I recently started a weekly newsletter called Book Freak. Each issue has three short pieces of advice found in books. Here’s an example, from issue 7: “If you want the law to leave you alone, keep your hair trimmed and your boots shined.” ― Louis L'Amour, The Man Called Noon (1970) — MF

I blurbed this self-published book, Under the Influence, which explains how popular influencers on social media make a living by buying fake followers, fake likes, and fake comments. It will tell you how to do all that. It was written by Trey Ratcliff, a photographer who has actual followers and real influence. I blurbed the book because it is more than just a take-down of the dark side; it’s about how to have real, enduring, positive influence by being creative, producing real engagement, and being honest. — KK

I borrowed a friend’s gasoline-powered pressure washer to clean the mossy-covered bricks in my back yard. The machine was noisy and smelly and I had to keep refilling the tank, but I loved the results, so I bought an electric pressure washer (the Sun Joe SPX3200 for $168). It’s superior in every way to the gasoline-powered washer. It’s quiet and goes into idle mode when you release the trigger. It has five different nozzles, including one to spray soap. If you have never seen what a pressure washer can do, this subreddit will make you a true believer. — MF

Good advice I keep returning to:

“Don’t be the best. Be the only.” — Jerry Garcia

Works for individuals and companies. — KK

I am hoping I’ll get better at communicating my emotions by studying this chart. It is a mind map of the 6 core emotions we feel and all the other emotions that branch off of them. — CD

This list of 88 important truths are all aha moments for me. My top three are: 5. Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly. 16. Cynicism is far too easy to be useful. And 86. Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself. — CD

If you were lucky to acquire some wealth — and let’s be honest, this is mostly luck — a sensible way to pay it forward is by funding some needed non-profits. Let’s say you scored a bonus, an IPO, a bitcoin sale, early tech stock, or an inheritance. A donor-advised fund (DAF) is an easy way to gain the advantages of a personal foundation, without the hassles or expense of a personal foundation. A DAF is basically a mutual fund investment that you contribute to with cash or by transferring existing stock, with immediate tax benefits, and all the financial growth over time from that investment are completely tax free. But everything in the account, including gains, must be given to certified non-profits of your choice. You can start small. Fund aggregators like Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard offer them. I recommend the Fidelity Charitable DAF which I have been using for several decades. Very clean, quick online interface. — KK

If you’re a Gmail user, install this Chrome extension (Simplify Gmail) that strips out all the distracting stuff (like the large Google logo) and leaves you with a streamlined interface. It was created by Gmail’s former lead designers. It’s Gmail as it should be. — MF

Slowly working on this piece of advice: “Unfollow IG models and influencers. Start following artists and designers. Your entire outlook on life will change.” Found this in my weekly Unreadit newsletter: Self Improvement. The curators of Unreadit pull all the best content from related subreddits and send you an email once a week. I’ve spent zero hours rummaging through Reddit in the last month because of this. — CD

I once walked into a hotel room and saw a large bottle of water on the desk. After I took a swig I noticed the $9 sticker on the bottle. Not wanting to pay the same price again, I started refilling the bottle from the cooler in the fitness center. Now when I travel I bring a bottle with me and head straight for the fitness center. — MF

Twenty-five years ago I published my first book Out of Control. In celebration of this anniversary, I re-read the whole gigantic thing and picked out 100 passages to tweet, which you can find at #OoC25 (still in process). I have to say, the book is still a great read, and probably more informative today than 25 years ago. I recommend it as an easy entry into robotics, artificial life, cryptocurrency, simulations, evolution theory, and the nature of decentralized systems like the internet. If you like the tweets, you’ll want to read the book. — KK

The last time I visited my dentist, her technician took my blood pressure with a small cuff that fit around my wrist. My results appeared in about a minute on the LCD. Very convenient. As soon as I got home I ordered a similar model on Amazon (Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Blood Monitor) for less than $15 — MF

Jason Silva is a transcendental poet who raps about technology and the spiritual in very intense short videos. He sometimes quotes me so I am biased, but I really dig his rants. Yeah, they are flamboyant, but his preaching hits my mark. Check out his channel Shots of Awe for a quick jolt of the bigger picture. — KK

My Little Steamer ($12) is light and small and will save all of your blouses from looking wrinkled after packing. It takes about two minutes to heat up and start steaming and works really fast at unwrinkling. I love it. — CD

Two things have kept my to-do list on track lately. The first is this notebook previously recommended by Mark in issue 80. I bought 4 to stock up for the year. And the second is committing to the habit of asking myself the four questions from this Ted article. The most effectual being, “What’s the most important thing I can do today that would make tomorrow better?” and “Should I do this task now or can I do it later?” — CD

I have always used gasoline lawn mowers. I recently got a 5-blade push mower and am amazed at how smoothly it operates. It’s very easy to push, and the blades whir like a fan, neatly cutting the grass. It’s a pleasure to use. — MF

A lovely stream to follow on Twitter: 100 views of Tokyo. Each vignette is drawn in a colorful manga style. (Should be an Instagram stream, but is not.) — KK

When my sinuses are acting up, the thing that gives me the most relief is using a wedge pillow like this one. It keeps my head elevated and prevents post-nasal drip while I sleep. I always wake up better rested without a blocked nose or phlegm. Here’s an article that answers the question, “Do specialty pillows really work?”. — CD

Digital strategist Laura Olin has a newsletter with interesting miscellany that contains links to useful tips, thought-provoking quotations, and links to articles and videos. If you like Recomendo, you will like Laura’s newsletter. — MF

The ever-helpful David Pogue has a fantastic list of smartphone shortcuts I had no idea were possible. They save lots of taps. I programmed my phone to set up macros ( a series of steps into one step) initiated by a voice command, like “Hush Now” which silences your phone until you leave your current location. — KK