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.
Prophetic’s Morpheus-1. I have not tried this product, but my interest in lucid dreaming goes back to my high-school wrestling days, when I used it for performance enhancement. Here’s the one-liner about Morpheus-1: “The world’s first multi-modal generative ultrasonic transformer designed to induce and stabilize lucid dreams.” Has anyone used this device or something like it? If so, please let me know your results on X/Twitter @tferriss with #lucid.— Tim Ferriss
A grain of salt. From Wikipedia: “The phrase is thought to come from Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia, regarding the discovery of a recipe written by the Pontic king Mithridates to make someone immune to poison. One of the ingredients in the recipe was a grain of salt. Threats involving poison were thus to be taken ‘with a grain of salt,’ and therefore less seriously.”— Tim Ferriss
“Hearing is be-leafing: Students invent quieter leaf blower.” These brilliant undergrad engineers at Johns Hopkins might just save my sanity. Their invention could be on the market within two years, and in Austin, where nearly every citizen has OLD (obsessive leaf-blowing disorder), I’ll consider it a godsend. Fingers crossed.— Tim Ferriss
“Are You Hunting Antelope or Field Mice?” I often ask myself this, and I lifted it from the most unlikely of sources. Read this in two minutes for context, and don’t freak out because of the first few paragraphs. Strong metaphors can come from all places.— Tim Ferriss
RAY. “Autofocus” for your voice! Check out this cool demo on YouTube. If it delivers even 50% of the features, it’ll be one to watch. The description: “RAY is the first microphone with our new sensor-based AURA technology to dynamically adapt your levels and tone according to your distance to the microphone. It’s like autofocus but for your voice. Instead of making perfectly sharp pictures, you’re getting perfectly balanced recordings.” Has anyone used this? If so, what are the pros and cons? Please let me know at @tferriss on Twitter with #RAY. I’m considering sending this to remote podcast g— Tim Ferriss
Felix culpa. “Felix culpa is a Latin phrase that comes from the words felix, meaning ‘happy,’ ‘lucky,’ or ‘blessed,’ and culpa, meaning ‘fault’ or ‘fall.’ In the Catholic tradition, the phrase is most often translated ‘happy fault,’ as in the Catholic Exsultet. Other translations include ‘blessed fall’ or ‘fortunate fall.’” More broadly and put another way in Oxford Languages: “an apparent error or disaster with happy consequences.”— Tim Ferriss
Pitbull Head and Face Shaver (official website, Amazon). A few weeks ago, I met a fellow baldy while skiing. My pate was growing out and beginning to look a little bedraggled, and I complimented him on his clean shave. To that, I added my usual comment: “I just can’t use a blade on my head. Cut it once and it bled everywhere. Too much hassle.” He responded with “Oh, I don’t use a blade” and sent me the Pitbull Head and Face Shaver as a gift. I’ve only used it for a few weeks, but it’s been absolutely fantastic. I suggest using it at least every other day or every few days, since it can’t chomp— Tim Ferriss
Glerups. Many of you asked about the shoes I’m wearing in this photo. In the colder months, I wear Glerups indoors effectively 100% of the time. I love them.— Tim Ferriss
“How Taylor Tomlinson Nailed the Closing Joke in her Netflix Special.” This text-plus-video feature shows how comic Taylor Tomlinson spent a year workshopping the closing joke of her Netflix special. It’s incredible that all of this was captured and woven together. As they say, writing is rewriting. This is true for nearly everything. In the world of tech, Steve Blank has said, “No plan survives first contact with customers.” Same same. Quality begins with a shitty first draft, so just get started and take the punches. That’s how you press the carbon into diamonds: pressure and time.— Tim Ferriss
Corvo EKG Electric Kettle from Fellow. I’ve tried a lot of electric kettles for tea and coffee over the decades, and this is my favorite. From the description: “The electric kettle that does it all, precision engineered to meet all your hot water needs. Exact temperature control, 1200 watts for a quick heat time, and a world of features for ultimate control.” Big thanks to Blake from LMNT for the gift! >From NYT’s Wirecutter: “If you like a modern aesthetic, and you don’t mind paying more for smaller capacity: The Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Kettle is attractive, and it performed very well, but — Tim Ferriss
