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Cool tools really work.
A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted.
MUJI Pens: There’s always something to write on; the trick is having something to write with. These pens are perfect. They’re comfortable in your hand, write smoothly, and at 0.5 mm the ink doesn’t bleed through delicate paper, which is especially helpful if you’re writing on a cocktail napkin that you begged off the bartender. I buy the multi-packs in bulk and stash them in every bag and jacket I own so a few are always near at hand. Black for notes, red for edits, and blue for annotations—but hey, that’s just what works for me.
Moccamaster Coffee Maker: I finally splurged on this coffee maker a few years ago as part of my ongoing effort to delight in the everyday objects I own. It has not disappointed me. In an era when coffee making has been taken to new heights of pretension and complexity, there is an elegance to a machine that you fill with water, turn on, and get fantastic coffee out of mere moments later. New York City sells coffee on every corner, but when it’s time for serious work, you need a pot all of your own on hand to fuel you through the hours.
Tenugui: Men stopped carrying handkerchiefs in the mid-20th century due to the rise of “Big Kleenex,” but there’s a lot more to having a piece of fabric in your pocket than blowing your nose. I delight in these colorful Japanese alternatives, which fold down to handkerchief size, but can be used just as readily to wrap half a sandwich or staunch a head wound as they can be to manage your seasonal allergies. Buy a few, wash them when they’re dirty, and Mother Earth will thank you for your sustainability.
DIGITAL
Reader App: Many people are already familiar with their popular Readwise service which puts Kindle highlights in your inbox every morning, but Reader has created the single-best read-it-later app I’ve ever used—and I’ve tried all of them. There are plenty of customization options, it can save down just about any media format, and you can highlight everything you love to go back into your Readwise digest. Plus, the team is always launching new features or responding to bug reports, so it feels like the app is constantly improving in front of your eyes.
Brandon Sanderson’s Writing Lectures: Borrowing from John Mulaney, Brandon Sanderson means a large amount to a small group of people. If you’re not one of them, then you should know he’s arguably the most popular American science fiction and fantasy author publishing regularly today. After already conquering traditional publishing, he went to Kickstarter where he raised $40 million directly from his fans for a four-book project. He’s also a dedicated teacher and this year he released an updated series of his BYU lectures on writing in science fiction and fantasy. Even if you’re not a genre nerd, his insights into story construction, character building, and the media business as a whole are revelatory.
INVISIBLE
The Mission of My Life, John Henry Newman
"God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about."
I’m religious, but I don’t think you have to be in order to appreciate this passage from the Catholic saint and English theologian. People are more fulfilled when they see their lives as personal quests, but it can often be hard to know what that quest is. When I feel down, I try to remember that every moment, every experience, every joy, and every hurt is another opportunity to live my life and hopefully do something for the betterment of others. It may not be clear how in the moment, but that shouldn’t stop me from trying.
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