Year in Review - 2022:

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Year in a review - 2022.

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What a year it was.

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Started in Hawaii, ended in Orlando.

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Trips to Cancun, London, Paris, and New York with the best of friends.

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Read 75 books, the most I’ve ever read in a year. (link to book list and notes here)

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Wrote 263 blog posts. (link to my blog database here)

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Saw many incredible movies.

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Listened to hundreds of hours of podcasts.

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Had a few memorable Indian weddings, many more drunk nights and countless memories with the best people.

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This year was a year of progress.

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A year of moving forward.

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It wasn’t easy but I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished.

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Here are some of my favourites from the year that was:

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Top 10 favourite non-fiction books (click the titles for my notes):

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The Changing World Order - the most important book of the 2020s that teaches you so much about geopolitics, history, economics, finance and the rise of fall of empires. 

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Will - Will Smith’s biography. A page turner I couldn’t put down. An incredible story from a fascinating human who has seen a lot of peaks and valleys in his life. Lots of good lessons.

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The Choice - a book I read in one sitting that had me balling my eyes out at the end. Written by a holocaust survivor, she talks her journey of accepting her past and choosing to be happy with what she has today. A fantastic read.

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The Almanack of Naval Ravikant - my second time reading this and won’t be my last. Naval is a modern day tech philosopher and this book has so many lessons about how to build a good life while using the leverage available to you to become successful.

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What Happened To You - a book that fundamentally changed my perspective on how we all behave. Written by Oprah and Dr. Bruce Perry, an expert in developmental psychiatry, the book explains how we’re all dealing with our trauma from childhood and how to reconcile with our past to be the best versions of ourselves we can.

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Greenlights - Matthew Mcconnaughey’s memoir. He’s a great writer and another guy who’s lived such an interesting life. Loved the pace of your book and one that speaks to your soul.

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Attached - fundamentally changed my perspective on human behaviour and how we act in relationships. We all act in relationships like kids act with their parents. Super useful to understand yourself but also what to look for in a partner.

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The End of the World is Just the Beginning - the best geopolitics book you will ever read. Talks about how and why globalization is ending and how we’re going into a dark period of history.  Also gives you a lot of great investment ideas going forward. The world is about to radically shift and few people are ready. This book prepares you for it.

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The 5 Love Languages - a book that teaches you about the different love languages that people have and how to understand how your partner wants to be loved.

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The Greatest Salesman in the world - a short read that I wish I read earlier in my life. Lots of good lessons to live by with a great twist at the end.

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Favourite fiction book - Verity. Read one fiction book this year but it was fantastic. Couldn’t put it down and can’t wait till someone turns it into a movie. Very Gone Girl vibes. The ending too…did he really do it?

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Favourite documentary: George Carlin’s American Dream. One of the greatest American comics of the 20th century. A genius who talked about so many topics that are super relevant today. Go down his Youtube rabbit hole, you won’t be disappointed. Miss you George, wish you were alive today to comment on the craziness in our world.

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Top 5 favourite movies. Click each title to watch it for free:

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Everything Everywhere All At Once - an epic movie that is an all time favourite for me. A perfect film on the level of Parasite. The less you know the better. Strange movie through the first hour but gets so good by the end.

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About Time - a movie from a while ago but man, haven’t cried like that in a long time. Starts out as a sappy romantic comedy but turns into something completely different. Cherish the time you have, especially with those close to you because you never know when it’s all going to end.

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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On - the best feel good movie I’ve ever seen. Who knew a shell could make me laugh and cry multiple times. Watch this if you ever want to smile or need a pick me up

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Triangle of Sadness - such a weird and wonderful movie. The middle sequence is one of the stranger but funnier sequences of film I’ve ever seen. Great commentary on the elites in our society and forces you to think about the way the world is.

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Top Gun Maverick - what else do I have to say that hasn’t been said before. So epic. Cruise is still the best action movie star in the world. Can’t wait for the new Mission Impossible movie next year. Watch this to get a glimpse of the stunt he’s doing - awe-inspiring stuff.