LALO. I first had LALO at Suerte in Austin, Texas, at the strong recommendation of the waiter. This was several years ago, and it was a new staff favorite. I was having a long overdue dinner with the lovely Chase Jarvis and his even lovelier wife, and we ended up drinking and talking for hours upon hours. I assumed my next day would be a total write-off, as would usually be the case with that much booze. I was shocked to wake up with no hangover, and LALO has been my go-to tequila ever since. The morning after this week’s Random Show with Kevin Rose, he texted me with “Dude, I literally have z— Tim Ferriss
反面教師 (hanmen kyoushi). Some languages have elegant ways of capturing things that require a sentence in English. Saudade in Portuguese is close to this. Komorebi in Japanese certainly checks the box. Now I can add hanmen kyoushi to my ever-growing list. “反面教師 (はんめん きょうし, hanmen kyoushi, 反面教员 in Chinese) is a Chinese/Japanese idiom that means ‘an example of bad people/things that you should not follow/imitate.’” (Source) Think of it as “opposite teacher.” Deep bow to Kristy for putting this on my radar.— Tim Ferriss
Salomon’s Xa Forces Jungle Tactical Boots. To roughly paraphrase my friend, who’s a fan of minimalist packing, “I would rather have one pair of footwear that does everything well enough than carry a bunch of specialist footwear that does things better than I need.” We both only brought carry-on luggage. So instead of packing sneakers, hiking boots, flip-flops, etc., I bought these. From the description: “This lightweight, tactical boot is designed for pushing hard in tough conditions like the jungle. Based on Salomon’s iconic racing XA PRO 3D, this special-forces boot is ultra-durable and rema— Tim Ferriss
Organ Blend 95/5 from Maui Nui Venison. From the description: “The best-tasting grind always comes from a mix of muscles from the entire animal. Our ground venison includes trim from neck to leg, loin to belly, and everything in between, ensuring a richness and depth of flavor like no other. With knowledge gained from our recent nutrient analysis, we have made a more balanced 5% organ blend, containing 3.5% liver and 1.5% heart. Since the liver and heart of our venison contain superior nutrient density, this blend offers the benefits of organ meat with an improved flavor profile.” I also sugge— Tim Ferriss
The Five Minute Journal (Intelligent Change, Amazon). I use two types of journaling and alternate between them: Morning Pages and The Five Minute Journal. The former I use primarily for getting unstuck or problem-solving (what should I do?); the latter I use for prioritizing and gratitude (how should I focus and execute?). The only thing I dislike about The Five Minute Journal? Their lack of hyphenation.— Tim Ferriss
Six Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono. I read these long ago and am revisiting the concepts and practices. The Wikipedia pages for both give a good blended introduction: Six Thinking Hats and Lateral thinking. For personal work, these pair well with “The Drama Triangle,” as outlined by Jim Dethmer and Diana Chapman of the Conscious Leadership Group.— Tim Ferriss
Nayoya Acupressure Mat. This was originally introduced to me by acrobat phenom Andrii Bondarenko, but I’ve realized that the smaller portion intended for the neck is perfect for helping calm low-back stiffness and muscle spasms. I’ll lie on this for 5–10 minutes as I read before bed then ditch and go to sleep. It seems to substantially reduce tightness and discomfort throughout the night, and the neck-roll portion is much easier to pack for travel.— Tim Ferriss
The Cold Pod. For anti-inflammation and mood elevation, cold is the simplest solution I’ve found. I desperately wanted to cold plunge while at an Airbnb, but what to do that doesn’t leave a chest freezer behind? I found this inflatable Cold Pod on Amazon, and it works surprisingly well. Yes, you need to refill with ice, but it’s been a godsend. Pro tip: the less water you use, the less ice you need to lower the temperature.— Tim Ferriss
