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What Makes This Thing Great

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I’ve always hated shopping and consumerism. Problem is, I can’t avoid them entirely. My solution is simple. I try to buy high-quality stuff and when I find things I like, I stick with them. It doesn’t feel bad to buy something when I know I’ll have it forever and get a ton of use out of it. Plus, if I can support a company that’s creating genuinely useful & reliable products, then that feels pretty good too. My friends know how much I enjoy giving things away & recommending stuff that has served me well over the years. What Makes This Thing Great is an evolution of that impulse to share good stuff with people I love.

If you use any of the links on this site, a small percentage of the purchase price gets kicked back to support Tangentially Speaking, Vanthropology, etc., at no extra cost to you. Thanks in advance for your support.

– Chris

Mr. Heater Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Propane Radiant Heater

This heater is easy to use and heats up the van quickly. I also use it in the house to avoid using the regular heater, which dries everything out.

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Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Portable and Long-Lasting Bluetooth 360 Speaker

I’ve tried a lot of Bluetooth speakers, but this one holds out as one of, if not the best. We use it in the van and at our campsite. Super easy to hang on things and it has multi-directional sound which is always nice.

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CARAPEAK 12KN Mini Wiregate Aluminum Lightweight Snag Free Carabiners

Carabiners are incredibly useful for many things, but especially useful when traveling in the van. I use them to hang laundry lines, hammocks, etc. Most carabiners are shitty and snag like crazy. These are affordable, strong and don’t snag on anything.

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OxGord RV Camper Leveler Ramps Leveling Blocks for Travel Trailer Levelers for RVS Campers (Pack of 2)

These are great for leveling out the van when I can’t find even ground to park on. I had another set, but they broke the third time I used them. I’ve had these ones for 2 years and so far, so good. If you have a heavy van like mine, these will definitely do the trick.

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Dometic CFX3 75DZ Portable Refrigerator and Freezer, Powered by AC or Solar

Recently replaced our ARB with this Dometic, and it’s been a huge upgrade. This allows us to have both a freezer and a fridge, and it’s a lot easier to organize things inside of it. Plus, it has a light inside making it easy to find things, even in the dark.

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YETI Roadie 24 Cooler

We have several Yetis, all of which are great. We use an older model of this smaller one for drinks, freeing up more space in the fridge for food.

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Cooler Shock Reusable Ice Pack – Long Lasting Cold Freezer Packs for Coolers

These ice packs fit perfectly in my Yeti cooler and keep everything cold much longer than any other ice pack I’ve used.

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ZeroWater 20 Cup Ready-Pour Dispenser Water Filter Pitcher

I use this filter mostly in the van, as it fits perfectly in our sink. It comes with a free water quality meter so you can see how “filtered” your filtered water actually is. Why is it better than the Brita? ZeroWater utilizes a 5-stage filter which includes a large amount of ion-exchange resin, a technology commonly used in reverse-osmosis systems. The ZeroWater filter attracts metal ions in the water, which effectively eliminates all inorganic dissolved solids like metals. This is why ZeroWater (accurately) reports that their water has zero “dissolved” solids — a point they prove by including a TDS tester with their pitchers.

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ARB 10500060A Adventure Light 600 AC/DC Rechargeable Lithium Battery Adventure Light 600

This flashlight is great. It’s duty, super bright and has a magnet which easily adherers to the inside of the van so I can grab it whenever I need it.

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GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifiers

Things can get pretty dry in the van, especially in desert climates in the winter. This little humidifier draws very little power, and is small enough to store in the van and run all night.

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Coghlan’s Egg Holder

Really the only way to keep eggs safe while in the van or camping. We’ve been pretty rough with this, and it seems to always keep the eggs intact. Works for eggs of many different sizes.

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National Geographic Road Atlas 2021: Adventure Edition

The van trips would not be possible without this atlas. It lists campsites, forest service land, scenic routes… basically it gives you everything an app won’t and there’s no connectivity required to figure out where you’re going.

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Rode NT-USB USB Condenser Microphone

I used a Blue Yeti usb mic for a while for the home recording stuff (intros and ROMAs and TOMAs), but I recently switched to this mic because the headphone jack on the Yeti got a little loose and I like the sound a bit better. Plus, it’s smaller, so it’s easier to take it on the road when I’m out vanthropologizing.

