Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
The best things I read, watched, and used in December 2022. Happy New Year!
Reading
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, edited by Eric Jorgenson
In the spirit of Poor Richard’s Almanack and Poor Charlie’s Almanack, Jorgenson has done a masterful job in collecting and compiling the wide-ranging musings of amateur philosopher Naval Ravikant into a single volume of Naval’s reflections on Wealth and Happiness. Naval’s observations are not necessarily novel and his viewpoint is not necessarily unique, but he does have the unrivaled patience and wisdom to examine topics from an inverted perspective and to break down accepted (and unaccepted) ideas into their fundamental components before rebuilding them into more practical and effective conclusions. He also possesses that rare philosopher’s voice that allows him to communicate these truths on Wealth and Happiness in a way that is accessible without being dilutive.
It is clear that Naval genuinely devotes himself to thinking very deeply on these topics, and he is beautifully adept at distilling lessons from his own life into pithy, yet practical wisdom. This insight is clearly the product of an examined life and it serves as concrete proof that a practice of calm, patient, and consistent reflection is necessary to reach such an understanding of one’s life. Naval’s reflections and observations are the type that you wished you’d heeded when you were young, but you appreciate once you grow older and wiser. And in some ways it is probably best that we don’t learn all of our lessons from others, as these lessons are ones that can only be learned by the experience, mistake, regret, happiness, and success that come from finding one’s own way in life.
I highly recommend picking up this book to read through once and dip your toes into every once in a while.
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
After years of seeing this work mentioned in lists of recommended fiction, I finally picked it up and was entertained but not overwhelmed. It was an interesting, well-told story, but I did not find myself yearning for that next page or spending my daytime hours wondering what may happen next. The characters and setting (the novel is the origin of the famous “Shangri-La” utopian paradise) were compelling, but the plot seemed a bit too stiff and slow to develop.
Considering it was written in 1933, however, Hilton was far ahead of his time in creating a utopian “lost world” of the type that has dominated the television and movie screens for most of my life. So, although I do not find myself raving about the book itself, I can appreciate the pioneering nature of the story, and it is clear Hilton was a fabulously creative writer in his ability to reinvent a genre pioneered by the likes of Jules Verne and Jonathan Swift.
I would recommend this as one of those books that’s worth reading as a “pause” or palate-cleanser after reading a particularly engaging or heavy book (I had just finished The Things They Carried).
Watching
A Christmas Story Christmas
I have to be honest: I did not want to watch this movie. I naively assumed it would be a thoughtless story grifting on the popularity of the ubiquitous original “A Christmas Story” movie. And I could not be happier to be so wrong.
The movie dives directly into the plot, so I won’t waste words explaining it (just go watch it). Instead, I’ll tell you about how perfectly the movie grapples with the pain of losing those we love. It is a beautifully-told message about grief and about how we remember and honor loved ones after they are gone. In the same way that “A Christmas Story” provides a comically realistic view of childhood, family, and friends, “A Christmas Story Christmas” reminds us about how important those loved ones are once we grow older.
And perhaps more importantly, it provides comfort in knowing that although we feel lost and adrift after losing a loved one, we can take comfort in knowing that our loved ones have spent a lifetime preparing us for how to carry on their legacy and their lessons after they’re gone. Because in the end, we’ll want to do nothing more than remember the good times and forget the bad. And it’s only at that point that we’ll remember: they were all good times.
Jack Ryan
I have fond childhood memories of watching Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin thwarting terrorist attacks and outwitting Cold War foes as the titular character in this film series. After reading a few of Tom Clancy’s novels, I was pleasantly surprised at his storytelling prowess in a literary genre that is generally awash with recycled rubbish.
Along those lines, I have thoroughly enjoyed all three seasons of Jack Ryan. The plot of each season is original yet imbued with the realism and authenticity that Clancy brought to his novels. The writers have admirably carried on his legacy.
Similarly, John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce bring a new and welcomed take to the Jack Ryan and Jim Greer characters. The writing and acting carries an unspoken and universal quality that brings to mind other unassailably realistic, yet fictional relationships, including Walter White/Jesse Pinkman or Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin. It is also one of those rare shows (alongside perhaps Homeland and Only Murders in the Building) that can create supporting characters that I am genuinely happy to see return to the screen, even if merely for a small subplot.
