#690: The Random Show, Rare Drinking Edition — Affordable Luxuries, Brain Stimulation, Sampling the Future (and Some Previews), Recharging with Creative Experiments, Tokenizing Humans with a Bonding Curve, Poetry for People Who Hate Poetry, and Much More

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Sep 1, 2023

Kevin Rose, a technologist, entrepreneur, and investor, joins for a lively discussion. They dive into affordable luxuries and brain stimulation therapies, exploring ADHD treatments and the future of personal identity with innovative tech. The conversation also touches on the cultural significance of watches, the art of poetry, and balancing creative success. Additionally, humorous takes on food, drink choices, and unique product recommendations keep the dialogue engaging and insightful.

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ADVICE

Affordable Luxury Watch

Consider a MoonSwatch for affordable Speedmaster style.
This Swatch and Omega collaboration offers iconic looks for ~$250.

ADVICE

Kevin Rose Show Relaunch

Kevin Rose is relaunching his podcast covering tech, investing, health, and mental well-being.
Visit kevinrose.com for updates and subscribe when available.

ANECDOTE

Creative Sprint

Tim Ferriss did a creative sprint with writers and concept artists.
They developed scenarios and artwork for the "Cock Punch" project.

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The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind is a heroic fantasy novel that tells the life story of Kvothe, an infamous adventurer and musician. The story is presented in a 'story-within-a-story' format, where Kvothe recounts his life to a scribe named Chronicler. The narrative spans from Kvothe's childhood in a troupe of traveling performers to his years as a student at a prestigious school of magic, and through various trials and hardships. The book is renowned for its vivid world-building, rich dialogue, and the emotional depth of its characters[2][4][5].

The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics

Dennis O'Neil

In this valuable guide, Dennis O'Neil reveals his insider tricks and no-fail techniques for comic storytelling. Readers will discover various methods of writing scripts (full script vs. plot first), procedures for developing a story structure, building subplots, creating well-rounded characters, and much more. O'Neil explains the many diverse formats for comic books, including graphic novels, maxi-series, mega-series, and adaptations. The book also includes guidelines for writing proposals to editors and illustrates concepts with panels or pages from great moments in DC Comics lore. O'Neil emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique blend of visual and textual elements in comic books and provides a framework for crafting new tales.

Stories of Your Life and Others

Ted Chiang

This collection includes eight short stories by Ted Chiang, each exploring unique and thought-provoking themes. Stories such as 'Tower of Babylon' and 'Story of Your Life' delve into concepts of time, space, and human perception, while 'Understand' and 'Division by Zero' examine the consequences of advanced knowledge and the breakdown of mathematical principles. The collection also includes 'Hell Is the Absence of God,' which probes the nature of belief and faith in a world where divine entities are real. Chiang's stories are known for their rigorous imagination, sharp intelligence, and ability to raise profound questions about the nature of reality and humanity.

The Graveyard Book

Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book tells the story of Nobody 'Bod' Owens, a young boy who escapes his family's murderer, known as the man Jack, and finds refuge in a graveyard. There, he is adopted and raised by the ghostly residents, Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and protected by the mysterious caretaker Silas. As Bod grows up, he learns supernatural abilities and faces various dangers both within and outside the graveyard. The book follows Bod's adventures and his eventual transition into the world of the living, exploring themes of identity, family, and the intersection of life and death[1][2][4].

Devotions

The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver

This collection, curated by Mary Oliver herself, includes poems from her entire career, from her first book 'No Voyage and Other Poems' (1963) to her most recent collection 'Felicity' (2015). The poems showcase Oliver's observations of the natural world, her spiritual reflections, and her exploration of themes such as happiness, prayer, and the preciousness of life. The book is arranged in reverse chronological order and offers a spiritual road map through Oliver's work, highlighting her exuberant dog poems, selections from 'American Primitive,' and 'Dream Work,' among others.

Coyote America

A Natural and Supernatural History

Dan Flores

In 'Coyote America,' Dan Flores provides a detailed and accessible narrative that combines historical, anthropological, folklore, and biological insights into the life and adaptation of coyotes. The book explores how coyotes have thrived despite centuries of human attempts to eradicate them, highlighting their intelligence, social behavior, and ability to adapt to various environments. Flores also delves into the cultural and historical contexts of coyote-human interactions, from their role in Native American mythology to their modern-day presence in urban areas. The book advocates for coexistence with coyotes and challenges the historical and ongoing persecution of these animals.