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Sony MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil

I have several pairs of these. I plug them directly into my Rode Mic, and use them with my Zoom recorder.

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Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone

These are the handheld mics I use. I was using lapel mics for a while, but then my annoying friend Kyle Thiermann kept telling me how much the audio sucked on my podcast, so I finally went with these. I liked the lapel mics because people could forget they were being recorded and relax — but he’s right that the audio quality suffered, so I caved. These are great. Very solid, with coaxial cables.

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Rode PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm

This is on my desk, with the Rode mic mounted on it. Work’s perfectly!

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Zoom H6 Six-Track Portable Recorder

I love this thing. I started with the H-4N, but upgraded to this when it came out. Love the on-board mixing and ability to record in so many formats. I record high quality mp3, which gives me tons of space on a 64 gig card. The only downside to this thing is that it eats batteries pretty fast, and if they die while you’re recording, you can lose everything that hasn’t been saved. After I’d been complaining about that (on the air) for a while, a listener wrote to me and said, “Hey dumb-ass, why don’t you get back-up power for your Zoom so we don’t have to listen to you complain about it?” Good question. So I got a portable charger (see below) and it works great.

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Portable Charger Anker PowerCore 20100mAh – Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with 4.8A Output and PowerIQ Technology

This is the portable charger I use with my Zoom. I keep it plugged into the Zoom while I’m recording and it works perfectly – no risk of losing audio files.

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Pyle Desktop Microphone Stand – Universal Tabletop Mic Holder w/ Flexible 8.2” Inch Gooseneck Mount

These tabletop mic stands are reliable, sturdy and get the job done when I have access to a table when recording. I mostly use these when I’m at home, and use the more lightweight ones below when traveling.

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Moukey Desk Mic Stand Universal Adjustable Desktop Microphone Stand Portable Foldable Tripod Mic Table Stand

These mic stands are super lightweight, and pack down easily and efficiently. When I’m traveling, these are the mic stands I bring with me.

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Hercules MS401B Tripod TILT Microphone Stand

These mic stands are impressive, especially when I don’t want to record on a table, or don’t have access to one. They’re heavy-duty, stay put, and tilt from the bottom, making them super convenient and versatile.

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Belkin RockStar 5-Jack Multi Headphone Audio Splitter

These work great for recording with multiple people, so that we all can have headphones and listen live to what the recording sounds like.

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Kalahari Biltong, Air-Dried Thinly Sliced Beef

A South African friend of mine introduced me to this jerky-alternative, and I’m a fan. It’s got a much better texture than jerky, a bit more fat, and tastes delicious. Great as a filling snack.

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Bitches Brew Groundwork Organic Whole Bean Dark Roast Coffee

My favorite coffee as of late. Dark, robust and extra bitchy.

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Scorned Woman Hot Sauce 5oz

This hot sauce is the best and only available online. It’s flavorful, rich, and smoky. It’s quite hot, so I like to dilute it halfway with olive oil. One thing to note – this scorned woman has a big mouth, so be careful not to pour too quickly.

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Kasandrinos Organic HUGE 3 LITER Extra Virgin Greek Olive Oil

Most olive oil is shit & cut with all sorts of other processed oils in order to cut costs for the manufacturer. This stuff is the real deal. It’s organic, tastes great & is produced by a small family business.

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Nutiva Organic, Cold-Pressed, Unrefined, Virgin Coconut Oil from Fresh, 54-ounce (Pack of 2)

This is coconut oil. It comes in big jugs. I use it for sautéing things.

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Philips Norelco OneBlade hybrid electric trimmer and shaver

I wasn’t one of those kids who couldn’t wait to shave. I knew I’d hate it, and I did. Where’s the thrill in scraping a sharp knife across your skin every morning? Not to mention, a lot of it is the skin over your neck! I’ve been one of those guys who shaves once a week or so, often oblivious to the patches I missed (I shave in the shower, so I can’t see myself). This thing is amazing. You can run it over a week-old beard and you clean up great without that feeling you’ve scraped a few layers off your face. I use it outside, in the mirror of the van, so the hair flies off into the breeze. It would probably make a bit of a mess over a sink, but you can use it wet in the shower. Anyway, I love it. Easy, clean, reliable, no cuts or painful pulls. Seems like shaving has been solved. I’ve bought this for all of my friends, including women, who also tell me it’s amazing for a close shave on sensitive skin without any residual bumps or irritation.

