(written by Dawn French—and yourself)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, Dawn French, diary, journal

The Pout-Pout Fish

(written by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Dan Hanna)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, children's books, Deborah Diesen, Dan Hanna

The Foreigner

(written by David Marconi, based on the novel "The Chinaman" by Stephen Leather)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, mystery, film, action, thriller, film based on novel, Michael McElhatton, Katie Leung, Jackie Chan

Tracklements Strong English Mustard

"hot as the devil's pitchfork"

Highly Recommended!  |  food, British

Lovesick

(created by Tom Edge, written by Andy Baker & Ed Macdonald)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, romance, comedy, Antonia Thomas, Tom Edge, Andy Baker, Ed Macdonald, Johnny Flynn, Daniel Ings, Joshua McGuire, Hannah Britland

Deadpool 2

(written by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, & Paul Wernick)

Highly Recommended!  |  film, fantasy, action, adventure, comedy, Josh Brolin, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, comics, Rob Delaney, Eddie Marsan, Zazie Beetz

Everything your doctor doesn't know and won't tell you about your newborn

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, phone app, health, parenting

Deadwood

(created by David Milch)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, crime, drama, historical, Timothy Olyphant, Gerald McRaney, John Hawkes, David Milch, Molly Parker, Brad Dourif, Ian McShane, W. Earl Brown, Paula Malcomson, Dayton Callie, Leon Rippy, William Sanderson, Robin Weigert, Sean Bridgers, Jim Beaver, Jeffrey Jones, Kim Dickens, Powers Boothe, Titus Welliver, Peter Jason, Anna Gunn, Ralph Richeson, Keone Young, Garret Dillahunt, Brent Sexton, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Michael Harney, Ray McKinnon, Josh Eriksson, Franklyn Ajaye, Ricky Jay, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Brian Cox, Sarah Paulson, Zach Grenier, Cleo King, Stephen Tobolowsky, Allan Graf, Richard Gant

Get Out

(written by Jordan Peele)

Highly Recommended!  |  mystery, film, thriller, horror, culture, Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jordan Peele, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, Stephen Root, LilRel Howery

Great British Cooking: A Well-Kept Secret

(written by Jane Garmey)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, food, British, nonfiction, culinary arts

River

(written by Abi Morgan)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, crime, drama, romance, Stellan Skarsgård, Owen Teale, Abi Morgan, Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan, Adeel Akhtar, Nicola Walker

Blade Runner 2049

(written by Hampton Fancher & Michael Green, based on the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick)

Highly Recommended!  |  mystery, sci-fi, film, thriller, Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Harrison Ford, film based on novel, Michael Green, Hampton Fancher, Philip K. Dick, Ana de Armas, Edward James Olmos, Sylvia Hoeks, Sean Young, Barkhad Abdi

Fleabag

(written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, comedy, Hugh Skinner, Olivia Colman, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Bill Paterson, Sian Clifford, Ben Aldridge, Hugh Dennis

Snowden

(written by Kieran Fitzgerald & Oliver Stone)

Highly Recommended!  |  Timothy Olyphant, Melissa Leo, Laura Poitras, Zachary Quinto, Glenn Greenwald, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rhys Ifans, Nicolas Cage, Shailene Woodley, Tom Wilkinson, Ewen MacAskill, Joely Richardson, Michael Benz, Edward Snowden, Scott Eastwood, Ben Schnetzer, Lakeith Stanfield, Kieran Fitzgerald, Oliver Stone

Baby Driver

(written by Edgar Wright)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, film, Kevin Spacey, action, thriller, music, Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm, Eiza González, CJ Jones, Lily James, Edgar Wright

I Am Pilgrim

(written by Terry Hayes)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, thriller, suspense, Terry Hayes

W1A

(written by John Morton)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Salman Rushdie, Tom Basden, Joel Fry, Hugh Bonneville, Monica Dolan, Jessica Hynes, Sarah Parish, Hugh Skinner, Nina Sosanya, Jason Watkins, Jonathan Bailey, Ophelia Lovibond, David Tennant, Carol Vorderman, Sara Pascoe, Clare Balding, Olivia Colman, Alex Beckett, Elizabeth Berrington

Planet Earth II

(presented by David Attenborough)

Highly Recommended!  |  nature, TV series, British, documentary, flora & fauna, David Attenborough

Turn of Mind

(written by Alice LaPlante)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, crime, suspense, literary fiction, Alice LaPlante

