Bryan Fogel (@bryanfogel) sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller involving dirty urine, unexplained death and Olympic Gold-exposi— Tim Ferriss

Philip Roth: Unmasked

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2021–2026 · Joyce Carol Oates · amazon.com

Philip Roth: Unmasked. I greatly enjoyed this deep dive into the life, craft, and humor of Philip Roth. My quest to learn more about Philip was sparked by Joyce Carol Oates, one of the most decorated and prodigious American writers of the last century, who spoke about him during our podcast together. Here’s the official description of this interview-rich documentary: “American Masters explores the life and career of Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novelist Philip Roth, often referred to as the greatest living American writer. Reclusive and diffident, Roth grants very few interv— Tim Ferriss

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2020–2026 · netflix.com

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. This film was just what I needed after a rough day. Short description: “A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.” It has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and won the Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award in 2020. You can find the trailer here.— Tim Ferriss

Spielberg

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2025 · amazon.com

Spielberg. Description: “Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg steps out from behind the camera to open up about his life and career.” The documentary has 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and you can watch the trailer here. I’m combining this doc with reading Spielberg: The First Ten Years, as I’m most interested in the early decisions that helped Spielberg hit stratospheric success, not what he did after he was an icon. If you dig into these, pay special attention to how constraints and problems (e.g., the mechanical shark in Jaws breaking, personal promises to George Lucas on Raiders of the Lost Ark) — Tim Ferriss

Stutz

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2023–2024 · netflix.com

Stutz. This doc pairs well with Adam’s “what I’m reading” post above. Stutz was recommended to me by multiple friends, and it does a beautiful job of sharing both a loving relationship and effective therapeutic tools for changing your life. I was hesitant to watch this at first. I worried that it might dredge up old, painful personal issues that I feel I’ve spent enough time on, but it didn’t open Pandora’s box at all. As my friends correctly reassured me, it’s nothing but upside. Here’s the official description: “In candid conversations with actor Jonah Hill, leading psychiatrist Phil Stutz e— Tim Ferriss

In Search of Greatness

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2019–2023 · amazon.com

In Search of Greatness. This documentary thematically fits into a lot of the reading I’m currently doing. The official description: “Through the eyes of the greatest athletes of all time, In Search of Greatness is a cinematic journey into the secrets of genius. From award-winning filmmaker Gabe Polsky, this groundbreaking feature documentary includes original interviews with Wayne Gretzky, Pelé, and Jerry Rice. It also features Muhammad Ali, Einstein, David Bowie, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan, among others.” You can watch the trailer here. Gabe’s earlier Red Army doc is also fantastic.— Tim Ferriss

Speaking of competition… The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2023 · amazon.com

Speaking of competition… The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young. I enjoy oddities, especially oddities that have a strange but compelling logic to them. So it is with the Barkley Marathons. Here is the film description, and it’s not fake: “A famous prison escape sparks the idea for a cult-like race that has seen only 10 finishers in its first 25 years. This award-winning, oddly inspiring, and wildly funny documentary reveals the sports world’s most guarded secret.”— Tim Ferriss

Bird by Bird with Annie

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2021–2023 · Bird with Annie · amazon.com

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

Pick of the Litter

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2022 · amazon.com

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

▶The Price of Everything

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2022 · Nathaniel Kahn · youtube.com

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

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2022 · amazon.com

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

Mike Wallace Is Here

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2020–2021 · amazon.com

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

RBG

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2019–2021 · amazon.com

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

The Work

DocumentariesTim featured this 2× · 2018–2020 · amazon.com

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

Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · Derek DelGaudio · hulu.com

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 attempts to understand the illusory nature of identity and answer the deceptively simple question ‘Who am I?’”— Tim Ferriss

Waste Land

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · Lucy Walker · amazon.com

Waste Land (Amazon, Apple). This Oscar-nominated 2010 documentary, directed by Lucy Walker ), follows famous Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn back to his native Brazil and Jardim Gramacho, then the world’s largest garbage dump. Can a great artist help turn despair into something else through his craft? It’s a riveting watch. At the least, take a minute and watch the short trailer here.— Tim Ferriss

