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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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March 21st, 2025 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
Things That Sucked as a Kid But Are Awesome as an Adult
Irony is realizing that everything you fought against as a kid is now the foundation of a life well-lived. We spend our youth running from the very things we’ll spend adulthood trying to master.
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Staying in on the weekend
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Spending time with parents
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Growing up is just learning to appreciate all the things we once whined about. Except taxes... those still suck.
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What I'm Reading
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In 2023, podcaster Lex Fridman asked his guest, Jordan Peterson, "Is there a case to be made that The Brothers Karamazov is the greatest book ever written?"
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Peterson answered emphatically, "Yes."
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So, why is a murder mystery written by a Russian author in 1880 considered one of the greatest novels of all time?
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Fyodor Dostoevsky, often hailed as one of literature’s greatest novelists, was not a man of few words. Two of his works—Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov—are considered literary masterpieces, though neither would qualify as a “relaxing beach read.”
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At a whopping 821 pages, The Brothers Karamazov is a deep dive into faith, doubt, morality, and familial dysfunction—basically, Succession if it were written in 19th-century Russia and everyone had existential crises about God. The novel builds toward a dramatic murder trial, which serves as a battleground for all the philosophical angst Dostoevsky can muster.
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If there was any doubt, let me confirm: this just might be the greatest book ever written. But be warned—you need to set aside a solid month (or three) to get through it. And it’s not light reading. This is a dense work of philosophy disguised as a murder mystery. But it’s worth every effort. It tackles the fundamental question of human existence—how best to live one’s life—in a way that’s both profound and, somehow, deeply engaging. Dostoevsky created three brothers—Ivan, Alexei, and Dmitri—each embodying a different answer to this question, and then set them loose to see what would happen.
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What fascinates me most about this book is its ability to be both one of the darkest, most cynical works I’ve read and one of the most overtly spiritual and soulful. Dostoevsky “contains multitudes” in a way few authors ever have.
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He also articulates, better than anyone, the contradictions of human nature. Perhaps all of our struggles in life boil down to the fact that we desire opposing things simultaneously. If you appreciate good character development, this is the masterwork. Dostoevsky’s characters are more real, more human, than almost any others in literature. At different points, you will identify with them, sympathize with them, curse them, agonize over them, and celebrate them. You will be moved.
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Reading this book was a deeply personal experience for me because I saw myself in one of the characters—and I didn’t like what I saw. My worldview, even my entire direction in life, shifted as a result. I can’t guarantee the same for you, but I can guarantee that The Brothers Karamazov will make you think. And that alone is reason enough to set aside the time to read it.
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So, is it the best novel ever written? I haven’t read all of them, so I can’t say. But Dostoevsky certainly gave it a run for his money.
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Fun Fact I Just Learned
If it is a noun, we stress the first syllable. If it is a verb, we stress the second.
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- "Present": (noun) - stress on first syllable: "PRE-sent"
- "Present": (verb) - stress on the second syllable: "pre-SENT"
- ComBINE
- COMbine
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Caution: This rule does not apply to all words that can be used as either a noun or verb.
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What I'm Watching
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This show is a mind-fuck. Before I explain the plot, let me just say that I did not expect this from someone like Ben Stiller. I'm by no means a film buff, but it's impossible not to notice the cinematography—the intention and symmetry with which each frame is shot is really fucking cool.
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Now to the show—Severance is about a group of office workers who undergo a procedure that literally splits their memories in two—so their work selves have no idea who they are outside the office, and their personal selves have no clue what they do all day. It starts as a weird corporate satire but slowly turns into a mind-bending thriller that makes you question free will, identity, and why anyone would willingly work a 9-to-5.
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The cast is also dynamic—Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, and Christopher Walken.
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What I'm Listening To
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This discussion was fascinating. Vinh Giang (@askvinh) is a communication skills teacher who's dedicated the last 10 years to teaching practical communication tips and insights on building confidence and charisma to people around the world.
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One of the most interesting points Vinh brings up in this discussion is the fact that we tend to focus on our Visual Image (how we look, our body language, the way we dress, etc), but very rarely do people spend time on their Vocal Image.
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When people see you, they quickly make assumptions about you. But once you speak, those assumptions are turned into beliefs.
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There's an entire layer of our personalities that we just ignore. We think we're stuck with the voice we have, but we're not. Our voices are just habits we stole from the people around us early in childhood. After all, where do accents come from?
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I learned so many interesting tips and insights in this episode and am definitely going to make a concerted effort to make my voice more powerful and energetic.
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If you're looking for a way to immediately improve the way you communicate, try this:
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- Take a 5-minute video of yourself talking. This could be about anything (i.e. how you met your spouse. Important: Make sure your full torso is in the frame
- Wait a day
- First, listen only. Don't watch the video.
- Take notes on your Rate of Speech, Volume, Pitch, Emotion, and Articulation
- Next, watch only. Mute the video
- Examine your physical presence. How's your posture? Do you sway while you speak? Are you touching your face or glasses a lot?
- What kind of hand gestures do you make? Are they big and loud, or small and quiet?
- Lastly, get the video transcribed and print it out
- Read through your speech pattern as written
- Take a red pen and mark each filler word (um, so, like, etc)
- Note when you're repeating yourself, or losing track of your thoughts.
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This practice alone will improve your presence and confidence when communicating massively.
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Quote I'm Pondering
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“I have noticed that when all the lights are on, people tend to talk about what they are doing – their outer lives. Sitting round in candlelight or firelight, people start to talk about how they are feeling – their inner lives. They speak subjectively, they argue less, there are longer pauses. To sit alone without any electric light is curiously creative. I have my best ideas at dawn or at nightfall, but not if I switch on the lights – then I start thinking about projects, deadlines, demands, and the shadows and shapes of the house become objects, not suggestions, things that need to done, not a background to thought.”
― Jeanette Winterson
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Observe and Rapport is a blog, Instagram, and podcast channel that discusses wisdom, perspective, and lifestyle habits gained from books and other historical forms of media.
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Top Books of 2024
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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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Affiliate Links!
I've had the fortunate opportunity to partner with some great brands that I love. Use the links below to find great hats, sweatshirts, and sunglasses
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- Huega House - 15% off first order with promo code: KYLEBRENNAN. My everyday hat is the Athletic Association in Green & white
- Find the Good Brand - 10% off first order with promo code: OBSERVE. I've been loving my 3 Simple Words Embroidered Hoodie in cream.
- WMP Eyewear - Excellent array of eyeglasses and stylish sunglasses. My favorite are the Sawyer Polarized for $45
- Amazon Storefront - Check out my collection of favorite books, workout gear, and tech tools for work-from-home!
- LMNT - I start every morning with LMNT's electrolyte drink, filled with salt, magnesium and potassium. It tastes delicious and contains zero sugar or any other junk. Try LMNT Risk-Free with a free sample pack (US only).
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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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