Flight of the Conchords

(created by James Bobin, Jemaine Clement & Bret McKenzie)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, comedy, music, musical, Jemaine Clement, James Bobin, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal, Arj Barker, Eugene Mirman, David Costabile, Rachel Blanchard

Legion

(created by Noah Hawley)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, drama, sci-fi, action, thriller, Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Irwin, Jean Smart, Jemaine Clement, Mackenzie Gray, David Ferry

Dunkirk

(written by Christopher Nolan)

Highly Recommended!  |  British, drama, film, action, thriller, Tom Hardy, historical, war, Fionn Whitehead, Damien Bonnard, Barry Keoghan, Mark Rylance, Jack Lowden, Aneurin Barnard, Tom Glynn-Carney, James Bloor

Derek

(written by Ricky Gervais)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, comedy, Ricky Gervais, Karl Pilkington, Tom Basden, Kerry Godliman

Logan

(written by James Mangold, Scott Frank, & Michael Green, based on the comic book "Old Man Logan" by Mark Millar & Steven McNiven)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, sci-fi, film, action, thriller, Stephen Merchant, Hugh Jackman, film based on comic/graphic novel, James Mangold, Scott Frank, Michael Green, Mark Millar, Steven McNiven, Dafne Keen, Patrick Stewart

Game of Thrones

(created by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, based on the novels by George R.R. Martin)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, drama, fantasy, adventure, Jacob Anderson, Mackenzie Crook, Jim Broadbent, George R.R. Martin, TV series based on novel, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, James Cosmo, Pilou Asbæk, Susan Brown, Joe Dempsie, Michael McElhatton, Owen Teale, Michiel Huisman, Natalie Dormer, Charles Dance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Tim McInnerny, Jason Momoa, Sean Bean, Iwan Rheon, Richard Madden, Kristian Nairn, Hannah Murray, Stephen Dillane, Ian McElhinney, Michelle Fairley, Kristofer Hivju, Carice van Houten, Daniel Portman, Ben Crompton, Julian Glover, Rory McCann, Jerome Flynn, Liam Cunningham, Gwendoline Christie, Aidan Gillen, John Bradley, Alfie Allen, Iain Glen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage

Happy

Why More or Less Everything Is Absolutely Fine (written by Derren Brown)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, philosophy, design your life, Derren Brown

Catastrophe

(written by Rob Delaney & Sharon Horgan)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Ashley Jensen, Carrie Fisher, Rob Delaney, Sharon Horgan, Mark Bonnar, Daniel Lapaine

Taketsuru Pure Malt

Japanese whisky blend

Highly Recommended!  |  Japanese, drink, whisky/whiskey

Legend

(written by Brian Helgeland, based on the novel "The Profession of Violence" by John Pearson)

Highly Recommended!  |  British, crime, drama, film, thriller, Tom Hardy, historical, biography, Brian Helgeland, Paul Anderson, film based on novel, John Pearson, Christopher Eccleston, Emily Browning, Sam Hoare, Colin Morgan, Chris Mason

Bad Education

(written by Freddy Syborn & Jack Whitehall)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Freddy Syborn, Ethan Lawrence, Mathew Horne, Kae Alexander, Nikki Runeckles, Sarah Solemani, Michelle Gomez, Jack Bence, Harry Enfield, Layton Williams, Charlie Wernham, Samantha Spiro, Jack Binstead

The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Quieter ~ Lighter ~ Dries Faster ~ More Ergonomic ~ Less Damaging to Your Hair = What more could you wish for?

Highly Recommended!  |  gadgets, beauty

Arrival

(written by Eric Heisserer, based on the short story "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, mystery, sci-fi, film, thriller, Forest Whitaker, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams, film based on short story, Eric Heisserer, Ted Chiang, Michael Stuhlbarg

Misfits

(created by Howard Overman)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, Howard Overman, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Joseph Gilgun, Iwan Rhein, Lauren Socha, Antonia Thomas, Craig Parkinson, Robert Sheehan, Ruth Negga

La La Land

(written by Damien Chazelle)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, romance, film, Damien Chazelle, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, musical

Eastbound & Down

(created by Ben Best, Jody Hill & Danny McBride)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, drama, comedy, sport, Jody Hill, Danny McBride, Ben Best, Steve Little, Katy Mixon, Elizabeth De Razzo

Lion

(written by Luke Davies, based on the memoir "A Long Way Home" by Saroo Brierley)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, biography, Sunny Pawar, Abhishek Bharate, Nicole Kidman, Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, film based on memoir, Saroo Brierley, Luke Davies

