- Spam - PufferFish

Brain Food: Presence
by Shane Parrish (FS) 28 Dec '25

28 Dec '25

Master the best of what other people have already figured out. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ *************** FS | BRAIN FOOD *************** December 28th, 2025 - #661 - read online ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/owhkhqhw5r… ) - Free Version Welcome to Brain Food, your weekly signal in a world full of noise. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year. Looking forward to learning with you in 2026! Here is my annual reflection guide ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/z2hghnhe03… ). It contains a few simple questions you can ask yourself to unlock your potential in 2026. ------------- Tiny Thoughts ------------- * Short-term results come from intensity. Long-term results come from consistency. ** Ninety percent of success can be boiled down to consistently doing the obvious thing for an uncommonly long period of time without convincing yourself that you're smarter than you are. *** Working smart isn't the opposite of working hard. It's the result of working hard. You have to put in the hours before you can see the shortcuts. You have to learn the details before you can know which ones matter. You have to do the work wrong many times before you discover how to do it right. -------- Insights -------- * Kevin Kelly on patience: “The patience you need for big things, is developed by your patience with the little things.” ** Former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/p8heh9h48z… ): “Sometimes people say, “Oh, you flip-flop.” No, the environment changed. ... You cannot be dogmatic about your strategic direction. When the environment changes around you, you’ve got to zag a little bit." *** Author Jim Murphy ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/x0hph6hexw… ) on presence: “Passion is found in the present, while desire is focused on the future. When you desire a certain outcome, you are constantly judging whether that outcome will materialize or not. When you’re present, your focus is absolute in the moment.” --------------------------- The Knowledge Project (TKP) --------------------------- We also released a special episode of TKP this week with Pierre Poilievre. While we don't often tackle politics on the show, we are trying to improve political discourse by offering a platform for both sides to speak with depth and nuance. This episode covers the economy, media, free speech, immigration, corporate subsidies, and more. (And before you ask, the same invite was extended to both Pierre and Prime Minister Mark Carney). + Listen now Apple Podcasts ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/58hvh7hglm… ) | Spotify ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/qvh8h7hdqr… ) | YouTube ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/9qhzhnhdnp… ) | Web/Transcript ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/3ohphkh3v7… ) ------- SPONSOR ------- ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/n2hohvhve3… ) Mainstream financial news is more concerned with the “attention economy” than the global economy. They churn out sensationalized headlines for the views – only to feed you uninspired content with zero value. You’re not just a pair of eyes on a webpage. You have a brain. The Daily Upside was created by Wall Street experts for readers like you who crave real insights on finance and investing. Join 1M+ readers who choose fresh perspectives and deep-dives over clickbait. Subscribe today for free ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/n2hohvhve3… ). Thanks for reading, — Shane Parrish P.S. You can do incredible things ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/48hvhehmkr… ). Want to share this edition with a friend? Use this link: https://fs.blog/brain-food/december-28-2025/ ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/owhkhqhw5r… ) ---------------- Upgrade Yourself ---------------- Members get access to all my reading highlights, ad-free newsletters and podcasts, hand-edited transcripts, early access, AMAs, and so much more. Join us → here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/wnh2hghq8w… ). You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Sunday Brain Food. Want to sponsor an issue of the Newsletter or an episode of the podcast? Click here to learn more ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/08hwh9h2qd… ). Overwhelmed by email? No need to unsubscribe. Try a 30 day break ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw/25h308n9co… ). If you want to change your email address, update your profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw ). Or unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.kit-mail6.com/o8un0pwpw6tqh65qomgudsqzm07rrboh96kw ). 201-854 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W3

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Get Better at Getting Gifts
by Arthur Brooks 22 Dec '25

22 Dec '25

( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) Hi , Before we jump in to this week’s topic, a few housekeeping items: Our Northern Virginia based in-person team is growing! We’re currently looking for new talent to support our Operations, Marketing, Communications and Curriculum Development functions. Click here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) to learn more, and please help us spread the word. As I mentioned last week, beginning January 5, I’m shaking things up to better serve you on your journey toward a happier life. We are moving to a new cadence: Mondays will bring you my weekly column, followed by an all-new Friday newsletter experience designed to send you into the weekend equipped with the tools you need to thrive. Expect fresh content, a beautiful new design, and a new email address to match this fresh start. Watch this space for more details—big things are coming! Now for this week’s focus: gifts! In theory, gift getting should be a pleasant affair. It is a true pleasure to receive a kind and thoughtful gift from a person you love. Unfortunately, many presents don’t meet this criteria: They can be guilt-provoking or just useless to the person who receives them. This Christmas season, how can you be better at giving (and getting) gifts? ********************* What the science says ********************* One common problem with gift-giving is a mismatch between desirability and feasibility. Consider a gadget that is useful (high in desirability) but difficult to set up and time-consuming to use (low in feasibility). Researchers have found that givers usually focus on desirability, and receivers are more aware of feasibility. Another happiness-killing mismatch can occur between the receiver’s initial reaction and their long-term satisfaction. Givers tend to look for reaction-maximizing gifts (which rewards the giver) as opposed to satisfaction-maximizing gifts (which the receiver enjoys over time, out of sight of the giver). Once the giver is not present to see the receiver’s reaction, the receiver might not actually be that excited about socks with her best friend’s face on them. ************ What I think ************ In truth, the biggest benefit to most gift giving is to the giver. Generosity is truly a way to buy happiness. As my colleague Michael Norton and his co-authors showed in the journal Science in 2008, although spending money on oneself is weakly related to happiness, spending money on others significantly raises the giver’s well-being. *************** What you can do *************** * Lower your expectations. If you are hoping to find a surprise that delights you under the Christmas tree, you will probably be disappointed. Finding a gift that doesn’t destroy value, gives satisfaction, and doesn’t stimulate guilt is a lot to ask for. Go into the holidays assuming that the gifts you give and get won’t be that great, because they probably won’t be. Think of present exchanges as simply a fun pastime, not one where you will get something wonderful. * Say no to guilt and manipulation. Never, ever give gifts with ulterior motives. And resist the temptation to feel guilty or indebted to a giver. * Turn receiving into giving. Your reaction to a gift—even one that isn’t great—is your choice, and you can choose to make it into a gift to the giver. You don’t have to lie and tell your aunt that the Christmas-tree cookie jar is just your style, but you can definitely find reasons to like it. Maybe it’s whimsical, or it makes you laugh, or you know she put a lot of thought into it. Tell her so, lavishly, with genuine gratitude. ******************* Want to learn more? ******************* One more way to not be an unpleasant curmudgeon: discover how to get around your holiday blues, and have a happier holiday season, by listening to my latest Office Hours episode here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ). Merry Christmas! ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) Arthur ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggfl… ) This newsletter is aimed to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit for everyone to become happier, and includes information from my "How to Build a Life" column published in The Atlantic. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68x… ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.convertkit-mail2.com/n4urwzrkkeivhxeponof0u68xz5ggflhg7… )