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Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Plaque Control, Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Pretty solid electric toothbrush. Have one myself and have bought several for other people. No complaints!

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Waterpik Water Flosser Electric Dental Countertop Oral Irrigator For Teeth

We all know flossing is a thing we’re supposed to be doing, but how many of us actually do it? This waterpik is a great alternative. It works far better than regular flossing, feels great and if you have any mild gum inflammation, you can add a little hydrogen peroxide and prevent any sort of serious infection.

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Himalaya Complete Care Toothpaste – Simply Cinnamon

This is some seriously great fucking toothpaste. It has been known to covert cinnamon toothpaste skeptics.

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ZEUS 3.4 fl oz Natural Deodorant Spray w/Essential Oils

My all time favorite deodorant stopped being made, but I have been really happy with this one as an alternative. My favorite scent is the Vanilla Rum.

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Sex at Dawn

by Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jethá

Wrote this book about the prehistoric origins of modern sexuality. Maybe you’ve heard of it…

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Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress

by Christopher Ryan

I also wrote this book. Civilized to Death counters the idea that progress is inherently good, arguing that the “progress” defining our age may be analogous to an advancing disease.

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Tangentially Reading

by Christopher Ryan

Tangentially Reading is a collection of 26 memorable conversations from the podcast. The creation of the book – from its conception through to transcription through to design and illustration – was powered by the enthusiasm of the global Tangentially Speaking community. The book’s gorgeous illustrations are original works by podcast listener Adam McDade. NOTE: Unlike the original, limited-edition print run of Tangentially Reading, this edition has a grayscale interior. If you want the color version, click here.

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Desert Solitaire

by Edward Abbey

I love this book. No idea how many times I’ve read it, or just dipped into it for a few pages. The chapters are really stand-alone essays that add up to an integrated philosophy, a perspective, a man. Edward Abbey wrote with balls (which makes it hard to hold a pen—and isn’t limited to men, see Annie Dillard below). He just doesn’t give a shit about some things and is incredibly passionate about others. If your values don’t align with his very well, you’ll no doubt find him overbearing and absurd. If they do, his voice can sound a bit like the voice of your own conscience.

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Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

by Annie Dillard

When Annie Dillard was writing this book, the two she wanted to emulate were Thoreau’s Walden and Abbey’s Desert Solitaire (see above). When you read it, you’ll understand why. Dillard’s book doesn’t just capture the same feeling of being alone in nature that those other books explore; she writes with the same wildness and straight-from-the-heart courage those books are famous for. Many passages in this book made me feel like I’d just eaten a handful of mushrooms. It’s amazing what you’ll find if you just pay attention.

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One River

by Wade Davis

Wade Davis has written a bunch of great books (and tells an amazing story about an old man making a knife of frozen shit in one of his TED talks), but this is my favorite. One River tells the story of an incredible man, Richard Evans Schultes, who spent much of his adult life exploring the Amazon, identifying hundreds of plants with medicinal and/or psychoactive properties. Davis studied with Schultes at Harvard, as did Andrew Weil. It’s a lovely book.

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A Short History of Progress

by Ronald Wright

Ronald Wright hits it out of the park with this one. Beautifully written and researched, succinct and devastating. It’s a book I recommend a lot as an antidote to the bullshit being sold by the likes of Steven Pinker.

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Humans of New York: Stories

by Brandon Stanton

I’ve been following this account on Instagram for a while, and it’s amazing. He finds people on the streets and asks them about their lives. Somehow, he gets such amazing stories from the people he encounters, the sorts of stories everyone has, but few have a chance to tell. This is a truly important, heartfelt project. I’m a big fan.