Fellow Gen 2 Ode Brew Grinder. The Gen 2 Ode makes me think of the legendary Dieter Rams and his “10 principles for good design.” It’s one of the few devices that I absolutely love using every morning. The elegance—in aesthetics, function, and space efficiency—really tickles my OCD. All that said, please be forewarned that this beauty is very expensive. If you’re looking for a more economical option that still does the job, I also have this burr grinder in Austin. If you want a portable hand grinder, you might try this. All of these devices combine well with today’s P.S.— Tim Ferriss
Barr Hill Gin. From the description: “Barr Hill Gin is distilled once in our custom-built, botanical extraction still with hand-crushed, organic juniper and then finished with raw honey from our region. The raw honey contributes botanical depth from the countless wildflowers foraged by the bees. How do we extract such complexity from simple raw materials? Our secrets are kept in the hive.”— Tim Ferriss
Sea Salt Espresso Bites. A delicious one-liner from the website: “A little salty, a little sweet, and decadently wild, this espresso bite is made with 100% Maui coffee and sprinkled with mineral-rich sea salt from Molokai.” Thanks to Jake Muise for bringing these goodies to Austin! Outside of cheat day, a single square right before podcast recording also gives me just the right cognitive boost without any jitters.— Tim Ferriss
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. You can learn how to play in less than a minute. The game is fast, fun, addictive, hilarious, and suitable for all ages. It scrambles brains to the delight of all. Hat tip to game Jedi Elan Lee (@elanlee) for introducing me to this gem!— Tim Ferriss
Paperlike iPad Screen Protector. This makes using a stylus (e.g., Apple Pencil) on your iPad more like writing on paper. It provides more control and helps to prevent oversliding. I’m using Paperlike principally for learning to draw in Procreate, based on advice on YouTube from the incredible Sinix. Please note that you should watch this how-to video to install Paperlike correctly, and be SURE to use the credit card instead of your fingers.— Tim Ferriss
Annas Ginger Thins. Be forewarned that you may eat an entire box in one sitting. Description: “Annas Ginger is the classic Swedish ginger thin that has spread happiness for generations. It’s the perfect choice for parties and traditional festivities or as an enjoyable treat anytime.” Goes very well with… ahem… coffee and a splash of cream.— Tim Ferriss
Jura ENA 4 (Cost: $999). This was gifted to me by my friend Brad L. He is a die-hard coffee nerd and swore it was the best cup of coffee you could have without a professional barista. Just feed it whole beans, and it handles the rest. This attractive machine also imbues the coffee with a creamy texture that is hard to describe. AeroPress Original (Cost: The 4-Hour Chef: “This is now, bar none, my favorite brewing method. Remember the Aerobie, the amazing UFO-like disc that you could throw farther than a football field, 20 times farther than a standard Frisbee? Alan Adler, a mechanical engineer— Tim Ferriss
Acumobility Massage Ball. Yes, this model looks like a pink nipple. The basics: I’m lying on the ground on my back and placing the nub where I am sorest on my “QL” (quadratus lumborum). Starting with my right side, I would then bring my right knee towards my chest, followed by extending the same leg straight and back to resting position. Repeat this motion, almost like a single-leg high march from the back, for 10 repetitions. Then switch sides. This is all easiest to follow by watching this short video. Personally, I’m placing the nub just above the crest of my hip, but you’ll find your most — Tim Ferriss
“Day at Night: Ray Bradbury.” Description: “Host James Day speaks with Ray Bradbury about his career, the importance of fantasizing, his aspirations as a young child, his dislike of college for a writer, his idea of thinking compared to really living, and his love of the library.” To hear writing advice from this segment that I’ve been pondering all week, click here.— Tim Ferriss
Rozendal’s Fynbos Botanical Vinegar. The preceding link only delivers in South Africa. For the USA, try Interdependence Natural Foods or Stellenberg Imports, which offers a 9-bottle case. This vinegar was gifted to me by Zach Williams, an alpine ski racer and Paralympic hopeful. I’ve been drizzling it on practically everything, including salads and thinly sliced elk with some oil, salt, and pepper. Here is the official description: “Carefully selected Fynbos herbs reflect the rich biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Balsamic vinegar infused with buchu, honeybush tea, rose geranium, wild o— Tim Ferriss
