Reccos
Things I like and use for computing, travel, and more — plus books I'm reading.
Books15
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
De Waal argues that we've long measured animal intelligence by how closely it mirrors our own, and that the better question is what each species evolved to be good at. Full of surprising experiments, from crows to octopuses, that quietly dismantle the idea of a single human-shaped ladder of smarts.
The Dream Machine
The story of J.C.R. Licklider and the people who imagined personal, networked computing decades before it existed. Republished by Stripe Press. A reminder that the computer on your desk was once a wild idea a few stubborn people refused to let go of.
Batman: Year One
Bruce Wayne's first year in the cowl, told alongside a young Jim Gordon trying to stay honest in a rotten city. Grounded, gritty, and spare in a way that makes most superhero stories feel overwritten.
The Making of Prince of Persia
Mechner's journals from 1985 to 1993, covering the creation of the original game from college project to cult classic. Published by Stripe Press. Less about code and more about the doubt, obsession, and slow discovery of what the thing actually was.
Let My People Go Surfing
Chouinard's philosophy of building a company that genuinely puts the planet first. Part memoir, part manifesto — the kind of book that makes you question what a business is even for.
Shoe Dog
Nike's origin story, told with surprising candour about the chaos, debt, and near-disasters behind the brand. Less about strategy, more about stubbornness and the people who believed early.
The Hobbit
A reluctant homebody gets pulled into an adventure he didn't ask for and turns out to be surprisingly good at it. Lighter and warmer than what follows, but the world-building is already doing something special.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Murakami on running as a practice, a meditation, and a metaphor for writing. Quiet and repetitive in exactly the right way — like a long run itself.
That Will Never Work
Netflix's founding story from the co-founder who left before it became enormous. Refreshingly honest about what was luck, what was instinct, and what was just trying things until something stuck.
Creativity, Inc.
How Pixar was built and what it actually takes to sustain a creative culture over time. Less about inspiration and more about the systems, trust, and hard conversations that make good work possible consistently.
Greenlights
Part memoir, part journal, part self-help you didn't see coming. More honest and strange than you'd expect, and full of a particular kind of lived-in wisdom that doesn't feel borrowed from anywhere else.
When Breath Becomes Air
A neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer reflects on what makes life worth living. Beautifully written and quietly devastating — one of the few books that genuinely changes how you think about time.
Watchmen
The graphic novel that asked what would actually happen if people put on masks and fought crime. Dense, dark, and constructed with a precision that rewards rereading.
Batman: The Killing Joke
The most unsettling Batman story ever told. One bad day is all it takes, Moore argues — and Bolland's art makes you believe it. Short, brutal, and impossible to shake.
Understanding Comics
A comic book about how comic books work. McCloud unpacks the invisible grammar of sequential art — time, space, panel transitions — in a way that changes how you read everything after it.
Daily gear2
iPhone 13 Mini
Had it since 2022 and it's still the best device I've bought. The size, the touch, the feel, the way it sits in your hand, everything is bang on. I genuinely don't understand why Apple stopped making it.
AirPods Pro 1st Gen
The active noise cancellation is still excellent and they fit my ears better than the second gen. Haven't felt a reason to upgrade.
On the bike5
KYT Stryker
A solid full-face helmet that doesn't feel like wearing a fishbowl. Good ventilation for the heat, and the visor change mechanism is actually usable with gloves on.
Rynox Air GT
Mesh gloves with knuckle protection that don't make your hands feel like they're in a sauna. Snug without being restrictive, and the palm sliders are reassuring on longer rides.
SEDICI Chicane Mesh Jacket
Full mesh for summer riding with CE-rated armour at the shoulders and elbows. Breathes well enough that wearing it is better than not wearing it on hot days.
DJI Action Camera 3
Mounted on the helmet or handlebar depending on the ride. The dual-screen design makes framing easy without needing your phone, and the stabilisation holds up on rough roads.
Telesin Camera Mount
Handlebar mount for the DJI. Solid grip, no rattle, and it clears the controls without getting in the way.
Desk setup6
MacBook Air M3
Fanless, fast, and lasts the whole day without hunting for a charger. Handles Figma, video, and everything else without complaint.
Filco Majestouch
No RGB, no software, no bloat. Just a well-built tenkeyless with Cherry switches that will probably outlive me.
Audioengine A2+
Compact powered bookshelf speakers that punch well above their size. Warm and detailed without being fatiguing. Plugged in via USB, they just work.
Edifier MP230
A small, no-nonsense speaker that fills the room without taking up too much of it. Good enough for casual listening while working.
Dell 27"
A reliable second screen that gets out of the way. Good enough colour accuracy for design work, and the arm mount keeps the desk clear.
Logitech MX Master 2S
The scroll wheel alone justifies owning it. The side buttons map well to back/forward in a browser and the grip is exactly right for long sessions.
Camera6
Polaroid Go Gen 2
The smallest Polaroid they make. Pocketable in a way that no other instant camera is, and the double exposure mode produces genuinely surprising results. The prints are tiny but that's part of the charm.
Kodak Kroma 35
A simple point-and-shoot that gets out of the way and lets you think about the shot. Film forces a slower, more deliberate approach, and the results have a quality that's hard to replicate in post.
Fujifilm X-S20
The film simulations are the reason I bought it, but the IBIS and the ergonomics are what made me keep it. Classic Chrome is on almost every shot.
Fuji 23mm f/2
35mm equivalent that stays on the camera most of the time. Fast enough for low light, small enough that the whole setup stays pocketable.
Peak Design Cuff
A wrist strap that clips on and off in one move. The camera stays secure without being tethered when you don't need it.
Peak Design Capture Clip
Mounts the camera to a bag strap or belt so it's accessible without being in a bag. Useful on hikes where you want the camera ready but your hands free.
Coffee5
Gaggia Classic Evo
A classic for a reason. Commercial-grade group head, simple controls, and it rewards learning proper technique. Took time to dial in but the shots it produces make the effort worthwhile.
Fellow Opus
Consistent grind from espresso all the way to coarse pour-over. The stepped adjustment is predictable and low retention means you're not wasting expensive beans.
Timemore Chestnut C2
Hand grinder that travels well and grinds better than most electric grinders at twice the price. The kind of thing that makes hotel-room coffee surprisingly bearable.
AeroPress
One of those things you reach for when you want a good cup without setting up the whole espresso station. Fast, forgiving, and easy to clean. Pairs well with the C2 on the road.
Timemore Scale
Accurate to 0.1g with a built-in timer. Small enough to fit under the portafilter and responsive enough to catch fast pours. Hard to make a consistent shot without one.
Gaming1
Nintendo Switch OLED
The OLED screen made the handheld mode feel like a different device. Most of my time is docked, but having the option to pick it up and carry a game somewhere is something I use more than I expected.
Watches3
Seiko Sports 5 Blue
Automatic, reliable, and the blue dial is just right. No complications, no fuss. The kind of watch that gets out of the way and just tells the time, which is all a daily watch needs to do.
Apple Watch Series 9
On the wrist when the Seiko is off. The health tracking and notifications are genuinely useful without being intrusive. Wearing both depending on the day is a habit I didn't expect to keep.
Casio A168
The gradient dial makes it hard to take seriously, which is exactly the point. Light, indestructible, and the battery will outlast most things I own. A good watch for when you don't want to think about wearing a watch.