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Our Inner Ape

by Frans De Waal

Let me tell you how I met Frans de Waal. When we were almost finished with Sex at Dawn, Cacilda and I decided to reach out to some of the scientists we’d disagreed with in our book, but upon whose research we’d built our argument—to give them a chance to tell us if we were mistaken or unfair in some way. I sent Frans an email explaining what we were arguing and sent him the sections that were critical of some of his conclusions. He responded by asking if I’d seen this or that paper, considered this or that factor. After a few very friendly exchanges, he wrote, “Well, you might be right. You’ve got an exciting book on your hands. These issues need debating over and over…” I asked if I could quote him publicly saying this, and he wrote, “Sure, you can use it as a blurb, if you want.”

To say I admire Frans de Waal as a scientist and as a man would be putting it very mildly. He’s done more to bring the bonobo to the world’s attention than anyone.

When Our Inner Ape came out, I was working (slowly) on Sex at Dawn. I ordered a copy immediately, thinking that Frans had beaten me to the punch. As it turned out, his book is quite different from what I was writing—much to my relief.

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The Cockroach Papers

by Richard Schweid

Richard is an old friend of mine from Barcelona. He’s written a bunch of books. Click through to Amazon and do a search on his name and you’ll find books on chili peppers, eels, Cuban cars, cross-cultural perspectives on death, and a few other subjects I can’t recall right now.Richard doesn’t write for money or fame. He writes because he’s interested in something and that’s how he scratches his intellectual itch. Somewhere between Bob Dylan and Mark Twain, Richard’s voice is distinctive and evident on every page. You can hear my conversations with Richard here. and here.

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Perv

by Jesse Bering

If David Sedaris had a Ph.D. in psychology and spent his time investigating the far reaches of the sexual universe, he’d probably write books like Jesse Bering does. Dude is very smart, very cutting-edge informed, and funny as hell.

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Cuba Libre

by Tony Perrottet

Full disclosure: Tony is a friend of mine. Cuba Libre is a fantastic read. Tony asked me to look at it and consider writing a review on Amazon. I figured I’d read a chapter or two, determine whether or not I could recommend it with a clear conscience, and then get back to my own work. Instead, I spent two days with my nose buried in this thing, absorbing the experience of being part of the Cuban revolution, hanging with Fidel and Che and the women they loved, tasting the food they concocted from what they could buy from grateful villagers, smell the tropical rain…. This is a book that pulses and breathes with unexpected insight, humor, and erudition. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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Mothers and Others

by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

Sarah Hrdy has written many important books on primates, anthropology, and how human social groups evolved to care for children. She’s brilliant and under-appreciated, because her work is very careful and academically grounded.

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The Marriage of the Sun and Moon

by Andrew Weil

I’ve been a fan of Andrew Weil’s for 20 years or more. His first few books about consciousness are classics, particularly The Marriage of the Sun and Moon, which has now been re-issued. In the 90s, Andrew hit big-time fame with his very reasonable, extremely well-informed guides to maintaining mental and physical health in ways that seemed radical at first, but which are now accepted as simply smart health-care. His is an important voice. Check out my conversation with Andrew here.

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American Savage

by Dan Savage

As always, Dan Savage is honest, funny, and very insightful in this. You can hear Dan and me in conversation here.

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A Primate’s Memoir

by Robert M. Sapolsky

Sapolsky does it all in this book. He is both incredibly smart about the baboons he’s been studying every summer in Kenya for 20-some years and amazingly good at telling the stories of what happened to him when he wandered away from his study sites. I haven’t read this book in years, but I’ll never forget Sapolsky’s stories about hitch-hiking to Uganda. If you like science, adventure, laughter, and meaningful, thoughtful writing … get this book.

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Wizard of the Upper Amazon

by F. Bruce Lamb

This book was recommended to me by Andrew Weil many years ago as a no-bullshit depiction of shamanism (not, in other words, Castaneda). It’s an amazing story, told with humility and grace.

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Finite and Infinite Games

by James P. Carse

This book was given to me by Len Belzer, Richard Belzer’s brother, who was a pal when I lived in New York in the 80s. It’s a simple idea that might change the way you think forever, as it did for me.

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The War of Art

by Steven Pressfield

Joe Rogan has recommended this book many times on his podcast. He’s right. It’s a great discussion of the many ways we sabotage our own success by creating obstacles to creativity. I can’t say I’ve incorporated all the lessons of this book, but I keep a copy around to help me in the endless battle to get shit done.