The Lord of the Rings
In one of the highlights and triumphs of my life, my three-year-old has become obsessed with the Lord of the Rings movies, which are some of my favorite movies and books of all time. I’m quite amazed at her capacity to follow the somewhat complicated plot and to remember the names of each character and whether they are “a good guy” or “a bad guy.” Her favorite character is currently “Gand-elf”, and she has taken to collecting two sticks on our neighborhood walks, which she christens as her “sword” and her “light” — “just like Gandalf when they were underground.”
There is truly no better feeling than sharing something so meaningful with my child, and I count myself lucky to have had people in my own childhood share such wonderful literature and stories.
Listening
ADHD & How Anyone Can Improve Their Focus – Huberman Lab Podcast
Modern “popular science” shows exist on a spectrum between the evening newscaster repeating the headline of a bogus study that they don’t actually understand and Peter Attia et al. spending hours poring over hyper-specific nutritional profiles and metabolic pathways. I personally find Andrew Huberman to be just “this side” of the latter.
Huberman is clearly immersed in and knowledgeable on his field of neuroscience and ophthalmology, yet he has a unique gift in communicating his research in a way that is understandable without jettisoning the vocabulary and scientific rigor with which he engages in research. Granted, I have a degree in bioengineering and worked in research labs in my younger days, so I have heard others tell me that Huberman’s episodes are a bit too dense, and I appreciate that perspective. For me, however, Huberman’s podcast is a perfect balance of what I enjoy, and it is worth giving a listen either way.
As to this particular episode, I have a good friend who very publicly and bravely discusses their battles with ADHD as an intelligent, high-functioning professional. I came across this episode of Huberman’s podcast and decided to take a deep dive in an attempt to better understand my friend’s journey. I came away with an extremely insightful and fundamental understanding of ADHD, the causes, symptoms, treatments, and nuances of something that likely affects many people in my life. It is also clear that our modern world seems to foster those symptoms typically associated with ADHD and mental health, generally. I gained more clarity into ways I can improve my own focus in a highly distracted and distractable world. I highly recommend this episode to anyone and everyone.
Guy Raz Interviews Tim Ferriss
I have listened to a number of Tim Ferriss’s podcasts and read several of his books over the years, but I was surprised to find that I did not know much about the minor points of his earlier life. I sometimes forget that Ferriss is often a pioneer in both thinking and action. It is easy to make such a mistake where his perspectives and advice become almost ubiquitously copied these days. Guy Raz’s interview, however, serves as a reminder that all of Ferriss’s recommendations and how-to’s (many are now almost tropes) were actually tested and refined while he pursued some goal in business or in life — often before he became famous. The interview is a convenient and practical lesson that trying, failing, and having “skin in the game” is the often the only way to break new ground.
Etc. – Things I’m Using
Ember Mug 2.0
My wife bought me this mug for Christmas, and I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical. The Ember Mug bills itself as a “rechargeable coffee mug that keeps your drink hot for over one hour.” At first blush, this seems a bit overkill: have we gone too far as a species?
I drink 2-3 cups of a very light roast coffee in the morning and a few cups of hibiscus tea in the afternoon/evening. As any true coffee snob –ahem, nerd– will tell you, there exists a point at which a quality cup of coffee reaches a state of maximal flavors and aromas (a “Shangri La”, if you will). Get distracted and you’ll miss it. Try to savor it too long and you’ll be left chasing that dragon again with a quick “top-off” from the coffee pot.
Much to my surprise, however, once I dialed in the temperature on my Ember Mug, I was able to extend that point of coffee clarity almost indefinitely, allowing me to enjoy that utopian flavor until it was time for the next cup. And if nothing else, it keeps my coffee warm when my dog demands a walk in single-digit temps.
But most importantly, my Ember Mug experience has resurfaced two universal truths: (1) reserve judgment until it is earned/warranted and (2) a good spouse often knows you better than you know yourself.
