Wonder Tools 💎 20 of My Favorites in 2023
Top 5 lists for new apps, podcasts, newsletters, and books
In 2023 I counted on the 20 apps, podcasts, Substacks and books featured in this post for reflection, rejuvenation and respite. What was one of your favorite new apps, podcasts, newsletters or books this year? Share a comment below.
👨🏻💻 Little apps I appreciated
I appreciated these apps this year for doing one specific thing really well.
Sunsama Plan a workday step by step, then reflect on it at the end
Likewise Get free, personalized recommendations for books, shows, movies and podcasts.
Vetted Vet products before buying w/ summaries of trustworthy reviews.
HiNote Send visual text messages with this cute, simple, free app.
Lungy Relax for 1-minute with this free app’s breathing breaks.
🎙️Podcasts I learned from
A few of my favorite podcast episodes of the year
Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal
Excellent episode to learn about AI: Economist’s Insider Reveals How Humanity Can Outsmart AI’s Risks
Work Life with Adam Grant
Great episode for practical tips: Why Meetings Suck and How to Fix Them
Curious Minds at Work with Gayle Allen
Inspiring discussion on the value of friendship: Kat Vellos on Mastering Friendship (rebroadcast)| 🎙️ Audio Excerpt: Set up a follow-up system for staying in touch || My takeaways and highlights
Nir & Far Behavioral Design Podcast with Nir Eyal
Useful episode, practical ideas: Kickstart the New Year with a Self-Audit
Clear + Vivid with Alan Alda
Terrific interview: David Brooks: How to Know a Person
✍️ Newsletters I relished
- by — My preferred daily email for catching up with the news. Written in a friendly, intelligent voice. Smart curation.
- by— I love this wonderful window into the world of a New Yorker illustrator. My daughter and I particularly appreciate her recorded drawing demos and her deep dives into the drawing process.
byis the most useful AI newsletter for me because it provides helpful analysis alongside with practical examples, from the perspective of a thoughtful university professor.- by offers a window into a nearly-lost craft of letter writing. Each issue features a special letter, whether a love note from one soldier to another or Rilke’s letter on the beauty of small things. Bonus: Usher’s experiment to have ChatGPT dream up 50+ creative ways to conclude a letter.
- by is devoted to notes, notebooks and the art of jotting things down, a subject I’m fascinated by. These deep dives are full of great photos that bring these scribblings, marginalia and inkings to life, whether for Toni Morrison’s notes or most recently, Ben Franklin.
📚 Books that stuck with me
Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam
I Didn’t Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt by Madeleine Dore
🧰 Tools used to create this post: Quote images designed w/Readwise, screenshots w/ Eagle, podcast highlights w/ Snipd, & Headspace music for focus.
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