▶Prisoner No More

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · youtube.com

Prisoner No More. This documentary tells the story of the most incredible transformation I’ve ever seen. It follows Tae Jin Park, a young man diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism, who dismantled every limitation medical science predicted for him. Through athletic and mental training under Olympic strength coach Jerzy Gregorek, Tae Jin’s story redefines what is possible. To watch or listen to my brand-new interview with Jerzy, in which we go deeper in how he trained Tae Jin with his methodology of micro-progressions, click here. Special thanks to director Jeff Wolfe for allowing me to share— Tim Ferriss

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · amazon.com

You Cannot Kill David Arquette (Amazon, YouTube, Apple TV). This one is hard to categorize. I found it bizarre, hilarious, and uplifting. The trailer is worth 1,000 words, so click here for a brain tickle of WTFs. The official description: “Branded as the most hated man in wrestling after winning a highly controversial WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 2000, actor David Arquette attempts a rocky return to the sport that stalled his promising Hollywood career. Dangerously determined to redeem his reputation and reclaim his self-respect, Arquette will stop at nothing to earn his place in pro— Tim Ferriss

Queen of Chess

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · netflix.com

Queen of Chess. From the description: “Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár challenges champion Garry Kasparov [Tim note: Garry had an unmatched 20-year dominance as world #1] and her controlling father over 15 years … to become the greatest female player ever.” Watch the trailer here. For a deep dive into the educational philosophy and methods of Judit’s father, László Polgár, who trained all three of his daughters to be chess grandmasters, check out Scott Alexander’s Slate Star Codex review of László’s book Raise A Genius!, which Scott had translated into English. Thanks to Ricardo for the r— Tim Ferriss

Chaos: The Manson Murders

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring · netflix.com

Chaos: The Manson Murders. This is based on a book, CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, by Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring, which has been recommended to me by several close friends. The “chaos” in both titles refers to Operation CHAOS, a domestic spying program by the CIA. I was going to skip this documentary, as I’ve seen prior docs on Manson and find the murders themselves horribly tragic but also uninteresting. I rarely watch true crime, as I come across enough darkness without consuming it as entertainment. But then I learned it was made by the iconic Er— Tim Ferriss

Burden of Dreams

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · amazon.com

Burden of Dreams (Amazon, Apple TV). This documentary was recommended to me by one of the most phenomenal artists I know, Dustin Yellin. Burden of Dreams is a strange and captivating film. It’s a showcase of tackling the impossible, being unrealistic, and failing above others’ successes. On so many levels, the compulsion, single-mindedness, and all-or-nothing drive of legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog makes no sense. And yet… to me, parts of his journey, and parts of his worldview, make all the sense in the world. This is a bizarre one that will only appeal to a small fraction of you, but here— Tim Ferriss

▶YouTube: “The Language Master, a film about Michel Thomas

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2026 · Christopher Robbins · youtube.com

YouTube: “The Language Master, a film about Michel Thomas.” This is a great place to start to get a taste of what his method looks like in a live classroom. It also demonstrates how stubborn and difficult he could be! For propagating his own method, he was sometimes his own worst enemy. Book: The Test Of Courage: Michel Thomas, a biography of the Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter by Christopher Robbins. I found this book to be gratifying, and Robbins did a beautiful job with research and fact-checking around details of WWII and the Holocaust I had never seen before. How do we not learn this s— Tim Ferriss

Nothing Lasts Forever

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · paramountplus.com

Nothing Lasts Forever (Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video). Hat tip to Deepa for this recommendation. The description: “Hidden from public view, a war is raging inside the diamond industry. When filmmaker Jason Kohn infiltrates this highly secretive world, he uncovers a vast, far-reaching crime that threatens the value of every diamond ever mined. At stake is nothing less than the universal symbol of love and commitment—the engagement ring. Featuring some of the most colorful and powerful industry insiders, Nothing Lasts Forever launches us deep inside a criminal investigation and forces us to rec— Tim Ferriss