Vice Principals

(created by Jody Hill & Danny McBride)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, drama, comedy, Walton Goggins, Jody Hill, Danny McBride, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Shea Whigham, Georgia King

Hidden Figures

(written by Allison Schroeder & Theodore Melfi, based on the novel by Margot Lee Shetterly)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, historical, biography, film based on novel, Kevin Costner, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kirsten Dunst, Theodore Melfi, Allison Schroeder, Margot Lee Shetterly

Friday Night Dinner

(written by Robert Popper)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Tamsin Greig, Tom Rosenthal, Robert Popper, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter, Mark Heap, Tracy Ann Oberman, Frances Cuka

Almond-Flavored Ceylon

raw almond aroma, mouthfeel of marzipan, nutty sweetness—in a cup

Highly Recommended!  |  drink, tea

Hackers

(written by Rafael Moreu)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, thriller, comedy, Wendell Pierce, Rafael Moreu, Jonny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Jesse Bradford, Matthew Lillard, Renoly Santiago, Laurence Mason, Fisher Stevens, Lorraine Bracco

Plebs

(written by Tom Basden and Sam Leifer)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Doon Mackichan, Adrian Scarborough, Tom Basden, Sam Leifer, Karl Theobald, Ryan Sampson, Tom Rosenthal, Sophie Colquhoun, Lydia Rose Bewley, Joel Fry

Super Secret

(produced & directed by Nnenna Ijiomah)

Highly Recommended!  |  short film, comedy, animation, Nnenna Ijiomah

Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 Years Old

blended Scotch whisky

Highly Recommended!  |  drink, whisky/whiskey, Scottish

Community

(created by Dan Harmon)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, comedy, Jonathan Banks, Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash, Chevy Chase, Richard Erdman, John Oliver, John Goodman, Dan Harmon

Develop & Build Your Meditation Habit

Sattva: Meditation Tracking & So Much More

Highly Recommended!  |  meditation, phone app, software

Criminal

(written by Douglas Cook & David Weisberg)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, mystery, sci-fi, film, action, thriller, Ryan Reynolds, Gary Oldman, Douglas Cook, David Weisberg, Kevin Costner, Gal Gadot, Tommy Lee Jones, Michael Pitt

The Phone Call

(written by Mat Kirkby & James Lucas)

Highly Recommended!  |  British, drama, short film, Jim Broadbent, Prunella Scales, Edward Hogg, Sally Hawkins, Mat Kirkby, James Lucas

Earl Grey Moonlight

traditional earl grey tea with a touch of vanilla and cream...

Highly Recommended!  |  drink, tea, Sri Lankan

Skyfall

(written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan, based on characters created by Ian Fleming)

Highly Recommended!  |  film, action, adventure, thriller, Judi Dench, Ian Fleming, Helen McCrory, film based on novel, Daniel Craig, Robert Wade, Neal Purvis, John Logan, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Albert Finney, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear

Forward March

(created by Pierrick Barbin, Rimelle Khayat, Loïc Le Goff, Guillaume Lenoël & Garrick Rawlingson)

Highly Recommended!  |  short film, fantasy, animation, Pierrick Barbin, Rimelle Khayat, Loïc Le Goff, Guillaume Lenoël, Garrick Rawlingson

Ip Man

(written by Edmond Wong and Tai-Li Chan)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, action, historical, biography, Chinese, Wilson Yip, Edmond Wong, Tai-Li Chan, Donnie Yen, Siu-Wong Fan, Lynn Hung, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi

Hibiki 17 Years Old

Japanese whisky blend

Highly Recommended!  |  Japanese, drink, whisky/whiskey

The Cyclist

(story by Casey Barteau, Christopher Bryan & Jonathan Povoski)

Highly Recommended!  |  romance, sci-fi, short film, horror, Jonathan Povoski, Christopher Bryan, Casey Barteau

Casino Royale

(written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & Paul Haggis, based on the novel by Ian Fleming)

Highly Recommended!  |  film, action, adventure, thriller, Judi Dench, Ian Fleming, film based on novel, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Giancarlo Giannini, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis

Design Your Life - Prioritize the Things that Really Matter

Productive: priority-reminding, goal-tracking app

Highly Recommended!  |  phone app, software, iPhone, priorities, design your life

Cargo

(written by Yolanda Ramke)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, sci-fi, short film, Yolanda Ramke, Andy Rodoreda, Australian

Collateral

(written by Stuart Beattie)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, thriller, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Cruise, Stuart Beattie, Jada Pinkett Smith, Barry Shabaka Henley

