This blog post is a very special holiday edition of 5-Bullet Friday, my very own email newsletter!
I dislike shopping, but I do love finding the perfect gift. Finding that gift, though, gets harder with time. Those damn adults seem to have everything. So… If you’re having trouble thinking up great options, below are some goodies that deliver. I’ve recommended or gifted all of the below to my close friends.
I also reached out to some of my favorite companies to get special deals for subscribers. I use all of these products on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the season and activity. Literally everything I mention below lives in my home somehow. Each sponsored bullet is indicated with a star at the end of it, just like this sentence.*
Happy holidays! 🙂
A few books I’m gifting this holiday season
Awareness: Conversations with the Masters by Anthony de Mello. Non-fiction, 184 pages. I’ve gifted this at least 50 times, so I’ll keep gifting it.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Fiction, 416 pages, which go very quickly. #76 on the NYT’s list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. This was a new find in 2025.
Gold by Rumi and Haleh Liza Gafori. Poetry, 112 pages. A vibrant selection of poems by the great Persian mystic with groundbreaking new translations by Haleh Liza Gafori, an American poet of Persian descent. Read 1–2 poems before bed each night and thank me later.
Small fitness tool I’m loving
Tune Up Fitness – Alpha Ball. This was recommended to me by Nsima Inyang, a mutant among mutants. The Alpha Ball solves a few different problems at the same time: (1) It’s precise. Foam rollers are big amorphous objects. It can be hard to get them to certain spots (e.g., hips—TFL, glute medius, piriformis), which the Alpha Ball can easily access. (2) It’s compact enough for luggage and travel. This also means I can use it against a wall for spinal erectors, rear of the shoulders, etc. (3) It has a Goldilocks density: not too hard and not too soft. The firmness hits the sweet spot—hard enough to work out deep knots but not so aggressive that it causes excessive pain or bracing. I’m writing this from Japan and literally have it in my suitcase five feet from me.
Stocking-stuffer game that I’m playing with friends and family
Coyote the card game (38% off), which I co-created with Exploding Kittens. It just won the Pop Insider “Best Geeky Game” of 2025 and also “Best Stocking Filler” in the MadeForMums Toy Awards 2025 (UK). If you have any kids or relatives aged 8–15, you can start playing—and laughing—in minutes. Think charades + hot potato + brain fun. The game is available at Amazon, Target, Walmart, Exploding Kittens, and more.
It’s currently the cheapest it will probably ever be, at $7.99–$9.00 for Black Friday savings. Buy it here!
Supplement I’m using daily
Momentous Creatine Chews. I’ve relied on Momentous products for years now, and I take their creatine as a daily staple for strength, recovery, and—particularly—brain health. Recent studies have highlighted how creatine can support cognitive function, even boosting performance when sleep deprived. Creatine works best when taken consistently, and Momentous Creatine Chews make it as close to effortless as possible. I typically aim for 5 grams per day.
Each tablet contains one gram of Creapure® creatine, the gold standard for purity in sports science. Like all Momentous products, the Chews are NSF Certified for Sport®, meaning independently tested for purity, safety, and label accuracy. Use code TIM from this page for 35% off your first subscription order and 10% off of future orders.*
Kitchen gadget I’m absolutely loving
Maestri House Rechargeable Milk Frother. OK, I never expected to have a frother in this newsletter, but this is a great example of “there is always a market for the best.”
It also reminds me of sage wisdom from Kevin Kelly, found in his tiny, practical book titled Excellent Advice for Living:
Take note if you find yourself wondering “Where is my good knife?” or “Where is my good pen?” That means you have bad ones. Get rid of those.
