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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.
Garmin Forerunner 965 — After a decade of loyalty to Fitbit, my wife finally talked me into making the switch to Garmin — and I haven’t looked back. As someone running about 30 miles a week, the depth of data it provides is genuinely useful: VO2 max, HRV, sleep scores, route maps. I’m not just collecting numbers — I think it’s actually made me a better runner and healthier person.
Rogue Hoe/Pick — If you live in the American Midwest, bush honeysuckle is basically a villain — invasive, stubborn, and once you know what it looks like you’ll see it absolutely everywhere. I picked up this hoe/pick while volunteering with the Missouri Conservation Corps and it’s the best tool I’ve used in a decade for chopping, pulling, and hacking these things out at the root. Simple, brutal, effective.
Urban Chestnut Brewery— My cousin owns this St. Louis gem, and I have it on good authority that he’s a good guy. But the beer stands on its own — Urban Chestnut leans into classic European styles done really well. If you’re in St. Louis their two taprooms are worth your time, and you can find their beer at retail locations across the region. You won’t be disappointed.
DIGITAL
Waking Up — I’ve been a Sam Harris fan for over 20 years, so I was thrilled when this app came out. Harris once wrote that spending every waking moment lost in thought leaves us at the mercy of wherever our minds wander — and that meditation is a way of breaking that spell. This app makes that accessible without being intrusive. From 30-second mindfulness moments to daily quotes to a vast library of guided sessions, it meets you wherever you are and whenever you’re ready.
NotebookLM— I hadn’t interviewed for a job in nearly 20 years, so when I decided to get back on the market I started with NotebookLM as a thinking partner — uploading personality assessments, personal reflection notes, and an honest account of what I wanted from my next role. Once I landed an interview, I shifted gears: fed it company research, the job description, and all that personal data, and it helped me figure out where I could genuinely add value. It synthesized everything into a custom podcast I could listen to on my runs, and during cooldowns I’d switch to Gemini Live for mock interview questions. After a few weeks of that I felt genuinely ready. And wouldn’t you know it — I got the job.
INVISIBLE
“Proceed as the way opens” — Quaker Proverb
I first encountered this Quaker proverb in William Least Heat-Moon’s River-Horse, where he called it his “precept of last resort” while navigating 5,000 miles of American waterways. It stuck. There’s something in it that echoes what evolutionary biologists call the “adjacent possible” — the idea that each step forward opens up the next one, even when you can’t see very far ahead. I find it grounding. It’s never hopeless. There’s always something you can do, and one move usually reveals the next.
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11/14/23