Irish Breakfast

malty, citrusy, spicy, jammy, brisk & buzzy tea

Highly Recommended!  |  drink, tea, Sri Lankan, Indian

The Boondock Saints

(starring Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, film, action, thriller, Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly

Reservoir Dogs

(written & directed by Quentin Tarantino)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, thriller, Quentin Tarantino, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen

Hibiki 12 Years Old

Japanese blend of Yamazaki & Hakushu malt whisky & Chita grain whisky, partly matured in plum liqueur barrels

Highly Recommended!  |  Japanese, drink, whisky/whiskey

Edge of Tomorrow

(written by Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth, based on the novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, sci-fi, film, action, adventure, Christopher McQuarrie, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Tom Cruise, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Doug Liman, Dion Beebe, Brendan Gleeson, Kick Gurry, Franz Drameh, Masayoshi Haneda, film based on novel

Pulp Fiction

(story by Roger Avary & Quentin Tarantino, written & directed by Quentin Tarantino)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, Christopher Walken, Ving Rhames, Roger Avary, Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Amanda Plummer, Phil LaMarr, Bruce Willis, Eric Stoltz, Steve Buscemi, Maria de Medeiros, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Frank Whaley, Paul Calderon, Bronagh Gallagher, Peter Greene

Keemun Encore

rich, smoky, toasty, malty, smooth tea

Highly Recommended!  |  drink, tea, Chinese

A History of Violence

(written by Josh Olson, based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, thriller, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, David Cronenberg, Josh Olson, John Wagner, Vince Locke, Viggo Mortensen, William Hurt, film based on comic/graphic novel

Happy Valley

(created by Sally Wainwright)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, crime, drama, Adam Long, Derek Riddell, Jill Baker, Charlie Murphy, Rhys Connah, Joe Armstrong, George Costigan, James Norton, Shane Zaza, Siobhan Finneran, Sarah Lancashire, Sally Wainwright

Léon

(written & directed by Luc Besson)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, thriller, Luc Besson, Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Thierry Arbogast

Veep

(created by Armando Iannucci)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, comedy, politics, Armando Iannucci, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Hugh Laurie, Dan Bakkedahl, Phil Reeves, Sam Richardson, Sarah Sutherland, Matt Walsh, Randall Park, Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Southpaw

(written by Kurt Sutter)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, action, Antoine Fuqua, Forest Whitaker, sport, Rachel McAdams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oona Laurence, Kurt Sutter

Deadpool

(written by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick)

Highly Recommended!  |  film, fantasy, action, adventure, comedy, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, comics

Would I Lie to You?

(starring David Mitchell, Lee Mack & Rob Brydon)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, actor David Mitchell, Lee Mack, Rob Brydon

Fortunately, the Milk

(written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young)

Highly Recommended!  |  Neil Gaiman, British, sci-fi, fantasy, children's books, Skottie Young

The King's Speech

(written by David Seidler)

Highly Recommended!  |  British, drama, film, historical, biography, Adrian Scarborough, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Tom Hooper, David Seidler

The Theory of Everything

(written by Anthony McCarten, based on the novel by Jane Hawking)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, romance, film, biography, geek, Eddie Redmayne, Anthony McCarten, Jane Hawking, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior, film based on novel

The Street

(created by Jimmy McGovern)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, Jimmy McGovern, Timothy Spall, Ger Ryan, Jim Broadbent

A Beautiful Mind

(written by Akiva Goldsman, based on the novel by Sylvia Nasar)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, romance, film, Ron Howard, biography, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Akiva Goldsman, Sylvia Nasar, Russell Crowe, film based on novel

The Sparrow

(written by Mary Doria Russell)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, sci-fi, fantasy, spirituality, Mary Doria Russell

Forrest Gump

(written by Eric Roth, based on the novel by Winston Groom)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, romance, film, comedy, Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Robert Zemeckis, Winston Groom, Eric Roth, film based on novel

Good Will Hunting

(written by Matt Damon & Ben Affleck)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgård, Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon

The Imitation Game

(written by Graham Moore, based on the novel by Andrew Hodges)

Highly Recommended!  |  British, drama, film, thriller, biography, Andrew Hodges, Graham Moore, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, film based on novel

Cracker

(created & written by Jimmy McGovern)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, crime, drama, mystery, Jimmy McGovern, Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Barbara Flynn

Boy

Tales of Childhood (written by Roald Dahl)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, British, short stories, action, adventure, literary fiction, biography, Roald Dahl