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Honourable mentions: The Handmaiden (great Korean drama with a bunch of twists) and The Invisible Guest (awesome Spanish thriller with an unexpected ending)

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Favourite show - Stranger Things Season 4 - Vecna man. What a villain and what a twist. Can’t wait for the final season.

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Honourable mention for White Lotus Season 2 and Ramy Season 3

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Top 10 favourite podcast episodes. Click the title for a link to listen:

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Knowledge Project with Kunal Shah - the value packed into one episode is astounding. One every entrepreneur or anyone interested in innovation needs to listen to. I’ll probably revisit this again and again.

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Tim Ferris with Jason Calacanis - not gonna lie, thought Jason was a total douchebag before I listened to this episode, but have a lot more respect for him now that I ever did. Such a fascinating story and really introspective conversation

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Patrick Oshaghnessy with David Senra of Founders - the best addition to my podcast list this year was the Founders podcast and the interview with the creator was epic. Dude is a treasure trove of knowledge after reading so many books and gives me a lot of inspiration for what I want to create with A Niche Experience.

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We Study Billionaires with Arnold Van Den Berg - an epic story of a great investor who no one has heard of. Speaks a lot about the power of the subconscious mind which is something I’m a big believer in.

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David Novak with Stanley Druckenmiller - one of my investing heroes who talks about his background and current thoughts on where the world is today. Lots to learn from one of the great investors of the last 50 years.

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Eric Jorgenson with Mark Nelson on the Future of Nuclear Energy - great insight into how nuclear works and why nuclear is the technology needed to effectively transition to a greener future. Must listen for anyone who wants to understand the number 1 energy source of the future.

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Grant Williams with Luke Gromen - Luke is one of the best macro voices in the world and this podcast gives you the best ideas on macro packed into one hour. Such a fascinating insight that’s shaped a lot of my own world view.

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Jay Shetty with Dwayne Wade - as a basketball fan, loved the story how he came from Chicago to become an NBA superstar but also his reflections on his journey and how to take control of your voice.

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Tim Ferris with Ed Thorp - an interview with the man who beat the casino then became a hedge fund machine and stopped at the peak of his game to live a better life with his wife. Lots to learn from an investing legend.

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Founders podcast about John D Rockerfeller - could put 10 of his episodes on this list (an incredible podcast everyone should listen to) but this one was one of my faves. Rockerfeller was one of the richest most powerful men of the 20th century and so much to learn from his story.

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Naval How to Get Rich: Every Episode - one from a few years ago but listened to it 4 times this year. A breakdown of Naval’s famous tweetstorm on how to get rich without getting lucky. So many incredible insights.

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Top 5 Favourite restaurants:

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Byblos - great Turkish fusion restaurant in Toronto. The cocktails and Turkish manti dumplings were fantastic. 

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Marked - awesome South American restaurant in Toronto and one of my faves. The burrata salad, Lamb and Octopus are unbelievable and will definitely be going back.

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David Toutain - a religious experience. A two star Michelin restaurant in Paris that we were super fortunate to visit. Very pricy but worth it. A 17 course tasting menu specialized in vegetables and still think about an asparagus dish.

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Laut - fantastic Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant in New York. First time I ever had king crab and it was incredible. Definitely recommend if you’re in NYC

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Union - best brunch in Toronto. Had the polenta with spinach, hollandaise and poached eggs. Fantastic stuff.

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Favourite trip: London and Paris for 2.5 weeks. One of the best trips of my life. Saw 2 football semi finals, an FA cup at Wembley where Liverpool beat City and a champions league semi in Manchester seeing City win 4-3 against Madrid. Also had 2 michelin star dinners, one at Frog by Adam Handling in London and the other at David Toutain in Paris. Epic meals, especially the second. Had the best of times with my friends from university and a trip I’ll never forget.

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Hope you had a great year as well and if not, no stress. 

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The past is the past. Focus on improvement and progress going forward.

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My goals next year are to run a marathon, put out at least 100 podcast episodes and continue to read and write. 

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Markets are continuing to crash so will also be the year to see if I’ve been right about my predictions, specifically on Gamestop. 

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Should be fun, looking forward to a wild 2023

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