Cloud Atlas

David Mitchell

It is very difficult to concisely describe David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. A winding Babushka doll of a novel weaving 6 different stories with different time periods and writing styles, Mitchell manages to create an entertaining journey while also provoking a lot of deep thought about a variety of topics.

The Matching Problem in Dating

Torenberg

Dating apps have had a massive impact on relationship creation. In this detailed piece, Torenberg discusses how these apps have expanded the pool of potential mates and the resulting consequences. Also a very interesting overview of the differing behaviors of men and women and how it has contributed to increasing loneliness and celibacy.

Webvan's Demise

Webvan was ranked the number 1 online grocer of 2000 and then went bankrupt just 1 year later. A classic story of excessive expenses, sky-high customer acquisition costs, inefficient delivery networks and the failure to understand the portion of a large TAM that was truly accessible.

Death by Lightning

Netflix

A fun historical mini-series on Netflix about the election and presidency of James Garfield. Great performances and a fun view of an often overlooked period of American history.

The Art of Spending Money

Morgan Housel

As an avowed Morgan Housel fan, I quickly devoured his new book. I especially appreciate the nuance of the title, describing spending money as an "art" as opposed to a "science" because this topic is heavily influenced by personal preference. If you want to be a little more thoughtful about spending your money to generate the greatest satisfaction, then I highly recommend this book.

AI Podcasts

A new startup plans to host 5,000 new podcasts with 3,000 episodes a week that cost $1 to produce using AI to automate a variety of tasks. They have also created ~50 AI "personalities" to host these shows. Along with the rapid rise of AI "actress" Tilly Norwood, Inception Point is another example of the potentially massive impact that AI is poised to have on the creative industries.

Death of Partying in the USA

Between 2003 and 2024, the amount of time Americans spent attending or hosting a social event declined by 50 percent. This trend away from socializing, especially for younger people, has worrying consequences for individual mental health and our collective sense of community. Research also consistently shows a connection between strong social relationships and longevity, suggesting this increased culture of isolation could have long-term health consequences.

Alphabet Inc — Acquired Podcast

Acquired Podcast

Acquired consistently crafts fascinating histories of some of the most important companies. This episode on Google/Alphabet includes some incredible stories about the early years of critical acquisitions including YouTube, Gmail, and Android.

How Quentin Tarantino's "Big Mistake" Changed Movies Forever

Just before Pulp Fiction won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, Tarantino held a private screening for his filmmaker friends — and almost all of them thought it would flop. More strikingly, Tarantino shared their doubts, admitting he felt it was "not the one." It's a reminder that creating something truly groundbreaking often feels isolating and filled with uncertainty.

The Godfather

Mario Puzo

While overshadowed by the famous movie, Mario Puzo's epic novel is an even deeper and more absorbing portrayal of the Corleone crime family and Mafia culture. Both a timeless classic as well as a fun page-turner.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin

An incredible story about two intimate friends who become video game designers, Gabrielle Zevin's novel is a fascinating examination of the intricacies of relationships and the creative process.

A Surprising Route to the Best Life Possible

David Brooks

As a Haruki Murakami fan, I was immediately drawn into this article where David Brooks lays out a compelling argument for seeking out challenges as the path to a fulfilling life.

Your Most Important Customer May Be AI

Interesting article on the implications for brands and retailers as AI replaces search engines for product discovery.

Project Hail Mary — Official Trailer

Ryan Gosling / Amazon

I loved the book (same author as The Martian) and really am looking forward to this movie coming out.

Scottie Scheffler on Winning & Fulfillment

Incredible interview with golfer Scottie Scheffler where he discusses what true fulfillment is. He has great perspective on loving the process and the fleeting nature of success.

I Am Pilgrim

Terry Hayes

A gripping suspense read, I Am Pilgrim creates an incredibly detailed world full of memorable characters and an unrelenting plot that races around the globe. It was an incredibly fun read that also made me think more often than most suspense novels.

The Mental Game of Baseball — A Guide to Peak Performance

Harvey Dorfman

While the stories and personalities all derive from baseball, sport psychologist Harvey Dorfman's book is applicable to anyone trying to achieve peak performance in their chosen field. I found it incredibly insightful as an investor and for life broadly.

Minimum Levels of Stress

Morgan Housel

I love the simplicity with which Morgan Housel explains delicate concepts. In this short article, Housel explains the phenomenon that in the absence of major problems, people will begin to worry about more minor issues. A reminder that if something small is bothering you, then it's probably because most of the major things in your life are going well.

