WITI Recommends
Extracted from 1,500+ editions of the Why is this interesting? newsletter.
An exploration of the benefits of interacting with strangers, revealing how 'minimal social interactions' can offer a substantial sense of belonging and happiness.
A source book for Industrial style published in the late 70's. It explores the use of readymade, industrial materials in a residential setting. Topics include sail shades, rubber mat flooring, aluminum blinds, Speed-Rail, and other hallmarks of the Industrial aesthetic.
An account featured in the December 1958 edition of the Explorers Journal, recounting Tom Slick Jr.'s expedition to the upper Arun Valley of the Himalayas in search of evidence of the Yeti's existence.
In 1835, Pugin significantly raised his profile with the book 'Contrasts: Or, A Parallel between the Noble Edifices of the Middle Ages and Corresponding Buildings of the Present Day', which compared the virtues of medieval society to the vices of modern society.
A guidebook by Arthur Frommer that inaugurated the age of budget travel.
Another book currently being read and enjoyed.
Listed by the author as a part of her reading list for the summer, epitomizing her love for fantasy.
A book by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, described as a masterpiece of human confabulation.
A book mentioned as the last great book read by the interviewee.
I.S. Berry's debut spy novel exploring themes of espionage, love, and revolution, drawing from the author's own experiences.
An early glimpse of our AI-generated media hellscape provided by TCL, the second largest TV manufacturer in the world.
A movie in which a guy kidnaps girls to harvest their body parts to sell to rich people for dinner. It features the girl from Normal People.
A film that does an especially good job of depicting a world seen through AR contact lenses.
A puzzle film that builds suspense through its mysterious plot, involving a second murder that happens unexpectedly.
A Hulu series marked by intergenerational humor, featuring Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez.
“Aaj Shanibar” is one of the four tracks from the album Disco Jazz by Rupa, which stands out for its eight-minute runtime and high-energy, ever-shifting instrumentals. It has gained significant popularity on YouTube, becoming an example of how lost songs reach a new generation of listeners across the world.
An album composed by Philip Glass, noted for its repetitiveness and use in a collaboration with theater designer Robert Wilson.
Parker’s album features an interplay between guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Anna Butterss, saxophonist Josh Johnson, and drummer Jay Bellerose. It is favored highly by the author and is not available on any streaming platform, making it a unique find.
A Spiritual Jazz album from 1972.
The album features psychedelic music by Sister Irene O'Connor, an Australian nun. It has gained attention for its enchanting piece of music, particularly the song called "Fire", and has been highlighted by several fans including The Avalanches. It has also been sampled by artists like James Blake and made TV appearances.
A very fun website where you can look at idioms and expressions from different cultures across the globe.
An AI-based app that generates personalized soundscapes to aid focus and block out noise.
Timeshifter is an app that prescribes specific activities such as when to see light, avoid light, rest, consume caffeine, and other small activities in a linear table to help adjust to new time zones quickly. It offers sleep optimization advice and can include melatonin and/or caffeine suggestions.
An app to locate French natural wine.
A mobile application that provides daily Go problems to solve, mostly for beginners.
Highlighted in the context of an NBA player's injury, the Nike Kobe 9 Elite sneakers are mentioned as having a lack of grip on the outer edges of the outsole, which can make sudden changes of direction challenging.
A pair of sunglasses from Oscar Magnuson, which Amber purchased during her visit to The Next Door shop in Paris.
The ‘22-’23 season fourth kit for Paris Saint-Germain, customized for Amber's son, from the PSG flagship store.
A perfect chino by Incotex.
A nice titanium money clip with American Flag - NASA Optical Gray variation.
A spray deodorant by Aesop, favored by Sir Paul Smith after first experiencing the brand in the bathrooms of Japan's Park Hyatt Hotel.
A sleep aid supplement that is useful for jet lag recovery. It contains magnesium glycinate and tart cherry, which has tryptophan (turkey sleepiness) and melatonin, making it a go-to sleep aid.
Rihanna's line's new lipstick debuted during her 2023 Super Bowl half-time performance.
Rihanna’s new lipstick line debuted during the 2023 Super Bowl half-time performance.
An old Italian brand shaving cream with a menthol aroma, available in a tube.
A kit for brewing alcohol at home.
A local favorite with teas and great Emirati food, showcasing a nice cultural side of old Dubai.
Originally opened in 1976, The Rookery was purchased in 2009 and has led the revitalization of downtown Macon.
A cookbook by Lou Lambert.
A US brand disclosing polyphenols in the high 700s, part of the high-end culture of olive oil with sommeliers, qualified tasters, prizes, and rituals.
Wide expanses of de Le Cuona linens, suitable for luxurious home interiors.
A task lamp useful for work from home setups.
St Cecilia in Austin, Texas is highlighted as an all-time favorite hotel.
A lightweight and portable sit-stand desk solution that offers versatility and ergonomic benefits.
