Colin Nagy

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.

An album recorded during the pandemic and performed live at the Alexandra Palace in London.

“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.

Disco Jazz is Rupa's first and only album, released in 1982. Regarded as a long-lost Indian disco record, it gained a new following years later thanks to a combination of algorithms and word-of-mouth. The album stands out for breaking from typical Indian disco conventions, featuring songs that are more spacious than Bollywood music of the era. It incorporates a mix of Hindi and Bengali lyrics, sarod and extended Western funk guitar solos, and has elements of Balearic beat music.

A book by Robert T. Kiyosaki that advocates the importance of financial literacy, financial independence, and building wealth through investing in assets.

Endorsed for life by Reilly B.

A book chronicling how electronic music conquered America.

Danny Meyer details the philosophy and 'operating system' behind his successful Union Square Hospitality Group, highlighting the importance of hospitality in business.

Expands on Meyer's work and shares how Guidara redefined hospitality excellence through his role in elevating 11 Madison Park.

A kit to make the legendary bar burger from Raoul’s in Soho at home. This package includes everything needed for 4 burgers.

A kit for making Zingerman’s famous Corned Beef Reuben sandwiches at home.

A recently released book by Chris Wallace on Peter Beard.

A book that examines the relationship between culture and human behavior, using literature, case studies, and academic work to illustrate the ways culture influences actions and societal dynamics.

A profile of Prigozhin/Wagner worth the time.

A big, big format catalog that pointed to resources to show how to do all different kinds of things, from astrology to midwifery to leathercrafting and more. It's based on the Emersonian idea of self-reliance.

A journal designed for logging workouts, nutrition, sleep, and hydration, originally developed by a military team for effective physical journaling.

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 Padel club concept called Matcha that is exceptionally well executed.

A patisserie called Yann Couvreur in Dubai Mall near the Fashion Avenue entrance offers exceptional pastries.

Comptoir in Jumeirah is a healthy lunch spot plus a design concept store.

A local favorite with teas and great Emirati food, showcasing a nice cultural side of old Dubai.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The book outlines the organization of neighborhood shop-owner collectives in Tokyo to protect the energy and community of sometimes centuries-old neighborhoods amidst the city's rapid development.

A book by Hugh Eakin about the slow recognition and appreciation of modern art in the US and Britain in the first half of the 20th century, encapsulating stories of key figures who believed in the art's value.

Peter Pomerantsev's dream-like narrative of working in television in Moscow in the early 2000s, exploring the surreal aspects of the Russian media landscape.

Repeated book recommendation.

A song released 50 years ago by Adriano Celentano, intended as a troll to prove a point that Italians would like any English song, using gibberish to mimic the sound of English.

A guide to designing warm, timeless interiors.

A cookbook by Lou Lambert.

A Kindle Paperwhite for reading without notifications and distractions.

An overkill bottle opener.

A Swiss peeler recommended by Brooks Reitz.

An embassy pen.

A nice titanium money clip with American Flag - NASA Optical Gray variation.

A radio that allows you to tune into global radio stations.

Nokia released a new version of its 6310 complete with the classic Snake.

The Light Phone II is a premium, minimal phone. It will never have social media, clickbait news, email, an internet browser, or any other anxiety-inducing infinite feed.

The Punkt phone has a nicely designed interface and allows for a hot spot to connect another device like your laptop if you’re out and about. It supports messaging app Signal.

Friend and WITI contributor Robert Spangle has a new book coming out, titled Afghan Style. The book is available for order on the Observer collection website.

A book by Priya Parker that discusses approaches to creating meaningful and purposeful gatherings.

A book by Vivek H. Murthy that explores the importance of human connection and its impact on our health and happiness.

A book by Chef Keith Corbin that highlights his journey and the impact of cooking and food on survival and identity.

A novel by Michael Mann that serves as a prequel/sequel to the movie Heat, adding depth and history to the story.

A device that emulates the vibe of Solari boards for home or office.

A clock available for purchase that takes an analog approach, reminiscent of Solari boards.

A public toilet app, a resource for tracking down a potty in a pinch.

Philip Ball's book on which his lecture about quantum physics at the Royal Institute is based.

A book that chronicles Jeff Gordinier's journey with Noma founder Rene Redzepi on a culinary world tour, including the establishment of a pop-up restaurant in Tulum, Mexico.

A definitive guide to fermentation penned by former Noma kitchen staffer David Zilber.

