When stuck on a problem or seeking advice, I turn to trusted sources of wisdom: ancient authors or people deeply influenced by past wisdom. β’ S. Tzu (2005) β’ L. Tzu & Needleman (1989) β’ Seneca (1997) β’ Aurelius (2003) β’ Suzuki (2020) β’ Watts (2007) β’ Murakami (2022) β’ Penrose (2004) β’ Frankfurt (2005) β’ Rovelli (2022) β’ Taleb (2005) β’ Greene (2019) β’ Rutherfurd (2010) β’ Machiavelli (1998)β’ Polya & Conway (2014) β¦
Software
I use open-source applications and prefer those that are pre-installed on the operating system. β§ denotes essential or all-time favourites.
- macOSβ§ (personal): Safari, Mail, Photos, Calendar, Notes, CotEditorβ§, Terminal, Preview, iMovie and GarageBand,
- Windows (work): Notepad++ and Firefox,
- Obsidianβ§, Pandocβ§, Quarto and R Studio,
- Zoteroβ§,
- KeePassXCβ§,
- NetNewsWireβ§,
- Homebrew,
- Spotify,
- Musescore.
Hardware
I like tools that are durable and simple to use.
- Leuchtturm1917β§ and MD notebooks,
- Staedtler⧠and Uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencils with Faber Castell 2B lead refills,
- Lamy and Pilot fountain pens,
- Generic sticky notes,
- Seiko Chronograph (2011) & Seiko 5 (2024),
- iPad Air M3 (2025),
- Mac Studio M1 Max (2022),
- Mac Studio Display (2022),
- Apple Magic Trackpad (2015) and Apple Wireless Keyboard (2015),
- iPhone 14 (2023),
- Samsung T7 (2022) and T5 (2020) SSDs,
- Apple TV (2021),
- Sony 1000XM3 headphones (2020),
- Sonos⧠speakers (for a long time),
- Guitars: Telecaster⧠(2013), Art & Lutherie Parlor (2016), Les Paul⧠(2018), Stratocaster (2019) and Jaguar (2020),
- Amplifiers: Mustang I (2013) and Blues Jr III (2017),
- ZOOM Multi-FX Processor (2018) and JOYO JF-09 Tremolo pedal (2021).
Also 2024-02-23: Favourite Books and 2024-02-23: Durability
References
Aurelius, M. (2003). Meditations: A New Translation (G. Hays,
Trans.; Revised ed. edition). Modern Library.
Frankfurt, H. G. (2005). On Bullshit. Princeton University
Press.
Greene, R. (2019). The Laws of Human Nature (Reprint edition).
Penguin Books.
Machiavelli, N. (1998). The Prince (H. C. Mansfield, Trans.;
Second edition). University of Chicago Press.
Murakami, H. (2022). Novelist as a Vocation (P. Gabriel &
T. Goossen, Trans.). Bond Street Books.
Penrose, R. (2004). The road to reality: a complete guide to the
laws of the universe (1st American ed.). A.A. Knopf.
Polya, G., & Conway, J. H. (2014). How to Solve It: A New Aspect
of Mathematical Method (With a Foreword by John H. Con ed.
edition). Princeton University Press.
Rovelli, C. (2022). There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are
Less Important Than Kindness: And Other Thoughts on Physics, Philosophy
and the World. http://www.librarything.com/work/25600450/summary/220184553
Rutherfurd, E. (2010). New York: The Novel. Anchor Canada.
Seneca. (1997). On the Shortness of Life [and other works] by
Seneca.
Suzuki, S. (2020). Zen Mind, Beginnerβs Mind: 50th Anniversary
Edition (Anniversary edition). Shambhala.
Taleb, N. N. (2005). Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance
in Life and in the Markets (Incerto). http://www.librarything.com/work/7533
Tzu, L., & Needleman, J. (1989). Tao Te Ching: Text Only
Edition (G.-F. Feng, J. English, & T. Lippe, Trans.; Reprint
edition). Vintage.
Tzu, S. (2005). The Art of War (T. Cleary, Trans.). Shambhala.
Watts, A. (2007). In My Own Way: An Autobiography. New World
Library.