An entry priced option for a quality passport wallet, part of the Observer Collection.
A starter pack for flight simulation, recommended for enhancing the digital flying experience at home.
A fireproof, waterproof, EMP-proof bag for protecting important documents
A retrofit single DIN Porsche Classic Communication touchscreen unit for classic 911s, a double DIN PCCM Plus setup for the 996-generation 911 and original 986 Boxster, and similar solutions for the 997-generation 911, 987 Boxster, 987 Cayman coupe, and Cayenne SUV. Features include a 7-in touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite navigation with maps displayed in 2D or 3D.
A Kindle Paperwhite for reading without notifications and distractions.
Nokia released a new version of its 6310 complete with the classic Snake.
A multidisciplinary artists’ collective helmed by Brian Eno, taking on the task of saving the planet.
A small tiki lounge open 5pm-11pm, Thursday through Saturday, immediately transporting visitors to a South Pacific paradise of rum drinks.
A collection of postage stamps celebrating the painter George Morrison, a leading Native American modernist artist.
A graft-derived fantastical fruit tree that can produce several different types of fruit.
Prepaid mail box for sending small items, available in a minimum set of five boxes.
A manual burr grinder for coffee beans.
A manual, portable espresso maker for making coffee.
A manual lever espresso maker for making coffee.
A manual grain mill for processing grains into flour, suitable for situations without electricity.
A Swiss peeler recommended by Brooks Reitz.
A radio that allows you to tune into global radio stations.
Noise masking sleep buds that are useful both at home and on long-haul flights.
A popular USB microphone known for its quality and versatility, suitable for streaming, podcasting, and recording.
Studio monitors providing professional audio quality for music production and mixing.
For cycling and other activities where blocking your ears is a bad idea, bone conduction headphones let you listen to music or podcasts.
An early example of open-world gameplay set in the 15th century Holy Roman Empire.
A Dungeons & Dragons classic game, remade as an Enhanced Edition.
A turn-based strategy game released in 1994.
A space combat simulation video game released in 1990.
An interactive video game about heartbreak. Florence is appreciated for its artistic elements built into the game, making it feel more like art than an app.
An adjustable-height grill for campfire cooking.
A recommendation from a conversation about top-notch folding chairs in the WITI Subscriber Discord.
Purification tablets necessary for making water safe to drink.
A headlamp encouraged for its red light option, aiding in navigation without compromising location or natural night vision.
A sharpening stone recommended to keep your blades sharp, could be life-saving.
A comic book series featuring a journalist hero in a world of vulgarity and violence.
A book series the author is working their way through.
Will McPhail's first graphic novel.
A book by Jason Adam Katzenstein about living with OCD.
A graphic novel form of 'The Goal', which utilizes Goldratt’s theory of constraints in a graphic novel format.
A convenient city tour that leaves the airport approximately every hour, includes speedy immigration clearance, a comfortable air-conditioned bus tour around the city, with a significant stop for shopping in the souk.
An incredible book about artist interventions in sacred places.
A Padel club concept called Matcha that is exceptionally well executed.
The Southeast's largest museum dedicated to the Art, History, and Culture of African Americans.
A park preserving the rich history of American Indians in the area, featuring Mississipian era platform mounds.
An original call sheet from Star Wars in 1977, which has become a collectible item.
A 9,090-piece scale model of the Titanic, described as LEGO's biggest set ever.
A deck of cards with cryptic remarks or random insights that aim to break creative blocks and promote thinking outside the box.
A brand that makes really high-quality unisex pants and jeans out of an innovation incubator in Okayama. TUKI is known for its amazing textiles and silhouettes, focusing on material integrity.
A subscription service where you receive a hand-selected indie magazine every month. Known for sending out well-crafted publications with diverse subject matter, one of the highlighted finds is Racquet Magazine.
A hand-stained, Italian leather portfolio made by a 100+ year-old company.
Postage stamps celebrating the James Webb telescope, the most sensitive telescope ever deployed in space.
A stylish oak pen tray to organize writing instruments on a desk.
A beautifully designed notebook for writing essays or taking notes.
A limited edition notebook by Field Notes, designed for journalists but perfect for anyone who values compact and efficient note-taking.
A zero/zero, limited production, experimental style wine featuring a grim reaper clutching a scythe, splattered red paint, and the word Brutal followed by three exclamation points on the label.
A wine embracing the Brutal philosophy with zero/zero production, a limited number of bottles, and an experimental style, featuring the iconic Brutal label.
Part of the Brutal wine movement, this wine stands out for its zero/zero approach, limited production, and bold, experimental approach.
A Brutal label wine, characterized by its adherence to zero/zero production methods, limited batches, and an adventurous, experimental style.
A wine produced under the Brutal label, embodying the movement's philosophy of zero/zero production, limited quantity, and experimental style.
A non-fiction book about story structure and principles of screenwriting, recommended as essential by Rebekah Sanderlin.