A book discussing the cultural tug-of-war between Hollywood and China.

The book that helped inspire the vision for the metaverse and coined the term.

The story of how one man's financial strategies impacted the market.

A former New Yorker fiction editor's culinary journey in Italy.

An evocative narrative about the bohemian lifestyle of surfers.

An exploration of the author's discomfort and complicity with capitalism.

A story beginning with a heatwave in India that addresses climate change.

A book by Tove Jansson without additional context in the newsletter.

Environmental fiction that delves into more than just ecological concerns.

Combines poetic writing with adventurous science exploration.

A brief, humorous, and informative take on black holes.

A suspense novel with humor and surprises, unexpected from the Deadspin author.

A fragmentary novel with interconnected stories, great for summer reading.

Explores Sicily's cultural history in the context of the Mediterranean.

This new translation of Weber’s lectures aims to simplify and clarify his ideas.

Late to the game but the HBO series is a perfect opportunity to catch up.

Tells the story of the rise and fall of Prussia.

Examines capitalism as the secular religion of the post-Christian era.

A treatise on new agrarianism and building societies around local economies and shared resources.

An oral biography of Anthony Bourdain, compiled by his longtime assistant.

A comic book series featuring a journalist hero in a world of vulgarity and violence.

One of three perfect novels, Dune is a must-read epic of science fiction.

A 1965 nonfiction book detailing the liberation of Paris in 1944.

The story of Prohibition and its political history.

A fascinating history of the Crusades.

Detailing the trigonometric survey of India in the 19th century.

A guide to composting methods for gardeners.

A short, funny novel about murder.

The story of Grigori Perelman and his solution to one of the Clay Millennium Prizes.

A tool designed to release the psoas muscle, which can become tight from activities such as sitting for long periods or extensive driving. The Pso-rite is used by laying down and positioning the muscle between its two pointed parts to help it loosen.

A device applied to the upper arm that pairs with an app to provide real-time blood glucose levels, useful for managing diabetes or blood sugar levels.

An app that integrates with CGM to provide insights into blood sugar management, showing the impact of food and other factors on glucose levels.

Tessa West's book explores difficult work relationships and how best to navigate them.

A book currently being read by the author of the post.

A chef's knife recommended by Jason Stewart from How Long Gone.

A collection designed by Marc Newson for Noritake.

A lust-worthy Leica camera.

A film where memories are erased with a flash of light, referenced in a discussion about luxury hospitality and brand equity.

A moody masterpiece from 1996, comprised of long-forgotten breaks and samples.

A book by Joby Warrick on the backstory of the Khost bombings in 2009.

A book by Joby Warrick that details the use of chemical weapons on civilian populations by the Assad regime in Syria, and the US race to find and destroy the weapons.

Google’s Neil Hoyne discusses how companies often mistakenly view technology as a universal solution, detailing a better approach in his book.

A series of compilations called Death Is Not The End featuring recordings of adverts that appeared on London pirate radio during various time periods. These compilations document the original native advertising and the underground music scene in London from 1984 to 1993.

A book that looks closer at what can really make a difference in addressing burnout, according to its author Jennifer Moss.

A device for focused writing.

A story of a man who saw America via a camper with his poodle.

A French political and espionage thriller that unfolds within the French intelligence agency DGSE. The series focuses on the division that sends agents into harm’s way under non-official cover in non-permissive environments to gather information relevant to French strategic interests. It emphasizes the human side of intelligence gathering, the emotional consequences, and features a slow-burn realism.

Formal yet casual shoes good for travel, recommended by Robert Spangle.

A product useful for falling asleep, reusable at home and on long-haul flights.

Noise masking sleep buds that are useful both at home and on long-haul flights.

A task lamp useful for work from home setups.

A book by Robert Caro detailing aspects of his research methods and experiences as an author.

David Simon's book chronicling a year spent with Baltimore's homicide unit.

Sleepbuds designed to mask noise and aid in better sleep, usable both at home and during travel.

From the most avant-garde jazz musicians, visual artists and poets to architects, philosophers and writers, Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style charts a period in American history when Black men across the country adopted the clothing of a privileged elite and made it their own.

Crossrope offers high-quality jump ropes and an application with interval workouts for an easy, portable workout.

Kuhn's book introduces the concept of scientific paradigms and explains how revolutionary changes shape our understanding of the world.

St Cecilia in Austin, Texas is highlighted as an all-time favorite hotel.

