Recs
Things I've found worth reading, using, or buying. Updated over time.
Books that I have enjoyed. Starred ones are unabashedly recommended.
Lana gave this to me as a gift when we were dating. A treasure then, a treasure now.
A nearly every day companion for 25 years for me. Simple, hard, inspiring invitations to go deeper into the Great Eternal.
One of my favorite American novels of all time. I’ve never met another person who has read Allan Seager.
Think A Bell Jar + Pride and Prejudice. So much fun.
This is a great book.
Having a Bible this nice is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. An excellent version. Readable text. Quality.
Unfortunately I’ve tried a lot of digital tools. Several. Too many! Here are some favs.
I’ve tried 100 project and productivity tools. Conservative estimate. This is definitely the best.
Every action has a keyboard shortcut. The fastest email experience available — and it shows.
Solid. Great Personal Knowledge Manager, or whatever the category is called. Worth it.
I’m against generative AI. But using Claude with defined boundaries and smart workflows offloads busy work so I can do more generating myself.
So long, Google, Micro, and Apple office suites. Loving the libre!
Years ago I tried to remember all my passwords. But I’d often forget. Now I know why: there are 500+ saved items in my Bitwarden vault.
Superpowers for the Mac.
This is part of my rediscovery of owning my own books—digital or otherwise—versus just renting them from Amazong.
One-click Ulysses → WordPress publishing is my workflow. A real joy.
My WPM count has doubled with this app!
Try these first. You might lose them or they might get stolen. But otherwise you’ll be happy.
Best backpack I have ever owned, in any context. Had it for 5 years. Use it daily. Still looks new. Nothing broken. Perfection in a pack.
Favorite sandals of all time. So comfy. They have become one with my feet. Great for hiking, running, shambling, ambling, scrambling.
Favorite journaling notebook at the moment. I flip it horizontally and use it reporter-style.
My current everyday carry. Four layers so it's a bit bulky. Worth the weight: saw, scissors, awl, and all the basics.
I have a pair of these! And a pair of these. As well as a pair of these.
Love these notebooks. Unassuming. Begging to be filled with inspired scrawl. Narrow ruled, light green paper.
Classico.
Abide outside.
My favorite tent in a long time. 2 lbs and it fits me at six feet and six inches.
The chair. Goes with me nearly everywhere: trips, travel, on picnics. In case of relaxation emergency.
Solid mid-weight hiking boots.
I don't own this pack yet. But it would be my Number One rec for people in the market.
Tried and true backpacking for many years. Taking it on trips long and short.
Light, perfectly sized. Squeezable. Great for the trail, the office, or the everywhere.
I’m on an exposed ridge. Blowing winds. Cold. This gave me boiling water in three minutes.
Where shall I lay? Where shall I recline? Here. There. Everywhere.
Why yes, that is a saw in my pocket.
An absolute monster of a backpack. Heavy, but can carry so much stuff. A workhorse that’s still working after 20 years!
Gadgets. Shmadgets. Wadgets.
Favorite e-reader of all time. Great community around it. Custom OS options. But also old school — no touchscreen, backlight, onboard store. I love it.
Take pictures now. Look at pictures later. Screen-free camera.
God in every taste.
Without question my favorite non-alcoholic brewer. Upside Dawn Golden Ale nails the sweet spot: full flavor without being bitter.
Make it daily in the Aeropress.
Print. Read by the campfire. Pass around. I like to do that while backpacking. These would make the cut.
Huh. Most of these are British. I don’t watch them straight—ping me about filtering out the bad words and whatnot.
My favorite movie ever. Still.
