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The Observe and Rapport Newsletter
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A weekly guide of my favorite books, articles, products, and lifestyle habits.
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October 27th, 2023 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
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“Watering Holes” to build habits.
Want to start a habit?
Set it up at a place you congregate daily (work desk, nightstand, kitchen table) — your “watering holes.” Eg.
If you want to take a multivitamin daily, don’t hide them in a cupboard — instead put them on top of the coffee maker you use every day.
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What I'm Reading
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“My goal isn’t to say what did happen - it’s to prove that the official story didn’t.”
This book was WILD. First and foremost, I was astounded by the amount of investigative work and obsession it took to write this book. Like any good conspiracy/hidden history book, ultimately there’s no answer and Tom O’Neill doesn’t claim to have one. It leaves you realizing that you can never fully believe wholesale the narratives about any event with this much public scrutiny.
The Manson Murders are a case that almost everyone is familiar with (either from Bugliosi’s famous account in the book Helter Skelter or Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).
In 1999, journalist Tom O’Neill was assigned to write a quick magazine article detailing the 30th anniversary of the murders. That assignment quickly turned into a twenty-year obsession in which O’Neill was convinced there was a lot more behind the case than what was presented in public trials.
O’Neill brings forth deserving questions such as, how was Manson able to manipulate an entire group of peace-loving hippies to murder for him? Where did Manson’s seemingly endless supply of LSD come from? (who funded it) and how was Manson able to commit the Tate murders all while under police surveillance? The book uncovers potential avenues of CIA involvement, mind manipulation, hypnosis, corrupt prosecutors, and undercover agents.
It’s frustrating because clear answers remain elusive and may forever stay elusive. Many people claim that these are just wild conspiracy theories, but George Carlin wisely said, “You don’t need a formal conspiracy when interests converge.”
Rating: 4.3 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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What I'm Watching
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If you like feel-good comedy the likes of Ted Lasso, you should definitely check out Our Flag Means Death on HBO MAX. I used to love The Flight of the Conchords. Murray (played by Rhys Darby) was one of the funniest characters I've ever seen in a sitcom. Our Flag Means Death is the newest show where he is the main character and the concept alone is hilarious.
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Stede Bonnet is a wealthy aristocrat who leaves his rich life to become a pirate. Hilarity ensures.
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My Latest Article
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve copied passages and quotes gathered from all the various books I’ve read into a tiny green marble notebook I keep in my home office, always ready for more. The scribbles, doodles, and highlights serve as a constant reminder of lessons I needed at various points in my life. They are as much for me as they are for my future children and grandchildren.
I thought it was a disservice not to share them publicly with others.
What follows is advice I have heard from others, timeless knowledge repeated from the past, or modern aphorisms that match my own experience.
I hope you enjoy.
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Article I'm Reading
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I consider myself quite naive about the depths of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But after the events that took place on October 7th, I now feel a sense of urgency to read up on the history as much as I can, in order to provide myself the context and understand the nuance of what comes next.
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This article by Gurwinder Bhogal (a great follow on Twitter btw) is as perfect a quick education piece as I've seen. It's reasonable, covers the basics, and doesn't get too specific in a way that will leave you more confused.
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We need to stop viewing this issue in terms of who is oppressing who, because that leads nowhere.
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On the one hand, we have Palestinians who were denied a state of their own, and who now live mostly in impoverished ghettos, forced to suffer both Islamist oppression and Israeli collective punishment for jihadist crimes.
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On the other hand, we have the Jews, who have been persecuted more than any other people in history, and who asked for just a single place in which they could finally be safe, just one tiny Jewish state that was relentlessly attacked from the moment it was born, and which is now trying to survive amid 22 hostile Arab states and a world that resents them.
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Either side can easily be portrayed as the underdog, because victimhood is limited only by imagination. So we must consider the question not in terms of who is most oppressed, but who is most reasonable? Who is most willing to compromise, and whose goals will, overall, benefit Israelis and Palestinians most?
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Sweats I'm Wearing
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You literally cannot go wrong with Champion sweatshirts. Easily the most elite comfort sweats you'll ever find. I'll probably end up buying three more of these crewneck sweatshirts.
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Also, any time I go to a brewery I can't help but buy a t-shirt or sweatshirt. Most breweries tend to use the same clothing brand every time - BellaCanvas. You wouldn't think they're the best quality based on how cheap their stuff is, but the material is so soft and stretchy and it doesn't shrink. I looked into their sweatpants on Amazon and they're just as good quality (and only $25). You can also get blank BellaCanvas shirts or sweatshirts at Marshall's for custom embroidery.
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Quote I'm Pondering
“Art is highly sensitive people reporting back to the rest of the group what reality is like for them.” — @peteholmes
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss The Manson Murders, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the current cultural relevance of Dostoevsky’s classic novel “The Idiot”, and Kyle’s new tattoo.
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Check Out My Amazon Favorites Bookstore
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Browse my favorite book selections hand-curated by me. I also earn commissions so if you buy anything, those earnings get reinvested right back into this fancy newsletter ;)
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Kyle's Published Work
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33 Life Lessons on My 33rd Birthday
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Thirty-three was a big one. Mostly because I became a dad. Our daughter was born on New Year’s Eve — a fitting arrival for a kid destined to reset everything. It’s been a beautiful, if slightly sleep-deprived blur ever since. I’ve only been “Dad” for less than ten months, but if I’m being honest, I’ve been preparing for the role for over …
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Depth Over Downloads: Why Spending Time with Books Still Matters
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Everyone wants faster information. But no one asks if faster information leads to better understanding — or a better life. In the age of AI and tweet-sized wisdom, we’ve confused information with transformation. But there’s a massive difference between knowing what a book says and being changed by it. The Delusion of Instant Learning In a recent interview, political journalist Ezra Klein admitted he once believed …
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The Jack Reacher Approach to Never Being Caught Off Guard
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There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.” —Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia I don’t read much fiction, but I’ve always been hooked on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. He’s not your typical …
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