by Kyle Brennan
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 …
Continue reading "Depth Over Downloads: Why Spending Time with Books Still Matters"
I’m always on the lookout for “Advice-I’d-Give-My-Younger-Self” articles. These pieces often contain valuable insights from older generations, like, “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard,” “I wish I’d let myself be happier,” or “I wish I’d stayed in touch with old friends.” While these reflections can be sobering, they offer a wealth of wisdom. I …
“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Books helped me navigate my life. Over the last two decades, I’ve read hundreds of books — on philosophy, self-improvement, science, history, happiness, religion, nutrition, how-to guides, and memoirs. And …
Continue reading "The Universal Handbook of Timeless Wisdom: 12 Foundations of a Fulfilling Life"
I’ve read more than 50 books on self-help, growth, and personal development. Over the years of reading, I started to notice a common thread amongst all of them, and as a result, I’ve been working for the last few weeks to write a summary of the main ideas, sort of like Sparknotes or a Self-Help …
Continue reading "Ignore All the Self-Help Books. Just Follow These Two Principles"
I'm not quick on my feet like some people are. I marvel at how others can be so adept at conversation or think through complex subjects in real-time while speaking eloquently with no stumbles. I can be slow to catch on to certain things. I need time to process. It's probably why I enjoy reading …
Continue reading "Five Mental Reframes That Changed the Way I Look at the World"
Lauren and I were sitting at our kitchen table last night, splitting a bottle of red wine when she asked me quite bluntly, "What is your purpose in life?" We tend to get into these deep philosophical discussions from time to time (with the aid of some wine). Every now and then, it's fun to …
At the Rise for the River benefit concert in Montana just a few months ago, John Mayer interrupted his solo acoustic performance to talk about his 2012 album, Born & Raised. It happens to be one of my favorite albums. When he paused to reflect on the record, John began speaking about his deep love …
I have always loved compiling lists - quotes, jokes, favorite songs, bucket lists, on and on. One thing I began doing a bit later in life was developing a list of great life advice. You may have seen my previous post 29 Life Lessons on My 29th Birthday, that does exactly that. I always keep …
I have written extensively about my morning routine and the importance of setting a schedule to free yourself from decision fatigue. If you check out my article from over four years ago, you can see it hasn't changed much. That's because I'm obsessive about starting the day right. This isn't to say you need to …
Continue reading "Revisiting The Morning Routine: 5 Rituals That Help Me Win the Day"
I have read 41 books this year so far. While that is much less than previous years, I made it a point to stop reading for the quantity's sake and to really slow down and enjoy each and every book. I watched more TV, I went for more walks, and I listen to exactly zero …