The Blade Itself

Joe Abercrombie

The Blade Itself is the first book in the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. It follows multiple characters, primarily Logen Ninefingers, a northern barbarian trying to leave his dark past behind; Captain Jezal dan Luthar, a nobleman and skilled swordsman; and Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled former warrior turned torturer. The story is set in a world where war is looming, and the characters are embroiled in murderous conspiracies, old scores, and the blurred lines between heroism and villainy. The book is known for its dark humor, vivid battle scenes, and complex character development, setting the stage for the rest of the trilogy[1][4][5].

The 4-Hour Body

An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Body,' Tim Ferriss shares the results of over a decade of self-experimentation and research, involving hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of personal testing. The book covers more than 50 topics, including how to lose weight quickly, gain muscle without steroids, sleep less and perform better, and improve sexual health. Ferriss emphasizes the importance of finding the smallest changes that produce the biggest results, making it accessible for readers to achieve significant improvements in their physical health and performance.

Writing down the bones

Natalie Goldberg

Night sky with exit wounds

Ocean Vuong

Night Sky with Exit Wounds is Ocean Vuong's debut poetry collection, which delves into profound themes such as romance, family, memory, grief, war, and melancholia. The book is celebrated for its lyrical and visceral exploration of the poet's experiences as a gay man and Vietnamese immigrant, weaving together historical and personal narratives with elegance and vulnerability.

Chiyo-ni: Woman Haiku Master

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Chiyo-ni

This book is a compilation of the works of Chiyo-ni, a remarkable female haiku poet from the Edo period in Japan. Her poems are known for their evocative imagery and emotional depth, often exploring themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. Chiyo-ni's work stands out for its unique perspective as a woman in a male-dominated literary world. The collection offers a glimpse into her life and creative process, showcasing her mastery of the haiku form. It's a valuable resource for those interested in Japanese literature and the art of haiku.

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Technologist, serial entrepreneur, world-class investor, self-experimenter, and all-around wild and crazy guy Kevin Rose (@KevinRose) rejoins me for another episode of The Random Show!

We discuss affordable luxuries, creative offsites, brain stimulation, OCD, ADHD, tokenizing humans via a bonding curve, cold therapy on a budget, phone data strategies for international travelers, Toshiba's low-carb rice cooker, and much, much more!

Please enjoy!

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[04:41] Drinks? Heck, it's 3:00 p.m. Friday somewhere.

[08:36] Affordable (and unaffordable) luxuries.

[14:42] Kevin's relaunching his podcast.

[17:37] Celebrating creative CØCKPUNCH collaboration.

[26:56] Overcoming delegation consternation.

[36:23] OCD & ADHD

[42:55] Tolkien never said "CØCKPUNCH."

[47:55] Inspirational formats and fictions.

[53:26] Brain stimulation banter.

[55:23] Tokenizing humans via a bonding curve.

[1:03:24] Mitigating brain damage over time.

[1:11:47] Cold therapy on a budget.

[1:17:41] Climbing up the poet tree.

[1:26:31] Coyotes and wolves and Twain.

[1:30:34] A free idea for Audible: synchronous book clubs?

[1:32:02] Supplements.

[1:34:35] Brodo kudos.

[1:36:44] Aesop.

[1:37:12] Caffeine and creatine with a chance of disaster pants.

[1:41:15] CØCKPUNCH Coffee.

[1:44:49] Three cheers for OneSkin.

[1:47:50] One out of one Dr. Peter Attias recommends ProMix.

[1:48:51] A low-carb rice cooker? Thanks, Toshiba.

[1:52:14] We like our cake like we like our martinis: without carrots.

[1:57:31] Phone data strategies for international travelers.

[2:01:28] Why Kevin doesn't buy individual bonds (and what he does instead).

[2:03:00] What stocks attract Kevin's investment dollars these days?

[2:06:57] Parting thoughts.

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.

DISCLAIMER FROM TIM FERRISS: I am not an investment adviser. Nor is Kevin Rose. All opinions are mine alone. Or his. There are risks involved in placing any investment in securities or in Bitcoin or in cryptocurrencies or in anything. None of the information presented herein is intended to form the basis of any offer or recommendation or have any regard to the investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of any specific person, and that includes you, my dear listener or reader. Everything in this episode is for informational entertainment purposes only.

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