Prisoners

(written by Aaron Guzikowski, cinematography by Roger Deakins, music by Jóhann Jóhannsson)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, mystery, film, Roger Deakins, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Denis Villeneuve, Aaron Guzikowski, Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano

Sicario

(written by Taylor Sheridan, music by Jóhann Jóhannsson, cinematography by Roger Deakins)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, action, Daniel Kaluuya, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Roger Deakins, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Denis Villeneuve, Taylor Sheridan

The Drop

(written & based on the short story Animal Rescue by Dennis Lehane)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, mystery, film, Tom Hardy, James Gandolfini, Noomi Rapace, Dennis Lehane, film based on short story

Philomena

(written by Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, biography, Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope, Judi Dench

Toast of London

(written by Matt Berry & Arthur Mathews)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, music, Matt Berry, Arthur Mathews, Robert Bathurst, Doon Mackichan, Shazad Latif, Tim Downie, Harry Peacock, Geoffrey McGivern, Tracy Ann Oberman

Dallas Buyers Club

(written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, biography, Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner

The Mighty Boosh

(written by & starring Julian Barratt & Noel Fielding)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, fantasy, comedy, music, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Noel Fielding, Julian Barratt, surreal

Captain Phillips

(written by Billy Ray)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, thriller, biography, Billy Ray, Tom Hanks

An Idiot Abroad

(starring Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, documentary, travel, Karl Pilkington

Room

(written & based on the novel by Emma Donoghue)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, Emma Donoghue, Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, film based on novel

Extras

(written & directed by and starring Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, comedy, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Ashley Jensen

Spotlight

(written by Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, historical, biography, Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Michael Keaton

The Wrong Mans

(written by & starring James Corden & Mathew Baynton)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, thriller, comedy, Dawn French, Mathew Baynton, James Corden

The Danish Girl

(written by Lucinda Coxon)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, romance, film, biography, Lucinda Coxon, Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander

Hyperdrive

(written by Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, sci-fi, comedy, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Nick Frost, Kevin Eldon, Miranda Hart

The Big Short

(written by Adam McKay & Charles Randolph)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, comedy, biography, Steve Carell, Charles Randolph, Adam McKay, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale

The Alchemist

(written by Paulo Coelho)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, literary fiction, spirituality, Paulo Coelho

The Office

(written & directed by Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, drama, comedy, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Ewen MacIntosh

Moon

(created & directed by Duncan Jones, written by Nathan Parker)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, mystery, sci-fi, film, Kevin Spacey, Matt Berry, Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker, Sam Rockwell, Clint Mansell

The IT Crowd

(written & directed by Graham Linehan)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, comedy, Graham Linehan, geek, Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Matt Berry, Christopher Morris, Noel Fielding

Black Books

(created by Dylan Moran, written by Kevin Cecil)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, TV series, British, comedy, Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Graham Linehan, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig, bookstores

Why Work?

Arguments for The Leisure Society (written by various authors)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, philosophy, politics, ideology, anthropology, leisure, essay

The Godfather: Part II

(written by Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro

Breaking Bad

(created by Vince Gilligan)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, crime, drama, thriller, Bryan Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Jonathan Banks

The Wolves in the Walls

(written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, Neil Gaiman, fantasy, horror, Dave McKean, children's books

Rocky (I thru V)

(written by and starring Sylvester Stallone)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, sport, Sylvester Stallone

Japan

Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Highly Recommended!  |  books, Japanese, nonfiction, culture

The Wire

(created by David Simon)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, Idris Elba, crime, drama, thriller, David Simon, Dominic West, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Clarke Peters, Andre Royo, Wood Harris, Michael Kenneth Williams, Frankie Faison, Jamie Hector, Isiah Whitlock Jr.

The Godfather

(written by Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton

Die Empty

Unleash Your Best Work Every Day (written by Todd Henry)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, creativity, Todd Henry

Ten Zen Seconds

Twelve Incantations for Purpose, Power and Calm (written by Eric Maisel)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, Eric Maisel, meditation

Good Morning, Vietnam!

