26 of My Favorite Things
Jul 18, 2024
Yesterday, I turned 26! To celebrate an incredible 26 years, I wanted to share 26 of the most impactful articles, books, movies, places, things, and experiences from my life, in no particular order. Hopefully, you'll find something that resonates with you :)
P.S. I've converted this from a Twitter thread, so it's not super pretty, and the formatting may be weird. See the original thread here.
The Tail End by Tim Urban: I've followed Tim for years and still consistently come back to this piece. Time is scarce -- spend it wisely.
Putting Ideas into Words by Paul Graham: Since reading this piece, writing has become the main way I reflect, iterate, and discover new ideas. It, quite literally, changed my life.
The Razors Edge by W. Somerset Maugham: One of the most impactful pieces of literature I've ever read. It found me at a particularly turbulent time in my life and fundamentally changed my views on purpose, meaning, and satisfaction.
Optimism by Packy McCormick: Packy is one of my favorite writers, and this is probably my favorite piece of his. The world needs more optimism, and this piece helped me revive mine. Thank you, Packy.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: My favorite book of all time :) I've been a fantasy nerd all my life, and NotW is the pinnacle. Patrick, is there a timeline for the third book?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck: Probably my second favorite book of all time. Steinbeck himself believed it was his magnum opus. Beautiful, impactful, and one of three or four books I recommend to anyone, regardless of age or interests.
Atomic Habits by James Clear: The only self-help book I've read that actually helped. It's simple, actionable, and easy to read. I highly recommend it.
How to Give Your Life Direction by Julian Shapiro: A simple framework for filtering through advice and building principles for your life. It helped me find my three core principles in life.
I start today, not tomorrow.
I finish what I start.
I do what I say, whether I say it to myself or someone else.
Life is Beautiful by Robert Benigni: A truly beautiful story of a father using imagination, optimism, and love to protect his son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp. Somehow, both harrowing and hilarious, it's probably my favorite movie of all time.
The Last Question by Isaac Asimov: My favorite short story. It's a quick enough read that I'll let it speak for itself.
Red RIsing by Pierce Brown: I read incessantly as a child, only for school to slowly and methodically beat it out of me. This series single-handedly rekindled my love of reading.
Wanting by Luke Burgis: Wanting sent me down a rabbit hole of reflection and discovery that fundamentally changed my life. It is another one of the three or four books I would recommend to absolutely anyone.
The Peaks of the Balkans: In 2023, I spent 7 days hiking the Peaks of the Balkans trail through northern Albania and southern Montenegro. To this day, it's my favorite hike I've ever done. Here's me playing chess with one of my guides after a 10+ hour day of hiking.
Chess: Speaking of Chess, it's been one of my favorite hobbies for the past couple of years. I started playing in late 2022 on a gloomy Saturday morning after a buddy, and I found a board at my house. It's easily the most humbling hobby I've ever picked up.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: Don Quixote is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It had me giggling at its absurdity from cover to cover, and I would highly recommend it.
The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson: Another of my all-time favorite movies. I've watched this 10+ times, and somehow, each time is better than the last.
Creatine: Creatine has been a game-changer for my physical health. When taking it, I feel better, look better, have better workouts, and am more confident. It turns out that it might also benefit your mental health! This was the thread that finally convinced me to try it.
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: I was never a big art guy growing up, and my experience here blew my mind. It turns out I do like art, I just needed Van Gogh to show me. If you have a chance to visit, I promise it's worth your time.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli: One of my favorite non-fiction books. It describes modern physics as it stands today and is a super quick read. I highly recommend it if you're curious about how the world works.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: Another of my all-time favorites. This one had no lasting effects like Razors Edge or East of Eden, but it gripped me from cover to cover. Definitely worth a read.
Arc by The Brower Company: I started using Arc as my main browser several years ago, and I'll never go back. It's skyrocketed my productivity and is easily the most seamless internet experience I've ever encountered.
What's Our Problem by Tim Urban: Another incredible piece from Urban. It helped me be more forgiving with people and uncover many of my unconscious biases. Read the first chapter here.
Bonnaroo: Live music has been a cornerstone of my life since I was a child, and my experience at Bonnaroo this year felt like its peak. The music, environment, and people were all incredible -- It's truly a festival like no other.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: The final book I'd recommend to anyone, regardless of age or interests. The book details Frankl's experience as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps and how he found meaning in such a harrowing life.
Zion National Park: I had massive expectations entering Zion, and somehow, they were still exceeded. Zion is truly a magical place, and is somewhere I hope everyone can visit at some point in their lifetime.
And last but not least, my hometown, Austin, Texas. I've lived in Austin my entire life, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. If you like live music and great food, Austin is the place to be :)
Aaaaand that wraps it up! Thanks for reading. I hope something on this list piqued your interest and has an impact on you as it did on me. Here's to another awesome year! Cheers, y'all :)
— Harrison
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