Five Bullet Friday - September 26, 2025

Dear A,

This month is almost over... the holidays will be here before you know it.

Here's what I'm following this week... 

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and Future of the West by Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska. From the co-founder of Palantir - named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 - and his deputy comes a critically acclaimed, sweeping indictment of the West’s culture of complacency. They argue that timid leadership, intellectual fragility, and Silicon Valley’s limited vision for technology’s potential have left the United States dangerously exposed in an era of escalating global threats. It's definitely more historical and academic than I would have guessed.

STUDY I'M READING...

How Writing Down Any Goals Helps You Achieve All Goals. Most people think goal-setting only matters if you’re writing about the exact thing you want to improve. But research shows it can boost every area of your life. In one study, students who wrote about their goals - any goals - improved their academic performance by 22%. It didn’t matter if they focused on school, fitness, travel, or relationships.

Why? Because writing down goals builds focus, discipline, and persistence- the same mental “muscles” that drive success anywhere. Once you strengthen those skills, they spill over into everything else you do. Think of it as strength training for your brain: the more you practice, the stronger you get, and the faster you’ll see results in every part of your life.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL I'M FOLLOWING...

The Why Files. I have never been a conspiracy theorist but I do enjoy watching AJ Gentile and his YouTube channel. The quality of his videos are exceptional and he is very good about debunking myths rather than letting facts and common sense slip past. If you want an entertaining take on wild conspiracy theories, this is a fun watch.

PRODUCT I'M CONSIDERING...

Hume Health Body Pod. I have been wanting to go for a Dexa scan for some time now. The price is around $300 to learn your body fat, bone density, lean muscle mass, and a host of other complex body measurements. However, I keep receiving an ad for the Hume Health Body Pod. For essentially $250, I can buy this home scale/daily dexa scan instead. The Hume Health Body Pod is a high-precision home body composition analyzer that uses eight frequency sensors to measure over 45 health metrics with a claimed ~98% accuracy. If anyone currently has one, I would love your opinion of it. 

QUOTE I'M PONDERING...

"Succes is never owed. It is rented. And the rent is due everyday."

– J.J. Watt

Thank you for your attention. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

Stay safe and vigilant,

Luke Bencie