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Brain Food: A Hunger for Excellence
by Shane Parrish (FS) 21 Dec '25

21 Dec '25

Master the best of what other people have already figured out. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ *************** FS | BRAIN FOOD *************** December 21st, 2025 - #660 - read online ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/dpheh0herk… ) - Free Version Welcome to Brain Food, your weekly signal in a world full of noise. If you're looking for a last-minute gift idea, check out my books: ClearThinking ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/e0hph7h75e… ) and The Great Mental Models ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/7qh7h8h938… ). And you can also gift an FS membership ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/owhkhqhw5n… ) to yourself or your friends. ------------- Tiny Thoughts ------------- * Your goals are not big enough. ** The best way to network is to do something interesting. When you do interesting work in public, a network will form around you. *** If everyone likes you, you're doing something wrong. Every time someone disapproves of you, your brain registers it as a survival threat. Evolution wired us to believe that rejection equals death. If the tribe kicked you out, you didn't survive the winter. But the world has changed. Being disliked is necessary to live a meaningful life. The cost of making decisions to please others instead of yourself is misery. -------- Insights -------- * Henry Ford on the key to life: “The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it.” ** Coach Mike Krzyzewski on wanting the right thing: “My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence. When you attain excellence, success naturally follows.” *** Philip Roth on being wrong: “You fight your superficiality, your shallowness, so as to try to come at people without unreal expectations, without an overload of bias or hope or arrogance, as untanklike as you can be, sans cannon and machine guns and steel plating half a foot thick; you come at them menacingly on your own ten toes instead of tearing up the turf with your caterpillar treads, take them on with an open mind, as equals, man to man, as we used to say, and yet you never fail to get them wrong. You might as well have the brain of a tank. You get them wrong before you meet them, while you're anticipating meeting them; you get them wrong while you're with them; and then you go home to tell somebody else about the meeting and you get them all wrong again. Since the same generally goes for them with you, the whole thing is really a dazzling illusion. ... The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. It's getting them wrong that is living, getting them wrong and wrong and wrong and then, on careful reconsideration, getting them wrong again. That's how we know we're alive: we're wrong. Maybe the best thing would be to forget being right or wrong about people and just go along for the ride. But if you can do that -- well, lucky you.” -------------------------------- The Knowledge Project [Outliers] -------------------------------- Bernie Marcus is the co-founder and former CEO of Home Depot. This short episode is all about how he built a culture of ownership, kept going when everyone turned him down, nearly lost it all, and created one of the most successful retailers in history. Here are some of the Tiny Lessons from this episode. 1. Bad money is worse than no money.2. Outcome over ego.3. Sales are an addiction; low prices are a discipline. 4. You can make money honestly on repeat, or you can make it deceptively once.5. Invisible benefits often outweigh visible costs. + Listen now Apple Podcasts ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/z2hghnhe07… ) | Spotify ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/p8heh9h48d… ) | Web/Transcript ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/x0hph6hexz… ) | X ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/6qheh8hl0w… ) More from this episode ...+ Read all 19 Tiny Lessons ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/kkhmh6hn4e… )+ Read the 16 Lessons ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/58hvh7hgl0… )+ Members ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/25h2hoh3ng… ) have access to all of my highlights and notes ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/g3hnh5hmxn… ) from the book. ------- SPONSOR ------- ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/9qhzhnhdnx… ) I'm very busy. That's why I trust Matic to clean my floors. It's one of the few products I've ever loved from the first moment. Unlike disc-shaped robots that bump into everything, Matic sees in 3D. My kids think it uses Tesla Autopilot to navigate around everything. More importantly, it vacuums and mops and never needs my attention. I wake up to a clean house every single day. I'm not the only one who likes it; Wired ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/3ohphkh3vr… ) gave it the first 10/10 rating in 17 years. Buy Matic now. ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/9qhzhnhdnx… ) Thanks for reading, — Shane Parrish P.S. I didn't think ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/n2hohvhveg… ) they would make it. Want to share this edition with a friend? Use this link: https://fs.blog/brain-food/december-21-2025/ ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/dpheh0herk… ) ---------------- Upgrade Yourself ---------------- Members get access to all my reading notes and highlights, ad-free newsletters and podcasts, hand-edited transcripts, early access, AMAs, and so much more. Join us → here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/25h2hoh3ng… ). You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Sunday Brain Food. Want to sponsor an issue of the Newsletter or an episode of the podcast? Click here to learn more ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/wnh2hghq84… ). Overwhelmed by email? No need to unsubscribe. Try a 30 day break ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308/kkhwnrl4c6… ). If you want to change your email address, update your profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/n4urwz3z39ivhxe0mwxcvs68xz5ggflhe308 ). 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Preparing for the Longest Night
by Arthur Brooks 15 Dec '25