Why the Extremophyte Mindset is Crucial to Lasting Success

It is often said that we learn more from our failures than our successes. This article about embracing failure and learning to thrive because of it includes some interesting examples from business and nature. As Churchill said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste."

Unpluq

After spending a week without a phone, I became aware of how much time I had been wasting interacting with it in marginally productive ways. Unpluq solves the "dumb phone" problem by allowing the user to set schedules where they choose certain apps and websites that cannot be accessed without using a tag or solving a puzzle, increasing the challenge of mindless browsing. I have found it very helpful for keeping me present and productive.

Isaac's Storm

Erik Larson

Erik Larson always does a great job of melding deep historical research with gripping narrative stories. This account of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 as told through the lens of a US Weather Bureau meteorologist is both a fascinating look at hurricanes and at arrogance of humans in the face of nature's power.

The Power of the Dog

Don Winslow

Don Winslow writes incredible fiction on brutal subjects. This story told from multiple angles is an incredible window into the world of a Mexican drug cartel and its impact on a broad swath of society. A well-done beach read that will leave you thinking.

Learning to Slow Down Time

SatPost by Trung Phan

I've frequently enjoyed SatPost by Trung Phan as I find it an interesting mix of investing, technology and general interest. I found this post on the value of novelty in lengthening the perception of time to be particularly illuminating.

The Right Kind of Stubborn

Paul Graham

By differentiating between obstinate and persistent, Graham provides useful advice for how to move forward in the face of setbacks. I also love this line: "The persistent are attached to the goal. The obstinate are attached to their ideas about how to reach it."

Why Losses Make Legends

This post on the experience gained from losing money was very helpful to me. Mistakes are inevitable and they are the best learning tool possible and should not be wasted. I also really liked the anecdote about Peter Brown's attempt to resign from Renaissance after a large loss and Jim Simons' smart response.

Ripley

Netflix

A thoughtful remake of The Talented Mr. Ripley, this Netflix series creates an incredible portrayal of a schemer trying to move up in the world. Beautifully shot in black and white, Ripley was one of the most interesting series I have watched in a while.

The Art of Execution

Lee Freeman-Shor

While most books about investment analysis focus on finding and researching investment ideas, there is very little literature on how best to trade these ideas to maximize profits. Using data and case studies from his multi-year analysis of over 45 investors, Freeman-Shor provides the most practical book for properly trading investment ideas.

The Lincoln Highway

Amor Towles

Both a road trip story and a discussion of the challenges of coming of age, Amor Towles's novel provides both beach-read enjoyment about unique and well-crafted characters as well as passages that lead to deep introspection.

Richard Feynman's Love Letter to His Wife

I am a huge Feynman fan and consider him one of the last true Renaissance men. This touching letter is a reminder to cherish important relationships and the little things that make them unique.

100 Days of Code — The Complete Python Course

For anyone who wants to learn a new skill, I've been using this online course as an introduction to the Python programming language. While I still have a ways to go, I have found these lessons to be fun, easy to understand and divided into bite-sized chunks that has made learning to code fun.

Win-Win Podcast — Haralabos Voulgaris

Win-Win Podcast

Haralabos "Bob" Voulgaris is widely considered to be one of the world's best sports bettors. His basketball expertise led him to be hired by Mark Cuban to run strategy for the Dallas Mavericks. This episode is an incredibly useful deep dive into his detailed research process and ability to craft unique insights.

Clear Thinking — Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results

Shane Parrish

Improving how I think is one of my most important priorities. Shane Parrish's Farnam Street is an invaluable resource and I always look forward to his weekly emails. Shane's book provides useful tips on how to be a better thinker, a skill that is helpful no matter your vocation.

Same as Ever — A Guide to What Never Changes

Morgan Housel

I find Morgan Housel's writing to be both interesting and thought provoking. By weaving historical anecdotes from a variety of sources, Housel manages to bring the most boring investing and personal finance topics to life while often providing me with a new perspective that I didn't have previously.

Taylor Swift at a High School Gym

A reminder that even a cultural phenomenon like Taylor Swift started out playing in small venues like a high school gym with 100 attendees. I also love that she closed with a cover of Eminem's Lose Yourself, showing her musical versatility even at that young age despite being considered a purely country act.

