When I started this newsletter, apart from writing about money and finance, I also wanted to sprinkle in some thoughts on what I’m currently excited about in the world of books, sports, tv, movies, etc. Last week was the one-year anniversary of this newsletter, and since I haven’t done this yet, I figured now would be as good a time as any to start.
I’m going to do these “What I’m Into” posts every couple of months where I’ll share a few of my favorite things that I’ve recently read, watched, or listened to.
As Robin Williams says in Dead Poets Society:
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, [finance], these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, [art, movies, books, sports, etc.], these are what we stay alive for.”
So, here’s what I’ve been into:
The Tim Ferriss Show #485 – Jerry Seinfeld
This is the best podcast episode I’ve listened to in a while. I just thought Jerry was super open and insightful throughout the whole episode. He talks about his writing and creative process and how it’s hardly changed since he started doing comedy. He loves routine and thinks transcendental meditation and lifting heavy weights should be mandatory for everyone.
His primary advice for anyone trying to get into comedy or to be more creative is to “just work.”
I don’t have much to say about this book other than to just read it. Morgan Housel is one of my favorite finance writers and I think this book is his best work. This would be the first book I’d recommend to someone wanting to learn more about finance and money.
My wife introduced me to Alison Roman’s cooking videos a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop watching. The videos are so simple, it’s just Alison cooking in her own small kitchen, yet I find them to be very entertaining. She commentates what she’s doing in a funny, free-flowing way that makes the videos informative and sort of relaxing. Plus, the recipes all look delicious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5LRtFawlMI
I love the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That’s right, I don’t care what Martin Scorsese says. I’ve watched everything Marvel has put out and I’ve enjoyed almost all of it. The Loki TV series is one of my favorite things the franchise has produced. What I really like is that it leans into the fact that it’s a comic book story. It’s not grounded in realism or trying to tackle larger socio-political issues like some other superhero movies. It’s a little weird and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Not to mention that Tom Hiddleston’s and Owen Wilson’s performances are brilliant. The show doesn’t work without them. Also, as a fan of movie scores, the score in this show is a highlight.
Marvel Studios’ Loki | Official Trailer | Disney+
I watched this movie for the first time last week and was blown away by it. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of it before, so I’m assuming that a lot of people don’t know about it. It was filmed over 12 consecutive years from 2002-2014. It follows a boy who is six when the story opens and eighteen when it ends. The movie is about this boy’s life growing up.
Beyond the premise, it’s hard to describe. It’s unlike anything I’ve watched before. Each scene captures moments of the boy’s childhood but then moves on from them at a consistent pace to make them feel like memories. The realism is so jolting that, especially for someone like me who grew up in the late 90s, it brings waves of nostalgia. It impresses upon you how terrifyingly short life is.
Boyhood | Official US Trailer | IFC Films
If you have any other content recommendations for me, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email. I’d love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!