15 Dec '25

( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) Hi , Social scientists often cite the “fresh start effect”—the psychological reset offered by a new year—and I am taking that to heart this January. Beginning January 5, we will adopt a new rhythm: I will share my weekly column with you every Monday, followed by a reimagined newsletter format on Fridays designed to better serve your pursuit of happiness. Besides the all-new content and a fresh, new format, these will be coming from a new email address. I’ll keep you posted as we get closer so you don’t miss a thing! Now, onto today’s topic: the night. In exactly six days here in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs—the longest night of the year. An excellent occasion for a long night’s sleep, right? If you’re like me (a notoriously bad sleeper), your answer to that question might be a resounding no. But decades of research suggest that sleep deprivation might be a very big deal for your health, and even for your happiness. Adjusting this aspect of your life could be one of the best things you do all year. ********************* What the science says ********************* Until the late 1990s, people didn’t seem to worry too much about the health risks of not getting enough sleep. That started to change with a 1999 article in the medical journal The Lancet, which showed that “sleep debt” can have significant deleterious effects on health. The authors demonstrated that glucose tolerance fell and stress hormones rose in people deprived of rest, with implications for weight gain and anxiety, among other things. And then there’s happiness. Everyone knows what it feels like to run on inadequate sleep—after an all-nighter, you can be foggy, inattentive, and grouchy. In one 2020 paper published in the journal Health Psychology, researchers followed the sleep pattern of nearly 2,000 adults. They found that after nights with shorter-than-average sleep duration, the participants experienced a less positive mood when they encountered quite ordinary stress factors, and smaller increases in positive mood from pleasant events. When you are sleep-deprived, people irritate you more and things feel less fun. ************ What I think ************ Some researchers have identified chronic sleep deprivation as a diagnosable malady—insufficient sleep syndrome (ISS)—and see it as a type of disease. American happiness and increases in polarization may in some way be connected to the malady’s prevalence. (Perhaps what our dysfunctional Congress needs, like my infant grandson when he gets grumpy, is a good nap.) *************** What you can do *************** Sleep hygiene is the first order of business, and advice in this area is easy enough to find. * Practice the basics. * Darken your environment before bed, and sleep in complete darkness. * Cut out screen use, especially social media, in the hours before sleeping. * Just go to bed! So that you get more hours in the sack. * Eat less junk food, particularly late in the day. * Get more exercise (though not right before bedtime, when it can set you buzzing). * Work to attain greater peace in life. Perhaps this means looking for your sources of anxiety and stress, and then cutting them out. Maybe—if you are a naturally anxious person—you should consider cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been shown to be very effective in improving sleep. * Find your own sleep rhythm. What if I told you about someone who sleeps 6.5 hours a night, does not sleep deeply, is awake around midnight for a couple of hours, and drops off during the day? You would probably say that person has a serious sleep disorder. But I just described the typical sleep pattern of a sample of the Malagasy people of Madagascar, who live a centuries-old traditional agricultural life without electricity or artificial light. What the internet calls a disordered sleep pattern might simply be your natural sleep pattern. Whether you are a sleep-deprived workaholic, a revenge bedtime procrastinator, or just a good old-fashioned insomniac (as I am), attending to sleep is a crucial strategy for health and happiness. ******************* Want to learn more? ******************* If you’re still worried about the forces of night-time restlessness, listen to my night-time protocols podcast episode here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ), where I give sound, science-backed ways to fall into slumber. ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… )Give it a listen here! ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) Arthur ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9… ) This newsletter is aimed to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit for everyone to become happier, and includes information from my "How to Build a Life" column published in The Atlantic. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e… ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.convertkit-mail2.com/v8upvgp66ztrhv8gzn7awuv3e98lls9hpk… )

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The (Very) Best Books I Read In 2025 (The Reading List Email For December 14, 2025)
by Ryan Holiday 14 Dec '25