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Mating in Captivity

by Esther Perel

Esther Perel is one of the most honest couples therapists I know. She doesn’t believe that honesty is always the best policy or that non-monogamy is always a problem. Her approach is based on experience and common sense, not moralistic claptrap. This is a great book with a great title.

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Before They Pass Away

by Jimmy Nelson

Incredible photographs by a guy who really went out there and spent time with these people at the fringes of the world.

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Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape

by Frans de Waal & Frans Lanting

If you’re intrigued by bonobos, this is the book to get. Frans de Waal knows more about this species than anyone, and Frans Lanting captured fantastic images for this book. Highly recommended.

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A Grain of Sand

by Dr. Gary Greenberg

“To see the universe in a grain of sand…” Crazy what lies under our feet.

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Genesis

by Sebastio Salgado

Salgado is one of the most interesting photographers ever, in my opinion. If you get a chance, check out the amazing film called “Salt of the Earth,” by Wim Wenders, which is about Salgado.

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At Play in the Fields of the Lord

by Peter Matthiessen

One of my all-time favorite novels. Time-travel (without dumb technological contrivances), altered states of consciousness, first contact…. Great book.

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Dispatches

by Michael Herr

This is one of my favorite books about war. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever read. Guaranteed. Herr writes in the language of the time and the men who lived it. A war with a rock and roll soundtrack, seen through a marijuana haze. Much of it reads like poetry. Not sure whether to put it under fiction or non-fiction, but it doesn’t really matter. Some things are truer than fact.

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In Pharoah’s Army

by Tobias Wolff

Tobias Wolff is such a great writer. Eloquent, surprising, funny, brutally honest. This memoir of his time in Vietnam and his return to the US afterwards is everything you could want in a great read. I haven’t read this book in twenty years, probably, but I still remember whole paragraphs from it, just because they are so perfect.

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The Unbearable Lightness of Being

by Milan Kundera

One of the best novels around for insight into male/female interaction and the unavoidably enigmatic nature of human existence.

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Shaman

by Kim Stanley Robinson

When I hear about a novel set in prehistory, I get excited at the opportunity to spend some time immersed in that world, but also prepare to be disappointed. There are so many mistaken beliefs about that time that I’m going into it expecting to find inaccuracies that will annoy the shit out of me. I’m happy to report that Kim Stanley Robinson’s research for this book was amazingly thorough. From my perspective, Shaman offers a clear window into prehistoric life.

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The French Lieutenant’s Woman

by John Fowles

Historical fiction at its finest. Fowles does a great job of capturing love in a certain place and time–two places and times, actually. I loved this so much that I read nothing but Fowles for a few months. Great film as well.

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Ishmael

by Daniel Quinn

This book was recommended to me by Andrew Weil when we first met for dinner in San Francisco, back in the early 1990s. I recommended Marvin Harris’s Cannibals and Kings, and Andy suggested I read Ishmael. I didn’t dig the talking gorilla thing, but the information conveyed in this book changed my life. If you read this, and have read my stuff, you’ll see what I mean.

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Grand Trunk Double Hammock: Print Parachute Nylon with Carabiners and Hanging Kit

I love hammocks. Love em. I think the hammock was probably human-kind’s first idea, and still its best. Get one of these, and you can throw away the rest of your furniture. I’ve given a lot of these to friends as gifts over the years. Great for travel.

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Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter

I saw Kraig Adams (episode 478) recommend this water filter, so I picked one up. It’s awesome. Packs up very light, simple to use and maintain, and puts your mind at ease whether you’re drinking from a stream in Montana or a rusty faucet in Mongolia.

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UST Spright Solar USB LED Collapsible Water Resistant Lantern

If you know me personally, you’ve probably received one of these as a gift. I have probably given away over 100 of them. Out of all of the solar camping lights, these are by far the best. They can be charged via USB or solar, they are collapsible, the top can be removed for cleaning, they have 4 settings (bright white, dimmer white, amber and flickering candle), plus they glow in the dark so you can always find them. The hooks on the bottom allow them to be hung from tents, tree trunks, you name it. They are also water resistant.

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HitchSafe HS7000 Key Vault

My buddy Kyle Thiermann has one of these on his car, and it’s great. I got one for the van so I can leave the keys locked up but not worry about locking myself out of the van if I lose them out on a trail or whatever. Very cool unit.

