Category: review

This is not a review of Tinkers by Paul Harding. The reason this is not a review is because I did not finish the book.

Here’s the thing: I’m supposed to like this book. In fact, there’s nothing to not like about it. The prose is beautiful, rich, and dense. The story, about a man on his deathbed surrounded by family and drifting in and out of consciousness and time, is compelling. And, one needs to give some appreciation to the fact that this is his first novel as it is better than most writers tenth novels. It even won the Pulitzer Prize. In other words, people far smarter than me like this book. They love this book.

Here’s another thing: You will likely enjoy this book as millions of others have. Not to mention as much as those who gave it the one of the highest prizes in literature clearly did. You will likely read this post, read the book, and think I’ve lost all sense and good taste. For all I know, you might be right.

Yet, I could not get through it. I tried three times. The funny thing is that the reasons I should have liked this book are the very reasons I could not push through it. I found the prose to be too rich and the story too deep. I found that it suffers from an affliction of many first novels in that it is weighed down by too much description — beautifully described, but too much all the same. It was like a well made flour-less chocolate cake — delicious first slice but a few bites more than that and you quickly become too full and too ill to eat more.

This is one of those rare times I understand "book guilt". Most of the time, I have no problem putting a book I’m not enjoying down and moving on to another. Life is too short and there are too many great books to waste a single moment more on one you are not enjoying. But, I felt very conflicted about walking away from this one.

Because no one warns you about the ones that might be too good. Or, the ones you just might not be ready to read — those you may need more wisdom or more patience to truly enjoy. Or the ones that you know are technically great, that everyone else says are great, but for whatever reason are just not for you.

Even though it is much more difficult to admit and do, the same rules apply for these too. Books are meant to be read and enjoyed. If one is not doing it for you for any reason, put it down and move on to another guilt free. Even is it is "good".

TROVE: INTRODUCTION from TROVE on Vimeo.

The Trove wallet is a nice new minimalist wallet. The folks there were nice enough to send me one to review. I’ve actually spent the last month or so carrying it around as my full time wallet — replacing the one I have carried for years now.

In that time it has performed well and still looks as good as new. It is attractive and casually professional. It’s available is a iety of colors. I chose the “Autumn” colorway which is black elastic with chocolate ant toffee brown leather.

The concept is a simple one, executed very well. A band of elastic with a leather loop in the middle that cradles up to 10 cards and provides for a way to slip in a couple of business cards or a few bills cash on the opposite side. It’s also reversible so that one could have a way to slip such items on the outside of the wallet as an option. It’s best to watch the video embedded above to get a sense of what I’m talking about here.

If I were to take any issue with it, it is no fault of theirs, it is mine. If you know anything at all about me it is that I live very intentionally and work to hard to carry only that which I really need. This is especially true of something I carry all day every day. The truth is, I actually need to carry a couple of more cards than this is designed to hold. I pushed the Trove past this limit, and as such it made it difficult to get cards out and to finger my way to the one I needed. If I removed a couple of cards from the total, it was not an issue. So, while the Trove actually performed very well as advertised, it is just a bit too small for my needs.

That said, if you are in the market for a minimalist front-pocket wallet that looks good and the capacity fits your needs, this is a very nice option. It would make a great gift too. Check it out.

Choose Yourself, the latest book by James Altucher is a straight forward kick in the pants to anyone who needs it. It makes a very strong case for what many of us already know (and many others suspect) — that everything we used to rely on for safety (College, Employment, Retirement, etc) no longer can be relied on. No longer can we wait for someone to hire us, invest in us, or pick us. Now is the time we must choose ourselves and, thus, control our own destiny.
He makes his case using straight talk and a no-nonsense style. To do so, he uses facts, reason, numerous case studies, and his own personal failures and successes. But, I think even more important is that this is the first book of this type I have read that stresses personal health and well being as essential tools for choosing oneself. Things like proper sleep, a healthy diet, and daily exercise are requirements for doing your best work. Choosing yourself begins with making these sorts of investments in ones overall well being.
As someone who has “chosen himself” already, I’m often asked by those interested in doing so for books, resources, and my own writings on the subject that I recommend. I can confidently say that this book will now be at the top of that list. Mainly because the author pulls no punches about the whats, hows, and whys of what he believes we all should do. He gets to the point fast and never couches or waivers from it. In fact, he believes so strongly in the ideas he is expressing that he will gladly give you your money back. He just wants to get this message out to as many people as possible.
Do yourself a favor and choose to get it for yourself. What do you have to lose? Especially those who have lost so much already.
P.S. I just noticed that, as I write this, the Kindle version is only $.99 cents but is available on loan for free to Amazon Prime members via the Kindle Lending Library program.

I was not expecting to like this bag as much as I do. When Levenger reached out to me to ask if I wanted to review their Bomber Jacket Messenger, I wasn’t so sure. I have a lot of bags — more than enough. It’s one of the places where my natural minimalistic tendencies fly out the window. To that end, I have worked very hard to settle on just few bags that are built to last a lifetime. Included in that group is a Levenger Stanley Briefbag (now-discontinued). So, I certainly don’t need another bag.

But I sure do love this bag. It’s a great size. It’s not meant to hold everything. It is more square than rectangular so even a lot of laptops are out of the question. That said, it has two large compartments so more than enough room for a full size iPad. It has a some organizational pockets for a phone, pens, business cards, etc. It also has two zippered pockets — one inside and one outside that are roomy and deep. In other words, it can actually hold a fair amount of stuff and keep it organized without losing it’s trim shape. There is also a nice little hook inside for your keys that attaches with a snap. I used the heck out of that.