A collection of stories Christine is reading every night, remembered from her childhood.
A children's book by Mark Gonyea covering basics on colors, contrast, and ratios.
A novella that tells the story of an elderly civil servant whose literary talents are belatedly recognized by the younger generation.
A dark children's book and fable for adults by Oliver Jeffers, also a beautiful design object, made from lithographs at the historic Idem in Paris.
An e-bike model received as a review unit for Ride Review.
An original Swiss Army bicycle, a unique piece of military history now available to civilians.
An electric vehicle that utilizes the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), featuring a flat floor which allows for a deep console that slides rearward so front-seat occupants can enter or exit from either side of the car.
A digital Zine created in collaboration with graphic artist Reyna Noriega, featuring works by various activists and creators.
A type of truck by Chevrolet.
Versatile little potato with creamy flesh naturally packed with flavor, making it delicious roasted, smashed, or boiled, without needing butter.
A durable, full water bottle used by Brady, mentioned along with its uses in a go-bag.
A durable water bottle used by Brady, suitable for drinking water and can make an airtight container for water-sensitive kit.
A universal water filter adapter kit that includes a purification straw for making water safe to drink.
A modestly-priced composting bin for kitchen use.
A candle inspired by the unique smell of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, crafted to capture the essence of bromine-treated water, swamps, old wood, and boats.
An overkill bottle opener.
A tribute to Japanese American servicemembers of WWII through a collection of postage stamps.
A decorative lamp designed as part of the Akari Light Sculptures series, known for its minimalist and functional design aesthetics.
Book Darts are the classiest little way to save your spot, not only to the page, but down to the sentence.
Another bed-and-breakfast option in Macon.
A newly opened boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Macon.
If you’re more of a bed-and-breakfast person, check out The Burke Mansion.
An incredible "Cookhouse" Airbnb designed with cooking enthusiasts in mind, equipped with amazing appliances and everything needed for trying out recipes.
A review of the 'Nine Hours' capsule hotel at Narita airport in Tokyo.
A book about McDonald’s localizations around the world, featuring 200+ photos and 420 pages, highlighting the journey through a project which required field work in 55 countries across six continents over the past three years.
Comptoir in Jumeirah is a healthy lunch spot plus a design concept store.
A patisserie called Yann Couvreur in Dubai Mall near the Fashion Avenue entrance offers exceptional pastries.
A Michelin-starred restaurant in El Puerto de Santa Maria, offering unique dishes with a focus on marine life and sustainability. Chef Ángel León is known for his innovative culinary techniques including the use of aqua fluorescence from algae.
A book that was recently read alongside Lauren Groff's Fates and Furies.
Cool, collectible, LEGO brick-built Jaws movie memorabilia.
Tiny TV, even tinier remote.
A Rubik’s cube designed for speedcubing, featuring corner magnets, a center magnet for stability, and tunable tension screws.
Physical decks of 4-color playing cards.
A game that simplifies learning chess through the use of cards.
A blend of USDA organic ceremonial grade matcha, sourced from a 100-year-old Japanese producer, coupled with Taika's blend of adaptogens for smooth, balanced energy. Contains 60mg of caffeine per can and uses house-made macadamia milk.
A classic American brew, light, crisp, and refreshing, for people who enjoy drinking…without the alcohol.
Ghia describes its first product as “vibrant, fresh and satisfyingly bitter, [it] tastes like summer on the rocks, featuring notes of nostalgic florals, earthy botanicals and a clean kick of citrus.” The drink pairs nicely with a simple mixer and a garnish and has enough sophistication on the palate on its own to make you feel like you’re having a full-blown, expertly mixed cocktail.
A blend of Organic mushroom blend (chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps mycelial biomass cultured on organic oats), Organic cacao, Organic Spice Blend (organic cinnamon, organic turmeric, organic ginger, organic cardamom, organic black pepper, organic nutmeg, organic cloves), Organic black tea powder, Himalayan pink salt. It has 1/7th of the caffeine compared to coffee.
A complex blend of aromatic Jamaican Allspice berry & Cardamom distillates with two barks & a bright citrus finish
Endorsed for life by Reilly B.
An embassy pen.
A high-quality, compact rollerball pen for smooth writing.
A versatile, stylish pen that writes in almost all conditions, including outer space. Fits easily in a pocket and is perfect for those who enjoy jotting down notes by hand.
Magnetic hooks with a 22lb capacity, useful for hanging keys, leashes, and more.
Milwaukee M18 leaf blower, model No. 2724, featured in a photograph of Nancy Meyers.
A high-quality screwdriver set with laser-etched tips for a superior grip.
A recommended brand of durable tape for a variety of emergency uses.
A device that emulates the vibe of Solari boards for home or office.
A portable and Bluetooth-enabled carbon dioxide detector.
Small $10 humidity gauges with temperature reading as well. Ideal for monitoring indoor humidity which is apparently somewhere around 40-60 percent.