“What I’m Enjoying This Week” Top 10011 min read

Published by Zach on

I know you all are going to love this post. I spent days compiling the top 100 most-clicked/loved items in my “What I’m Enjoying This Week” section that I put at the end of every one of my Tuesday Tune-Ups Weekly Newsletters. Here it is! Enjoy!

Reading 📚

  1. Paul Graham’s “Beating the Averages” – A brilliant essay on competitive advantage and why questioning your assumptions about what’s “impossible” might be your most powerful tool.
  2. Naval Ravikant’s “How to Get Rich” – Not what it sounds like—this is actually a philosophical framework for creating wealth through leveraging specific knowledge.
  3. Seth Godin’s “The Practice” – A masterclass in showing up consistently and trusting the process rather than focusing on outcomes.
  4. Y Combinator’s “Startup School Library” – A goldmine of practical advice for entrepreneurs at any stage.
  5. Cal Newport’s “Deep Work” blog – The most actionable research on distraction-free productivity I’ve found.
  6. Maria Popova’s “The Marginalian” – Formerly Brain Pickings, this site explores wisdom across literature, science, art, and philosophy.
  7. Tim Urban’s “Wait But Why” – Mind-expanding deep dives into everything from AI to procrastination, with stick figures.
  8. Scott Young’s “Ultralearning” – The ultimate resource on accelerated learning strategies backed by cognitive science.
  9. Derek Sivers’ blog – Refreshingly concise wisdom on life, business, and creativity from the founder of CD Baby.
  10. Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans” – The essay that changed how I think about building an audience online.

Books 📖

  1. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon – The ultimate guide to sharing your creativity and getting discovered.
  2. Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge – Scientific approaches to conscious dreaming that have enhanced my sleep and creativity.
  3. Atomic Habits by James Clear – The definitive guide to building habits that stick through small, consistent improvements.
  4. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss – The book that changed how I think about work, lifestyle design, and entrepreneurship.
  5. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel – The most insightful book on financial behavior I’ve ever read.
  6. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – A collection of wisdom on wealth and happiness from one of tech’s most thoughtful investors.
  7. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Ancient Stoic wisdom that’s more relevant than ever for navigating modern challenges.
  8. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi – A surgeon’s memoir that profoundly impacted my perspective on medicine and mortality.
  9. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – The ultimate guide to overcoming creative resistance.
  10. The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco – A refreshingly honest take on wealth creation that debunks get-rich-slow myths.

Bonus: My book of course! SoloTuber – How to launch a money-making YouTube channel in just two weeks.

Videos 🎬

  1. Why you should make useless things | Simone Giertz TED Talk – A fun reminder about removing the pressure of utility and success to unleash creativity.
  2. Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address – “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
  3. Inside the mind of a master procrastinator | Tim Urban TED Talk – Hilarious and insightful look at why we put things off.
  4. Sugar: The Bitter Truth by Dr. Robert Lustig – The lecture that changed my understanding of nutrition and metabolism.
  5. How to speak so that people want to listen | Julian Treasure – Transformed my approach to communication and public speaking.
  6. The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown – Research-backed insights on courage, vulnerability, and human connection.
  7. The Most Astounding Fact | Neil deGrasse Tyson – Four minutes that will change your perspective on our place in the universe.
  8. Richard Feynman: The Pleasure of Finding Things Out – Celebrating curiosity and the joy of discovery.
  9. The paradox of choice | Barry Schwartz – Why more options often lead to less satisfaction.
  10. This is Water by David Foster Wallace – The most important daily choice we make without realizing it.

Podcasts 🎧

  1. JRE #1169 Elon Musk – The best Joe Rogan podcast. If you have never listened to Joe Rogan, just listen to this one.
  2. The Tim Ferriss Show #497: Dr. Andrew Huberman – Game-changing neuroscience-backed strategies for learning, focus, and behavior change.
  3. The Knowledge Project #92: Balaji Srinivasan – Mind-expanding predictions about the future of tech, media, and education.
  4. Lex Fridman Podcast #122: David Sinclair – Cutting-edge longevity research that’s changing how I approach health.
  5. Deep Questions with Cal Newport – The most practical productivity advice I’ve found, grounded in research.
  6. The Tim Ferriss Show: Jocko Willink on Discipline, Leadership, and Overcoming Doubt – Transformative insights on mental toughness and building systems for success.
  7. The Drive with Peter Attia #127: AMA with Dom D’Agostino – The most informative deep dive on ketosis and metabolic health.
  8. The Portal #36: Dark Matter and Dark Energy with Eric Weinstein and Garrett Lisi – Mind-bending physics that will change how you see reality.
  9. Freakonomics Radio: The Upside of Quitting – Fascinating exploration of when to persist vs. when to pivot in career and business.
  10. Making Sense with Sam Harris: Mindfulness Meditation – The most accessible introduction to meditation practice I’ve found.

