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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 21st, 2022 | by Kyle Brennan
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Rating: 3.8 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book follows the first year of Winston Churchill's post as Prime Minister during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. It attempts to recreate the day-by-day happenings of Churchill and those close to him. Throughout the United Kingdom the total civilian deaths in 1940 and 1941, including those in London, reached 44,652 with another 52,370 injured.
It's amazing to feel like you are there in London during Blitz. Heavy bombardment, buildings burning and falling down around you, yet trying to live life as normal.
Similar to the pandemic, some are taken over by their fear while others totally disregard the imminent danger. Oh, and there’s also tons of partying.
Erik Larson is a fantastic writer and storyteller. I loved Devil in the White City and have had In The Garden of Beasts on my wishlist for years.
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On our flight to Hawaii, Lauren and I wanted to watch something that would get us into the spirit of aloha. The airline had this documentary available about an incredible man from Hawaii who effectively brought surfing and Hawaiian culture into the mainstream. It was honestly fascinating to learn about the life of this one man who did so much for Hawaii.
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The description from the official Waterman website does it more justice:
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Five-time Olympic medalist and Native Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku shattered records and brought surfing to the world while overcoming a lifetime of personal challenges. Waterman explores his journey and legacy as a legendary swimmer, trailblazer, and the undisputed father of modern-day surfing, following the sport’s first-time inclusion in the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Games – a fitting tribute to his work promoting the sport around the globe.
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Who I'm Cheering On this Weekend
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My brother Tom is competing in the 29,029 Everesting race at Stratton Mountain in Vermont. The goal is to hike the mountain for the equivalent of 29,029 feet (the elevation of Mount Everest). In order to accomplish that, he has 36 hours to hike up Stratton Mountain 17 times (and take the gondola down). He slept on the mountain last night and just texted me that he made his first summit at 6:50am this morning.
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If you have Tommy's number, send him a motivational text. He'll need it!
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Andrew Huberman is quickly rising as my favorite podcaster (Huberman Labs) and overall health expert. He has incredible deep-dive podcasts on the effects of Alcohol and the effects of Cannabis on your brain, body, and overall health. I imagine he'll have one on caffeine soon as well. I definitely suggest checking him out.
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The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.
- Jonas Salk
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Reminder to share this newsletter with friends and family! Subscribe link here
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Reminder to Check Out My First Podcast with Keith Sullivan!
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My cousin Keith has been my best friend since I could crawl. Whenever we meet up our discussions are always lengthy, and introspective and cover a wide range of subjects from books, philosophy, music theory, and life's complicated landscapes. As two thirty-year-old guys with opinions, we decided that the world needs another podcast, specifically one with us idiots.
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Thanks to Keith's audio engineering background, we were able to produce our first legitimate podcast episode in my home office. Check it out on Spotify here.
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Keith and Kyle sit down for the first time to discuss books, the origins of Observe and Rapport, why social media doesn't need to be villainized, and the benefits of walking.
Books discussed in this episode
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- The Abs Diet - David Zinczenko
- Better Angels of our Nature - Steven Pinker
- Enlightenment Now - Steven Pinker
- Factfulness - Hans Rosling
- The Untethered Soul - Michael Singer
- The Stand - Stephen King
- Harry Potter - JK Rowling
- Adjustment Day - Chuck Palahniuk
- Project Haily Mary - Andy Weir
- Hyperion - Dan Simmons
- Dean Koontz
- Shoe Dog - Phil Knight
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About Observe and Rapport
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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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What's on My Reading List?
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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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