Hi All!
Here is your weekly dose of “5-Bullet Friday,” a list of what I’m enjoying or pondering… why not put on my monthly Spotify playlist in the background whilst you peruse? Tim Ferriss fans amongst you will know how blatantly this is a borrowing of his original 5-Bullet Friday (to which I heartily recommend you subscribe).
audiobook chapter I’m treasuring —
“Rule Seven: do what is meaningful, not what is expedient” by Jordan Peterson, read by Jordan Peterson. The final two minutes of this were like nothing I’d encountered before. I’ve written about his weepy interviews with Oz, and admired the footage from his interviews with a London radio DJ who took him to mentor young boxers in how to live with integrity. In those contexts the man has a clear audience to cry for, and there was always a bit of me that thought it might be part performance. Not this time. Imagine the personality that, having sat for many hours already in the process of recording the overture and first six chapters, sits itself down with no armour, no shred of shelter; just a microphone and a climactic script. Imagine yourself in that moment, and ask honestly whether your own courage would be enough not to get up and walk away, go fix a cup of tea, leave the work for another day. He holds it together, through what is clearly a genuine and shocking rush of emotion at the realisation this is probably a defining recording in his life, and will outlast his bodily existence, a testament and a tombstone. What a spirit, what a human being. I pray we have him with us for many years to come.
recipe I’m glad I wrote down during cooking class —
“Nasu miso dengaku” by Yuki Gomi. Around 4–5 years ago I enjoyed my first visit to Crystal Palace driving our party of four through a sodden autumn sunday, to reach the kitchen of Yuki Gomi, celebrated chef who trained at Yoshino. I’ve since visited again for a follow up class, and each time I receive new insights, new recipes, new acquaintances in the faces of my fellow fans of Japanese cuisine. This recipe makes excellent use of aubergine and, paired with the right kind of sharp umami flavour (kimchi or other pickled cabbage) can be relied upon for one hell of a taste sensation. Goes well with a Becks Blue too, for that crisp refresh.
trick I’m using —
“Letter + LinkedIn double whammy” works ev’ry time. It’s a little sneaky but all for a good cause. I’ve got into a habit of, on finding some cool new tech product online (recent examples being Security Journey and Tree Schema, both featured in the email version of this 5BF, in the past few weeks), tracking down the founder/creator on LinkedIn and sending a Connect request. What’s crucial to getting the request read and accepted, is to include with it a link to an Open Letter addresses to that founder/creator, asking some very specific open/leading questions and flattering them to some extent. This has not failed me once; I always get a warm, grateful response that leads to genuine conversation (and at the very least I get my questions answered).
video I’m enjoying —
“Eliseo Papa at Spark AI Summit” on YouTube. He talks through some of AstraZeneca’s approaches to novel drug discovery, through a data lens leaning on technology and governance. Very informative, articulate, concise. Less jargony than many other presenters I’ve seen attempt to grapple with this area of expertise.
song I can’t believe I hadn’t listened to in months —
“Rockin’ Chair” duet by Louis Armstrong & Jack Teagarden. There’s a studio version and a much much slower live version and both start with that caterwauling brass arrangement of solemn marching toward something higher & brighter. Such a sense of holy abandon. There I was minding my own business carving roast chicken and the live one hits me from amongst the Best Of The RCA Victor Years, next thing I’m weeping.
podcast episode I’m enjoying —
“Daniel Ek” interviewed by Tim Ferris. Many good points here, from a down-to-earth guy with a clear explanation of the blend of Swedish & American values that power him and his company.
film I’m watching once per decade —
“Schindler’s list” by Spielberg. So long and so rich that each time I watch I’m struck anew by things I’d missed. Ralph Fiennes as kommandant is quite the despicable performance.
And, as always, please give me feedback on Twitter. Which bullet above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Let me know! Just send a tweet to @olisteadman and put #5BulletFriday at the end so I can find it.