Health Upgrades 👁️

  1. PRK Surgery – Not medical advice, but this has absolutely changed my life. After wearing glasses since childhood, experiencing clear vision without any aids is almost surreal. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/photorefractive-keratectomy-prk
  2. Daily Cold Plunge (2-3 minutes) – According to research published in PLOS One, regular cold exposure can increase metabolic rate and reduce inflammation. Game-changer for recovery.
  3. The Profound Benefits of Strength Training – Research shows weight lifting can help with fat loss and increase muscle strength, which is directly linked to longevity. Studies in ScienceDirect also show resistance training is an effective non-pharmacologic strategy for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6934999/
  4. Zoe Continuous Glucose MonitorResearch in Nature shows personalized nutrition based on glucose response is more effective than generic diet plans. https://joinzoe.com/
  5. Eight Sleep Smart Mattress – Research in the Journal of Sleep Research shows optimal sleeping temperature significantly improves sleep quality. https://www.eightsleep.com/
  6. 10-Minute Daily Meditation – The research is clear: even brief meditation improves attention and reduces stress.
  7. Daily Walks After MealsStudies show just 10 minutes of walking after eating can reduce blood glucose spikes by nearly 20%.
  8. Regular Sauna SessionsResearch in JAMA Internal Medicine found frequent sauna use was associated with reduced cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. https://www.finlandiasauna.com/
  9. Custom Standing DeskResearch in the BMJ shows standing desks can reduce sedentary time by 100 minutes per workday. https://www.fully.com/
  10. Air Purifier with HEPA Filter – Research on cognitive performance and air quality convinced me to invest in this for my office. https://www.iqair.com/

Software & Tools 💻

  1. Apple Notes – Deceptively simple yet powerful—syncs across all devices and handles everything from quick thoughts to complex research.
  2. Vellum – This incredible tool has made professionally formatting ebooks and print books accessible to anyone.
  3. Loom – Revolutionized my course creation workflow—I can create and share video explanations in seconds.
  4. Cursor AI – AI-powered coding assistant that’s dramatically improved my development workflow and helped me learn new techniques.
  5. Claude AI – My research partner for exploring new topics and refining ideas—fantastic for working through complex concepts.
  6. Things App – The perfect balance of simplicity and power for task management—elegant design meets GTD principles.
  7. Descript – Edit video and audio by editing text—it’s magical for creating content efficiently.
  8. Readwise – Syncs highlights from all my reading sources and resurfaces them through spaced repetition.
  9. Perplexity AI – Transformed how I search the web—it’s like having a research assistant that finds connections between sources.
  10. Alfred – The productivity app that’s saved me thousands of clicks—custom workflows have automated my most common tasks.
  11. MacWhisper – Offline transcription tool that’s transformed my podcast and video workflow—incredible accuracy with zero subscription fees.
  12. Canva – Democratized design for non-designers like me—I now create professional-looking graphics in minutes instead of hours.
  13. Instapaper Premium – My digital reading inbox with highlighting and notes that sync to Readwise.
  14. Rain Sound Sleep App – The perfect ambient noise for deep work and sleep—simple but surprisingly effective.
  15. Frame.io – Next-level video review platform that has dramatically streamlined my collaboration with editors—comments, annotations, and approvals all in one place.