A book by the Rand Corporation that explores the concept of randomness through a collection of random digits and deviates.

A children's book by Mark Gonyea covering basics on colors, contrast, and ratios.

A continuation by Mark Gonyea on themes of design, following "Complicated Doesn’t Make it Good".

A shirt from Sunspel, known for its exceptional cotton quality.

A 9,090-piece scale model of the Titanic, which is LEGO's biggest set ever.

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 scented candle by DS&Durga offering a unique scent experience.

A product by DS&Durga, an NYC-based entrepreneur known for their craft and artistic approach to scent.

A scent by DS&Durga described as, 'The desert airs of Marfa, cosmic axis of West Texas. Creosote shrubs and sumac primed with Chihuahuan mesa woods–mesquite, oak, and pinyon pine.'

A collaborative record/book sling created by Ghostly in partnership with Lichen.

A book that examines the essential jobs and the hidden toll of inequality in America.

This Handbook of Cities and Networks provides a cutting-edge overview of research on how economic, social and transportation networks affect processes both in and between cities. Exploring the ways in which cities connect and intertwine, it offers a varied set of collaborations, highlighting different theoretical, historical and methodological perspectives.

Elixirs made from powdered mushrooms. The Cordyceps blend is particularly good before a workout, while the Lions Mane blend is good for focus. Reishi helps you go to sleep, and Chaga is a general immunity booster.

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.

The book on hacking, cybersecurity, and geopolitics. One of the favorite reads in recent memory.

Lightweight and machine washable hats suitable for running or casual wear, available in different styles.

A thoughtful, comprehensive biography of George Blake, a fascinating character who played an outsized, and deadly, role in European history.

A soccer video game by EA Sports that features Kiyan Prince, a soccer player who was murdered 15 years ago, as its newest star. The game includes detailed recreations of Kiyan's likeness, speed, and style of play.

A popular soccer simulation video game featuring the newest star, Kiyan Prince, a promising young player tragically killed 15 years ago. The game faithfully represents Kiyan Prince's characteristics, from his likeness to speed and style of play.

A portable word processor first released in 1993, designed for typing. It features a small grayscale LCD screen, USB cord for transmitting text files, and is powered by three AA batteries. It is lightweight, affordable, and focuses solely on typing without internet distractions.

A small-footprint boutique property with a few rooms in the form of trailers, focusing on tennis. It features four tennis courts, a clubhouse, and a pool, offering a unique gathering spot around shared activity.

An incredible "Cookhouse" Airbnb designed with cooking enthusiasts in mind, equipped with amazing appliances and everything needed for trying out recipes.

A functional beverage full of antioxidants and electrolytes, with 0 sugar and 0 calories.

Andy Grove's famous management book that opens with the challenge of serving breakfast to hundreds of people and lays out management principles followed by tech companies.

A cult producer's iconic album, known for its unique beats and expressive use of the MPC3000.

A book by Joshua Foer about the art and science of remembering everything, discussing a neuroscientist’s study on London taxi drivers’ brains.

Cult favorite jams and preserves made by June Taylor for 30 years, known for refinement and depth of flavor.

Ghia is described as vibrant, fresh, and satisfyingly bitter, tasting like summer on the rocks with notes of nostalgic florals, earthy botanicals, and a clean kick of citrus. It offers an elegant volume that mimics the kick of alcohol and can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with a simple mixer and garnish.

A documentary about the making of Fleetwood Mac's album.

A game that simplifies learning chess through the use of cards.

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 classic American brew, light, crisp, and refreshing, for people who enjoy drinking…without the alcohol.

A book edited by Amy Auscherman, showcasing the heritage and design legacy of the Herman Miller furniture company.

Documentary on the life and work of Arthur Russell, an influential composer, singer-songwriter, cellist, and disco producer.

A documentary delving into the history and impact of Wax Trax! Records, a pivotal label in the industrial music scene.

A documentary on New York street culture, focusing on hip-hop and graffiti art movements during the early 1980s.

A kelp-based burger made in Maine with a blend of fresh ingredients including kelp sourced from ocean farms in Maine, crimini mushrooms, pea protein, black beans, quinoa, crushed tomatoes, and superfoods.

Premium FDA/CE certified medical grade disposable masks in fashion prints. The Tiger print is specifically mentioned.