14 Dec '25

----------------------------------------------------------------- The (Very) Best Books I Read In 2025 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/l2hehmhlr… ) ----------------------------------------------------------------- ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/l2hehmhlr… )Get all the books in my December 2025 reading list here. ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/l2hehmhlr… ) —Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Shortform ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ). Well, another year is in the books. It feels like not very long ago I was sitting here thinking about who I hoped to be and what I hoped to read in 2025. What do I have to show for the last twelve months? How did I do? Pretty good. I’ve got a big stack of books that I've read and reflected on. I made some positive changes. I did some really hard things (like running the original Greek Marathon ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… )). But if I’m being honest, I also have some plans and intentions that went unmet. There were subjects I wanted to explore that I didn’t, books I said I’d finally get to and didn’t. I read a lot of wonderful books this year, but as always, I had told myself I would read even more (and spend less time on my phone). Samuel Johnson, talking of his failed New Year’s resolutions, once lamented why he bothered to try to make them at all. “I try,” he explained, “because reformation is necessary and despair is criminal.” So once again, I am making resolutions for an even better reading year in 2026. This is why we always build some reading-inspired challenges into Daily Stoic’s New Year, New You Challenge ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ), which starts on January 1st (don’t procrastinate signing up ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… )). I’d love to have you in there with us. It helps keep me and my family accountable and pushes us to be better–I know it will do the same for you. But before that, here at the end of the year, I try to narrow down all the books I read and recommended in this email list to just a handful of the best. The kind of books where if they were the only books I’d read that year, I’d still feel like it was an awesome year of reading. You can check out the best of lists from 2024 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/7qh7h8h9z… ), 2023 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/owhkhqhwo… ), 2022 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/z2hghnhew… ), 2021 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ), 2020 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/x0hph6he3… ), 2019 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/6qheh8hlo… ), 2018 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/kkhmh6hnm… ), 2017 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/25h2hoh3d… ), 2016 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/qvh8h7hdn… ), 2015 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/g3hnh5hmp… ), 2014 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/9qhzhnhd9… ), 2013 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/3ohphkh3z… ), 2012 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/n2hohvhvr… ) and 2011 ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/48hvhehmg… )… I can’t believe it’s been 15 years of these roundups! Montaigne ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/wnh2hghqg… ) by Stefan Zweig How much did I love this book? I literally bought 1,000 copies. Like, it was going to go out of print, so I bought up all the available stock and then when I wrote this article ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/reh8hohmx… ) about how timely this timeless (published in 1942) book was, we immediately sold all of them at The Painted Porch in less than a week. Thankfully, the publisher relented and gave us another run, so I’m able to rave about it some more. I’ve read it four times now and have taken something new and different each time (sometimes I’ve been calmed by it, other times terrified). In 1941, the novelist Stefan Zweig–living in exile after the Nazis condemned him, as they had all the Jews, banned his work, and burned his books in the streets—chanced upon a “dusty old edition” of Montaigne’s essays ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/08hwh9h2z… ), who himself had been writing in a time of religious persecution and violence and disruption. “Certain authors,” Zweig would later write, “reveal themselves to us only at a certain age and in chosen moments.” I first read Montaigne ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/8ghqhoho9… ) in 2016 (Montaigne lived through divisive political times). I read it again in 2020 (Montaigne lived through the plague). I read it again about a year and a half ago (Montaigne lived through technological disruption, economic instability, and a kind of mass hysteria Zweig would refer to as “the herd’s rampancy”). And then I read it again this year. It’s a very surreal experience to read a book about a man turning inward amidst the cruelty and close-mindedness of his time, written some 350 years later by a man fleeing the brutality and persecutions of his time…as modern society continues to experience (and inflict) the same horrors on itself. He is the primary character in the final book in my series of the Stoic Virtues ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/vqh3hrhog… )–Wisdom Takes Work ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… )–and this book was one of the most powerful things I read while researching it. As Montaigne says, our primary task is to remain human in inhuman times. Augustus ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ) by John Williams and The Last of the Wine ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ) by Mary Renault One of my all-time favorite novels is Memoirs of Hadrian ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/7qh7h8h9z… ) by Marguerite Yourcenar, which is a fictional memoir of the dying Hadrian (addressed to the future emperor Marcus Aurelius). Given this fact and the fact that I have talked about how much I love this book…why didn’t anyone tell me about Augustus? What kind of algorithm failure led to it not being suggested to me? It’s basically a book designed for me (and other people whose “Roman Empire” is the Roman Empire). It’s not an obscure book either, it won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1973. I thought it was beautiful and illuminating, especially on the themes of power and ambition and happiness. It’s a novel about the rise and reign of Rome’s first emperor, with a surprise appearance of Seneca at the end, but I won’t spoil it. Another historical novel I wish I had read sooner is Mary Renault’s The Last of the Wine ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ). It’s about the coming of age of a young boy, Alexis, in Periclean Athens and touches on many of the events Herodotus experienced or wrote about. Every few pages features a delightful appearance of someone (Socrates, Plato, Euripides, Xenophon) or some place or battle you’ve heard of (Marathon, Sicily, Thrace, Battle of Munychia). Sometimes fiction can get us closer to the truth than history and I felt like this was one of those books–Socrates can be hard to get into, but this puts a face to the name and allows you, I think, to go back and understand the philosophy better. It’s a reminder too that the past was not a peaceful place but scary and uncertain and violent and cruel (as well as inspiring and creative and hopeful) just as ours is now. I will recommend again Memoirs of Hadrian ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/owhkhqhwo… ) as well as Gates of Fire ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/z2hghnhew… ) here, as they are all similar, great historical fiction. A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ) by Sophie Elmhirst and The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/x0hph6he3… ) by Siddharth Kara I don’t really like boats, but I love shipwreck books. I’ve mentioned some of my favorite must-reads through the years: In The Heart of the Sea ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/6qheh8hlo… ) (the real-life story that inspired Moby Dick ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/kkhmh6hnm… )), Dead Wake ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/58hvh7hg7… ), Endurance ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/25h2hoh3d… ), The Wide Wide Sea ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/qvh8h7hdn… ), and The Wager ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/g3hnh5hmp… ). I even made a whole video about it, which you can check out here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/9qhzhnhd9… ). I was first introduced to A Marriage at Sea ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ) when Samantha read me a passage from her Kindle. A few days later, I saw it in a bookstore with a blurb from Patrick Radden Keefe, whose book Say Nothing ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/3ohphkh3z… ) I’d read and loved last year, so I didn’t need any more convincing. What a great book! And for the author’s debut, no less! The story is about a young couple shipwrecked at sea who survive for months on a tiny raft in the Pacific. And how did their boat sink? A whale! For real! It’s destined to be a classic of the shipwreck genre. More recently, I picked up The Zorg ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/n2hohvhvr… ). Like most great narrative non-fiction books, this book is a riveting story first and foremost, and then a means of exploring both the darkness of the human condition and the potential in each of us. It takes a close look at the little-known true story of a slave ship in 1781 headed to Africa from the Netherlands that dumped dozens of slaves overboard in a desperate and evil attempt to recover their value in insurance money. It was the trial and later the publicity over this disaster that helped inspire Thomas Clarkson and the abolitionist movement. As dark and terrible as Robert Stubbs and William Gregson are, characters like Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp and Oludah Equiano give you hope and challenge you to do more. Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/48hvhehmg… ) by John Green Sometimes the perfect topic meets the perfect writer. I have long held up The Big Short ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/wnh2hghqg… ) as an example of this–a lifetime of financial journalism and character-driven storytelling (Michael Lewis) intersects with the global financial crisis and makes one of the most interesting and bestselling business books ever. John Green has been writing accessible and interesting fiction for many years (along with viral YouTube ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/reh8hohmx… ) and social media videos ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/08hwh9h2z… ) about history). Then he gets obsessed with tuberculosis–a disease very few people know or care about–and produces this book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/48hvhehmg… ), which deserves (and is finding) a huge audience. As he says in the book, we could live in a world without tuberculosis (which currently kills over 1 million people a year), but for some reason, we choose not to. Why? I remember, when I lived in New Orleans, passing an old, beautiful brick building that was closed up. I got closer and saw an old, fading sign above the entrance, “John Dibert Tuberculosis Hospital.” In 1936, it was so bad that they had to have dedicated hospitals. Yup! You don’t have to study much history (here’s a podcast we did on the Antonine Plague ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/8ghqhoho9… )) to quickly realize that public health is one of our greatest inventions. You don’t have to be a data scientist or an ethicist to realize that people who undermine public health–or oppose basic public health funding or programs–have as much blood on their hands as any mass murderer. Anyway, this is a fascinating and heart-wrenching book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/vqh3hrhog… ) I would love for you to read if you haven’t already. It’s short, which is good. There is one big flaw: I don’t think Doc Holliday appears once…and that’s inexcusable. Also, if you haven’t read The Great Influenza ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/l2hehmhlr… ), it is also very good and you might like my interview with Dr. Katalin Kariko ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ), who, as it happens, is also a big fan of the Stoics. On Character: Choices that Define a Life ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ) by Stanley McChrystal This is the best new book I’ve read in some time. I actually read it as a galley last December, but I had to wait for it to come out before I could tell anyone about it. Perhaps the book struck me extra