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From time to time, instead of my usual email with one big idea you can read in 3 minutes or less, I share with you the best of what I’m reading, watching, and exploring. Enjoy!
Books
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. The title might give you the impression that this is yet another productivity book with “time management hacks.” It’s not. The premise is simple: If you live to be 80, you have about 4,000 weeks of life. You won’t be able to do everything you want to do. So stop trying to do more things. And start doing the things that matter. Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat by Molly Baz. I hate cookbooks. I loved this one. The recipes are super easy to follow, you don’t need a million fancy ingredients, and they taste delicious. Plus, Molly is hilarious, which makes the book a fun read. The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. Entertaining whodunit murder mystery. Here’s the premise (which is revealed in the first three pages of the book, so no real spoilers here): A woman walks into a funeral home to arrange her own funeral. She’s murdered a few hours later. Who did it? (Thanks to Elizabeth Barnhill at Fabled Bookshop for the recommendation.)Films
I say very little about the plot of the films that follow—in large part because I don’t want to ruin the fun. I refuse to watch trailers—or even read film descriptions—because I want to be surprised from minute one.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). I don’t know why it took me so long to see this 2004 film. Science fiction meets romance. It’s inspiring, chaotic, touching, and spectacular all around. Makes me want to watch every film ever written by Charlie Kaufman. (Apple TV | Amazon Prime)
Identity (2003). A brilliant thriller. I kept guessing what was going to happen next—and I kept getting it wrong. (Netflix | Amazon Prime)
Watcher (2022). Another great thriller with a brilliant female lead and a European setting. It kept me on my toes until the very end. (Apple TV | Amazon Prime)
Shows
Stranger Things Season 4. I’ve been a huge fan of this show ever since it first came out—and this was my favorite season yet. Every episode felt like a standalone movie. I’ll be listening to Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill” on repeat until the next season drops. (Netflix)
Severance. It’s Black Mirror meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. If you think you’re not bringing your “full self” to work, just wait until the show takes you inside Lumon Industries. Really well done. (Apple TV+)
Misc
Ajika Georgian Seasoning Blend. I put this seasoning on everything from eggs to toast to grilled cheese. It’s spicy, garlicky, and savory. Even though it’s from Georgia, it smells and tastes like home (Turkey) to me. iPhone 13 mini. Phones have been getting absurdly large—so much so that it’s become uncomfortable to keep a phone in my pocket. The iPhone 13 mini packs a lot of punch—it has the same chip and camera as a regular iPhone 13—but it’s delightfully small. I don’t miss the bigger screen at all. Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush. I’ve tried several different electric toothbrushes, and this one works much better than the rest.
