Everything Tim Ferriss has recommended in 5-Bullet Friday — 2,095 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.
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
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
Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong, a TED talk by Johann Hari (@johannhari101). If you know anyone who has struggled with depression, addiction, or feeling isolated, this video offers some surprising and actionable insights. Here’s the official description: ”What really causes addiction -- to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do -- and if there might be a better way.— Tim Ferriss
The Madness of Steve Jobs, Told by Steve Wozniak. I strongly dislike the clickbait title of the video, which isn’t the focus at all, but Steve Wozniak’s wide-ranging stories and observations are simply fantastic.— Tim Ferriss
J.K. Rowling’s 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. J.K. Rowling’s (@jk_rowling) life and work have fascinated me for decades. Beyond getting tens of millions of kids to love reading and the 500M+ books sold, I’ve always been curious about her underlying philosophies and beliefs. This short talk includes nausea, laughs, sobering stories, and even a Seneca quote at the end. Pair J.K.’s speech with Neil Gaiman’s “Make Good Art” commencement address, and you’ll be well calibrated for creating art like a wizard. And speaking of Neil Gaiman...— Tim Ferriss
Neil Gaiman on The Tim Ferriss Show. Neil has been one of my favorite authors for more than 20 years. I first became fascinated by his imagination with The Sandman comics in the ‘90s—so much so, in fact, that I imported Sandman from different countries to help me learn foreign languages. My love for his work grew from there. From Anansi Boys to The Graveyard Book (my favorite audiobook of all time) to Neverwhere, I’ve never been disappointed. Neil has won just about every award in every genre he’s tackled, including Nebula and Hugo awards, and his voice is radio-perfect hypnotic. Since my very— Tim Ferriss
Newness. Polyamory? Off-menu sexual arrangements and relationship stress-testing? This movie has enough twists and turns to make anyone mutter, “Oh, God… don’t do it. Oh, no…,” and cover their eyes, peeking through split fingers. I watched this with a group of four, and each of us found the movie to be a rollercoaster of eroticism, masochism, deceit, brutal honesty, and—oddly enough—hope. It’s realistic enough to make nearly everyone uncomfortable at points, and that’s a good thing.— Tim Ferriss
Bruce Lee at the 1967 Long Beach Tournament. Bruce was so far ahead of his time, it’s hard to believe. How did I not find this video sooner?! The audio includes a lot of great anecdotes as a bonus.— Tim Ferriss
“Can’t stop watching this.”— Tim Ferriss
Ryan Speedo Green: From Juvenile Delinquency to Opera Stardom (via @60Minutes). This short, 13-minute clip tells the incredible story of Ryan Speedo Green (@ryanspeedogreen, website), once a violent youth locked in solitary confinement, now a powerhouse on the global opera stage. One of my favorite lines from this video, which I’ll likely end up repeating to myself, is “Don’t let this moment define you.”— Tim Ferriss
Package Thief vs. Glitter Bomb Trap. I don’t watch much on YouTube, but this was sent to me by three separate people. It’s definitely worth the entire 9–10 minutes. Save it for an after-work treat, if needed. If you’ve ever had packages stolen, as I have, this will put a smile on your face.— Tim Ferriss
Could a drug prevent depression and PTSD? This talk by neuroscientist Rebecca Brachman is a compelling exploration of Calypsol/ketamine — also of great interest to me — for preventing, and not just treating, depression. This video is worth watching for her history of tuberculosis and medical discovery alone.— Tim Ferriss
Apple Engineer Talks About New Macbook Pro.— Tim Ferriss
German coast guard Berlitz commercial. Coincidentally introduced to me by a volunteer at a maximum-security prison.— Tim Ferriss
Aterciopelados (@aterciopelados). One of my favorite songs: “El Estuche.”— Tim Ferriss
Hamilton's Pharmacopeia (VICELAND, Amazon) — I have no idea how I missed this show until now, but better late than never. Both seasons are incredibly intelligent, well produced, and, at points, hilarious. If you want an immediate “WTF?!” response, watch “The Psychedelic Toad” episode. Here’s the official description: “Hamilton Morris (@hamiltonmorris) is fascinated by drugs. Join him on an incredible journey as he investigates the history, chemistry, and social impact of the world's most extraordinary mind-altering substances in Hamilton's Pharmacopeia.”— Tim Ferriss
Video for the podcast! Thousands of you have asked for video podcasts for years, and I’m finally giving it a shot. Two recent episodes were recorded with a full video crew -- Dr. Gabor Maté and Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb. Please let me know what you think and how I can improve it! Is it even worth doing? My opinion jumps back and forth, so please share your feedback. All new videos will go up on my YouTube channel (be sure to subscribe for all updates) full of experiments, injuries, TV episodes, and other antics. And as always, please let me know your requests and suggestions on Twitter.— Tim Ferriss
The Shape of Water. This movie exceeded all expectations. Brought to life by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT), who previously made one of my all-time favorite fantasy movies (Pan’s Labyrinth), is a love story and a war between good and evil, including the FBI, Russians, a mute, and a god. I took my parents to see this, and we were all blown away. See it on the big screen if you can, and pay attention to the sheer beauty and richness of the colors and reflections. It’s a true piece of art. Warning if you decide to bring your parents or kids: there is a fair amount of sex and masturbation— Tim Ferriss
Mandarin VS Cantonese | Learn Chinese Now -- I discovered this short video when trying to polish my “Happy new year!” in Cantonese. What most people think of as “Chinese” is typically called “Mandarin” in English and refers to northern mainland Chinese dialect. “Cantonese” is spoken in Hong Kong, among other areas, and is very, very different. This cute video does a great job of explaining basic differences. Jiā yóu! (“add gas” in Mandarin, which means “good luck” or “try hard,” often heard from supporters at sports events)— Tim Ferriss