Hardware & Gear 🔧

  1. Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO Headphones – Open-back reference headphones that have changed how I hear music and edit audio—stunning clarity and soundstage.
  2. RØDE Videomic NTG – Elevated my video sound quality dramatically without requiring complex audio setup.
  3. HHKB Professional Hybrid Keyboard – The ultimate minimalist keyboard with Topre switches—transformed my typing experience and reduced wrist strain.
  4. Aputure 300d Mark II with Light Dome – Professional-grade lighting that creates gorgeous, soft light for videos and has eliminated the need for multiple lighting setups.
  5. Midori MD Notebook – Japanese paper quality that makes analog note-taking a pleasure—the perfect balance of smooth writing experience and structure.
  6. Sailor Pro Gear Realo Fountain Pen – Writing with this is pure joy (the Pilot Metropolitan is an excellent affordable alternative for those curious about fountain pens).
  7. LaMetric Time Smart Clock – Programmable display that shows only the information I need at a glance—reduced digital distractions while keeping essential data visible.
  8. Chemex Pour-Over Coffee Maker – The ritual of manual brewing has become a mindful morning practice, and the clean flavor profile is unmatched.
  9. Anker PowerCore Portable Charger – Never worry about battery life again—this thing can charge my laptop twice over.
  10. Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp – Morning light exposure that regulates my sleep cycle and energy levels throughout the day—particularly helpful during winter months.

Productivity Systems ⚙️

  1. Analog Journaling (5 minutes daily) – Research shows expressive writing reduces stress and improves cognitive function.
  2. Weekly Review Process – The cornerstone of my productivity system—90 minutes every Sunday that saves me hours of reactive work.
  3. Pomodoro Technique with 50/10 Splits – Modified to work with my focus style, this simple timing approach has dramatically increased my output.
  4. Physical To-Do List for <3 Daily MIT (Most Important Tasks) – The satisfaction of physically crossing off completed tasks creates a dopamine boost.
  5. Task Batching by Energy Level – Organizing work by mental energy requirements rather than topic has eliminated the mid-afternoon slump.
  6. “Touch it Once” Email System – Process each email immediately upon opening—no more revisiting the same messages repeatedly.
  7. Daily Shutdown Ritual – A consistent end-of-work routine that signals to my brain it’s time to stop thinking about work.
  8. Themed Days – Dedicating specific days to content creation, meetings, and deep work has eliminated context switching costs.
  9. Morning Sunlight Exposure – Based on Andrew Huberman’s research, this resets my circadian rhythm for better sleep and energy.
  10. 2-Minute Rule – If a task takes less than 2 minutes, I do it immediately instead of adding it to a list.

Miscellaneous Favorites 🌟

  1. Wentworth Wooden Puzzles – These artisanal puzzles with whimsical “whimsy pieces” have become my favorite screen-free evening activity.
  2. Leica Q3 Camera – This 60MP full-frame compact camera has rekindled my love of photography and documenting life’s moments.
  3. Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitors – These speakers have transformed my music listening experience with incredible clarity and accurate sound reproduction.
  4. MyNoise Rain Soundscapes – Customizable rain sounds that have dramatically improved my sleep quality and focus during deep work sessions.
  5. Headspace – The most accessible entry point to meditation with science-backed techniques.
  6. Mac OS Shortcuts & Terminal Commands – Learning basic terminal commands and keyboard shortcuts has saved me hundreds of hours of computer work—especially cmd+space for spotlight and ctrl+cmd+space for emoji.
  7. Avenova Eyelid Spray – Medical-grade solution for blepharitis that’s been a game-changer for eye comfort during long screen sessions.
  8. Safety Razor – Better shaves, less skin irritation, dramatic reduction in plastic waste, and significant cost savings over cartridge razors.
  9. Peak Design Mobile Stand – The perfect viewing angle for video calls, recipe following, and reading—elegant design that’s worth every penny.
  10. Kindle Paperwhite – The perfect reading companion—weeks of battery life, adjustable warm light, and storage for thousands of books.
  11. Fresh Pasta Making – The meditative process of making pasta by hand has become my favorite weekend ritual—nothing beats fresh pasta with a simple sauce.
  12. America’s Test Kitchen Cooking for Two – Transformed my approach to cooking with foolproof recipes and techniques that have made cooking a joy rather than a chore.
  13. Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series – The Red Rising saga by Pierce Brown, The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, and the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson have all provided countless hours of immersive escape.
  14. TEMTOP Air Quality Monitor – Tracking indoor air quality has helped me optimize ventilation and significantly reduced headaches and brain fog.
  15. Poetry Collections – Works by T.S. Eliot, Rumi, and William Blake have become daily reading that centers me and provides unexpected creative inspiration. I always thought poetry was pretentious until I committed to reading just one poem each morning—now it’s life-changing.

1 Comment

Raihan · May 6, 2025 at 5:14 pm

Thank you so much for this. I’ve listened to a lot of these authors and guests. They are genuinely incredible. And this is a very concise list of useful information.

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