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eBags Pack-it-Flat Hanging Toiletry Kit for Travel

This thing is pretty brilliant. Packing toiletries is always a pain, especially when you don’t have a ton of room in your suitcase. This holds so much stuff, but is designed to fit flat inside a suitcase and takes up very little space. It’s lined to protect against leaks and has an expandable section in case you need it.

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YETI Rambler 20 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler w/MagSlider Lid

I think it’s safe to say that I’ve tried just about every insulated travel mug that’s out there. Most of them are pretty terrible. This one is by far the best I’ve tried. The sliding black magnet on the lid comes right off so that it can be cleaned easily and opens and closes without a struggle. It has a great mouth feel and keeps things hot or cold for a long, long time.

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KingCamp Folding Bamboo Table

We love this camping table, especially since we don’t frequently stay at proper campgrounds which often come with tables. This one will do the trick. It’s sturdy, looks nice, has 3 different heights and most importantly, breaks down super small for easy storage.

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ALPS Mountaineering Simmer Chair

I think it’s safe to say we’ve tried every camp chair out there. Lightweight, heavy-duty… we’ve tried it. These are the best we’ve found. They are a good height, very comfortable to sit in, sturdy and won’t blow over, plus they pack up very small which is always useful when you are trying to fit a ton of supplies in a van!

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UST FlexWare Collapsible Sink 2.0 with 4.23 Gal Wash Basin

These collapsible buckets are great for multiple reasons – hauling your crap in and out of a campsite, washing dishes, washing your hair, etc. They collapse for easy storage, but are strong enough to hold a ton of water without issue.

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Nikon Monarch 5 10×42 Binoculars (7577)

Investing in a good pair of binoculars is worth it. We use these all the time and the quality is always impressive for looking at anything from far away mountains to the moon.

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Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 3-Quart, Island Spice Red

We use this for making most meals while camping. Great for one-pot dishes and super durable.

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Gerber Pack Hatchet Camping Axe

Super handy tool for camping – especially when you forget to bring firewood. Just don’t chop down any living branches or trees! Dead stuff only.

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Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove

We have the slightly newer version of this stove, but both work great. The valve on this stove is superior as the one on the new stove leaked propane and we had to replace it. Having two burners instead of one while camping is super helpful and this stove is more powerful than many of the ones I’ve tried in actual homes.

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YETI Rambler 14 oz Mug

In addition to the YETIs above, we also use these when we aren’t on the go. They are great for coffee and wine. They don’t fit in cup holders, so best to use when are stationary somewhere.

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PAL&SAM Bug Zapper, Mosquito Killer

This is the best bug killer racket we’ve tried. It’s USB rechargeable, so need to replace any batteries, it has a light to attract bugs without any effort, and it make a very satisfying zapping sound when you nail the little buggers.

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Traeger Grills Ranger Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

My buddy Kyle Thiermann hooked me up with one of these a few years ago, and it’s been in the back of the van ever since. I use it both at home and on the road. In the van, I run it off the house batteries, and it barely makes a dent. You can fit three T-bones, half a dozen burgers, or a whole lot of asparagus and squash. The power it draws is negligible, but it creates a lot of heat. A bag of pellets lasts a long time, too.

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Headlamp, IKAAMA 1100 Lumen Rechargeable LED Head lamp with Red Light

These headlamps are light, cheap, powerful, rechargeable, and handy. I always have a few in the van and also pack them for foreign travel. Let there be light!

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Victorinox Swiss Army EvoGrip 14 Pocket Knife

I really like this new design of the classic Swiss Army knife. I know there are all kinds of multi-tools out there now, but for my money, this new take on the old standby is all I need. I’ve opened many (too many) bottles of Marquez de Caceres with this baby.

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5 Cup Programmable 25 oz. Mini Coffee Maker

Aside from the Coffee Dripper listed below, surprisingly, this is the system that seems to work the best. We also use this in the van. The coffee comes out strong, and it’s small enough to store in a small space.

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BestBookStand Nice Production INP-101-O Book Stand

Love this thing. If you write or do anything else at a desk, one (or two) of these can make life a lot easier.