I’ve owned a lot of frothers for coffee and tea. Most of them are cheap, or I got them for free. They break, batteries stop charging, or they simply have two modes: completely off and outboard motor. Even the “tap here for three different speeds” types will backfire and spray coffee all over the place a third of the time. This Maestri House device fixes all of these problems. It just feels great to use. Plus, anything with “LunaFro” in the name…
One pan I use for nearly everything
Titanium Always Pan Pro. Many nonstick pans can release harmful “forever chemicals”—PFAS—into your food, your home, and, ultimately, your body. Teflon is a prime example; it is the forever chemical that most companies are still using. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to major health issues like gut microbiome disruption, testosterone dysregulation, and more, which have been correlated to chronic disease in the long term. This is why I use the Titanium Always Pan Pro from Our Place. It’s the first nonstick pan with zero coating. This means zero “forever chemicals” and durability that will last a lifetime. There is no degradation over time like traditional nonstick pans. Now through December 2nd, Our Place is having their biggest sitewide sale of the year, including significant discounts ($100 to $825) on their non-toxic cookware sets. Go to FromOurPlace.com/Tim now to shop Our Place’s Black Friday sale.*
Microphone that’s impressing me
Elgato Wave:3. Based on reviews, I picked up this microphone for a last-minute virtual recording on the road. It’s easy to pack and looks great on camera. Most impressive to me, it seems to cancel bounce and echo far better than my pro studio gear. Go figure. Their tech black magic can work wonders, but there’s one bug to look out for: when you first plug in the mic, it will often auto-select to speaker or headset mode, and you need to press the big button on the front to ensure you’re actually recording on microphone.
Honey I particularly enjoy during the winter
Premium MGO 1000+ Mānuka Honey from Manukora. I love this smooth and creamy Mānuka honey, and I use it before bed to help with sleep. Per the late Seth Roberts, PhD, and for reasons unclear to me, a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed into hot water (or decaf tea) before bed seems to dramatically accelerate sleep onset time.
Sleep technology I’m using
Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra. Several years ago, I started using the Pod Cover for cooling and heating while I sleep, and it has transformed my sleep quality. It’s also probably saved quite a few marriages, since you can change your “zone” and not your partner’s. Eight Sleep recently launched their newest generation of the Pod: Pod 5 Ultra. The Pod 5 Ultra automatically tracks your sleep time, sleep stages, HRV, and heart rate. In addition, the all-new Blanket and Pod Pillow Covers expand the Pod into a head-to-toe sleep experience with real-time temperature regulation. Many of my listeners in colder climates enjoy warming up their bed after a freezing day. Conquer this winter season with the best in sleep tech, and sleep at your perfect temperature. Go to EightSleep.com/Tim and save $700 on the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Eight Sleep currently ships within the USA, Canada, the UK, select countries in the EU, and Australia. This special offer is valid until December 1st.*
Newest workout staple I can’t leave alone
TANK® M3 Push Sled. This is, bar none, the best sled I have ever used for pushing or pulling. It isn’t cheap, but I use it infinitely more than the cheaper sleds I’ve bought in the past. 10–15-minute workouts in the morning sun have become my favorite way to set the stage for a great, mood-elevated day. The ease of rotation and traction makes it perfect for even a gravel driveway like mine. From the description: “Designed with patented Mag-Force™ Resistance Technology, the TANK M3 delivers scalable intensity, accommodating many fitness levels while minimizing the need for weight plates and clunky user swaps. The TANK M3’s three-wheeled design glides effortlessly across turf, rubber, or concrete, ensuring smooth operation on any surface. Ergonomic multi-position handles allow users to switch grips seamlessly, enhancing comfort and workout variety. Real-time performance monitoring helps users track progress and training metrics with an oversized digital screen to empower better workouts.”
What I’m gifting to friends and family who don’t want more “stuff”
The Way. This is an easy one. I’ve explored a lot of meditation practices over the years. My current hands-down favorite, and the easiest way to get back in the habit, is The Way, taught by Zen Master Henry Shukman. Using the app for just 10–20 minutes a day has reduced my anxiety more than I would have thought possible with any app. Try it for a week, and I think you’ll notice something similar. Here are 30 sessions for free, no credit card required. Henry’s 10-minute sessions have become one of the highlights of my day, and I know it’s now true for other “non-meditator” friends, too. I recently chose to invest in The Way, given all the above, and I’ve been working with Henry and his team to make the app as good as humanly possible. If you want to gift an annual membership, it costs $99.99 and is worth every penny. Inside the app, tap ‘My Way’ and then go to ‘Account information.’ Then tap the ‘Gift’ button to buy a gift membership for someone.
And there you go! 11 of my favorite things that make great holiday gifts. I love them all and hope you do, too.
