From the description: “With full readings in only 2 to 3 seconds, the Super-Fast® Thermapen is the world’s best in speed and accuracy. Advanced technology makes Thermapen Mk4 even more intuitive than previous models. Hold it in any direction and the display automatically rotates right-side-up so you can read it in any position—in either hand, straight up or down; read temperatures without cocking your head. A great tool for achieving that perfect meat temperature for a medium rare steak on your grill.” Thermapen was my go-to thermometer for The 4-Hour Chef, and I continue to use and love this device.

Fun—and somewhat risky—water toy I’m tossing around — Be careful and start slow! This travels like a skipping stone in ocean whitewash or the pool, and it bounces much farther than you’d expect. Ensure no one is behind you or your partner, and remember the boxing maxim: keep your hands up. It’s not a soft impact if you take a shot in the face. For this week, no Lyme and no face shots.

Fast and easy game that I’m loving. You can learn how to play in less than a minute. The game is fast, fun, addictive, hilarious, and suitable for all ages. It scrambles brains to the delight of all. Hat tip to game Jedi Elan Lee (@elanlee) for introducing me to this gem!

​From the description: “Secret Hitler is a dramatic game of political intrigue and betrayal set in 1930s Germany. Players are secretly divided into two teams—liberals and fascists. Known only to each other, the fascists coordinate to sow distrust and install their cold-blooded leader. The liberals must find and stop the Secret Hitler before it’s too late.” This is a really fun board game, but it requires a minimum of five players. Any great recommendations for games that can be played well with 3–4 players? Please let me know @tferriss on Twitter.

What I’m revisiting and using — … for $2.96. After a long day, the last thing you need is a dribbling, sad excuse for a shower. I’m currently in rural seclusion with old, old pipes and weak, weak water pressure. Washing has felt like being peed upon by a geriatric elephant. This post, originally written in 2007, describes the best simple solution I’ve found. The price is now $6–7, and there is a newer version, but they all fit in your pocket and take minutes to install.

Purchase I’m enjoying — I use this for morning meditation, and its ultra-lightweight design makes it a breeze to move and store. I face it out a bay window towards grass and trees, as I’ve started meditating with open eyes occasionally per instructions from Sam Harris.

Genius doorstop I’m ordering for myself. I discovered this over the past weekend at a hotel, and the porter must have thought I was on drugs. Upon seeing him use this doorstop, I said, “No way… it’s like putting wheels on luggage! Why did it take people so long?!?” and began turning it over in my hands while he glanced around, unsure of what to do. The physics and material of the design entirely prevent it from sliding, even on slick hardwood floors.

Board game I’m enjoying — This was recommended to me by my brother, and he put it in the “easy” category. It’s simple to learn, and a game can be finished in 30–45 minutes. If you’re looking for something more involved, check out Terraforming Mars.

Toy I’m enjoying — I have a set in varied “ocean” colors. These are surprisingly fun and good for letting go of the nonsense of the day. Simple and perrrrrty. See a countertop stack on my Instagram.

I want to give my pooch, Molly, the best of everything. This is especially true when it comes to the ingredient quality of her food. But most healthy dog foods are an expensive, frozen mess. They’re a hassle to thaw and serve, and the prep work eats up time I’d rather spend hiking with Molly. Sundays for Dogs solves my problem with air-dried, high-quality dog food I can store and pour right from my pantry.​

This was recommended to me by Jason Nemer, co-founder of AcroYoga, a physical practice which combines yoga and acrobatics. Jason loves disc (Frisbee) golf and travels with discs. He says, "to watch a disc fly for about a minute, it's magical...in Yoga there is this philosophy, svaha. I call it 'Fuck it, let go'...I like to throw Frisbees off really high objects. And when I'm in these very ceremonial places like Machu Picchu, it's like, 'What am I releasing.' So, it's an intentional act."

My dear Molly pup has a lot of superpowers, but eating slowly is not one of them. Every two weeks or so, she’ll manically Hoover her food and puke it onto the floor a few minutes later. Not my favorite. This new bowl has totally fixed the problem. No one likes the scarf and barf!

I have collected knives since taking backpack trips through the Teton mountain range as a teenager. This Kershaw knife with “open-assist” (basically a side-opening switchblade) is the most all-around convenient and useful knife I own. Fixed blade knives are awesome, and I own many, but the balance and utility of this Kershaw blade makes it my go-to default at home or on the road. Be sure to get it with the serrated edge. Be sure not to leave it in your carry-on luggage. The TSA will make a frowny face otherwise.

A zen-minded Etch-a-Sketch. Use the included brush to paint designs onto the board with water. As the water evaporates, your image fades, all within 30-60 seconds. This is a great tool for learning to let go… or rekindling your artistic side. If you have 60 seconds a day, you have time for the Buddha Board.

This was recommended to me by Jane McGonigal, a research affiliate at the Institute for the Future, and a New York Times bestseller. Jane says, “We live on a hill and everyday we take the babies out for an hour long walk. Half an hour trudging up this really steep hill and coming back down. [The Bjorn makes it easier] to leave the house and get some fresh air, and also get some exercise.”

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about Helix Sleep mattresses, which I’ve been using since 2017. They just launched a new company called Allform, and they’re making premium, customizable sofas and chairs shipped right to your door — at a fraction of the cost of traditional stores. You can pick your fabric (and they’re all spill, stain, and scratch resistant), the sofa color, the color of the legs, and the sofa size and shape to make sure it’s perfect for you and your home. Allform arrives in just 3–7 days, and you can assemble it yourself in a few minutes—no tools needed.

I gave this to my mom roughly a year ago, and it’s gotten more use than perhaps any other gift. The gist is simple: a nice digital display that rotates through photos. It runs 24/7 in my parents’ house, and it’s now loaded with family and childhood pics taken over decades. This one definitely exceeded all expectations.

This edition of 5 Bullet Friday is brought to you by Harbor, a next-generation baby-monitor company and one of my larger new investments. Be sure to see their offer in the P.S.