The Gene: An Intimate History

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · pbslearningmedia.org

The Gene: An Intimate History. The Gene is a collaboration of all-stars, including executive producer Ken Burns, award-winning senior producer and co-writer Barak Goodman (Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies), and Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, an executive producer and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the book on which the documentary is based. In roughly four hours, it covers the history of genetics, moving from the earliest theories of Aristotle and Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments to the discovery of the double helix in 1953 and the modern era of CRISPR and gene editing. The doc featur— Tim Ferriss

John Candy: I Like Me

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · amazon.com

John Candy: I Like Me. As someone whose childhood was saturated with love for John Candy, this doc hit the mark. The first ~15 minutes start slow, and then it quickly ramps up. From the description: “From director Colin Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds comes John Candy: I Like Me. Those who knew John best [e.g., Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Catherine O’Hara] share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews. It’s a documentary of the life, career, and loss of one of the most beloved actors of all time.” You can watch the trailer here.— Tim Ferriss

Wick is Pain

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · amazon.com

Wick is Pain. This is the ultimate story of beating the odds, and it’s a miracle they captured all of the behind-the-scenes footage from the earliest beginnings. What a doc. From the official description: “Wick is Pain is the true story behind the John Wick phenomenon, starring Keanu Reeves—from independent film to billion-dollar franchise.” Check out the trailer here and you’ll likely be hooked. Plus, there are quite a few true stories (cue early puppy scenes) that made me laugh until I cried. Huge kudos to Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, Keanu Reeves, and the entire team involved.— Tim Ferriss

The Eagle Huntress

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · amazon.com

The Eagle Huntress. This documentary follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her family to become an eagle hunter, a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. You can watch the trailer here.— Tim Ferriss

My collaboration with LALO Tequila

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2025 · instagram.com

My collaboration with LALO Tequila. This collaboration between yours truly and LALO is not available for purchase, as it was made exclusively for podcast guests on the 10-year anniversary of the podcast, but I wanted to share this video and associated still photos. The Wixárika people are one of the oldest known Indigenous groups still using peyote (hikuri) in a traditional context. This collaboration has already put more than $100,000 USD into the betterment of Wixárika communities, whose sacred lands are under threat from mining companies and other commercial interests. Visit the Goodness Sa— Tim Ferriss

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · max.com

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived. This doc has 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Click here for the official trailer. Description: “The film is a coming-of-age story of stuntman David Holmes, a prodigious teenage gymnast from Essex, England, who is selected to play Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double in the first Harry Potter film, when Daniel is just eleven. Over the next ten years, the two form an inextricable bond, but on the penultimate film, a tragic accident on set leaves David paralyzed with a debilitating spinal injury, turning his world upside down. As Daniel and his closest stunt colleagues rally t— Tim Ferriss

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · netflix.com

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa. I watched this beautiful doc after Noah Kagan recommended it and after I saw this article: Netflix just got one of the best documentaries of the year — and it’s 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The official synopsis gives you a taste: “The first Nepali woman to summit and survive Mount Everest, Lhakpa Sherpa devoted her life to inspiring and empowering girls. Now a single mother working at a Whole Foods in Connecticut, she embarks on a dramatic return to the mountain, determined to redeem her life’s purpose and inspire her own daughters.”— Tim Ferriss

The Fantastic Mr. Feynman

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · dailymotion.com

The Fantastic Mr. Feynman. This is my favorite documentary of one of my favorite people, Richard Feynman. His lectures and books—such as “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!”: Adventures of a Curious Character—have greatly inspired many of my best decisions in life. He also inspired me to teach. I hope you enjoy the film as much as I did. Whether you like bongo drums, safe cracking, or physics, there is something for everyone.— Tim Ferriss

▶Generation K-Pop

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · Mahyar Goudarzi · youtu.be

Generation K-Pop (YouTube), directed by Mahyar Goudarzi (@good.artsy). I first watched this documentary on a plane, and I’ve since only found a YouTube version in German. Fear not, my non-German-speaking friends: to watch with English subtitles, first turn on the German subtitles, and then change them to English (or another language of your choice). Here is a step-by-step video on how to turn on English subtitles. >From the description [Google-translated from German]: “Korean pop music, or K-Pop for short, captivates an entire generation worldwide. … The hub is the South Korean capital Seoul, — Tim Ferriss