The Essential Capsule features Brightland’s core products: the now-classic AWAKE and ALIVE olive oils, as well as PARASOL, a raw champagne vinegar, and RAPTURE, a raw balsamic vinegar, double fermented with California zinfandel.

A quirky and memorable ornament to remind us of the pandemic times in a lighthearted manner.

The book explores the psychological effects of vision loss and smell loss, highlighting that while patients who lost their vision were initially more traumatized, over time they acclimated more significantly than the patients who had lost their sense of smell—who, a year later, actually reported a more enduring decrease in their quality of life than the patients who had gone blind.

Abercrombie and Fitch have reportedly spent over 3 million dollars on scent-spraying machines for its flagship stores using this fragrance.

A book about walking 1,000+km of the countryside of Japan along the ancient Nakasendō highway, the culture of toast, and mid-twentieth century Japanese cafés called kissaten.

A book by Jason McCarthy that tells the entrepreneurial story of how he built GORUCK from scratch, emphasizing the power of community building.

A book by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian that delves into the global business of buying and selling passports and the implications of citizenship, examining global inequality through the perspectives of those with and without powerful passports.

One of the best books on writing, emphasizing the importance of clarity.

A music label launched by Ryan Elliott that has been releasing new music.

A book by Alice Rawsthon that emphasizes the power of design in our lives, exploring how art power can be used and abused and how it can be as powerful as other major factors in life, like politics and economy.

A book by Zadie Smith consisting of a series of essays about the experiences and reflections during the 2020 COVID-era, covering topics such as the lockdown and its implications.

A device developed by Feelmore Labs that claims to lessen anxiety by activating specific mechanoreceptors in the skin and regulates a deep part of the brain controlling emotions, the insula, which in effect reduces anxiety and stress.

Brand proposes that "...buildings adapt best when constantly refined and reshaped by their occupants, and that architects can mature from being artists of space to becoming artists of time...More than any other human artifacts, buildings improve with time—if they’re allowed to." The book shows how to work with time rather than against it.

A French political and espionage thriller television series created by Éric Rochant, focused on the French intelligence agency DGSE.

Special band-aids that stay on toes and even through showers, recommended for runners.

A spectacular French political and espionage thriller that unfolds within the French intelligence agency DGSE, focusing on the division that sends agents into harm's way under non-official cover.

An album by Miles Davis that was an inspiration for the song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane.

A management classic that provides a readable explanation of how military processes around planning and communication can help in business execution.

A book by Stephen Bungay detailing the history of the Battle of Britain.

A publication by Stephen Bungay focusing on the Battle of Alamein.

A longstanding radio show maintained by Tim Sweeney that features a mix of modern dance music.

A tool used to block news and social media during the workday to increase productivity.

App designed to help users unplug by blocking distracting websites and apps.

An app that allows users to block their own access to distracting websites, mail servers, or anything else on the Internet.

Tracks how much time you spend on your phone and which apps you're using most.

Connects users to other professionals for live, virtual coworking sessions to keep them on task.

A book by JM Ledgard, mentioned as part of a great profile on him.

A memoir by Sarah Moss about her family's relocation from England to Reykjavik right after the 2008 financial crisis.

A vintage whodunnit by Michael Gilbert set in a prisoner of war camp in Italy during WW2, first published in 1952.

Duck leg confit, pork sausage and ham, onions, carrots, and slowly braised white beans form a hearty casserole that is topped with toasted bread crumbs. It comes with salad and dessert.

A kit for making Coladas offered by Eem restaurant in Portland. The kit has been popular among customers, contributing to the restaurant's advance sell-outs.

An app where you pick a decade and a country, and you can listen to the top songs of the time.

An app that lets you tune into live radio from around the world.

A low alcohol brand, playing in the nascent US apéro space. Apéritifs with complex flavors from roots, herbs, and botanicals.

The founding cologne, created by Françoise Caron in 1979 and inspired by the smell of undergrowth moist with morning dew, Eau d’orange Verte has since asserted itself as an emblem of HERMÈS, standing out by its distinctive freshness. Conceived as an explosion of citrus notes, orange plays the principal role supported by zest and leaves, lemon, mandarin, mint, and blackcurrant bud. The fragrance reveals its complexity in a unique sillage composed of oak moss and patchouli.

Kin is an aperitif reviewed by Thingtesting.

Discrete cashmere hoodies from the luxury brand Loro Piana.

Minimalist sneakers from the brand Common Projects.