hard because I read it while I was at the White House at the end of 2024, giving a talk to departing staffers (you can listen to that here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… )). Character obviously counts everywhere, but nowhere does it count more than in government and public life. The Stoics–who are quoted liberally in this book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/7qh7h8h9z… )–believed that character was destiny. They believed that accomplishments and power mattered little if a person could not be trusted, if they did not hold themselves to high standards, if they did not work actively for the common good. McChrystal’s book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/7qh7h8h9z… ) is a throwback to an older style of book, a meditation on a theme in the form of short essays and stories. It is also a throwback in terms of its earnestness and vulnerability. There’s no performance here. It’s not designed to get speaking gigs or consulting opportunities. It is the thoughts of a man in the latter stages of his career and life, reflecting on what he’s learned, the mistakes he’s made, the future he hopes to leave his children and grandchildren. As I said, I just loved this book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/7qh7h8h9z… ). General McChrystal was nice enough to come out to Bastrop to do the Daily Stoic podcast and I think that turned into one of the best podcasts we did this year. I was particularly interested in the stories he told about his mother (who was active in the Civil Rights movement) and his relationship with his own son, who was a rebellious punk rocker who challenged this buttoned-down general. We had a great chat as we walked through the bookstore and here are some of the titles that General McChrystal left with ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ). I hope a lot of peopleread this book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ) and more than that, I hope more people live by it. Misc I understand it’s a tough sell (it’s a 1,040-page bio about a somewhat obscure and divisive right-wing commentator), but I started raving about Buckley ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/owhkhqhwo… ) by Sam Tanenhaus to my friends as soon as I first picked it up. I had dinner with my publisher last night, and he and I did the same thing–we both just could not get over how good this biography was. But as I always say, studying the past is the best way to understand the present and William F. Buckley was a brilliant, articulate, compelling thinker and organizer who–with the help of big-pocketed donors–managed to create a movement that not only galvanized a generation of young people, but helped elect (multiple) presidents and politicians…who then mostly did horrible things. The dark energy ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/z2hghnhew… ) that Buckley channeled for (and at other times, purged) from his movement is not new or gone either. I also read and raved about Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ), about an ambitious and connected political advisor who finds herself in the English countryside during the pandemic. There, she discovered a baby wild hare and nursed it back to health. What ensues is a surreal and moving friendship made up of countless quiet hours with her unnamed friend, where Dalton learned to see the world through new eyes. I loved this book ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ) and have recommended it to so many people. And finally, I about fell out of my chair earlier this year when I saw that a new book from Joan Didion was coming out (a chair that, if you follow along on The Daily Stoic Podcast ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/x0hph6he3… ) or have been a subscriber to this email for a while you will know, is the same chair that Joan Didion herself once wrote in). Didion’s Notes to John ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/6qheh8hlo… ) is a unique read, to say the least–it is the notes that Didion took from several years of therapy (preserved for her husband John) as their daughter struggled with alcoholism. If you haven’t read A Year of Magical Thinking ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/kkhmh6hnm… ) or Blue Nights ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/58hvh7hg7… ) (do it now!), you can still get a lot out of these notes, which actually function as a deeply moving insight into family dynamics and the way that we all struggle, as parents, to help our kids. It’s a tragic and terribly sad story, but I learned a lot from it. While some critics have said they don’t think these notes should be published, it is obvious to me as a Didion fan that she very much wrote them with an eye towards publication. Honestly, they’d work even as a kind of epistolary novel. Kids My nine-year-old and I loved reading Painting the Game ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/25h2hoh3d… ) by Patricia MacLachlan together. It rekindled his interest in baseball and I thought it had some great messages about courage and mastery and going after your dreams. As a family, we loved Don’t Trust Fish ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/qvh8h7hdn… ), which is not only very funny but a subversive, subtle book about media literacy (at least in our interpretation). Always be on the lookout for untrustworthy narrators. No books made my kids laugh harder than The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/g3hnh5hmp… ) and A Dumb Birds Field Guide to the Worst Birds Ever ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/9qhzhnhd9… ) by Matt Kracht. Like they laugh so hard they can’t handle it. Is that because there are all sorts of cursing? Sure, but all I care about is that they love books and love reading and if this is what it takes, I’m all about it. I find those things funny, too and was especially pleased to learn they tricked their grandparents into reading it. It’s hard to remember a time before my boys got obsessed with Hamilton, but it’s been long enough that my 2025 Spotify Wrapped was taken over by the soundtrack. This year we not only saw the play (in Austin) and watched the movie (in theaters), but we listened to the Ron Chernow audiobook ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/3ohphkh3z… ). And when I interviewed Ron about his new book, Mark Twain ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/n2hohvhvr… ), my then eight-year-old popped in to ask some questions, which you can watch here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/48hvhehmg… ) (or listen to the whole episode here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/wnh2hghqg… )). And finally, as I mentioned in 2024, their love of the Greeking Out podcast ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/reh8hohmx… ) (my interview with Kenny Kurtis here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/08hwh9h2z… )) andthe books ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/8ghqhoho9… ) led us to reading The Odyssey ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/vqh3hrhog… ) (which we were just dipping in and out of again last week) and taking a big family trip to Greece over the summer. Here’s a video we did of some of the lessons of that journey ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/l2hehmhlr… ) (and what the Greeks can teach us). I highly recommend all those books. As far as parenting books go, I very much enjoyed Melinda Wenner Moyer’s Hello Cruel World ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ) (which apparently I helped inspire) and Samantha has been raving about Power On ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ) (more on that below), which I also liked. We’re doing a monthly book club for dads as part of Daily Dad Society ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ), which I’d love to have you join. We also just launched The Daily Dad Journal ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/7qh7h8h9z… ), which has become a part of my nightly routine. Recommendations from my wife, Samantha (whose recommendations I ignore always to my regret) The Art of Asking Your Boss For A Raise ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/owhkhqhwo… ) by Georges Perec This book was written in French in 1968 and translated to English in 2011. It’s experimental fiction and really an adventure of a read. I’ve never read anything like this and am so impressed by the translator. It’s neurotic, the overthinker’s inner dialogue really comes to life. Dog Songs: Poems ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/z2hghnhew… ) by Mary Oliver Our relationship with dogs is so complex and beautiful. This book is a must-read for dog owners and lovers—exploring the tenuous hold we have on their domesticity and how to respect and honor the wildness that exists within them. Blood Over Bright Haven: A Novel ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ) by M.L. Wang Sword of Kaigen ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/x0hph6he3… ) was my favorite read of 2024 and Blood Over Bright Haven ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/p8heh9h4x… ) did not disappoint. It’s complex, uncomfortable, suspenseful and truly a great read. Power On: Managing Screen Time to Benefit the Whole Family ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ) by Ash Brandin I’ve followed this Instagram account for a very long time and it was really foundational for our screen usage and boundaries in our house. The book is very good—probably the most practical general parenting book I’ve read, with strategies inclusive to neurodivergent families. Before I go… ------------ Every year for the last seven years, I’ve looked forward to starting The Daily Stoic New Year, New You Challenge ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… )—a set of 21 actionable challenges, presented one per day, built around the best, most timeless wisdom in Stoic philosophy. It's become one of the most transformative rituals of my year and this year, I believe, is our best New Year New You Challenge yet. I can't wait to kick off this challenge with you on January 1st. Don’t wait. Head over to dailystoic.com/challenge ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ) and sign up TODAY! -->Did someone forward you this email? Click here to sign up for future Reading List Recommendations. ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/dpheh0he5… ) Did someone forward you this email? Click here to sign up for future Reading List Recommendations. ( https://ryanholiday.net/reading-list/ ) ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ) ----------------------------- Add Shortform to Your Toolkit ----------------------------- Time is the ultimate constraint to productivity and learning, it is always ticking away. So when you find tools that optimize your time, make sure and keep them in your tool kit. One of those indispensable tools is Shortform ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ). Shortform ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ) is a nonfiction book summary service that has truly raised the bar in its domain. Shortform distills each book's core ideas with chapter breakdowns, analysis, commentary, and even counterpoints from other sources, allowing you to deepen your understanding, fast. They even have all of Ryan’s books on Stoicism! Ryan’s readers get a FREE TRIAL and $50 OFF ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/m2h7h5h3e… ) on the annual subscription. As always, I appreciate you supporting my bookstore, The Painted Porch ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ). Please note that because a lot of the books we sell are backlist titles, there can sometimes be delays in stocking/sourcing. And with that, I hope that you’ll get around to reading whichever of these books catch your eye and that you’ll learn as much as I did. Whether you buy them at The Painted Porch ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7/e0hph7h74… ) or on Amazon today, or at your nearest independent bookstore six months from now makes no difference to me. I just hope you read! You’re welcome to email me questions or raise issues for discussion. Better yet, if you know of a good book on a related topic, please pass it along. And as always, if one of these books comes to mean something to you, recommend it to someone else. I promised myself a long time ago that if I saw a book that interested me I’d never let time or money or anything else prevent me from having it. This means that I treat reading with a certain amount of respect. All I ask, if you decide to email me back, is that you’re not just thinking aloud. Enjoy these books, treat your education like the job that it is, and let me know if you ever need anything. All the best, Ryan Unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7 ) | Update your profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/zlu5l3o3owtnhk0wegouzuwop4n00b6h384w7 ) | 912 Main St., Bastrop, Texas 78602