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Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Cooker

Got one of these bad boys and have been cooking up some great stews, soups, chili, oatmeal…. I love that you just throw the ingredients in, push a button, and half an hour later, you’re good to go. It’s like a whole kitchen in one pot. If you like home-cooked food, but aren’t into lots of pots to clean up afterwards, this thing is for you.

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Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum for Carpet and Hard Floor

This thing sucks (in a good way). No bags, no crazy Dyson prices. Love it.

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Maxracy 2 Set Garlic Peeler Silicone Easy Roll Tube Useful Garlic Odorfree Kitchen Tool

Andrew Weil told us about these things. They work great. No more sticky fingers with garlic paper all over the place.

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Rowenta VU2531 Turbo Silence Oscillating 12-Inch Table Fan

On the low setting, this thing is as silent as a ninja. Even on higher settings, you barely hear it. Great bedroom ventilator. Silently blows those farts away.

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Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair

Not as good as a hammock, but close. I have a couple of these on the back patio and love them.

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Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Chef’s Knife, 8 Inch

You never need more than eight inches. Am I right, ladies? This thing holds an edge and has a smooth grip that doesn’t get slippery (and dangerous) when wet.

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Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet. Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

Pretty much all you need. This thing is heavy, but if you take care of it, you’ve got it for life. Goes in the oven, on the stove, or in the fire. Cowboy tested.

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Transparent Classic Hot Water Bottle

We’ve gone through a lot of water bottles. They always end up leaking, which is a freakin disaster. These things are built like BMWs. Solid. Thick plastic. Serious stoppers. Not gonna leak. Like what grandma used.

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Black & Decker Dustbuster Cordless Vacuum

This thing works great. Cleans up dust, dirt and all the bugs that fly into my kitchen. It’s also great for keeping the van clean when I’m on the road.

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Clever Coffee Dripper

I like strong coffee. After trying countless other brewing systems, this little thing seems to work the best. Plus it’s easy to use and super cheap, so what’s not to love?

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Thermos Stainless King 40 Ounce Beverage Bottle

Hot water all damned day. Sometimes, I’ll brew up a thermos of green tea in the morning and go through it at my desk. So, even though I know my body is slowly melting away cause I just sit there all day, at least I’m drinking green tea! That’s something, right?

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FORLIFE Capsule Infuser

I’m terrible when it comes to drinking enough water. Iced tea is a lot more appealing and helps to keep me from getting too dehydrated. These infusers are great for making huge batches of iced tea that I can refrigerate and drink at my leisure.

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AVACRAFT Stainless Steel Saucepan with Glass Lid

This saucepan is the best. I use it over fires, on my camping stove and at home. It’s got a metal handle so you can put it in the oven. There are measurements on the inside, which makes it easy to make oatmeal and other such dishes. The top has little holes and there are spouts on either side of the pan, which basically means it’s a saucepan and strainer all in one. I have it in several different sizes.

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Berard Olive-Wood Handcrafted Curved Spatula

Love this thing. Great for stir-fries, safe to use on nonstick pans and most importantly, it’s not plastic.

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Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap Value Pack

This soap is great for just about anything. I like diluting it to make it last even longer than it does… works great for washing your body, face, even hair + dirty dishes & surfaces in your house.

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Clothes pins 2 Inch Multi-purpose Stainless Steel Clothes Pins Utility Clips, Hooks

Regular clothes pins degrade in sunlight. These do not. They last forever and provide just the right amount of tension. I also use them in the kitchen for securing open bags of food. Reliable for all of your clamping needs.

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SIGNALS Shhh, Almost, Now You May Speak – Funny Glass Coffee Mug

Posted this mug on Instagram recently and quite a number of you asked for the link. Only thing missing is a line that says “Time to shit”…

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simplehuman Steel Frame Kitchen Drying Dish Rack

No dishwasher? This will save your life. I know it seems weird to spend money on a dish rack, but trust me, this is worth it. Stores a ton of stuff and really well-designed.

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Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

Whether it’s a desire to protect yourself against Covid or particulate matter from wildfires, this is a must-have for the apocalypse. I’ve purchased three of these for myself and my family.

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Miroco Cool Mist Humidifier

I’ve been spending most of my time in a dry climate recently, so humidifiers are a must. I’ve tried several, but this one was definitely the most impressive.

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