Have a wonderful weekend and wonderful holiday season, everyone!
Much love to you and yours,
Tim
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
Hi, Please list the treadmill. You mentioned it in the podcast, but didn’t name the brand/model. I’d love to know which one was suggested. Thank you!
Hi, S…. –
We believe you’re referring to the one Kevin uses, mentioned in the Random Show episode. It’s the Pacerocker Walking Pad Treadmill at amazon.com/dp/B0D9K12HFP/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20
For future, you can typically find everything mentioned in a given episode by scrolling down that podcast’s main page (for example: https://tim.blog/2025/12/03/the-random-show-with-kevin-rose-2/), where you will see a list of links arranged by category.
Best,
Team Tim Ferriss
Thanks so much for the gift guide and for the podcast! It makes doing chores infinitely more interesting. You’ve spoken quite a lot about your back issues, etc. and shared your favorite gadgets for relieving muscle soreness and tightness. I wanted to share something that has been life changing for me (and I think would save you time and money spent on gadgets, etc). I do not receive any kind of compensation for recommending this, but mentioning the website is the best way to access the information. I was having a lot of hip, neck, and back pain/tightness. A few years ago, I discovered Yogi Aaron and his method of relieving pain and tightness by activating your muscles and improving the neuromuscular connection between your brain and muscles (as well as avoiding passive stretching). You can do a 15 day free trial to access the pre-recorded classes on the website (The Yogi Club). I recommend the website over the YouTube channel. A great place to start is with the 7-Day neck series – almost all of us experience stiffness and/or pain in our necks and it’s a great way to see how this method lands with you. I am 53 years old and can honestly say that my hips feel way better than they did 10 years ago which is not the usual trajectory. I no longer feel like I could throw my low back out at any moment. My hip pain is virtually gone (and if it starts to sneak back in, I now know what I need to do to address it). Happy to answer any questions. Happy Holidays, Tim!
Hi Tim! I’ve been a huge fan, reading your work and listening to you since about 2000.
I wanted to bring up something that came to mind recently: the death of conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall on October 1, 2025. Her passing brought a profound sense of renewed commitment to our beautiful planet and the need for its preservation for future generations. I haven’t seen you discuss her legacy recently, and I wondered if you ever talk about that.
What triggered this thought was your holiday gift list. I think about all the pollution and waste—most gifts inevitably end up sitting in a corner, getting re-gifted, or eventually winding up in a landfill.
I do think your choice of recommending a meditation app is brilliant; consciousness is the ultimate way to combat consumerism. I wonder if you might consider shifting your influential voice from advocating for consumption to championing consciousness and promoting the idea of knowing when we have sufficient belongings.
We truly need a straightforward conversation about our responsibility to the future and how we can actively mitigate the environmental impact of this heavy consumption period. I know you think about these big issues, and I appreciate you raising them, even inadvertently. What are your thoughts on focusing more on non-material ways to enrich our lives?
Thank you Tim! Appreciate you taking the time to read this!
All the best to you and yours !
Terry
Thanks for putting together this guide! I love how you’ve curated such a balanced list: books, wellness tools, tech, and even creative games. It really feels personal and practical. The Alpha Ball recommendation especially stood out for me even in India — I’ve been looking for a compact way to work out tight spots. Looking forward to trying a few of these and sharing with friends. Happy holidays! 🎁
Thank you Tim!!!
I still use many of the things from the Holiday Megabox all those years ago, and I always appreciate your sharing the stuff you love.
Easy no brainer to buy and gift when it passes your standard!
🙌🙏
Michael
Hey Tim, another great post さすがにティムさん！
Are the Momentus Creatine Chews slow-carb friendly? (ingredients attached) Or at least do you think the benefits of the creatine outweigh the potential downsides of the small amount of sugar and carbs + lemon and lime flavouring?
Thanks again for a great post 🙂
Love the suggestions. I never know what I want so I’m looking for ideas for me too!!
Btw, I signed up for some parent group for Coyote. Have played with the kids a few times and brought it to Thanksgiving!! But I never heard anything otherwise, just received the game. Wanted to say thanks and we love it!!
(Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this):
Tim,
I have to recommend this for you and your 5BF readings:
LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching
A documentary of two stoner rednecks who do a “Big Year” – to see as many birds as they can in the lower 48. And it’s free to watch on Youtube.
It starts:
“One day I got high and found the family’s bird book and thought how crazy it would be if you knew all the birds in that book.”
Here’s the trailer, but it doesn’t really do it justice.
Thanks for everything you do.
John
Thanks for all the wonderful recs! I also loved Zevin’s novel and the Alpha Ball has helped me iron out kinks in those hard to reach areas inside the shoulder blades and along the spinal periphery. And given your love of Rumi (Gafori’s translations are amazing), I want to suggest The Rumi Prescription (Melody Moezzi), which has lots of new translations that the author and her Persian father crafted. And the book’s Rx/Dx framework is brilliant for health and well-being. Have a great holiday season!
Thank you Tim for being a champion of my ALPHA Ball! Your and Nsima’s enthusiasm for it has been such a blessing for my small business. I call my balls “rubber drugs” because they interact in a gentle way with so many different layers and systems of the body- with only beneficial side effects. Your description of ALPHA really nails it!
I’d be delighted to share more unique uses of ALPHA anytime. We met very briefly in passing years ago in Seattle up at Creative Live. I was a guest presenting on Fascia and Breath on our mutual friend Kelly’s 2 day program.
Thank you for all the good you put out there! Your impact on the world is massive. Ever grateful.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Jill Miller
Hey Tim…always great to see products you love and use. I wanted to share with you and your team about a unique group of people (about 30) in the USA who have done the “London Lap” to have an incredibly effective surgical procedure that is not FDA approved, and therefore not available in the USA. The PEARS procedure has been around 21 years, yet still not available here. I’m #772 on the planet to have it done -3 years ago-…today there’s about 1550 who have had the procedure to fix their aortic aneurysms. You love the unique and cutting edge things out there. This is a life saving procedure that should be the gold standard….but due to $$/big pharma/insurance…it gets denied. You can read my “patient story” on the exstent site. Love for you to interview the creator, Tal Golesworthy, and help spread the word. Tal has a great TedTalk on this as well. Thanks TIm – Happy Holidays.
Tim!
Absolutely love the podcast, the most recent Boyd Varty episode I couldn’t get enough of. Lunch the chimpanzee is ridiculous. Anyways, thought I’d just drop something cool here you and/or Kevin Rose might find interesting since he was discussing quantum computing in the last random show. The site is called qBraid, the whole idea is quick and easy access to a range of quantum computers and simulators. Just launch lab and you’ll be able to submit quantum jobs right away. Granted, quantum computers aren’t super useful right now, but its pretty cool to actually be using them nonetheless. That’s all I got, feel free to check it. Thanks brotha, appreciate all you do.
Cheers!
Alex VB
Just curious what is happening with the No book. Did I miss the memo? I’m very excited to read it but am wondering if Tim gave it a No!??
I have no idea where to leave a comment about 5BF but I wanted to talk about Graceland. I am writing this for myself. That song always resonated with me, as a child of divorce who longed for 1:1 time with my dad, and a road trip to discover something that I wasn’t quite sure I was seeking. He just passed away and the song means more… also, my wife and I went down to Clarksdale, Mississippi for a book event about Wright Thompson’s wonderful book The Barn back in September. I subjected her to Graceland while we were driving to Graceland, Walking in Memphis when we went to Beale Street, and every other possible pop culture tie-in. But having made that drive through the Delta as a much younger me (27 years ago) and now as a me with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a mortgage, and sort of skipping ahead in the book while still looking back, I got an idea for what Paul Simon saw. The beauty of the river next to the complexity of the land and its people. “The duality of the southern thing.” Thanks for doing all that you do… be kinder than is necessary. – Loren
Every time I read your newsletter, I am struck by your call to action: “And, as always, please give me feedback on X.” My feedback on X is please just drop it.
Love these holiday picks, Tim! The books are definitely going on my list, especially Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow—sounds like a great read. Also, the Tune Up Fitness Alpha Ball is genius for targeting those hard-to-reach spots! Thanks for sharing these awesome recommendations. Happy holidays!