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Brain Food: The Reward Comes After
by Shane Parrish (FS) 14 Dec '25

14 Dec '25

Master the best of what other people have already figured out. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ *************** FS | BRAIN FOOD *************** December 14th, 2025 - #659 - read online ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/9qhzhnhd9e… ) - Free Version Welcome to Brain Food, your weekly signal in a world full of noise. ------------- Tiny Thoughts ------------- * If you don’t commit to living life on your terms, other people will commit you to theirs. ** You have to train before the race, not after. You have to build the skill before you get the job that requires it. You have to be trustworthy for years before anyone trusts you with something important. The bill comes first. The reward comes later. *** The universe does not offer financing. This is hard to accept because modern life trains us to expect the opposite. We are addicted to "Buy Now, Pay Later." You live in the house before you pay off the mortgage. You get the degree before you pay off the loan. You eat the meal before you ask for the check. We are conditioned to enjoy the benefit today and pay the cost tomorrow. Achievement reverses the transaction. It requires full payment in advance (and regular payments forever). If you want a fit body, a calm mind, a healthy relationship, or financial independence, the cost is non-negotiable. You must do the work before you get the result. This is why most people quit. They pay a little, see nothing, and stop. They never make it far enough to see the first return arrive. -------- Insights -------- * Author Jonathan Safran Foer on happiness: “I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.” ** Benjamin Franklin with a dose of timeless wisdom: “Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself a slave to it.” *** Professional basketball player Dawn Staley, who won three gold medals in the Olympic Games, describes her perspective in preparation for the Olympics: “Winning the gold medal is my goal, not my dream. My dream is about playing to win as often as possible with and against the best women basketball players in the world. Winning the gold medal as a goal gives me some direction, but my dream is something I need to live every day. And I’m doing that each time I play to win… When I’m playing to win, that’s when I feel resonance. If I win, that’s great. I want to win, and having the gold medal as my goal forces me to play to win. But what I love to do, what my dream is, is to play to win.” --------------------- The Knowledge Project --------------------- Ogilvy Vice Chairman Rory Sutherland reveals the formula for persuasion, why people make decisions, and how to use psychology to your advantage. Rory is the world’s leading advertising strategist. He spent almost four decades at the world's leading advertising agency studying why people behave the way they do and how to change that behavior. He explains why contrast drives choices and efficiency often destroys value, and how trust, friction, and design shape real-world behavior.Here are some Tiny Lessons from this episode. 1. Trust is the only shortcut.2. Visible costs often hide invisible benefits.3. Efficiency is the enemy of magic.4. Creativity starts where logic stops.5. Context creates value. + Listen now Apple Podcasts ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/3ohphkh3zk… ) | Spotify ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/n2hohvhvrl… ) | Web/Transcript ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/48hvhehmg7… ) | X ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/wnh2hghqgl… ) | YouTube ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/reh8hohmxo… ) More from this episode ...+ Read all 20 Tiny Lessons ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/08hwh9h2zp… )+ Read the 19 Big Lessons ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/8ghqhoho97… )+ A short clip on how we look for efficiency in the wrong place ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/vqh3hrhogq… ). + A clip on visible costs and invisible benefits ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/m2h7h5h3el… ) that went viral. ------- SPONSOR ------- ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/dpheh0he52… ) I'm very busy. That's why I trust Matic to clean my floors. It's one of the few products I've ever loved from the very first moment. Unlike disc-shaped robots that bump into everything, Matic sees in 3D. My kids think it uses Tesla Autopilot to navigate around everything. More importantly, it vacuums and mops and never needs my attention. I'm not the only one who likes it; Wired ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/e0hph7h74d… ) gave it the first 10/10 rating in 17 years. Buy Matic now. ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/dpheh0he52… ) Thanks for reading, — Shane Parrish P.S. Every ball is moving in a straight line ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/7qh7h8h9zx… ). Want to share this edition with a friend? Use this link: https://fs.blog/brain-food/december-14-2025/ ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/9qhzhnhd9e… ) ---------------- Upgrade Yourself ---------------- Members get access to all my reading highlights, ad-free newsletters and podcasts, hand-edited transcripts, early access, AMAs, and so much more. Join us → here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/owhkhqhwo0… ). You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Sunday Brain Food. Want to sponsor an issue of the Newsletter or an episode of the podcast? Click here to learn more ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/p8heh9h4xp… ). Overwhelmed by email? No need to unsubscribe. Try a 30 day break ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v/8ghk405nbo… ). If you want to change your email address, update your profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v ). Or unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.kit-mail6.com/k0u2wzpzp0u6h54mdv7soso9zg277i8hdr3v ). 201-854 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W3

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The Atomic Habits Workbook is available now! ⁠
by James Clear 10 Dec '25

10 Dec '25

************** Available now: ************** ***************************************************************** The Atomic Habits Workbook ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/g3hnh5hmp8e… ) ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/9qhzhnhd9vg… ) ***************************************************************** ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/g3hnh5hmp8e… ) Hi there, it's James Clear. I just released a new product that I believe will be incredibly useful and widely loved by anyone who enjoyed Atomic Habits. The Atomic Habits Workbook ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/g3hnh5hmp8e… ) is available now. The workbook offers a guided experience for implementing the Atomic Habits methodology in your life. It will walk you through exactly how to build good habits and break bad ones. Atomic Habits ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/3ohphkh3z5q… ) has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It is the highest-rated habits book of all time. The workbook takes the ideas and strategies from Atomic Habits and breaks them down into simple exercises that you can follow to get better results in work and life. I hope you enjoy it. Click here to learn more and grab a copy ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/g3hnh5hmp8e… ). Thank you! As always, I'm grateful to have you reading and following my work. James To continue getting these emails, please add james(a)jamesclear.com to your address book or safelist us. Update your subscription preferences: Unsubscribe from the 3-2-1 newsletter ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/x0hzlovkf6h… ), unsubscribe from all emails (including future book announcements) ( https://unsubscribe.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq ), or manage your subscriber profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq ). Atomic Habits customers: Click here to learn how to redeem your purchase for free bonuses. ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq/wnh2hghqg2r… ) This will also remove you from any promotional emails for the book. Unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq ) | Update your profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/0vu56o5rr6h9h9qdqddbpvfvzgdx55snhkq ) | 2935 E Main St. Unit #9361, Columbus, OH 43209

