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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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December 22nd, 2023 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
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Recently on the Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett, comedian Jimmy Carr was asked a question:
"What is the meaning of life?"
Jimmy quickly replied,
"I'll answer that in five words...
Enjoying the passage of time."
I don't think I'd ever heard it put that matter-of-factly.
This is such a short and precious life that it’s really important that we don’t spend it being unhappy.
There may not be an inherent meaning to our lives, so the most we can do is enjoy it while we're here.
Rather than trying to find meaning, try to find enjoyment where you can.
More on this topic in my article below.
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What I'm Reading
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The Book of Five Rings is a text on Kenjutsu and martial arts in general, written by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi around 1645.
*note the blisters on my feet from starting Jiu-jitsu this week
While it is mostly a text about proper technique in hand-to-hand sword combat, many of the lessons can be applied to broader martial arts practices such as boxing, judo, or jiu-jitsu.
It’s a quick read and an intriguing insight into the disciplined mind of a professional samurai in 17th-century Japan.
A lot of it is practical advice and some spiritual Zen teachings but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu. That said, no martial artist should be without this book.
Rating: 2.2 / 5 ⭐️⭐️
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Born to Run 2 is the magnum opus for running. Unlike the storytelling nature of the first Born to Run book, this is more of a training guide that lays out everything you’ll ever need to know about running - proper form, footwear, injury prevention, nutrition, stretching, and how to run more efficiently.
Born to Run gives you the what. Born to Run 2 explains the how.
I’ve always been a runner (despite hating every second of it). I’ve done triathlons, half-marathons, and full marathons, but injuries always nagged at me and I never quite got the enjoyment from it that others seem to.
Then I read Born to Run by Christopher MacDougall and my whole outlook on running changed. Running isn’t meant to be a grueling exercise where we push ourselves to puking. It’s meant to be a joyful activity we can do with groups of people for hours on end, without muscle aches and massage guns.
We’ve been at the mercy of misinformation from the running industry for years; things like carbo-loading and wearing high-heeled cushioned shoes for support.
It’s all wrong.
In this book, MacDougall and Eric Orton break down how proper running form should feel like stepping over logs or riding a kick-scooter. Proper footwear should be minimal and allow for as much contact with the ground and room for your toes as possible. Your fuel shouldn’t be pasta but rather a mix of meats, fats, and vegetables.
After reading this book, I implemented a bunch of changes to my running habit:
I started doing the “movement snacks” as a warm-up, listening to a 180 bpm playlist, and even took the insoles out of my Hokas for more stability and to feel lower to the ground.
Maybe running isn’t for everybody, but Born to Run 2 sure allows for the reader to be in the best spot possible to answer that question.
Rating: 4.2 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My Latest Article
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Have you ever wished you could fast forward through life?
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On average, people chose to skip 40% of their waking hours, indicating that almost 6.5 hours each day wasn’t worth experiencing for them.
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These results got me thinking. How much of my day would I choose to skip given the option?
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What I'm Watching
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My favorite fictional character is back for another season on the big screen. If you haven't read the books, this show may not have as much of a pull for you. If you have on the other, hand, the storyline, acting, and drama are about as close to perfect as the image I have in my head while reading Lee Child's books.
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I binged the first three episodes, which we released last Friday. Now each new episode will be released every Friday - meaning episode 4 is now available to watch tonight!
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Song I'm Listening To
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Good friend of the program, remy, is back with another hit song - this time with the alternative/indy duo DOUBLECAMP. If you don't already, follow remy on Spotify, TikTok, and Instagram. He's about to have a baby boy too!
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Things I'll Never Regret
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Good Book Recommendations
Hat I Can't Stop Wearing
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I recently partnered with Huega House, an apparel company based on the Danish concept of Hygge - which I'm very familiar with from my time abroad in Copenhagen. I love the look and feel of these hats and will probably look to buy a few more in different colors.
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Check out their website and use promo code KYLEBRENNAN for 15% off your first order.
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Quote I'm Pondering
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Writer C. Raymond Beran on friendship:
"What is a friend? I will tell you.
It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with him. He seems to ask of you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. He does not want you to be better, or worse. When you are with him, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, so long as it is genuinely you. He understands those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you.
With him you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities and, in opening them up to him, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of his loyalty. He understands. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse him, neglect him, tolerate him. Best of all, you can keep still with him. It makes no matter. He likes you. He is like fire that purges to the bone. He understands. He understands. You can weep with him, sin with him, laugh with him, pray with him. Through it all—and underneath—he sees, knows and loves you.
A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself."
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss the recent senate chamber scandal, the societal influence of various political philosophers, "Time Confetti", and answer a reflective end-of-the-year question.
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Books Mentioned in this Episode:
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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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