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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 28th, 2022 | by Kyle Brennan
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I know I normally send these newsletters out on Friday, but I'm off all week and I couldn't wait to share what I worked on this week. Hope you enjoy!
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What I'm Reading
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In 1913, after two terms as President of the United States, and a failed run for a third term, Theodore Roosevelt sought what he always sought in times of trouble: adventure.
Troubled by his defeat in the 1912 election, the 55-year-old Teddy needed a victory, and what better way but a new expedition this time taking him through the rain forest.
Joined by his son, Kermit, Teddy set out to explore an uncharted river in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. Disorganized and poorly planned from the start, the team run into man-eating piranhas, ruthless Indian warrior tribes, treacherous white water rapids, dense jungle, insects, infection and disease, and starvation.
An epic survival story starring a larger-than-life former president who was an absolute MAN. This book was recommended by Ryan Holiday @ryanholiday on Episode #1836 of The Joe Rogan Experience @joerogan
Rating: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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What I'm Listening To
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Keith and I spoke about this on our latest podcast episode (below). Mark Laita is a former professional photographer who shifted his work into something more impactful - interviewing homeless people to understand how they got to where they are.
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While the YouTube channel itself is tough to watch (although I encourage you to check it out), this podcast episode with Joe Rogan was one of the best I've listened to all year. Because he sees it each and every day, Mark has a unique perspective on the underlying issues that ultimately result in homelessness - 99% of homeless people had some form of trauma in their childhood, and 80-90% of homeless people did not have a father figure in their lives.
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A podcast I wouldn't ordinarily listen to, but when John Mayer goes on a podcast, I'll listen. In this episode, we get to hear John discuss his rise to fame, relationships, love, and what's next. He also plays some live music on the episode and explains the meaning behind some of his songs, so check it out!
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I also compiled a list of my favorite podcast episode from this year. Check out the link on Twitter.
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What I'm Watching
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I grew up too late to ever watch Nolan Ryan play, but I heard stories about his legend. Similar to Bo Jackson, the more stories you hear the more absurd and Godlike he sounds. I never knew how much to believe. But after watching this documentary, I understand the hype. Nolan Ryan was truly one of a kind and I doubt baseball will ever see another like him.
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The other night, Lauren and I watched the 1946 classic, It’s a Wonderful Life on Amazon
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It’s 75 years old. And while there are certainly some oddities from a bygone era, the message of the movie hit me hard. I can now add it to the short list of movies that have made me cry — including Rudy, Marley & Me, and Hardball. I’m not embarrassed.
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I wrote an article about my thoughts on the movie here.
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Follow My Writing on Medium!
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Medium is a an open platform where readers find dynamic thinking, and where expert and undiscovered voices can share their writing on any topic. While I will continue to post my articles on observeandrapport.com, my posts will unquestionably get more exposure on a social site like Medium.
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So stop what you're doing right now and please follow my new page on Medium. I can start monetizing once I hit 100 followers - I currently have 6...
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Lastest Podcast Episode
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss Christmas in the '90s, the complexity of Nietzsche, the adventures of Teddy Roosevelt, and a year-end review.
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Books discussed in this episode:
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Quote of the Week
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You change your life when you start doing the truly scary thing - showing up exactly as you are.
-Brianna Wiest, The Mountain is You
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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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