|
|
|
|
|
The Observe and Rapport Newsletter
|
A weekly guide of my favorite books, articles, products, and lifestyle habits.
|
|
February 14th, 2025 | by Kyle Brennan
|
|
Want this newsletter delivered to your inbox every week?
|
|
Thought of the Week
Are You Rich Yet?
|
|
"If more money wouldn't change how you spend your time, you're already rich."
—Jack Butcher
|
|
Spending your time how you want to should always be the goal. Real wealth isn’t measured in dollars but in choices. If you wouldn’t change much about your daily life with a sudden windfall, congratulations—you’ve already won.
|
The real flex isn’t a yacht, it’s autonomy.
|
I know people making $50K a year who wake up stoked because they get to surf before work, coach Little League, or spend slow mornings with their kids. I also know people making seven figures who are one skipped Wi-Fi signal away from a full-blown existential crisis.
|
Money is a tool, not a life strategy. If you want to feel rich now, stop waiting for permission. Optimize for time, not dollars. Make a list of what a perfect day looks like for you, then get as close to that as possible, no lottery ticket required.
|
True freedom isn't about having endless resources - it's about already doing what you'd choose to do even with unlimited means.
|
|
Makes you think about what "rich" really means.
|
|
What I'm Reading
|
|
|
|
|
"Our reality depends on what our biology is up to."
|
|
David Eagleman is a Stanford neuroscientist and author of Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives, one of the most underrated books I've ever read. In Incognito, he dives into something I find endlessly fascinating—the hidden workings of the subconscious mind.
|
Eagleman makes a compelling case for rethinking the question, Who am I, really? The answer, as it turns out, is far more complicated than we like to believe. Our conscious mind is less of a CEO and more of an occasional consultant. The real work is being handled behind the scenes by an intricate, mysterious, and often counterintuitive network of subconscious processes. In other words, our thoughts are generated by machinery to which we have no direct access. We are part of a complex social network that changes our biology with every interaction, and which our actions can change in turn.
|
Incognito is a wide-ranging, often mind-bending exploration of how we think about thinking. Eagleman breaks down:
|
- Why we have almost no conscious awareness of what’s happening in our own brains—and why our “rational” mind only steps in now and then.
- How unreliable our senses are, no matter how much we trust them.
- Why we’re not just one self, but a collection of competing selves that argue, negotiate, and contradict one another.
- How tiny changes—brain injuries, chemicals, or even subtle shifts in perception—can radically alter who we think we are.
The unsettling takeaway is that we’re not really in the driver’s seat. Our unconscious mind runs the show, steering based on evolutionary instincts and lived experience, occasionally handing the wheel to our conscious mind just to keep up appearances.
|
Neuroscience is still in its infancy, but Incognito offers a riveting glimpse into what we do know—and what we might never fully grasp. Even if you don’t agree with all of Eagleman’s conclusions, this book will leave you thinking differently about yourself, your choices, and that strange, powerful organ between your ears.
|
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys ideas that challenge the way we see the world.
|
|
My Latest Article
|
|
We live in our own constructed worlds — shaped not by hidden cameras and TV producers, but by where we were born, what we were taught, and who we spend time with.
|
|
Like Truman, we accept what we’re given.
|
Quirky Life Hack
Extreme Toothbrushing
If you know me, you know I love a good wellness hack. Be warned, this one is a bit "out there."
|
You may have heard the unorthodox advice to try brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand. It's a small way to challenge your brain by engaging different neural pathways and potentially improving cognitive function. Golfer Greg Norman has an even more unusual habit of brushing his teeth on one foot to help build balance and stability.
|
But I've added an even trickier wrinkle: Do both, but with your eyes closed.
|
If you try this, please, for the love of all that is holy, stand near a wall because within two seconds, you'll realize how much you rely on vision for balance. It's humbling.
|
Now, you might be thinking, “Why the fuck should I turn a simple hygiene task into some bizarre American Ninja Warrior challenge?”
|
|
Well, consider this: falling is the leading cause of injury among seniors. Balance declines with age, and falls often lead to fractures, head trauma, and long recoveries.
|
By turning teeth-brushing into a micro workout, you’re stacking multiple benefits—improving dexterity, coordination, balance, and neural plasticity—all in two minutes.
|
Efficient. Weird. Effective.
|
Give it a shot. Just don’t sue me if you end up in the sink.
|
|
What I'm Watching
|
|
Struggling to come to terms with his wife's death, a writer for a newspaper (Ricky Gervais) adopts a gruff new persona in an effort to push away those trying to help.
|
A nice, feel-good, comedy to keep on in the background if you're rocking a baby to sleep.
|
What I'm Listening To
|
|
We all know how messed up and confusing health insurance can be. In this episode, Brigham Buhler opines on FDA corruption and the systemic flaws in our country's healthcare in painstaking detail.
|
Brigham Buhler is the founder of Ways2Well, a functional and regenerative care clinic, and a cofounder of its sister company, ReviveRx: a pharmacy focusing on health, wellness, and restorative medicine. His career journey in the healthcare system for the last 15 years has taught him firsthand how broken the system is, leaving patients without the care they deserve, or the information they need to manage their health journey.
|
I know people have opinions about Tucker Carlson (believe me, I do, too). But when he's not chiming in with his opinions or obnoxious laugh, I find him to be an objectively good interviewer. He's curious and unafraid to ask dumb or difficult questions. His podcast is certainly hit or miss, but if the guest seems interesting enough, I'll take a listen.
|
And look, if you're too opinionated about Tucker and want to boycott everything he stands for, that's your decision. But personally, I think the information in this episode is too important to dismiss, and I wouldn't be putting it in this newsletter if the contents might be construed was incorrect or misleading.
|
|
*Note: Tucker's podcast episode with Casey & Calley Means was by far the best podcast I listend to all of last year. I strongly urge you to check it out. It's worth a listen.
|
|
Artist I'm Enjoying
|
I was introduced to some great new country music by watching Landman [Paramount+]. One of the best songs I heard was Hillbilly Hippie by Lainey Wilson. It's the type of song that you can't help but tap your foot to even if you hate country music.
|
After that, I went down the usual Spotify rabbit hole on Lainey Wilson. Here are a few of my favorite songs:
|
|
Quote I'm Pondering
|
|
“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”
― Paul Coelho
|
|
|
|
Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss the recent unexplained drone sightings around the country, Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy, social bubbles, and the story of "The Wager."
|
Books discussed in this episode:
|
|
Top Books of 2024
|
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 ;)
|
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
|
- 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).
|
  
|
Reminder to share this newsletter with friends and family! Subscribe link here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