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How to Measure Your Happines
by Arthur Brooks 08 Dec '25

08 Dec '25

( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/dp… ) Hi , In my classes at Harvard, I ask my students to complete a big batch of surveys that explore their happiness, emotions, romantic instincts, and worldly idols. Basically, I want them to have a map of their well-being so they know where they are and where they are going. These tools aren’t public though, which is a problem, because people who aren’t my students want to take them as well, and I am never comfortable sending them to the versions out there on the web, which are not always well-validated and full of spammy pop-ups and viruses. To meet this need, my research team and I have created our very own 40-question survey based on my work, which is highly-tested and validated, and gives a boatload of well-being information. It is called The Happiness Scale ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/7q… ). Let me tell you about it. **************************************** First, you’ll learn about your happiness **************************************** If you follow my work, you’ll be familiar with what I believe is the best definition of happiness: Happiness = Enjoyment + Satisfaction + Meaning In other words, the best social science tells us that the happiest people enjoy their lives, take satisfaction in making progress toward goals, and have a good sense of life’s meaning, such as why they are alive and why their life has value. These are the “macronutrients” of happiness. The Happiness Scale will give you an overall well-being score to let you see how you compare generally with others. But more importantly, it will tell you how to improve your happiness based on your macronutrient profile. If you are struggling with happiness, it is essential that you know which of the above macronutrients are lacking or blocked, so you don’t want to go chasing the wrong solutions. The Happiness Scale will help you make the right diagnosis. ****************************************************** Then, you’ll learn about your unique emotional profile ****************************************************** You probably noticed something curious about that definition: Happiness is not a feeling, but instead something much deeper and more tangible. However, feelings are still a key piece of evidence, and important to understand and manage. Emotions tell you a lot about whether the biggest challenge in your life is insufficient happiness, or an excess of unhappiness. Thus, the Happiness Scale also asks you a lot of questions about how intensely you experience positive and negative emotions. Based on your scores, you’ll receive one of four Emotional Profiles: * The Cheerleader: “high highs, few lows” * The Mad Scientist: “high highs, low lows” * The Judge: “few highs, few lows” * The Poet: “few highs, low lows” We are all born with one of these profiles, and it doesn’t change a lot across our lives. But depending on your profile, there is LOTS to learn about how you can manage your emotional experience in ways that help you get happier—and less unhappy. The Happiness Scale will show you how to lean into your strengths, manage your weaknesses, and give you plenty of tips to use your profile for good. **************** One last thought **************** Six years ago, I quit my job as the president of a big nonprofit in Washington, D.C., and accepted a professorship at Harvard to write, speak, and teach about happiness. I made this jump because I needed this information to improve my own life. I treated it like a research project, which led to my entire pedagogy today, including the Happiness Scale. It increased my quality of life, and I hope it will be just as helpful to you. P.S.—If you want to listen to me explain the Happiness Scale (and all the cool stuff it measures), I covered it this week in Office Hours ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/6q… ). ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/dp… ) Arthur ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/g3… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/48… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/08… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/l2… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/e0… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/p8… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmwmp7/kk… ) This newsletter is aimed to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit for everyone to become happier, and includes information from my "How to Build a Life" column published in The Atlantic. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 Unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmw… ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ux24xoovsoh3n5v7mh6udolgz66h7hmw… )

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Brain Food: Simplicity
by Shane Parrish (FS) 07 Dec '25

07 Dec '25

Master the best of what other people have already figured out. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ *************** FS | BRAIN FOOD *************** December 7th, 2025 - #658 - read online ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/08hwh9h2zv… ) - Free Version Welcome to Brain Food, your weekly signal in a world full of noise. ------------- Tiny Thoughts ------------- * Your reputation isn’t what you shout, it’s what people whisper. ** Someone always has an advantage. If you don’t know who, it isn’t you. *** It's never about the outcome. It's always about the day. -------- Insights -------- * Bruce Lee on simplicity: “Simplicity is the key to brilliance.” ** Philosopher Matshona Dhliwayo on being wise: “One who looks around him is intelligent; one who looks within him is wise.” *** The GOAT Michael Jordan on listening: “I’m not so dominant that I can’t listen to creative ideas from other people. Successful people listen. Those who don’t listen, don’t survive long.” --------------------- The Knowledge Project --------------------- How do you get ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results? Mary Kay Ash built a company by solving that specific problem. This episode breaks down how she did it. You’ll learn her twenty-three leadership lessons, why pink Cadillacs outperformed raises, and the fundamentals of incentives, recognition, and human motivation that work in any business. + Listen to The Greatest Saleswoman In History Apple Podcasts ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/8ghqhoho9z… ) | Spotify ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/vqh3hrhogl… ) | Web/Transcript ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/l2hehmhlre… ) | X ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/m2h7h5h3ev… ) | YouTube ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/dpheh0he5v… ) Want more?+ 23 Lessons from Mary Kay Ash ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/e0hph7h746… )+ Members have access to all 90 of my highlights from her autobiography in the repository. (Not a member? Join Us ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/owhkhqhwop… ).) ------- SPONSOR ------- ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/z2hghnhewn… ) Stay hydrated this winter without the sugar, food dye, and other dodgy ingredients found in popular electrolyte and sports drinks. LMNT is a science-backed, zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix that supports active hydration and a healthy lifestyle. I love this stuff and drink it every day. LMNT came up with a fantastic offer for Brain Food Readers. Visit https://drinklmnt.com/FarnamStreet ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/z2hghnhewn… ) for a free sample pack with any drink mix purchase! Thanks for reading, — Shane Parrish P.S. The kids enjoyed this close-up of the ISS over the moon ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/p8heh9h4xm… ). Want to share this edition with a friend? Use this link: https://fs.blog/brain-food/december-7-2025/ ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/08hwh9h2zv… ) ---------------- Upgrade Yourself ---------------- Members get access to all my reading highlights, ad-free newsletters and podcasts, hand-edited transcripts, early access, AMAs, and so much more. Join us → here ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/owhkhqhwop… ). You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Sunday Brain Food. Want to sponsor an issue of the Newsletter or an episode of the podcast? Click here to learn more ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/6qheh8hloz… ). Overwhelmed by email? No need to unsubscribe. Try a 30 day break ( https://click.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z/l2hw37gqcm… ). If you want to change your email address, update your profile ( https://preferences.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z ). Or unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.kit-mail6.com/gkupdmvmves5hlxkmwot4s8wm4v99bmh936z ). 201-854 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W3