Therm-ic C-Pack 1300 Bluetooth with Heat Kit. This is a heated boot system that has been a lifesaver for my toes on cold days. Note that I would likely buy the 1700 version next time to have a longer battery life, but these less expensive 1300s are great for sessions of six hours or less. This system has three heating intensities, and a roughly six-hour session is using the second, middle intensity. If you keep it on the lowest setting, I think it’s fair to assume you could get 10 hours, but I have Raynaud’s disease, and my toes get abnormally cold. Another tip that is counterintuitive: thin s— Tim Ferriss
Stio’s Environ XT Jacket. I recently replaced my old ski jacket/shell with this, and I’m thrilled that I did. It’s lightweight, durable, and has made even windy negative temperatures easy to handle with a proper base layer and midlayer. The Stio Environ XT is one of SKI Magazine’s “Best Men’s Ski Jackets of 2023,” and I chose Afternoon Azure for color. Here’s the description from the website: “Primed and ready for sidecountry hits, all-day tours, and storm laps in the resort, this jacket is for the minimalist who never uses his powder skirt and the purist who knows exactly what he needs.”— Tim Ferriss
ORTOVOX Merino Thermovent Hoody. From the description: “The HOODY is made of 99% fine merino wool. Thanks to the mesh structure in the torso and arm areas, this super-lightweight base layer wicks moisture away perfectly and provides ventilation. And the air pockets in the special structure make it particularly warm. Merino wool is naturally temperature- and moisture-regulating. A small pack size and ideal weight-to-warmth ratio will delight all tourers who value comfort and low weight.”— Tim Ferriss
This bullet solves several headaches, starting with the clumsy, multi-click approach I’ve been using for creating new Google Doc pages. The fix: just type “doc.new” into Chrome in the URL bar, which will create a brand-new Google Doc. Next headache: when I copy and paste text from “Notes,” it often comes with formatting/HTML that is invisible to my eye but that screws up tweets, etc. The fix: copy and paste your text into the new Google doc, select/highlight the entire text, right-click and select “Clear formatting.” You can also “clear formatting” inside Gmail when composing an email, althoug— Tim Ferriss
“The Ultimate AeroPress Technique (Episode #3)” by James Hoffmann. See the video’s description for details and step-by-step instructions.— Tim Ferriss
L’eggs Women’s Everyday Knee Highs. OK, OK, hear me out. An old Italian fella, veteran of the Camino de Santiago, shared this gem with a close friend of mine: Skip fancy sock liners and just put these on before your hiking socks. Et voilà! No blisters. So far, it’s worked like a charm.— Tim Ferriss
Jakt Gear’s SLING-A-LING Magnetic Paracord Bow Sling. Huge thank you to Jedi Jordon for the recommendation!— Tim Ferriss
Top 10 Ippons from Zagreb Grand Prix 2022. I’d never seen #6 before in competition, and #5 wins my heart for pure elegance. Gorgeous.— Tim Ferriss
Protekt REST (Protekt, Amazon). This was given to me by a friend after I mentioned I was avoiding melatonin due to its effects on gonadal function and next-day sluggishness. From the description: “While other sleep aids leave you groggy in the morning, we’ve chosen valerian root, theanine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA.” Pro tip #1: If you have trouble opening the packets, just use scissors. Pro tip #2: Mix the packets with water. Do *not* skip that step and chug it alone. This REST cocktail has worked well for me over the last few weeks, so I plan to continue using it as part of my sle— Tim Ferriss
PSO-RITE for psoas muscle release. Recommended by multiple people in this Twitter thread on iliacus self-release.— Tim Ferriss
Cloudventure from On (@on_running). I have this pair in Black/Reseda. From On’s website: “The Cloudventure is a lightweight trail running shoe, built to excel in demanding outdoor conditions.” I’ve been pounding the hell out of these, and they’ve allowed me to hike more than I have in years without any pain from plantar fasciitis. I’ll be adding in rucking soon then slowly progressing to trail running, which I loved when I was younger. Related reading: “The Painless Path to Endurance.”— Tim Ferriss
