Best Stuff of 2020
When 2019 ended, I made a point of saving my favorite content throughout this year so I could share my own “best of” list when the year ended. Over the past twelve months, I came across some wonderful articles, videos, and blogs. Much of the content in the final list falls into a couple of thematic buckets: meditations on how to live a good life, creativity, and knowledge management.
Articles
- Lessons in Constructive Solitude From Thoreau - This article dispels the idea that Thoreau ever intended to completely separate himself from society. Rather, he wanted to have his constructive solitude followed by structured socializing that energized him rather than drained him. It also stresses the value of nature when in solitude.
- Your Life is Driven By Network Effect - I rarely find compelling content on LinkedIn but this article was an exception. Long story short - we are the people and networks we spend time with. Choose them so mindfully.
- The America We Need - Motivating manifesto about how we move forward as a country after COVID-19. It provides a compelling redefiniton of liberty and freedom.
- What is the Stock Market Even for Anymore? - Why is the stock market doing so well even though the economy is in free fall. The stock market really isn’t a good litmus test for the overall economy. Somehow I assumed it was. Only 55% of Americans are invested in the stock market in any capacity (including retirement plans). Something staggering like 70% of the market’s the value is controlled by 10% of the investors.
- Running in the Age of Coronavirus - Moving makes you feel better - end of story. It’s amazing that there was a time when people thought runners were out of their mind.
- Hecky - A New York Times profile of a barbecue joint owner in Evanston. My mom, a Northwestern alum, remembers the spot. Hecky ran his store, supported students, and helped his community. A full life.
- 10 Simple Rules for the Best Life Ever - None of the advise here is rocket-science - but I think that is kind of the point too. The needs for life are simple. They are listed here.
- The Lazy Person’s Guide to Happiness - Have a personal “wall of pride” that points out some things that make you feel proud and happy - diplomas, family pictures, etc.
- John Lewis, Towering Figure of Civil Rights Era, Dies at 80 - I’m always moved by people who have the scope and resilience to devote their life to lifelong fights.
- Tim Ferris Changed His Mind on What Success Looks Like - Very refreshing article from Tim. Funny that the guy who started the productivity hacks is now pushing the emotional health movemen.
- The Secret Origin of Chicago’s Tamale Guy - Inspiring story of a guy who hustled. Helped to get his son through college and law school by selling tamales to drunk hipsters! Appreciate that it recognizes that he has struggles too - alcoholism, trust issues, etc. There is no such thing as a flawless person.
- Confessions of a Trump Troll - This article is emblematic of how easy it is to manipulate our modern day internet and media system. Depressing but also slightly entertaining - like a lot of the internet I guess.
- The Days are Long but the Decades are Short Basic stuff but always a good reminder. Just treat your brain and body responsibly.
- Forever in Tweed, Amen - Portrait on a classic 60’s era golf journalist - by a doting modern day golf journalist. Melancholy piece about a man obsessed with golf. But he was also a renaissance man who loved poetry, literature, and other art forms.
Blogs and Software
- Andy Matuschak’s Notes - Andy is kind of an icon in the little corner of the internet that is obsessed with atomic notetaking. He coined the term “evergreen notes” - basically meaning notes that he cultivates over time instead of just writing once and forgetting. His notes, in turn, are heavily based on Nicolas Luhmann’s Zettlekasten method. There are a ton of amazing resources about these kinds of notetaking systems and it has honestly been a blast to discvover them. Even thought I’ve read less this year than others, it feels so good to feel like they will “live on” in my life beyond just initially reading them.
- Obsidian - Best note-taking app I’ve ever used. Genuinely fun to use, awesome UI, great community.
- Blot.im - Beautifully minimal blogging platform. If you want to minimize friction, it doesn’t get much easier to start a website than with than this platform. It was created by the mysterious Dave. He replies to all emails within an hour with truly friendly and helpful insight. I want to know more about him.
- Julian Shapiro - Julian Shaprio posts long form “web books” that are created after thousands of hours of research and thinking. I especially appreciated his What to Work On and Mental Model posts.
- Nat Eliason - Nat seems kind of like a millenial version of Tim Ferriss. But you can’t deny that this guy produces content and value.