American Symphony

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · netflix.com

American Symphony. This is the most beautiful documentary I’ve seen in a long time. If you listen carefully, there are a lot of philosophical gems worth chewing on. Here’s the official description: “In this deeply intimate documentary, musician Jon Batiste attempts to compose a symphony as his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, undergoes cancer treatment.” At the least, I suggest you watch the short trailer here.— Tim Ferriss

▶The Greatest Submission Artist – Gordon Ryan

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · youtube.com

“The Greatest Submission Artist – Gordon Ryan.”— Tim Ferriss

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2024 · amazon.com

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop. If you want to see the real Conan, the indefatigable master comic with a penchant for punching people, this is for you. It’s also a portrait of someone in transition. In this case, after Conan’s split with NBC, he was legally prohibited from entertaining on television for one year. So what do you do when your identity is taken from you? Or more broadly, how does someone at the top of their game reinvent themselves for a year? >From the official description: “After a much-publicized departure from hosting NBC’s ‘Tonight Show,’ Conan O’Brien hit the road with a 32-city — Tim Ferriss

Icahn: The Restless Billionaire

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · amazon.com

Icahn: The Restless Billionaire (Max, Hulu). From the description: “Explore the fascinating contradictions at the heart of the famed financier and ‘Lone Wolf of Wall Street,’ Carl Icahn, in this documentary.” Watch the trailer here.— Tim Ferriss

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · amazon.com

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story. I recently attended an event where politics was in the air, and someone recommended this doc as a tutorial in how Machiavellian campaigns are actually run, how the sausage is made, and how damage is inflicted. If you are cynical about politics, as I am, this will 10x your tendencies, but it might also make you less susceptible to the everyday deception that has become acceptable in our current systems.— Tim Ferriss

The Pez Outlaw

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · amazon.com

The Pez Outlaw. This hilarious adventure is like a surreal blend of King of Kong, Man on Wire, and Best in Show. From the description: “In the 1990s, Pez dispensers were worth more, gram for gram, than cocaine or even gold. Steve Glew, from rural Michigan, spent 10 years smuggling Pez dispensers into the USA from Eastern Europe, making millions of dollars. It was all magical until... it wasn’t. His arch-nemesis, the Pezident, decided to destroy him.”— Tim Ferriss

▶League of Legends: Origins (2019)

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · Riot Games · youtu.be

League of Legends: Origins (2019) by Riot Games (@riotgames, @MarcMerrill). Description: “In the League of Legends: Origins documentary, renowned filmmaker Leslie Iwerks offers a peek behind the scenes during the early days of League of Legends, from 2006–2017. Told by the fans who lived it, the players that popularized it, and the passionate but inexperienced developers who made it, Iwerks captures the highs and lows of turning League into a global phenomenon. Created by Iwerks & Co. in conjunction with Riot Games.” Internal message at Riot from producer Ashley Rios-Vazquez: Wanted to give ev— Tim Ferriss

Second MAPS-Sponsored Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD Completed

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · maps.org

“Second MAPS-Sponsored Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD Completed.” This is the first time a pivotal and confirmatory Phase 3 trial has been completed for a psychedelic therapy. Moreover, more than 12 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from the debilitating effects of PTSD, and it’s now estimated that before the end of 2024, these people will likely have access to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a novel treatment option. For those wondering why I’ve been personally involved with this for years and why this treatment fundamentally differs from conventional approaches, please — Tim Ferriss

▶Carlos Ghosn: The Last Flight

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2023 · youtube.com

Carlos Ghosn: The Last Flight (YouTube, Apple TV). From the description: “Carlos Ghosn, charged with financial crimes, stunned the world by fleeing Japan. This documentary sheds light on this complex and multilayered story and divulges new details on his spectacular escape.” You can watch the trailer here. I wasn’t initially excited about this, as I assumed it was a straightforward case of fraud. It turns out to be more like a Russian nesting doll of companies vs. companies, countries vs. countries, and a hyper-aggressive businessman (Ghosn) vs. the odds. It doesn’t paint him as a supervillain— Tim Ferriss

Heart Valley: Life Lessons from a Shepherd

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · Christian Cargill · newyorker.com