“Don’t just write words. Write music.” I think about this type of cadence, musicality, and readability a lot when writing.— Tim Ferriss
Devon Larratt vs. “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones (225 lbs vs. 419 lbs) Devon Larratt Best Moments #265: Devon Larratt: Arm Wrestling on the Lex Fridman (@lexfridman) podcast.— Tim Ferriss
“No one knows how to actually learn a foreign language. I have been aggressively studying Spanish over the next month before I fly to Spain. Wanted to share a breakdown of what I’ve been doing, and how it differs from school...” by Jack Raines. For those who would like to explore language learning further, these posts will give you new tools and tricks for faster acquisition.— Tim Ferriss
Secret Hitler. From the description: “Secret Hitler is a dramatic game of political intrigue and betrayal set in 1930s Germany. Players are secretly divided into two teams—liberals and fascists. Known only to each other, the fascists coordinate to sow distrust and install their cold-blooded leader. The liberals must find and stop the Secret Hitler before it’s too late.” This is a really fun board game, but it requires a minimum of five players. Any great recommendations for games that can be played well with 3–4 players? Please let me know @tferriss on Twitter.— Tim Ferriss
Terramar Thermasilk Over-the-Calf Sock Liner (Amazon, official website). “Over forty years ago, Terramar was the first company to introduce silk performance base layer products. Thermasilk® is still going strong. The sock liner offers a natural, super soft touch and feel with all the technology you need. The result is a breathable, lightweight layer that keeps you warm, dry, and comfortable for all your outdoor adventures.”— Tim Ferriss
Seirus Innovation MagneMask. I first came across this in Antarctica, where a fellow visitor to Union Glacier Camp was sporting one. This ended up solving a long-standing problem for me. The conundrum is as follows: If I don’t wear a balaclava ) in very cold weather, my face and neck freeze. However, if I do wear a balaclava, the portion covering my nose and mouth gets wet and gross and often freezes over. This Seirus balaclava-like mask fixes this entirely, as a section can be flipped up or down with ease using a magnetic release. This has been an absolute godsend for skiing and other winter s— Tim Ferriss
Estate Carmenere 2019 — Errázuriz. This little devil was fantastic. It also clocks in at an affordable $11–20 USD. My friends and I had it in Punta Arenas, Chile, at La Marmita restaurant, which also punches above its weight class. The wine connoisseurs among you can find a detailed description here. Wine to Ship offers a number of Carmenere options from Errázuriz. For international options, try Wine-Searcher. I have not personally used those services, so your mileage may vary, but I did enjoy this juice.— Tim Ferriss
Hu Chocolate Variety Pack. This includes eight of Hu’s bestselling dark chocolate bars or “a full library of chocolate,” as one friend puts it. The nut butter bars (four of the eight) are easily my favorite chocolate bars on the planet. I could watch Talladega Nights and eat an entire box by myself… and perhaps I already have. On top of that, Hu has agreed to give 25% of the proceeds of any sales from the links in this bullet to my mental-health-focused nonprofit foundation, so it’s win-win-win-win for me, my girlfriend, Ricky Bobby, and the millions who suffer from conditions like PTSD, treat— Tim Ferriss
Savory Sage sprouted cashews from Rich Nuts. Thanks for introducing me to these, Mikey! Description: “Organic rosemary, sage, and sea salt give these cashews a rich, umami flavor. We start with raw cashews from triple-certified organic farms in Vietnam and SMETA Ethical Trade Audit-certified facilities. These world-class cashews are preservative-free, pesticide-free, vegan, gluten-free, and Paleo diet approved. We spark their germination with pure water to unlock nutrients. Then gently dehydrate them to preserve all that vital goodness and give them a superior crunch.”— Tim Ferriss
Anker Nano II 65W (Amazon, official website). This is a game changer. Tired of carrying around that gigantic brick of a MacBook charger? Check out the photos at either of the above links. Huge thanks to our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Kevin Rose (@KevinRose)! Description: “Anker Nano II has the power you need to fast charge your phone, tablet, and USB-C notebook from a single tiny charger. Charge a 2020 MacBook Air in less than 2 hours, a MacBook Pro 13ʺ at full speed, an iPhone 12 up to 3× faster than with an original 5W charger.…”— Tim Ferriss
