Book Freak #204: Living for Pleasure
Emily Austin’s *Living for Pleasure* reinterprets Epicurus, arguing that true pleasure is the absence of anxiety rather than sensory excess. The book outlines four core principles: ataraxia as the ultimate pleasure, sorting desires into natural, extravagant, and corrosive categories, the essential role of deep friendships, and the inseparability of virtue and pleasure. Practical exercises guide readers to identify anxiety triggers and restructure their goals. Austin positions ancient philosophy as a modern toolkit for combating overwork, social comparison, and chronic stress.
The Gentle Romance / Career Dreamer / Skull
The article spotlights several niche resources: Richard Ngo’s hard‑science‑fiction collection "The Gentle Romance" offers AI‑centric narratives; Google’s Career Dreamer tool receives an AI‑boost, helping users map future roles and craft resume statements; the tabletop bluffing game Skull provides quick, strategic...
Book Freak #203: Knowledge, Reality, and Value
University of Colorado philosopher Michael Huemer’s new book, *Knowledge, Reality, and Value*, offers a clear‑cut defense of common‑sense thinking across epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. He introduces “phenomenal conservatism,” arguing that appearances provide prima facie justification unless specific doubts arise. Huemer...
Book Freak #202: Determined
Stanford neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky’s new book, *Determined*, argues that every decision is the inevitable product of biology and experience, not free will. He cites experiments showing brain activity precedes conscious choice by hundreds of milliseconds and emphasizes that childhood environments...
Flighty / 23 Learnings on Community / Keep the Meter Running
The newsletter spotlights a suite of niche tools and ideas: Flighty’s iOS app delivers real‑time flight tracking and proactive alerts for travelers; Patricia Mou’s essay distills 23 community‑building principles; the Keep the Meter Running TikTok series captures authentic New York...
Book Freak #201: Indistractable
Nir Eyal’s *Indistractable* reframes distraction as an escape from internal discomfort rather than a technology problem. The book presents a research‑backed four‑step model—recognizing internal triggers, distinguishing traction from distraction, mastering discomfort, and scheduling traction time. By naming feelings and deliberately...
Earbud Straps/Companion Flights Perk/Extra Airport Time
Travelers can now protect pricey earbuds with inexpensive silicone straps that snap onto the neck, reducing loss risk on flights. Southwest temporarily grants a free companion pass to new Chase cardholders, extending free‑flight benefits through February 2027 along with bag...
Retro Recomendo: Sleep
Retro Recomendo’s latest issue curates six evergreen sleep aids, ranging from a free brown‑noise app to a Philips sunrise alarm clock. The recommendations emphasize low‑cost, high‑impact tools such as moldable silicone earplugs, 9‑minute NSDR audio tracks, and ultra‑cheap LED nightlights....