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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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November 15th, 2024 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
Judge the contents, not the box.
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If you feel completely averse to something, get to know it better. Whatever you feel yourself leaning away from - try leaning into it instead.
Usually just learning more about something gives you an appreciation about it that you used to just dismiss.
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Often, the things we dismiss outright are just misunderstood. Getting to know them peels back the layers of our aversion and reveals a little appreciation (or at least tolerance).
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This advice hit home for me. I tend to take strong, knee-jerk stances against things for no good reason (i.e. pickleball, country music, even coffee). Yet, somehow, my curiosity always drags me into the very things I swore I'd never touch.
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Take Game of Thrones. I scoffed at the hype for years. "Dragons? Swords? LAME." Then one day, out of sheer boredom, I watched the first episode and was like, "Holy shit, this is the best television show I've ever seen!" I’d robbed myself of years of great TV because I was too stubborn to admit I might actually like what everyone else loved.
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Our dislikes are often just laziness in disguise. It's easier to hate than to explore. But every time I’ve pushed past my resistance, I've found myself pleasantly surprised.
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If you hate something, get to know it better.
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So, what’s something you hate? Try it out. Worst case? You confirm it sucks. Best case? You just found your new obsession. Either way, you've got a story to tell.
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What I'm Reading
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It’s hard to believe I’ve now read 29 books in the Reacher series. I thought seven Harry Potter books were a commitment, but these are just so addicting I can’t stop.
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In Too Deep is the fifth Reacher novel co-written by Andrew Child, Lee Child’s younger brother, who joined the series in 2020 to help meet the public’s demand. Lee brought Andrew on first as a co-author starting with The Sentinel (#25) and is gradually handing over the reins. Together, they’ve kept the series alive—and thriving.
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This installment starts with a bang. Reacher wakes up in a dark room, handcuffed to a bed, with no memory of how he got there. From there, it’s classic Reacher: bad guys, a tough but charming lead, coffee, pie, and a mystery to unravel. I especially liked that this story stayed in the present timeline instead of flashing back to Reacher’s military days.
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While many Reacher books follow a familiar formula, In Too Deep shakes things up a bit. The deviation from the usual arc was a refreshing surprise and kept me guessing. That said, this isn’t the strongest entry in the series, so if you’re new to Reacher, I’d recommend starting with an earlier book.
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For longtime fans, though, this is another solid addition to the series. Let’s hope there are 29 more to come!
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Articles I'm Reading
Sam Harris is one of those public figures who rose to prominence over the last decade due to his brilliance on rationality, religion, ethics, free will, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. He also released a great meditation app, Waking Up with Sam Harris, that I once used daily.
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However, his reputation has been polluted as he's entered into the political sphere. While I respect many of his opinions and his ability to deconstruct "sacred cows," he's a prime example of someone with TDS - Trump Derangement Syndrome. Similar to other so-called "public intellectuals," pivoting into the muddy waters of political discourse has the unique ability to tear down the esteem and notoriety of even the greatest thinkers.
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While I disagree with Sam Harris on... a lot, I think he nails it for about 80% of this article before he veers off course.
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Whatever your take on how this election played out, I think it's worth a read to understand the mind of someone who simultaneously understands the shortcomings of both sides while stubbornly defending his misguided convictions.
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I thought this was a fascinating take on something I've observed, but would never be able to articulate in such clarity.
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"Millennial Snot" is a tongue-in-cheek term that refers to the perceived arrogance, entitlement, or hyper-sensitivity often stereotypically associated with Millennials, particularly on the left. It playfully critiques behaviors like overanalyzing trivial issues, embracing fleeting trends, or projecting an overly curated image of success and self-importance.
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As millennial libs age, their desperation to stay cool and “in the know” is manifesting in all kinds of weird pathologies, but most notably in the way they talk, and in the way they talk down to the out group."
You need to be saying “y’all” and “sis” and “bb” and “hunty” and “mother” like you’re in the front row in a drag ball. You, the Vice President of the United States, need to be mothering.
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AI Tools You Should Be Using
AI has become the annoying buzzword that infiltrates every conversation these days. But rather than scoff at it or be willfully ignorant of its potential impact, I've been diving in head first. While it's clearly in its infancy, there are already a myriad of ways I've been using AI to make life way easier. Here are some of the tools I've been using daily:
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This is the one most people are familiar with. My main use case it to have it proofread my articles and identify areas where I can fix my grammar, reduce monotonous sentences, or replace words with stronger synonyms. I also use it for work to help me come up with an outline for a presentation or to summarize industry trends on a particular topic.
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After several months of use, it's largely replaced Google as my go-to search tool. What sets it apart is its real-time data processing and rich multimedia results, weaving together text, videos, and images in a way that feels like the future of search. You can even set your browser's default search engine to Perplexity by adding a Chrome extension.
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Some example searches you can try:
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- "How can I remove a red wine stain from a white cotton shirt?"
- "I'm planning a home renovation and need you to provide a detailed breakdown of costs for renovating a 3-bedroom house. Include costs for materials, labor, permits, and any additional expenses."
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NotebookLM is like having a super-smart assistant for your notes. You can upload documents, and it helps you summarize, organize, and even answer questions about them—perfect for planning projects, studying, or keeping track of ideas without feeling overwhelmed. I've even used it to summarize my own podcast and build a table of contents.
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What I'm Listening To
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The Investing & Crypto Expert: "We Only Have 6 Years Until Everything Changes!", "The S&P 500 Isn't Worth Your Time!", "Don't Keep Spare Cash In A Bank!"
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Crypto Expert Raoul Pal is now on a mission to democratize financial expertise, making complex concepts not just understandable but actionable for everyone. Raoul’s advice is clear: adapt or get left behind. His ability to make even the most complicated financial ideas accessible is what sets this conversation apart. If you’ve ever wondered about cryptocurrency, inflation-proof investments, or how to navigate the changes AI is bringing, this episode is for YOU.
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Quote I'm Pondering
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“Perhaps you fear the changes that death will bring?
But a similar great change already happened at the time of your birth,
and nothing bad came out of it.”
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When my brother Tommy told me he was doing another crazy mountain race, I knew we had to have him on the podcast. If you're not familiar (as I'm sure you aren't), 29029 Everesting is an endurance event that takes place at various mountains in North America. You have 36 hours to climb 29,029 feet - the equivalent height of Mt. Everest. Hike up the mountain, take the gondola down, and repeat.
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As a spectator, I can attest to just how brutal of an event this is.
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In this episode, expect to learn about Tom's recent completion and overall experience participating in the event 29029 Everesting, the journey that led him to decide to take on the challenge, the benefits of willingly doing hard things, and how a bad experience can lead to the ultimate alleviation of lingering pain.
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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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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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