Arc Lighter - USB Rechargeable, Windproof, Flameless Plasma Lighter. I received this as a gift, and it doesn’t have any branding on it. So while I can’t be 100% sure, the linked Amazon lighter appears identical.— Tim Ferriss
Logitech BRIO Ultra HD 4K Webcam. I’ve always used my built-in MacBook lens for podcasting, Zoom, and so on. I looked into getting a prosumer setup with a great Sony camera, but I wasn’t motivated enough to fuss with lots of setup on a laptop that is by definition going to move a lot. This BRIO webcam was the middle ground I found, and I love it. What’s most remarkable and surprising is that, although I bought it to improve the other side’s experience, it makes my own experience of video chats much pleasanter and much easier on the eyes. Here’s the official description: “Brio is a remarkable p— Tim Ferriss
Rao’s Sensitive Marinara. My girlfriend is currently following a low-FODMAP diet, which led us to this product as our default tomato sauce. Last night, I incorporated it into a ground Maui Nui venison stew (also excellent on top of spaghetti squash “pasta”), including a few dashes of ginger, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. It turned out spectacularly. From the Rao description: “This sauce does not contain onions or garlic, while still keeping all the flavor of our slow-simmered Italian tomatoes.”— Tim Ferriss
Four Sigmatic’s Body Butter. She *loves* this stuff and puts it on her face before bed. I learned this when I had to ask her, “Why does your face smell like chocolate?” Short description: “This nourishing all-around body butter is made with real (super)food ingredients. It’s so pure you can eat it. Apply to your face before bed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Then rub on your dry hands, lips, or knees to moisturize.”— Tim Ferriss
YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler, charcoal color. This was the key bag for successfully bringing frozen food and other goodies on my first trip to Big Bend National Park. Easily packed, easily transported, it allowed me and my girlfriend to also stop over in an Airbnb in Fredericksburg—fully stocked with our own food—en route back to Austin, TX, home of YETI.— Tim Ferriss
Ruby Hibiscus Water. Ruby unsweetened hibiscus water. 0g of sugar and 0 calories. Sometimes you just want a different flavor around, ya know? Thanks to Noah for the recommendation.— Tim Ferriss
Armaid (company website, which includes how-to videos; Amazon). This was put on my radar by competitive rock climbers. I’ve had forearm and elbow issues for years, including one elbow surgery. The nagging tightness and pain can take a lot of exercise off the menu, but Armaid appears to be working surprisingly well to resolve issues. TBD, but so far, so good.— Tim Ferriss
Menakao’s Dark Chocolate 63% with Orange & Cranberries. I found this via Cocoa Runners, a beautiful and delicious service introduced to me by Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman). Thank you, Reid!— Tim Ferriss
Qantu’s Chuncho 70% Dark Chocolate. If you love chocolate, this bar is incredible. Warm hugs and smooches to Darya Rose (@daryarose) and Kevin Rose (@kevinrose) for the gift. For those curious, the brand name “Qantu” derives from the Quechua language and is pronounced ‘kantu.’ It is a “symbol of unity and hospitality… it is [also] the name of the national flower of Peru and Bolivia [technically Cantua buxifolia, commonly called flor del Inca, or ‘flower of the Inca’].”— Tim Ferriss
Ascent Cap in Optifade Subalpine. This is one of the lightest and most comfortable caps I’ve ever worn. Though designed for hunting, it’s perfect for nearly any outdoor activity, whether hiking, tennis, cross-country skiing, or other.— Tim Ferriss
Wegan /ˈwēɡən/ noun. Someone who follows a vegan diet, omitting all animal products except for wild-harvested meats. Put another way, a wegan diet is a vegan diet modified to include only wild-harvested meats. This term was coined by Kuʻulani Muise of Maui Nui Venison, as she, her husband Jake, and their three young children all enjoy a “wegan” diet but struggled to find a simple term to encapsulate it. Hence the invention of this word and “weganism.”— Tim Ferriss