If you’re new to This for That, The Grinding Wheel is a semi-regular series of curated recommendations to help make you sharper … or just have fun.
For the sake of quality, I limit the frequency of these recommendation posts … the last was over a year ago.
I hope you enjoy the recommendations below and can use them this holiday season.
As always, please share with me what you suggest I read / watched / listened to.
To Watch
A movie for the whole family: Billy and Molly - this documentary is the true-story of the friendship that forms between a man in rural Ireland and the otter that visits him daily. I don’t use words like “beautiful” or “heart-warming” very often but this film is both. (77 mins, Disney+ or National Geographic’s YouTube channel).
A political thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat: House of Dynamite - the United States we will have less than 20 minutes to respond if a foreign enemy sends a nuclear missile our way. This film depicts those 20 minutes from a few different perspectives. It is unsettling but also hard to stop watching … and it serves as a reminder of the importance of global partnerships (112 mins, Netflix).
To Read
A fun coming-of-age story (fiction): The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - this is the story of a kid born with red pupils, the challenges that abnormality creates for him and how he overcomes them. I loved this book. It will resonate with anyone who ever felt different as a kid (a.k.a everyone) and anyone who needs a distraction from life as an adult (a.k.a everyone).
A fascinating coming-of-age story about two giants: Apple in China (non-fiction) - Patrick McGee tells two stories at once - how Apple and China used each other to grow into modern-day powerhouses. He tells these two macro stories with micro details - introducing characters and scenes from inside Apple and China. The book is a bit heavy on the details of manufacturing electronics but I came away with such a clearer understanding of both Apple and China.
To Listen
A conversation about re-inventing yourself in the face of a health crisis - this interview with Jessica Slice opened my mind about what it means to be disabled. I was so inspired by Slice’s ability to reframe change as opportunity. Host Maya Shankar is warm and curious as always (A Change of Plans podcast).
A deep dive into being different: Trader Joe’s - Trader Joe’s operates by its own rules. That is one reason I love shopping there. A 3-hour deep dive into the history and strategy of a grocery store may not sound enticing at first but the time flew by and I learned so much (The Acquired podcast).
To Eat
In the spirit of that bullet, here are a couple of my favorites from Trader Joe’s:
Korean Beefless Bulgogi - defrost this, add rice + Trader Joe’s Soyaki + a touch of sriracha for an easy and tasty meal that is healthy and less than $10.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - Nothing satisfies my sweet tooth as efficiently. Just one or two (okay, three) and I’m all set. Better tasting than Reese’s Pieces Cups. Cheaper than Unreal Butter Cups.
For Work
A better work-from-home experience - my Costco standing desk makes me happy to get off my ass when I work from home. It is easy to adjust and I especially like the glass top where I jot notes on with a dry-erase pen on during meetings. At under $300, it is less than most other other standing desks. Look for the Tresanti brand.
A better 1:1 meeting experience - my view is that one-on-one meetings should either be outdoor, walking meetings (when in-person) or on the phone (when not in-person). For remote 1:1 meetings, invest in a solid noise-cancelling, wireless headset to immerse yourself in the conversation and still have the freedom to walk around. I like my Beats headphones. I’ve also had success with Logitech. I don’t believe you need to spend more than $250.