(starring Robin Williams & Forest Whitaker)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, comedy, biography, Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, war

Stronger Than Ever

(performed by Raleigh Ritchie, written & produced by Raleigh Ritchie & Chris Loco)

Highly Recommended!  |  videos, music, Raleigh Ritchie, music video, Jacob Anderson, Chris Loco

Locke

(written & directed by Steven Knight)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, Tom Hardy, Steven Knight

Justified

(written & based on the short story "Fire in the Hole" by Elmore Leonard, adapted by Graham Yost)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, crime, drama, action, Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Graham Yost, Elmore Leonard, film based on short story

Peaky Blinders

(created & written by Steven Knight)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, British, crime, drama, Tom Hardy, historical, Cillian Murphy, Steven Knight, Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory, Sophie Rundle, Sam Neill, Annabelle Wallis

The Equalizer

(written by Richard Wenk, based on the TV series created by Richard Lindheim & Michael Sloan)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, crime, film, action, thriller, Denzel Washington, Antoine Fuqua, Richard Wenk, Richard Lindheim, Michael Sloan

Rush

(written by Peter Morgan)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, action, Ron Howard, Peter Morgan, Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, biography

Off Balance

Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction (written by Matthew Kelly)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, nonfiction, Matthew Kelly, priorities, design your life

2 Guns

(written by Blake Masters, based on the graphic novel by Steven Grant)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, film, action, comedy, Denzel Washington, Baltasar Kormákur, Blake Masters, Steven Grant, Oliver Wood, Mark Wahlberg, film based on comic/graphic novel

Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

(written by Leonard Koren)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, wabi-sabi, Japanese, art, nonfiction, Leonard Koren, culture

Whiplash

(written & directed by Damien Chazelle)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, music

The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains

A Tale of Travel and Darkness with Pictures of All Kinds (written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Eddie Campbell)

Highly Recommended!  |  Neil Gaiman, British, fantasy, short stories, adventure, Eddie Campbell, horror

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

(written & directed by J.J. Abrams)

Highly Recommended!  |  film, fantasy, action, adventure, J.J. Abrams, Simon Pegg, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Max von Sydow, Ken Leung

Eats, Shoots & Leaves

(written by Lynne Truss)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, British, nonfiction, humor, language, Lynne Truss, punctuation

Man on Fire

(written by Brian Helgeland, based on novel by A.J. Quinnell, cinematography by Paul Cameron)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, action, Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Tony Scott, Brian Helgeland, A.J. Quinnell, Paul Cameron, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Christopher Walken, film based on novel

Spring Snow

(written by Yukio Mishima)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, Japanese, romance, Yukio Mishima, historical, literary fiction

The Revenant

(written & directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, adventure, thriller, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy

V for Vendetta

(written by Alan Moore, illustrated by David Lloyd)

Highly Recommended!  |  graphic novels, Alan Moore, sci-fi, David Lloyd, suspense

Birdman

(written & directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, comedy, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts

Jurassic World

(written & directed by Colin Trevorrow, based on characters created by Michael Crichton)

Highly Recommended!  |  sci-fi, film, action, adventure, Colin Trevorrow, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio, Omar Sy, Michael Crichton

Magician

(written by Raymond E. Feist)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, fantasy, Raymond E. Feist

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

(written & directed by Christopher McQuarrie)

Highly Recommended!  |  film, action, adventure, thriller, Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Hermione Corfield

One-Moment Meditation

Stillness for People on the Go... (written by Martin Boroson)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, metaphysical, Martin Boroson, nonfiction, meditation

American Beauty

(written by Alan Ball)

Highly Recommended!  |  drama, film, Kevin Spacey, Alan Ball, Sam Mendes, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Chris Cooper

Focus

(written & directed by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa)

Highly Recommended!  |  crime, drama, film, Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Ken Leung, Dominic Fumusa, Brennan Brown, B.D. Wong, Gerald McRaney, Adrian Martinez, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra

Her

(written & directed by Spike Jonze)

Highly Recommended!  |  mystery, romance, sci-fi, film, Spike Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson

Luther

(created by Neil Cross)

Highly Recommended!  |  TV series, Idris Elba, British, crime, drama, mystery, Neil Cross, Ruth Wilson, Michael Smiley, Warren Brown, Dermot Crowley

Silence Is Golden

Silence is undervalued.  We all deserve freedom from noise pollution—when we need it.  (i.e. my must-have gear when writing and on long-haul flights)

Highly Recommended!  |  gadgets, audio

A Happy Pocket Full of Money

(by David Cameron Gikandi)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, metaphysical, nonfiction

Bottle-Age Wine in Seconds

Just a one-second dip of the Clef du Vin transforms the taste, texture, and aroma of your wine as a full year in a chilled wine cellar would.  Even the cheap stuff.  (It works!)

Highly Recommended!  |  drink, gadgets, wine

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

(written by Neil Gaiman)

Highly Recommended!  |  books, Neil Gaiman, British, fantasy