Uses

Tags: volumen

When I seek guidance, I turn to books. Classical philosophy and strategy teach leadership and discipline, especially during workplace challenges. The Stoics highlight life’s fragility. Modern thought provides clarity through mindfulness practices, philosophical inquiry, science revealing hidden patterns, understanding probability and risk, and treating problem-solving as daily practice. Literature continues to illuminate the human condition. These insights come from sources spanning centuries and cultures (Aurelius, 2003; Darwin, 2003; Frankfurt, 2005; Greene, 2019; Machiavelli, 1998; Murakami, 2022; Musashi, 2005; Penrose, 2004; Polya & Conway, 2014; Rovelli, 2022; Rutherfurd, 2010; Seneca, 1997; Suzuki, 2020; Taleb, 2005; L. Tzu & Needleman, 1989; S. Tzu, 2005; Watts, 2007).

Hardware

I prefer durable, straightforward hardware. For writing, I use Leuchtturm1917 and MD notebooks, mechanical pencils, simple fountain pens, and adhesive notes. My daily devices include a reliable smartphone and an equally dependable tablet. I spend countless hours working on a Mac Studio with two SSDs, supported by basic peripherals. For leisure, I use Apple TV, Sony headphones, and Sonos speakers, all of which are outstanding pieces of technology. For music, I play older Fender and Gibson guitars through a tube amplifier and a digital effects unit.

Software

I like to keep my tools simple. At home, I use macOS’s built-in apps and Homebrew to manage software. Bash and Python handle automation. For writing and research, I use Obsidian, Pandoc, Positron, Quarto, and Zotero. KeePassXC and NetNewsWire keep things secure and connected, while Spotify and MuseScore take care of the music. By contrast, work feels more like a uniform: the standard Microsoft suite, with a little freedom in Notepad++ for notes and Firefox for the Internet.

Also see 2025-09-02: Durability

References

Aurelius, M. (2003). Meditations: A New Translation (G. Hays, Trans.; Revised ed. edition). Modern Library.

Darwin, C. (2003). The Autobiography of Charles Darwin. Icon,Totem Books.

Frankfurt, H. G. (2005). On Bullshit. Princeton University Press.

Greene, R. (2019). The Laws of Human Nature (Reprint edition). Penguin Books.

Machiavelli, N. (1998). The Prince (H. C. Mansfield, Trans.; Second edition). University of Chicago Press.

Murakami, H. (2022). Novelist as a Vocation (P. Gabriel & T. Goossen, Trans.). Bond Street Books.

Musashi, M. (2005). The Book of Five Rings: A Classic Text on the Japanese Way of the Sword (T. Cleary, Trans.; Reissue edition). Shambhala.

Penrose, R. (2004). The road to reality: a complete guide to the laws of the universe (1st American ed.). A.A. Knopf.

Polya, G., & Conway, J. H. (2014). How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method (With a Foreword by John H. Con ed. edition). Princeton University Press.

Rovelli, C. (2022). There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness: And Other Thoughts on Physics, Philosophy and the World. http://www.librarything.com/work/25600450/summary/220184553

Rutherfurd, E. (2010). New York: The Novel. Anchor Canada.

Seneca. (1997). On the Shortness of Life [and other works] by Seneca.

Suzuki, S. (2020). Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: 50th Anniversary Edition (Anniversary edition). Shambhala.

Taleb, N. N. (2005). Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets (Incerto). http://www.librarything.com/work/7533

Tzu, L., & Needleman, J. (1989). Tao Te Ching: Text Only Edition (G.-F. Feng, J. English, & T. Lippe, Trans.; Reprint edition). Vintage.

Tzu, S. (2005). The Art of War (T. Cleary, Trans.). Shambhala.

Watts, A. (2007). In My Own Way: An Autobiography. New World Library.