The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei

This story is one of extreme perseverance and sacrifice in pursuit of spirituality. The distance running that these monks endure puts ultra-marathoners to shame — two Olympic Marathons a day for 100 days in a row. The lesson: "Mental stamina is what determines top finishers."

Founders — Jimmy Buffett

Founders Podcast

Despite his laid-back outward appearance and stated life philosophy, Jimmy Buffett was an incredibly hard-driving entrepreneur, making him a perfect subject for David Senra as he finds ways to describe his unique life while also comparing him with Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs and James Dyson.

Gone, Baby Gone

Dennis Lehane

I greatly enjoyed this crime/mystery novel from Dennis Lehane. While I will warn that the subject matter is heavy, I found this book to be a gripping page turner that left me thinking whenever I was able to put it down.

Outlive — The Science and Art of Longevity

Peter Attia

I enjoy Peter Attia because I find him reasonable and evidence-based in a field often filled with exaggeration and misplaced certainty. Outlive provides actionable strategies to not just survive longer but to maintain your quality of life longer. A very important book for those who want to stay healthy as long as possible.

How to Do Great Work

Paul Graham

I find Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham to be one of the most interesting writers on entrepreneurship. His entire archive would probably be more useful than an MBA from a top business school. From this article, I love the concept of working on something about which you are "curious to a degree that would bore most other people."

Plastic-Eating Bacteria That Could Change the World

The discovery of plastic-hungry bacteria by Japanese scientists represents another critical potential invention that could help humanity out of our ecological mess. While a lot of development is still necessary, these microbes could help us remove the 2.5 billion tonnes of plastic waste currently existing in the world.

Seaflooding — by Tomas Pueyo

Uncharted Territories

A fascinating description of a relatively feasible method to create a new thriving biological environment by flooding low lying deserts. What was crazy to me is that these projects are both game changing (slow ocean rise, reduce global warming) and actually feasible — Israel and Jordan have already proposed projects but have not moved forward.

They Studied Dishonesty; Their Work Was a Lie

The New Yorker

I have been consistently fascinated by the field of behavioral economics as I find it both extremely useful at work and in my personal life. This New Yorker article covers the sloppy data science (and in some cases outright fraud) prevalent in the field. A reminder that we should always be cautious about Pop Science.

Founders — James Cameron (#311)

Founders Podcast

I love David Senra's Founders podcasts because he both manages to effectively summarize interesting biographies while also forging broader themes among his over 300 episodes. I didn't know much about James Cameron before listening and was fascinated by his life as a game-changing director and legitimate world explorer.

The Lock Artist

Steve Hamilton

Both a page turner and a fascinating character study, Steve Hamilton's novel about safe cracker Mike is one of those novels that I found both incredibly fun to read while it forced me to ask interesting questions about the human experience.

What’s Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies

Tim Urban

I have long been a fan of Tim Urban from website Wait But Why. On his blog, Tim would go down rabbit holes and produce fantastic posts on a wide variety of topics (ex. Artificial Intelligence, Elon Musk, How to Pick Your Life Partner, and Social Anxiety among many others). For years, I would get excited when one of Tim's posts arrived in my inbox because I knew I was about to learn something from a new perspective in an entertaining and approachable fashion. In 2016, Tim's posting frequency declined dramatically because he went down his deepest rabbit hole of all; trying to understand what had happened to our society. This book is Tim's attempt to answer that problem after over 6 years of work. For me, it was infuriating, thought-provoking, and timely.

How the World Really Works

Vaclav Smil

Bill Gates has described Vaclav Smil as "one of his favorite authors." This book takes on some of the world's most challenging debates including climate change and globalization in a balanced and factual manner. An incredibly useful book for anyone who wants to understand the basics about energy generation, food production and critical materials.

The Fish That Ate the Whale — The Life and Times of America's Banana King

Rich Cohen

An all-American story of a penniless immigrant who rose to become CEO of United Fruit, one of the most powerful companies in the world at the time. This biography of Sam Zemurray employs an enjoyable combination of the business of bananas, US involvement in Central American politics, and a description of an incredibly driven entrepreneur.

A Pickpocket's Tale

This profile of pickpocket Apollo Robbins includes stories of thefts from Secret Service agents, celebrities, and other magicians. It's another portrait of an artist who found his calling and spent his entire life perfecting his craft and its every detail. Hearing his stories, I agree with the author that it seems 'the only possible explanation is an ability to start and stop time'.