Books
- Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday - There is a wealth of knowledge in this book. I will be returning to it frequently. With so much noise constantly around us, its more important than ever to have an explicity strategy for finding authentic stillness in our day to day lives.
- Lincoln at Gettysburg by Garry Wills - Everyone knows Lincoln is in the pantheon of American presidents, but how many of us can really point to a couple reasons why? This book breaks down a very specific moment in Lincoln’s presidency, the memorialization of the Battle of Gettysburg, and systematically tells us why Lincoln was on another level.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear - Actionable advice from the first page. It’s been done a thousand times but I’ll do it again - I recommend reading.
Movies
- Abstract: Illustration - I loved watching how curious Christoph Neimann was about how the filmmakers were framing their story about him. He’s obviously conscious of how stories are crafted. Also fun to dig into his creative process after so thoroughly enjoying his work for the New York Times
- Palm Springs - Just a solid flick right here. General lesson - sure, every day progresses forward, but at the end of the day, every day is just another day and it is your responsibility, and opportunity, to appreciate it. The scene where Andy Sandberg is seamlessly navagating through the wedding crowd with his eyes on Sarah the entire time is probably my favorite of the year too.
- My Octopus Teacher: odd, mesmerizing, inspiring. Just watch it.
YouTube
I got a kick out of looking at my favorite YouTube videos of the year. Most of them have a muted and cerebral tone. In a year where I watched more hectic cable-network news than ever before, I was clearly most moved by videos that were exactly the opposite.
- Caravaggio: Master of Light - There aren’t many YouTube channels that make me want to devote my undivided attention to them - but Nerdwriter does exactly that. It’s educational, inspiring, engaging, and constantly improving. My favorite channel on YouTube.
- Atomic Habits - James Clear (via Thomas Frank): Simple breakdown of key concepts from Atomic Habits. The three main concepts outlined - Compound Habit Interest, Habit-Identity Syncing, and Habit Majority Rules - all are actionable today. (I watched this before reading Atomic Habits - I would do it in that order again too. It was helpful to have a framework of the book before jumping in).
- 7 Commandments for Great Photo Walks - YouTube I’d never even seen a video from this guy but it just kind of worked for me. Calming and relatable.
- Why Exercise is so Underrated (Brain Power & Movement Link) - YouTube - We think the brain is there for thinking. But some scholars argue that, at it’s core, it basically exists to be able to get us to move. When humans get stressed, we release cortisol. This makes us alert and ready to move (but still stressed). This was to encourage us to get away from the predator. But that cortisol doesnt go away until we’ve done that physical exercise. THAT is why exercise is important. To clear out our cortisol and be able to think in a non-stressed out way. So move yo damn body!
- Edward Hopper - Grainydays - I always enjoy watching creators talk about what inspires them. Plus, I just dig this guys vibe. He doesn’t take himself too seriously but doesn’t downplay his love for the topic. I recommend binging his videos.
- Why this Train is the Envy of the World - Concise history of the Shinkansen and it’s influence on the rest of the rail world.
- How I Wrote Mad Men - I love Mad Men and this is fourteen minutes of Matthew Weiner talking about Mad Men. So yeah, its going on the list.
- True Detective vs. Se7en - Every video from Lessons from a Screenplay is a winner. As soon as they start, you know you are being guided by a storyteller that understands his craft and topic.
- Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder - This video reminds of the beginning of the quarantine - when being stuck in the house and doing fun little projects was quirky and cute!
Shows
- High Fidelity - I think I liked it more than the original movie. Zoe Kravitz channels Rob in a refreshing but familiar way. Just like the original, High Fidelity should be comforting to all those people that can’t stop the constant dialogue in thier minds.
- The Night Of - Amazing lead performance. Ambiguous ending. Great sparing matches during the court room scenes but equally shows the tedium of the legal process too.
- Shameless - My go to show binging show for the past couple of months. Amazing cast of hilarious and flawed characters. It never gets old to see different pockets of Chicago on the screen either.
- The Crown - Netflix - The Crown fills the space that Mad Men left me with when it finished. Each episode is like a little movie of its own. And, like Mad Men, its symbolism can be a little heavy handed too.