Minimal-looking pieces from the insider brand The Row.

Luxury clothing from Brunello Cucinelli, preference for those seeking unflashy quality.

'Blended' is the third rom-com featuring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, known for its international success especially in Latin America.

'Jack and Jill' is a 2011 gender-swap flick featuring Adam Sandler, noted for its performance in Brazilian theaters despite low ratings.

An app released by Richie Hawtin that allows users to watch performances from CLOSE COMBINED from a variety of angles and deconstruct or isolate certain layers as they listen. It features an edit of a 2017 performance in Hungary and promises more archival live shows to be released exclusively within the app. Future live stream capability is also mentioned for real-time interaction with Hawtin's performances.

An all-time favorite book by Melanie Mitchell.

A new book on AI exposing its limits.

Intricately woven furniture based on pre-Hispanic techniques, part of Txt.ure's initial collection.

Rugs created with a traditional Turkish Knot technique, a result of intense research and collaboration with Casa Luis Barragán.

Noise-canceling earbuds that are getting good reviews.

"Activists, pundits, politicians, and the press frequently proclaim today's digitally mediated racial justice activism the new civil rights movement. As Charlton D. McIlwain shows in this book, the story of racial justice movement organizing online is much longer and varied than most people know. In fact, it spans nearly five decades and involves a varied group of engineers, entrepreneurs, hobbyists, journalists, and activists."

A picture book version of Marshall McLuhan's theories.

A book exploring the grandeur and architectural marvels of Soviet Metro stations, extending beyond the well-known Moscow Metro to other systems across the Soviet states.

Mentioned in the context of Felix Salmon’s Slate Money podcast, it is a new book authored by Daniel Markovits.

Sean Carroll's book about the many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics.

A documentary about the influential New York City music store Other Music, which closed in 2016 after 20 years of being a hub for indie music.

A book by David Bayles and Ted Orland exploring the way art gets made, the reasons it often doesn't get made, and the nature of the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way.

A mini-size version of Sega Genesis, coming out in mid-September just in time for hibernation.

A nicely designed cable that is hard to lose due to its form factor.

An international travel charger that allows four devices to be plugged into a single outlet.

A book by David Grann about the murders of the Osage people in Oklahoma, related to oil deposits under their land in the early 20th century.

Noise Cancelling Headphones that cut engine drone while maintaining high acoustic quality, made from metal and leather, wireless and travel-friendly.

One of the earliest pieces of reporting on drones, morality, and their implications for geopolitics.

A deep dive into the controversial world of renditions, black sites, and a world beneath the surface.

An excellent book on Northern Ireland and the troubles by Patrick Radden Keefe.

A book by Ken Dornstein about the brother of one of the Lockerbie Bombing victims cracking the case.

A high-quality, sustainably made olive oil with unique packaging and branding, aiming to disrupt the traditional olive oil market.

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.

David Epstein's book 'Range' offers an interesting take on why experts have been so wrong so often, starting with the story of Paul Ehrlich and 'The Population Bomb'.

'The Population Bomb' by Paul R. Ehrlich is mentioned in David Epstein's discussion on the common inaccuracies of expert predictions.

A track by Ross From Friends that exemplifies the lo-fi house genre, known for its gritty sound, heavy on bass, built from simple synths and samples.

A book made up of the last articles and photographs from journalists who were killed doing their jobs. It features a cover design comprised of the names of 1,337 dead journalists, with white space representing the words they will never write.

A documentary featuring Nick Cave, including a recount of a performance by Nina Simone towards the end of her career.

Building a Second Brain is a course by Tiago Forte that promises to help you learn how to capture, organize, and retrieve your ideas and insights using digital notes. It offers a systematic approach and tools that you can trust to support creative breakthroughs in your work.

Incredibly high quality, breathable, and one of the best pieces to travel in.

A book that came out a few years after Senge’s famous book about organizational learning, filled with essays and frameworks for thinking, problem solving, and organizational design.

A complex blend of aromatic Jamaican Allspice berry & Cardamom distillates with two barks & a bright citrus finish

Cartoon of the Day.

A stop-motion film produced by Laika.

A stop-motion film produced by Laika.

A recently released stop-motion film produced by Laika.

A film directed by Ed Zwick about the possible wrongful conviction and death of a Texas man. Based on the story by David Grann.

The new version of the AirPods, featuring better battery life, a new chip for 'Hey Siri' functionality, and optional wireless charging.