5-Bullet Friday

The latest from author and investor Tim Ferriss

Hi All!

Here is your weekly dose of 5-Bullet Friday, a list of what I’m pondering and exploring.

This issue is brought to you by Incogni, which automatically removes your personal information from the web, helping to keep you safe online and off. Data protection is fast becoming a necessity and not a luxury. Be sure to check out their offer in the P.S.

Short blog post I’m reading

“Building without predicting” by Derek Sivers. Derek first mentioned this wild experiment in our podcast together. Here’s the beginning of his blog post update:

On a podcast, I briefly mentioned that I’m building my dream house without predicting - by living in a bare cabin in the woods, then adding only what I find I actually need.

Apparently it was intriguing, because since then, it’s been my most frequently asked question: “How’s your house going?” I didn’t think this would interest total strangers, but enough people have asked, so here’s the story…

Quiz I’m sharing with friends and family

Google’s Phishing Quiz. This is a free quiz from Google’s Jigsaw division, which tests you on your ability to spot hackers and spammers attempting to steal your personal information. I suggest you try it, as even people with a good understanding of scams can slip up. From one piece by a VICE reporter:

Recognizing sketchy emails designed to steal your password or trick you into installing malware may be the most important cybersecurity skill one can learn. …

As a seasoned cybersecurity reporter, I like to believe my paranoia levels are pretty high, and thus I should be pretty good at spotting phishing emails. But even I wasn’t perfect: I correctly identified seven of the eight emails.

What I’m watching

The Dark Wizard (Amazon, HBO, Hulu). I grew up fascinated with Dean Potter as a wild and near-mythical character. I kept a copy of Outside magazine with him on the cover. This four-part series will show you why. From the description:

“The Dark Wizard chronicles the triumphs, tragedies, rivalries, romances, and near-death moments that shaped a brilliant yet tormented artist and athlete whose imagination and audacity redefined what the body and mind could do.”

At the very least, watch the trailer here. Better than a cup of coffee for adrenaline. This series is a showcase of the razor’s edge between genius and madness.

The doc features segments and interviews with Alex Honnold—who became Dean’s chief rival—and many more. Hat tip to Andrew Huberman for the recommendation.

Book I’m reading

Hard Times: An Illustrated Oral History of the Great Depression by Pulitzer Prize-winner Studs Terkel. I quite unexpectedly came across this book, and it totally captivated me. I couldn’t put it down, even though I had no initial interest in a book on the Great Depression. The stories are incredible.

Studs Terkel interviewed hundreds of people who lived through the Great Depression and let them tell the story in their own words. The result is a collection of firsthand accounts—some devastating, some surprisingly funny—of how ordinary people got through it. This edition includes period photographs alongside the interviews.

Special thanks to Ed Cooke, Grand Master of Memory and cofounder of the learning app MindMax. Check it out.

Quote I’m pondering

“The question what to believe is perhaps the most momentous that anyone can put to himself. Our beliefs are not to be classed among the luxuries, but among the necessaries of existence. They become particularly important in times of trouble. They are like the life-boats carried by ocean ships.”
— Felix Adler
(Click to share on X.)

You can complement this edition of 5-Bullet Friday with my brand-new podcast episode on relationships, which features tools and tactics from Esther Perel, Dr. Brené Brown, Terry Real, and others to help you navigate conflict, repair relationships, and secure lasting love.

And, as always, please give me feedback on X. Which bullet above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know. Just send a tweet to @tferriss and put #5BulletFriday at the end so I can find it.

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Much love to you and yours,

Tim

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Friday, August 21, 2026

5-Bullet Friday — Building a House from Scratch, The Dark Wizard, Phishing Quiz, and More