The Art and Science of Spending Money

Morgan Housel

Finance writing is normally quite dry but Morgan Housel has a gift for explaining complex financial concepts in highly approachable ways. Both his Collab Blog and his book, The Psychology of Money, are highly worth reading. While most posts deal with investing, this post is an interesting discussion on how people spend their money.

Why too much evidence can be a bad thing

A very interesting article on the 'Paradox of Unanimity' which suggests that unanimous agreement is less reliable. While unanimous results are often assumed to be correct, probabilistically, their occurrence is so low that it suggests a systematic flaw in the process. Counterintuitive and therefore very important to understand in my opinion.

Andrew Luck Reveals Why He Walked Away from the NFL

Considered to be almost a sure-fire Hall of Famer, Andrew Luck shocked the football world when he retired in the prime of his career. This story is an incredibly raw and honest look at someone who was among the best in the world at being a quarterback but who wasn't comfortable with his identity without his profession.

Nuclear Energy — Past, Present and Future

With the instability of the energy markets due to the Ukraine War as well as the desire for the world to increasingly decarbonize its energy sources, nuclear energy is returning to popularity after years of neglect. This article is a relatively quick overview about the history of nuclear power and its challenges and opportunities as it looks to become a bigger portion of the energy mix.

The Only Crypto Story You Need

Bloomberg / Matt Levine

Bloomberg's Matt Levine provides the best explanation of crypto that I have seen. Levine starts from first principles of property ownership in the digital and physical world and then transitions into a discussion of cryptography and finally the history and uses of crypto. Levine is also quite a funny writer and has a talent for making dry topics like finance and crypto interesting.

Jimi Hendrix — His Own Story

Founders Podcast

In this podcast discussion of Jimi Hendrix's autobiography, Founders' David Senra explores the career of one of the greatest musicians from the perspective of an entrepreneur. Another great portrait of an obsessive who played his guitar every waking moment of the day and somehow knew he was destined to be a great musician before it was readily apparent.

Louis CK- Everything is Amazing

Louis CK

An incredible discussion of gratitude by comedian Louis CK with Conan O'Brien. A good reminder of how quickly we begin to adapt to improved circumstances and the value of remembering to be thankful for all the amazing things we enjoy.

Optimizing Life for Maximum Fulfillment — Bill Perkins with Peter Attia

Peter Attia Podcast

Another great podcast from Peter Attia with Bill Perkins, the author of bestseller Die with Zero, discussing the balance between health, wealth and time. I really enjoyed the concepts of Net Fulfillment Score and considering how different activities fit in the different seasons of one's life.

The Complete History of LMVH

Acquired Podcast

A in-depth view of Bernard Arnault and how he created the luxury colossus LMVH and became the richest man in the world. A great description of the world's preeminent luxury business as well as one the best descriptions of luxury (as opposed to premium) that I have ever heard.

Shogun — A Novel of Japan

James Clavell

James Clavell's classic novel of 17th century Japan is both a fascinating historic epic and an interesting exploration of the Samurai code. A fun (albeit very long) story that will leave you both entertained and with a few things to think about.

No One Can Explain Why Planes Stay in the Air

Engineers still understand the mathematical equations that generate lift and keep airplanes in the air. What is more interesting though is that the two classic explanations — Bernoulli's Theorem and Newton's Third Law — are both flawed on a theoretical level about why an airplane remains aloft. Furthermore, contemporary approaches have still failed to provide a complete qualitative explanation and are debated with "religious fervor."

The Business of Barcelona

The Generalist

An interesting article on the business of sports, this deep dive from The Generalist provides an excellent discussion of the history of Barcelona and how it transformed from "more than a club" that depended on their internally developed talent to another high-spending football club with too much debt and not enough on-field performance.

Athletes Don't Own Their Tattoos

This short blog post opens up a lot of questions about ownership of assets in a digital age.

Tony Hawk — Until the Wheels Come Off

HBO

With a lot of great home movie footage and in-depth interviews with a variety of his competitors, Until the Wheels Come Off is a true portrait of an obsessive who truly dedicated his life to his profession. It reminded me of Jiro Dreams of Sushi except with a lot more physical pain as I watched Tony relentlessly work to perfect his craft.

Webb Compare

An incredible side-by-side comparison of various star systems through the Hubble Telescope and the James Webb Telescope. Given the significantly higher precision, we should be on the cusp of some interesting learnings about our universe. The pictures are beautiful as well.

Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much

Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir

A fascinating deep dive into how the lack of something (money, time, companionship etc.) can impact people and society at large. I was most struck by their discussion of how scarcity of something impairs people's ability to function as the focus on the scarcity of money materially impairs their cognitive capability. A book that changed my opinion on the best methods to approach some of society's challenges.

Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed

Ben Rich

Packed with fascinating anecdotes about the creation of famous planes including the U-2 spy plane, the SR-71 Blackbird (including a frustrating story about why it was renamed from RS to SR) and the game-changing F-117a stealth fighter, this memoir is an incredible look inside Lockheed's famous Skunk Works. Rich's book is a crash course in aerospace, stealth technology and the Cold War.

A Stanford Psychologist Says He's Cracked the Code of One-Hit Wonders

Stanford

It's always been a fascination of mine why certain pieces of culture become incredibly popular yet others languish. In this case, a Stanford professor utilizes a dataset of popular music to quantify how novelty can be both a blessing or a curse for an artist, depending on whether or not they are already popular.

A Turning Point in Cancer

Eric Topol / Ground Truths

It appears that we are seeing extraordinary progress in treating and monitoring cancer as individualized medicine opens the door for personalized treatments that are far more accurate and effective with much lower toxicity. When you hear generally reserved doctors use phrases like "unheard-of" to describe the results, it does feel like a monumental step forward.

A List of Fast Projects

Patrick Collison

Patrick Collison of Stripe has compiled a list of ambitious projects that were completed much quicker than would be expected. Inspiring for those trying to build important things.

Mind-Blowing Facts

Tim Urban / Wait But Why

Tim Urban asked all of his Twitter followers for their favorite "mind-blowing fact." Some fantastic nuggets in this list — the fact about shuffling a deck of cards (52!) was the one that I found most surprising.

Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir

For those who enjoyed the blend of science and narrative from his earlier novel The Martian, Andy Weir delivers another gripping, science-filled exploit in deep space. Incredibly creative and unique, this book got me thinking about a fascinating variety of topics while remaining quite fun to read.

Wanting — The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

Luke Burgis

While an earlier article reviewing this book was a good overview, I believe the entire book is worth reading as a valuable tool to better understand one's own desires as well as those of humans at large. Wanting is a book that I will constantly revisit over the years.

Jim Casey — The Unknown Entrepreneur Who Built the Great UPS

A great business history of a key American company. Jim Casey was the consummate entrepreneur who prospered mainly through hustle and street smarts. Some great discussions in here including Jim's obsessive focus on efficiency and discipline and fun anecdotes such as why UPS trucks are brown.

Sports Aging — The Quest to Prolong Athletic Mortality

Sports Illustrated

An in-depth look at how athletes like Tom Brady are playing for longer and longer and the science behind athletic longevity. Useful for all of us weekend warriors who want to play as long as possible.

Deer Scoring a Goal and Celebrating

Exactly what it sounds like. Makes me wonder if animals understand a bit more than we give them credit for.

Risk of Ruin — Inside Long Term Capital Management

Podcast

A great podcast discussion of the success and then massive failure of Long Term Capital Management as told by LTCM founding partner Eric Rosenfeld.

Time Scale of the Universe

Another segment in the "scale of the universe blows my mind" series. I also like the idea that "we live in that one bright second."

Rocket Men — The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8

Robert Kurson

An incredible story of the space race and the 3 astronauts who made the first manned spaceflight around the Moon. Rocket Men is a fascinating description of the challenges of space travel as well as the competition between the US and USSR during the Cold War. A riveting non-fiction book that reads like an excellent piece of fiction.

The Master — The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer

Christopher Clarey

As a tennis player and long-time Federer fan, The Master provided a fascinating account of Roger's journey to being one of the best players of all time. Clarey describes a much more challenging journey from a "temperamental, bleach blond teenager" who frequently broke racquets and cried after losses to the stylish and placid champion we are more familiar with.

How You Wound Up Playing Oregon Trail

I have many fond memories of computer game The Oregon Trail from elementary school. This article is a great description of the history of Oregon Trail and the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium that created it.

Mimetic Desire 101

Luke Burgis

Luke Burgis published his book Wanting and it quickly became a must-read. For those who are a bit shorter on time, this article provides a good overview of the theory of Mimetic Desire which I believe is a very useful concept for understanding humanity and our choices.

