|
|
|
|
|
The Observe and Rapport Newsletter
|
A weekly guide of my favorite books, articles, products, and lifestyle habits.
|
|
May 12th, 2023 | by Kyle Brennan
|
|
Want this newsletter delivered to your inbox every week?
|
|
|
What I'm Reading
|
|
This should be required reading for people before voting.
Whenever you read something by Thomas Sowell, you can count on being much more informed and educated upon finishing it.
If you're not familiar, Dr. Thomas Sowell is an American economist, social commentator, and author of dozens of books. I’ve seen a number of his interviews on TikTok and Instagram and found the majority of his ideas to be extremely thought-provoking, to say the least. I found this book for $1 at an old library and figured I'd give it a try.
This book was like a buffet that addressed social, economic, cultural, legal, educational, and political issues. Sowell's dogged pursuit of evidence and eloquence in conveying these messages should convince you that understanding government, finances, sociology, and more is not that complicated; all while simultaneously dispelling myths that have perpetuated & influenced our American way of life.
The sources range from Dr. Sowell's letters, books, newspaper columns, and articles in both scholarly journals and popular magazines, and the topics range from late-talking children to "tax cuts for the rich," baseball, race, war, the role of judges, medical care, and the rhetoric of politicians.
Whether you are a liberal or conservative, you need to read some of Sowell's work. With the barrage of narratives flooding the airwaves and schools, it's refreshing to hear from someone who actually cites history and statistics relevant to today's economy and culture.
Rating: 4.0 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
|
|
|
Article I'm Saving for Multiple Re-Reads
|
|
Notice the subtlety in the title. It's not What Do You Want? That's easy, right? I want money, a big house, an island, unlimited free time, no job, and six-pack abs.
|
But that's not really important, is it? The question we should be asking instead is what do I want to want? In other words, what will excite you to get out of bed every day?
|
"Those who consider seriously what they WANT to want will be miles ahead of those who remain reactionary to media, ads, and their blindly-chosen peer groups."
|
What I'm Writing
|
|
Ultimately, we want to be our ideal selves, right? And the people you admire are your idealized self in some way. There’s a reason you spend so much time consuming their work more than any other person. That’s why we idolize certain people; we want to be like them. Choosing who will sit on your Board will reveal your true values.
|
|
Read more of my articles on Medium!
|
|
What I'm Listening To
|
|
This has always been my favorite song from The Doors. The dark, moody bass line, the growing thunderstorm in the background, the elegant keys. It's a sophisticated tune, but also strangely ominous. It's such a great song for driving or just getting in the zone for whatever you're about to do.
|
Quote I'm Pondering
|
|
Don't count the days. Make the days count.
- Muhammad Ali
|
|
|
Check Out My Amazon Favorites
|
|
|
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 ;)
|
|
Podcast Episode #7
|
|
|
Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss Long Island's roster of celebrities, the potential consequences of Artificial Intelligence, Cormac McCarthy, and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
|
Books discussed in this episode:
|
|
Reminder to share this newsletter with friends and family! Subscribe link here
|
|
  
|
|
|
|
|
What's on My Reading List?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kyle's Published Work
|
|
|
|
|
|
33 Life Lessons on My 33rd Birthday
|
|
|
|
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 …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depth Over Downloads: Why Spending Time with Books Still Matters
|
|
|
|
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 …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Jack Reacher Approach to Never Being Caught Off Guard
|
|
|
|
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 …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