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How to Be a Good Grandparent—and Some Joyful Personal Updates
by Arthur Brooks 01 Dec '25

01 Dec '25

( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/58… ) Hi Friend, Before getting into the newsletter today, just a quick note that this being the first Monday of the month, my personal update comes at the end, so stay tuned for that. Some happy news to report. I have written pretty frequently about parenting over the years, but today I want to talk about grandparenting, a source of unalloyed happiness for nearly everyone who experiences it. Having your own children is scary and complicated, because a lot of change and sacrifice are involved. Having grandchildren, though, feels like no sacrifice at all. This is largely due to responsibility: The olds get to cherry-pick the good moments more than Mom and Dad. As a grandparent, you can indulge the kids with candy and then send them home to have a sugar-fueled meltdown. But the difference is also age-related: In your 50s or 60s, you still have plenty of energy, but are calmer than when you're in your 30s, and that makes everything easier. The one less likely to have a meltdown is you. ********************* What the science says ********************* There’s good social science research on this topic. Scholars have identified at least five basic types of grandparents: formal, fun-seeker, reserved, surrogate parent, and wise. ************ What I think ************ Personally, I want to be in the second category, like my own maternal grandfather, Arthur Hansen, for whom I am named—or, as I knew him, “Bedstefar,” the Danish word for grandfather, thanks to his heritage and first language. He was born in 1903 (which was about the last time that Arthur was a popular name). Here’s an example of his fun-seeker nature: He had a large, custom-made bumper sticker that read Be Alert! The World Needs More Lerts! (He came up with the line himself and had it custom-printed for his Buick.) He also always insisted that I play croquet with him out in the backyard; he always won, with ruthless efficiency and laughing uproariously. (By fun-seeker, I mean fun for him.) *************** What you can do *************** * Be there. Most grandparents seem to believe they have a high-quality bond with their grandchildren. One 2002 study from Research and Aging found that 57 percent of grandparents rated their relationship as excellent, and 45 percent said they were “very close” to their grandchildren. The most involved grandparents are about two and a half times more likely than the most detached to say the relationship is excellent. Three things predict relationship quality and satisfaction, according to another 2013 study in the Journal of Men’s Studies: contact frequency, participation in activities, and commitment. In other words, just show up. * Don’t Interfere. Research from The Sociological Review in 2007 looked for the behavioral norms of the happiest grandparents and found two commonly cited characteristics: “being there” and “not interfering.” I take this to mean letting my grandchildren run wild, without the slightest hint of discipline. Hey, I’m just following the research here. But I can take the hint that the norm is me “not interfering” with my grandsons' parents, not my grandsons. It is not the job of my son or daughter-in-law to be lax with their child. That’s my job, thank you very much. * Be like Bedstefar. Occasionally, Bedstefar was wise as well as funny. I once asked him why he never let me win, and he became quite serious. “A man who shows weakness in croquet will show weakness in life,” he answered. (I’m just going to let that one pass without exposing it to the research.) While you’re running wild with your grandchildren, go ahead and spread a little wisdom, too. ******************* Want to learn more? ******************* Speaking of wisdom, I had a conversation today with one of the most creative people I know: James Patterson. With more than 200 published books, he has a lot to teach about tapping into creativity—and how it can lead to a happier life. You can listen here ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/25… ). *************** Personal Update *************** Two months ago in the personal update, I announced the birth of our third grandson. Well, now we have another grandson, Prince H. No, we don’t have the gestation time of small, fur-bearing mammals in the Brooks family—the two new princes are cousins, not brothers. That makes 4 boys under two and a half years old. Our sons and their wives are in their mid-twenties (when pregnancy can occur from merely sharing a toothbrush), and they say they’re not even close to finished. As the old saying goes, “Raise ‘em Catholic, and they’ll go do Catholic stuff.” (Actually, I made that up.) Anyhoo, bring on the babies. I’m not sure who is more exhausted here—our son, or his son. As you can see, Prince H was born wearing a toupee. The new prince has already been baptized and is officially Catholic™. You can see me observing in a very official-looking way, like a health inspector looking over a taco joint. It has been a busy month of November, with 25 public talks all over the country, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Mexico City was especially lovely, where Mrs. B and I collaborated on a series of happiness talks for businesspeople and university students. We also did some interviews with local media, which you can watch here ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/qv… ) if you happen to speak Spanish. When I lecture or do interviews in Spanish, people always act as if I were doing something absolutely amazing, like riding a unicycle while juggling 7 torches. I used to be flattered by that, but then I noticed that this is basically how I treat my one-year-old grandson when he makes it all the way across the room without falling down. “That’s amazing!” people exclaim with theatrical enthusiasm over my ability to do something every bit as well as any six-year-old Mexican child. Still, I’ve come a long way from when I moved to Barcelona at age 25, speaking not a word of Spanish or Catalan, but determined to win the hand of the lovely future Mrs. B. Her mother, a lifelong language teacher, gave me a stack of very old books to study, which were, in retrospect, a bit outdated and impractical. The first sentences I had to memorize were, “My tailor is rich” and another about, weirdly, Medusa’s head of snakes, noting that it was “unpleasant to see.” I tried to work these phrases casually into conversations with her family, but they came away thinking that I was just an odd foreigner with a wealthy tailor who was really into Greek mythology. Not too long after, when I proposed marriage, I said, “If you marry me, I will be as happy as a rich tailor. If you don’t, my life will be like Medusa’s head.” Here's Mrs. B and me giving a speech in Mexico. Yes, we actually hold hands on stage, which makes me as happy as a rich tailor. As a parting gift until next month, here’s a live action shot from a wellness summit in Phoenix last week, where I appeared to be showing the audience my very best zombie impression. With love from my rapidly multiplying family, ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/58… ) Arthur Brought to you by: ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/g3… ) LMNT ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/g3… )—A science-backed electrolyte drink mix that helps you feel and perform your best, without sugar, artificial ingredients, or gimmicks. Get a free sample pack at DrinkLMNT.com/Arthur ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/g3… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/9q… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/3o… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/n2… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/48… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/wn… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/08… ) ( https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7n9z/8g… ) This newsletter is aimed to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit for everyone to become happier, and includes information from my "How to Build a Life" column published in The Atlantic. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 Unsubscribe ( https://unsubscribe.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7… ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.convertkit-mail2.com/68un9qnvv4i8h5oq9g3h9upe59okkh9hn7… )

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