Roger Federer as a Religious Experience

David Foster Wallace

As an accomplished tennis player, author David Foster Wallace was uniquely positioned to capture the genius of a young Roger Federer and the unique beauty with which he played tennis. One of the best articles I have ever read about the feelings of awe that can be created by top-level athletes.

Federer/Nadal/Djokovic Career Points Percentage

Before clicking the link, try to guess what you think the % of total points played that the "Big 3" have won over their careers. A great reminder that great outcomes can be the result of small advantages repeated over a long period of time.

Stanislav Petrov

Wikipedia

On September 26th, 1983, you could argue that Stanislav Petrov "saved the world." A scary reminder of how close we have come to annihilation and the dangers of using fragile systems in high-consequence situations.

Bird by Bird

Anne Lamott

While on the surface Bird by Bird is a book about writing, its lessons are also useful for a broad variety of professions and for life in general. Lamott balances entertainment with useful insights that can help anyone struggling with writing and other issues. The lesson from the anecdote that generated the title is worth the cost of the book on its own.

Deep Survival

Laurence Gonzales

Deep Survival tells the stories of wilderness accidents and relays the choices that either put people in greater danger or allowed them to survive their ordeal. Not only is this a fascinating (and terrifying) set of stories for people who like to be outdoors, Deep Survival is also an incredible How-To for people who want to improve their decision making in stressful scenarios.

Could Misbehaving Muons Upend the Known Laws of Physics?

Experiments in the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have demonstrated that subatomic particles called muons are far more magnetic than expected, counter to the predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics. It is possible that this outcome could lead to the discovery of new forms of matter and energy, including the potential building blocks for dark matter.

How David Beats Goliath

Malcolm Gladwell

The key thesis is that an underdog should not choose to challenge a favorite using conventional methods but should instead choose an unconventional strategy that exploits the favorite's weaknesses. This learning is key for any organization that is looking to unseat a powerful incumbent.

The Invisible Addiction — Is it Time to Give Up Caffeine?

A balanced discussion of a drug that many of us consume relatively unconsciously. It discusses the physical and cognitive benefits of caffeine as well as its negative impact on sleep. The author also includes a good historical discussion of the impact of caffeinated beverages on Britain's history and the Industrial Revolution.

Japanese Biker Tricks Internet

The phrase "I'll believe it when I see it" may no longer have meaning. This trend terrifies me when I think about our future ability to have a common source of truth.

Path of 20 Eagles Wearing Tracking Devices

Amazing how much ground they cover and interesting to see which areas they avoid.

Setting the Table

Danny Meyer

Renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer shares the lessons he learned in building iconic restaurants like Union Square Café, 11 Madison Park and Shake Shack. His philosophy of Enlightened Hospitality provides many useful lessons for businesspeople in all industries who are looking to better serve their customers, employees and other key stakeholders.

The Billionaire's Vinegar

Benjamin Wallace

An interesting story that weaves history (Thomas Jefferson's wine obsession), the intricacies of a niche market (obscure fine wine collecting) and the impact of a variety of cognitive biases. By my count, this story exemplifies the following biases from Charlie Munger's Psychology of Human Misjudgement: Liking & Loving, Envy & Jealousy, Reciprocation, Influence from Association, Social Proof, Authority-Misinfluence, and Lollapalooza. Also, it's a fun read for people who enjoy wine.

How I Lost $10,000,000 — Andrew Wilkinson

Andrew Wilkinson

People generally only like to share their success stories, especially on social media. I believe however that there is much more to be gained from studying failures instead of successes. Andrew's tweetstorm about his failure at Flow is a must read for every investor and anyone who is thinking about starting a business.

How Katie Ledecky is Better at Swimming than Anyone is at Anything

This article is an incredible profile of one of the premier athletes in sports and her drive for perfection as she toiled to shave hundredths of seconds off her times when she was already winning by several seconds. Ledecky had dominated an unprecedented variety of events in women's swimming by the largest margins seen in international sports despite having a physiology that the USOC described as "remarkably unremarkable." I also loved the final quote from her coach: "Just do the damn work."

The Man Who Invented the Zamboni

As a hockey player and fan, this article scratched an itch given the amount of time I have watched Zambonis circle the ice. This story describes an inventor who kept tinkering to solve problems and ended up transforming an industry. He's also one of the few inventors who can say that his name became synonymous with his product.

Creators of South Park Share Their Favorite Storytelling Advice

Great advice for storytellers with a simple tweak to shift a story from boring to compelling.

