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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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January 17th, 2025 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
In the chaos of these first two weeks as a new parent—where sleep is a distant memory and my bloodstream is now 70% caffeine—one thing has become abundantly clear.
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I love my daughter with a ferocity I didn't know I had. But as I hold Macy, praying that her cries stop and she will go to sleep so I can get some rest, I realize something that was never quite so obvious to me:
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The love I feel for her is not necessarily the love she experiences.
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Babies don’t understand sentiment.
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They don't care about the tears you shed during their first smile or the promises you make while staring at their perfect little hands.
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What they understand is presence—the warmth in your voice, the steadiness of your hands, and the calm in your face during their chaotic moments.
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They feel the quality of your attention, not the weight of your emotions.
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It’s humbling to think that as parents, our intentions mean little compared to our actions. Love, to a child, is showing up fully, even when you’re running on fumes and can barely keep your eyes open. It’s about learning to be there not just physically but emotionally, in a way that speaks directly to their unspoken needs.
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Funny enough, this has me questioning other relationships in my life, too.
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Am I really present with my wife, my friends, or my family, or do I just assume they know how I feel?
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Because if two weeks of parenting have taught me anything, it’s this: presence is the purest form of love, and it’s the hardest to fake.
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What I'm Reading
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When my brother and I were kids, our dad used to read us Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Looking back, I’m convinced The Moth stories are a much better version of that—more raw, real, and infinitely more human. I think short stories are like cookies for your brain.
A Point of Beauty is a compilation of stories originally told at live storytelling events, edited for print. The stories range widely—from Michael Fischer’s powerful reflection on seeking medical care while incarcerated, to Phil Wang’s hilarious account of his childhood lisp and his attempt at theater. Every story left me with something to chew on, and a couple left me in tears. I kept thinking, “So-and-so would love this!” as I read.
One of my favorites was Elizabeth Gilbert’s The Alpha Wolf, where she shares her experience of losing her wife to cancer. The diversity of stories—from young to old, from different races, ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds—touch on everything that makes us human: dying, incarceration, losing children, family, and freedom, immigration, activism, and even the lives of soldiers. It’s a rich tapestry of the human condition, both its beauty and its mess.
This is a perfect book for slow reading. You don’t need to binge it—you can savor a story a day, letting each one marinate in your mind before moving to the next. I took my time with it, and I think that made the experience all the more rewarding. When you let the stories sink in, they hit deeper and leave you with something to reflect on long after you’ve turned the page.
Overall, The Moth Presents: A Point of Beauty is a heartwarming and thought-provoking collection, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves powerful stories that remind us of our shared humanity.
Rating: 3.9 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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It’s novels like these that remind me why I read in the first place. Within the first ten pages of The Lincoln Highway, I knew I was in for something special. Amor Towles, best known for A Gentleman in Moscow, has a gift for lyrical prose and razor-sharp dialogue. His storytelling feels fresh yet carries the sophistication of a bygone era.
Set in 1950s middle America, this novel is more than a road trip—it’s a journey of the heart. I thought I’d be traveling across the country on the Lincoln Highway, but instead, I was swept into the lives of these characters as they searched for fresh starts. Each one is grappling with abandonment in some form, each rising to meet their fate, trying to make amends.
The cast includes three teenage boys: one recently released from a juvenile work farm and two escapees—all flawed, well-meaning, and wrestling with doing the right thing. Then there’s the eight-year-old brother, Billy, who steals the show. He’s precocious and sweetly naive, carrying a book about heroes while believing in them wholeheartedly.
And this book is about heroes—not just the ones Billy reads about, but the everyday kind. These unforgettable characters are heroes to each other in unexpected ways. Even the side characters touched my heart.
I loved everything about this novel: the seamless way Towles transports readers to another time and place, the connection he forges between fiction and real life, and his extraordinary storytelling. Despite its length, I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to leave these characters who reflect love, friendship, sadness, joy, and all the messy, beautiful stuff of life.
Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Book Launch I'm Excited About
Tim Ferriss, author of some of the most life-changing books I read in my twenties (listed below) recently took to X to announce the arrival of his first book in over seven years. Here's a snippet Tim's message of what exactly his latest book will cover:
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The book, tentatively titled THE NO BOOK, is a blueprint for how to get everything you want by saying no to everything you don’t. Don’t let the title mislead you; it’s probably the most life-affirming book I’ve ever written.
It details the exact strategies, philosophies, word-for-word scripts, tech, and more that I and others use to create focus, calm, and meaning in a world of overwhelming noise.
THE NO BOOK contains all of the best tricks and tools that I’ve collected over the last 15 years, in addition to those of world-class performers. Lots of my friends make cameos, and I’m sharing details that I’ve kept closely-guarded until now. If you’ve wanted to know how my life and business work with only three full-time employees, this will show you.
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My Favorite Books by Tim Ferriss
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What I'm Watching
Dealt [Amazon Prime]
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One of the best documentaries I've watched in a while. Hat tip to Tim Ferriss for sharing his favorite documentaries recently.
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Dealt provides a look into the life and impressive career of Richard Turner, one of the world's greatest card magicians, among many other things. I'm purposely keeping the description vague because there is so much more to the magic Richard Turner has mastered.
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What I'm Listening To
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Chris Langan is known to have the highest IQ in the world, somewhere between 195 and 210. To give you an idea of what this means, the average person's IQ is 100 and Albert Einstein's IQ was 160. Chris Langan joins the show to discuss his theory of everything - God - psychedelic drugs - and aliens in this special 2-hour conversation.
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Home Workout Plan I'm Following
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With a baby in tow, getting to the gym has been tough, but that's no excuse not to get a quick sweat in. So in place of the gym, I've been doing quick 20-30-minute kettlebell sessions in my living room inspired by trainer Pat Damiano (@patdamiano_).
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In my opinion, the kettlebell is the most bang-for-your-buck piece of exercise equipment you could ever need. I use a 35-lb and a 53-lb kettlebell, which can cover about 80-90% of the movements I aim for in a typical full-body training session.
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15 KB Swings
5/side Renegade Rows
x6 sets
8 Heels Elevated (kinda) Goblet Squats
20 Single Bell Chest Press
5 Dragonflys
x5 sets
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Quote I'm Pondering
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"Success is being excited to go to work and being excited to come home."
-Will Ahmed (@willahmed)
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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."
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Books discussed in this episode:
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Top Books of 2024
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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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