Heart Valley: Life Lessons from a Shepherd (NewYorker.com, YouTube), a short film by Christian Cargill (@christiancarg), which won Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival. One of my takeaways: the more anxiety you have, the more real-world tasks you need. Watch the trailer here. The documentary runs just under 20 minutes. FYI that the Welsh shepherd Wilf has had at least one major stroke. I mention this because it’s context I wish I’d had up front. Special thanks to @lebowski_eth for the recommendation!— Tim Ferriss

Facing Nolan

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · amazon.com

Facing Nolan (Amazon, Apple TV). I don’t follow baseball, but I love studying anyone who defies the odds and rides the lightning for decades. Nolan Ryan is legendary, even among legends. From the description: “In the world of Major League Baseball, no one has created a mythology like Nolan Ryan. Told from the point of view of the hitters who faced him and the teammates who revered him, Facing Nolan is the definitive documentary of a Texas legend.” Here is the trailer.— Tim Ferriss

Beanie Mania

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · Business Insider · hbomax.com

Beanie Mania on HBO Max. Thanks to Adam Locklin for the recommendation. Some people compare NFTs to the Dutch tulip craze of the 1630s, but it’s a poor comparison for a lot of reasons. If you’re an NFT bear (get it?), a much, much better analog might be Beanie Babies. From the description: “Beanie Mania is a layered and riveting look at how a children’s toy spawned an unprecedented investment bubble and a frenzy of American greed. The documentary features illuminating interviews with passionate collectors, notable influencers, and company insiders.” At the very least, you gotta watch the trail— Tim Ferriss

The Gatekeepers

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · amazon.com

The Gatekeepers (Amazon, YouTube, Apple TV). Here is the official description: “Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror—both Palestinian and Jewish—the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s secret service, is present at the crossroad of every decision made. For the first time ever, six former heads of the agency agreed to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive account of the sum of their successes and failures. It validates the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their hard-line posi— Tim Ferriss

UFO

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · sho.com

UFO. I initially dismissed this. I then revisited the series when I noticed that J.J. Abrams was involved. Before you decide to skip it, consider watching the short trailer for pure fun. Here’s the official description: “A four-part docu-series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Glen Zipper exploring our fascination with unidentified flying objects, and what clandestine influence the American government, lucrative private companies, and the military may have in shielding the truth behind [UFOs] to further their own agendas.” This series includes interviews with former senators, former military in— Tim Ferriss

The Great Dance

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · Craig Foster · facebook.com

The Great Dance by Craig Foster ) and Damon Foster. This was recommended to me by an excellent tracker. The best video I could find that’s viewable from the US was on Facebook. Be forewarned that it’s very grainy and very bizarre. This is the only footage of successful persistence hunting that I’ve ever seen, and filmmaker Craig Foster is also the diver featured in My Octopus Teacher. Here is the official description: “A story of three San hunters at their most extreme limits of endurance, culminating in ‘the Chasing Hunt’—a ritual that has never before been revealed to the world outside of th— Tim Ferriss

The River Runner

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2022 · Thayer and Scott Lindgren · netflix.com

The River Runner (Netflix, Amazon, more options). This jumped to the top of my to-watch list, thanks to Brad Ludden of First Descents, a world-class waterman in his own right and associate producer on this film. Here’s the trailer. Kudos to director Rush Sturges (@rushsturges), writers Thayer Walker (@inkdwell), Corinna Halloran (@corinnahalloran), and the whole team. This Outside feature by Thayer and Scott Lindgren, the documentary’s protagonist, became a model for the film: “After a Hard Diagnosis, One Athlete Learns to Soften Up.”— Tim Ferriss

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski

DocumentariesTim featured this 1× · 2021 · Leonardo DiCaprio · netflix.com

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski. This doc is amazing and bizarre on multiple levels. Here’s the description: “Artists in LA discover the work of forgotten Polish sculptor Stanisław Szukalski, a mad genius whose true story unfolds chapter by astounding chapter.” The documentary was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) and his father George DiCaprio. You can find the trailer here. Thanks to Snapping Turtle for the recommendation.— Tim Ferriss