The Bomber Jacket leather and plaid interior just plain look good as well. Rugged yet elegant. Equally at home with a t-shirt and jeans or a suit. I’ve been using it almost daily since I got it a few weeks back and it still looks brand new.

I’ve been a Levenger customer for over twenty years. I have never been disappointed by anything I have purchased there. The commitment to quality, service, and usefulness of their offerings is beyond compare.

So, if you are looking for a versatile bag for your daily commute, yet don’t need a full laptop bag, this is well worth a look. That said, if you do like the looks of this bag but wished it were a little bit larger to accommodate a laptop, they make a version for that too which I can only assume is just as great.

I could not be more pleased with the items I received from Nock Co. after having backed their successful Kickstarter campaign. But, of the bunch, so far I’m most pleased with the design and utility of The Chimneytop Pop-Up Zip Cases. They are made primarily with writing instruments in mind but can be used for a iety of other items as well. These have really filled me with delight each time I take them out to use them.

I received both the small and the medium. I’m using the small for pens. I generally have a number of pens in my bag and have been known to use several at once (different colors, point sizes, etc.) when taking notes. Therefore, it is nice to have a case that, when open, allows me to easily see and retrieve the contents inside. It looks handsome on the desk. And, thanks to the way they are designed, once zipped it becomes a nice trim package.

The medium I’m using for other items I like to carry in my ruck — headphones, a small flashlight, a Swiss Army knife, and other sundry items that otherwise knock around the top pocket. Once again, it creates a nice trim package of this stuff when zipped.

Between the two, things are neat and contained. Both are very sturdy too thanks to using 1000D Nylon.

Now, Nock Co. is still trying to catch up with the Kickstarter orders. They have not officially opened shop to the wide world yet. I feel sort of bad reviewing and recommending something that can’t be ordered yet. That said, I know the guys there are working as hard as they can to do so soon. Great products, from great folks, made in the USA, at reasonable prices. Keep them on your radar screen.

I’m not much of an audiophile. In fact, I’m pretty fine to just listening to the built in speakers on my MacBook and iDevices most of the time. That said, the appeal and difference of using quality audio gear does not escape me completely. I had an earlier model of RHA Headphones (the MA450i) that I ended up losing at some point along the way. I’ve really missed them. They were especially great for running. So, I was delighted to accept a generous offer by the fine folks at RHA to check out their new flagship model, the MA750i In-ear Headphone.

I’ve had a chance to use them for a couple of months now (yes, I’m that overdue) in a iety of situations and environments. They sound amazing no matter what and have a solid — near custom — fit thanks to the 10 pairs (!) of different sized/shaped/purposed ear tips they include. Thus, the noise isolation that can be achieved is better than any other similar models I’ve tried (which is not many). I think one would be hard pressed to find much better balance of build quality or rich, balanced, sound for the cost ($130.00).

They include all of the other bells and whistles you would expect from headphones in this price range — noise isolation, three button in-line remote and microphone, steel reinforced cable with gold plated connection, and a nice carry case and holder for the ear tips.

In all, I’ve really been enjoying these and have been reaching for them anytime the sound matters. And, thanks to how well they fit they are even better for active pursuits than the ones I lost. These are a keeper for sure.

I have long admired Patagonia as a company. The film above perfectly encapsulates many of the reasons why. Even though I only own a few of their products, I appreciate their commitment to quality, long lasting products, and their understanding of their impact on the environment. In fact, they heavily promote the idea, through the Common Threads Partnership, that their products are best purchased used in good condition — since they are made to last a long time.

I was able to acquire a vintage (1980’s era?) Patagonia down vest in very good condition at a clothing exchange that was part of an re-use fair we attended earlier this year. It has become my go-to outer layer this chilly fall season. I’ve become quite enamored with it and wear it almost daily. It’s well made, rather warm, and looks good tossed over a mid-weight fleece. Putting it on knowing it got years of good use by someone else before me and that I’m part of its working life makes it all the more special to me. I’m sure it will serve me well for many years to come.

I also recently purchased some Patagonia Nomader Pants for travel and, while I have only worn them a couple of times, they appear to hold similar promise (though they appear to be currently unavailable).

All of this is to say that Patagonia, and the products they make, are well worth your consideration. But, if it suits you, check for used items first. Conveniently, they make it easy for you.

The Season Of Stuff draws near. Far be it from me to discourage you from participating. After all, I will both give and receive plenty of stuff just like everyone else. It’s just that, if you are going to be giving stuff anyway, why not give something that will last a lifetime, always be in style, and be easily passed on for years more use?

That’s why I love the three Pendleton wool shirts I own. They are dependable, sturdy, and warm. Of these, two are vintage and were purchased used — yet they look brand new. That is because these things were built to last. Here in Minnesota, where the value of a time-tested wool shirt in winter is not lost, you can find them easily and inexpensively in just about any thrift or vintage store — still as stylish and often in as good of shape as the day they were new. In fact, I recommend buying them used as it is better for the planet and this is a rare case where the quality is so consistent that the difference between use and new is negligible. But, even brand new, it is an investment well made. They make a great gift that anyone could, if properly maintained and treasured, provide a lifetime of purpose.

In fact, everything Pendleton makes is outstanding. I have a sweater from them as well and it fits all of the criteria mentioned above.