Unaided Eye Can See 0.000004% of the Milky Way

We can only see a tiny part of our own galaxy and it is estimated that there are at least ~125 billion galaxies in total. The scale of the universe always blows my mind.

What They Were Saying About Amazon in 1999

A fun trip down memory lane to see what Wall Street was saying about Amazon in 1999. This clip is a valuable reminder of the importance of management because the strategic changes they make will have a huge impact on future results. The Amazon of today (AWS, Prime, Marketplace) is wildly different than the online bookstore that these investors were discussing in 1999.

How to Write Groundhog Day

Danny Rubin

The movie Groundhog Day is an all-time classic as it manages to be wildly entertaining while asking big questions about mortality and what it means to live a good life. In this memoir, screenwriter Danny Rubin takes us on the journey of making the movie, including his original screenplay and detailed notes on the choices they made while filming. An incredible discussion of a great movie as well as an interesting look into the movie-making process.

The Body — A Guide for Occupants

Bill Bryson

I have found no author who consistently weaves detailed, deeply researched information with helpful anecdotes and a light, enjoyable tone like Bryson. Our bodies are pretty incredible. As Bryson comments, "None of this has been equaled in engineering or science. Most of the best technology that exists on Earth is right here inside of us." Dense, enlightening and surprisingly fun.

1st Images from the James Webb Telescope

Exciting astronomy news as the first images sent back from the recently launched $10 billion James Webb telescope exceeded all expectations. James Webb sits 3,000 times further away from Earth than the Hubble telescope and actually orbits the Sun. It will allow us to capture images of galaxies much further away than anything we have ever seen before.

The Secrets of the World's Greatest Freediver

Freediving has taken the childhood pursuit of holding your breath to extreme levels, descending to almost 430 feet on a single breath. Through this sport, humans have both expanded our understanding of the body's capabilities and honed techniques of mental focus, calmness, and being in the here and now.

Acquired — Taylor Swift Episode

Acquired Podcast

Not only an incredibly detailed summary of Taylor's unique and incredibly successful career, this podcast is also an incredible overview of the music business including details like how differences in various copyrights mean that an artist earns a dramatically different percentage of a streamed song versus one listened to on radio. I came away with a much greater appreciation for Taylor the businesswoman and the artist.

Pepsi's Navy

An amusing tweetstorm about how Pepsi exchanged Soviet warships for cola and for a time became the 6th largest navy in the world.

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Bill Bryson

A Short History provides a fascinating tour of the history of a large number of scientific topics and theories. From deep discussions of physics to geology and everything in between, Bryson delivers a ton of information in a very readable (and often funny) package. One of the greatest combinations of enjoyment and information I have found.

The Inner Game of Tennis

W. Timothy Gallwey

While the focus of this book is tennis, it is truly applicable for anyone seeking to improve their performance in any athletic or performance endeavor. Gallwey provides both theory and specific insights to help improve any kind of performance.

What Are You Laughing At?

Dan O'Shannon

For anyone who has ever been curious about the structure of a joke. It also falls under the category of books that are not ostensibly about investing but will certainly help make you a better investor.

Reverse Engineering the Source Code of the Pfizer Vaccine

A fascinating article that takes a detailed look at the source code of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine similar to the way one might deconstruct a computer program. An incredible look at DNA/RNA, the production of vaccines broadly and the specific Pfizer vaccine.

The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al

This article is a great look at a craftsman who had an incredible passion for perfecting his music. I especially loved the discussion of Weird Al's obsession with tweaking lyrics to find the exact right combinations.

Brazilian Pianist in Bionic Gloves

As a result of numerous injuries, Brazilian pianist Joao Carlos Martins lost the ability to move his fingers and could not play the piano for over two decades. Recently, he was given a pair of bionic gloves which allowed him to play again. A great example of the progress being made.

Ric Elias — Peter Attia Podcast

Peter Attia Podcast

Ric was a passenger on the US Airways Flight that landed in the East River. In this discussion with Peter Attia, he reflects on how that experience changed how he lived his life. One of the few podcasts I have listened to more than once and I have incorporated a few of Ric's concepts (ex. be a "collector of bad wines") in my daily life.

Rob Delaney on Grief

Rob Delaney

Actor/comedian Rob Delaney's short discussion of losing his son Henry to brain cancer manages to be incredibly sad while also being a life-affirming reminder of what is truly important. It makes me want to find someone I care deeply about and give them a hug.