>From the NYTimes (@nytimes) as an “Op-Doc” - Santa is a Psychedelic Mushroom. Anyone else want to visit Lapland?— Tim Ferriss
Fred Rogers (“Mr. Rogers” of television fame) testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications in 1969. If you want to see an incredibly deft display of verbal judo, watch this short clip. It’s absolutely fantastic. Mr. Rogers turns a cantankerous opponent into an ally in minutes, and it’s important to watch all the way to the end. This footage was recommended to me by Tim “The Trend Spotter” O’Reilly in our conversation together. Thanks, Tim!— Tim Ferriss
The Director's Chair: Sylvester Stallone - Full Episode -- This episode of The Director’s Chair was recommended to me by the series’ creator, Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez). Even if you’re familiar with Stallone’s career, the details of his storytelling, comebacks from failure, and more will make your head spin. He’s much more than an actor. Fantastic watching.— Tim Ferriss
Rick and Morty -- Season 1, Ep 2, “Lawnmower Dog” >From comedic masterminds Dan Harmon (@DanHarmon) and Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) comes Rick and Morty. Adult Swim's newest series follows the adventures of mad scientist Rick Sanchez, who returns after 20 years to live with his daughter, her husband, and their children Morty and Summer.— Tim Ferriss
The pure genius and insanity of Bboy Pocket, a Korean breakdancing phenom who boggles the mind. Little-known factoid: In the subculture of breakdancing, Koreans are widely considered the best in the world. What I’m most excited about -- Sharing the first chapter of Tribe of Mentors in this email! You (5-Bullet Friday subscribers) are getting the worldwide first look at Tribe of Mentors! No one has seen the book outside of my publisher and proofreaders. The first chapter is included at the bottom of this email, after the P.S. Some of you have asked how Tribe of Mentors (subtitle: Short Life Adv— Tim Ferriss
The Defiant Ones. This is probably the best edited non-fiction TV I've seen in a decade. It's phenomenal. Here’s the official description: Set amid many of the defining events of the past four decades, The Defiant Ones tells the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre -- one the son of a Brooklyn longshoreman, the other straight out of Compton -- and their improbable partnership and surprising leading roles in a series of transformative events in contemporary culture. This epic look at America shows how you can consistently defy conventional wisdom and even logic, and still win big.— Tim Ferriss
Jim Carrey: I Needed Color (six-minute short film). This is a wonderful portrait of a polymath and creative genius. It reminded me that I really, really want to get Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) on the podcast some day. Special thanks to my bud Kevin Rose for the find.— Tim Ferriss
Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories. I have loved Kurt Vonnegut forever. This very short video is a great introduction to his humor and how simply powerful (and powerfully simple) good stories can be. Kurt has inspired me for ages because his writing is approachable -- he uses simple language to create fantastic characters and impart profound lessons. Unlike someone like Milan Kundera, who inspires but intimidates me, Vonnegut made me think “Hmmm… maybe I could actually be a writer…” If you’re looking for other resources, one book that has also helped me to think about storytelling over a d— Tim Ferriss
Reflections from Uyuni by Enrique Pacheco. I’ve been dreaming more and more of extended travel, and I learned of Uyuni from Chavo Salvatierra, a Bolivian Dakar Rally racer (and much more). He sent me the above video, which is a time-lapse short film that shows the intrinsic beauty of the salt flat of Uyuni and the province of Potosí in Bolivia. The reflections produced by the water flooding the area in the rainy season are the main protagonist of Enrique Pacheco’s camera, who invites us to dream with impossible images from another world, where the sky meets the earth forming an infinite mirage— Tim Ferriss
How The Economic Machine Works (30-minute video) by Ray Dalio (@raydalio), founder of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world, and the author of ‘Principles.’ What I’m reading and rereading (due to the bolded concept and— Tim Ferriss
“Savage” loop choke in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition. What’s most notable to me here is the calm finish by the winner. Despite the announcer implying that he didn’t know when his opponent was unconscious, the winner sensed this immediately and put him down as gently as possible.— Tim Ferriss
My brand-new TED talk! This 14-minute talk was given on the TED main stage during the opening session a few weeks ago, and it’s finally live. It’s the most important and vulnerable talk I’ve ever given, touching on subjects like suicide. Oddly, the exercise I describe -- “fear-setting” -- has also led to nearly all of my best investments and business successes. Step-by-step instructions and real-world examples can be found in this post. There’s a lot of darkness in the world, but certain tools can help. Thank you for sharing the talk with someone it might help. Last but not least, and among ma— Tim Ferriss
When I’m cooking at home, I use a few basic spices to prep meals like a pro. Here’s what I recommend.— Tim Ferriss
Meet the Dazzling Flying Machines of the Future (12-minute TED talk) — Techies are going nuts for this drone demo, and it might expand your conception of what “normal life” could look like in 3-10 years. Here’s the description: "Autonomous systems expert Raffaello D'Andrea develops flying machines, and his latest projects are pushing the boundaries of autonomous flight — from a flying wing that can hover and recover from disturbance to an eight-propeller craft that's ambivalent to orientation ... to a swarm of tiny coordinated micro-quadcopters. Prepare to be dazzled by a dreamy, swirling arra— Tim Ferriss
The 2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin by Admiral William H. McRaven.— Tim Ferriss