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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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February 10th, 2023 | by Kyle Brennan
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1) One out of every 21 New Yorkers is a millionaire.
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The Big Apple is home to 345,600 millionaires, including 737 centi-millionaires (those with a net worth of US$100 million or more) and 59 billionaires, according to the Henley Global Citizens Report
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2) Domestic dogs have, along with humans, co-evolved muscles in their brows to express emotional states.
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But basically, they developed evolutionary snack acquisition mechanisms...
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3) The United States is currently under 42 different national emergencies, one of which dates from 1979.
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As of April 2022, 79 emergencies have been declared; 37 have expired and another 42 are currently in effect, each having been renewed annually by the president.
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What I'm Reading
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Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by the fire department. Living through 9/11 at a young age, I looked up to members of the FDNY with admiration. Recently, I made the decision to join my town's volunteer fire department. While I certainly had misgivings about volunteering to run into burning buildings, deep down I knew the skills, experience, training, and comradery of the firehouse would be worth overcoming that fear to do something I always dreamed of.
As with any decision in my life, I had to read about it first. Five Floors Up shares the story of one Family in the FDNY for Four Generations. Through this book, you get to witness highs and lows, watch the department evolve into what it now is, and experience the love, loss, and pain of true heroes.
This book helped put into context the weight and importance of the fire service, and how we can appreciate what they do. I'm excited to be a part of a community of intelligent, brave, and hilarious firefighters who help protect our fellow citizens and property.
Rating: 3.9 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I've read a lot of self-help books out there, but never one specifically on relationships. I never felt the need to investigate my own relationships and why they either worked or didn't, but learning more about your own Attachment style (and your partner's) can help you understand your tendencies and causes of friction in any relationship.
There are three types of attachment:
1. Secure
2. Anxious
3. Avoidant
I learned that I have an Avoidant attachment style, meaning I tend to be dismissive of intimacy and am always in search of more autonomy and independence. What I liked about the book is that it doesn't tell you which category is the best to belong to, or how you should change in order to be more Secure. The lessons in the book are more about understanding the 3 categories and feeling comfortable with yours in order to avoid negative emotions associated with relationships between people belonging to different categories; especially ones that arise from Anxious-Avoidant relationships, which tends to happen most frequently despite the inherent incompatibilities.
I really enjoy books when you get that feeling of, "Ahhh, EXACTLY. Someone finally gets it and now I have the tools to work through it." Whether you are single, married, or just dating casually - I highly recommend everyone check out their own Attachment style to unlock insights into your romantic operating system.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Popular Post
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I've read over 500 books in my life.
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The entire self-help genre can be boiled down to these instructions:
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What I'm Listening To
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Outside of The Ramones, The Stooges were one of the first bands to introduce punk rock back to America back in the 70s. Many of the modern blues rock or alternative bands you may listen to today were greatly influenced by The Stooges. Some of my favorites are The Black Keys, Jack White, Gary Clark Jr. The Marcus Kind Band, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.
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Listening to them, you can hear the influence from artists like Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, The Doors, and Lightning Hopkins.
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Check Out Our Latest Podcast Episode
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss The Osage Reign of Terror, the birth of the FBI, book recommendations for beginners, and how obsessive behavior can be beneficial.
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Quote of the Week
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If it hurts to hear it, look for the truth in it. If it comforts to hear it, look for the lie in it.
-- Naval Ravikant
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Reminder to share this newsletter with friends and family! Subscribe link here
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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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