Best and Brightest … Genius — Esquire

A once-in-a-lifetime game-changing advance
in our field everyone else will follow
— Marshall Goldsmith

Astrophysicist turned new media whiz — NBC

Passionate … confident … — Forbes

You don't just learn theory from
him, you improve your life.
— Inc.

The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard University, Standford University, Princeton University, MTV, IBM, US Army

My Mission

My mission is to help change American (and global) culture on sustainability and stewardship from expecting deprivation, sacrifice, burden, and chore to expecting rewarding emotions and lifestyles, as I see happen with everyone I lead to act for their intrinsic motivations.

In my case the emotions have been joy, fun, freedom, connection, meaning, and purpose.



Systemic change begins with personal change.

Some of my values. What are yours?
Months living off the grid in Manhattan: 43 (and counting)
Loads of garbage I filled in 2025 so far: 0
Loads filled in 2024: 0
Loads filled in 2023: 0
Loads filled in 2022: 0
Loads filled in 2021: 0
Loads filled in 2020: 0
Loads filled in 2019: 1
Loads filled in 2018: 1
Loads filled in 2017: 1
Days picking up litter: 3,169 and counting
Years not flying: 9 (117 months) and counting
2024-25 grid electric grid use at home: 0 kilowatt-hours
Annual carbon emissions: about 1 ton
Daily burpees: 260,858 and counting
Resting pulse: 38 bpm

LATEST BLOG POSTS

Wow, some hard work volunteering in the cold yesterday and today.

on January 21, 2026 in Doof, Habits, HandsOnPracticalExperience

I try not to complain about heavy work, especially since the physical labor I do is trivial compared to people who work for a living and I just finished One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, though I’m talking about volunteering, not work for pay. Still, over the past few days a few things conspired to make volunteering with delivering surplus food to give away to people who can[…] Keep reading →

There will always be something just beyond our grasp we crave. Or we can learn to stop craving.

on January 20, 2026 in Addiction, Choosing/Decision-Making, Freedom

Artificial intelligence is just the latest instance of a technology that, by polluting and depleting, deprive people of life, liberty, and property without due process of law. People think of the perks it might bring them despite violating the Constitution. So they convince themselves that it will actually benefit those it hurts. They can’t say exactly how, but they think if we just use more of it, it will somehow[…] Keep reading →

Where the problems with social media come from and the big result, part 1

on January 19, 2026 in Choosing/Decision-Making, Freedom

I’ve meant to start developing a view for a while but I keep not starting because I haven’t fully developed it. I’m going to bite the bullet and write a few ideas down, not yet complete and coherent. Sorry if it ends up confusing. When the internet was starting to become mainstream, say the 1990s, people looked forward to it democratizing communication compared to the press and broadcast since anyone[…] Keep reading →

This week’s selected media, January 18, 2026: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Myth America, Blow Out

on January 18, 2026 in Tips

This week I finished: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Alexander Solzhenitsyn: I’m sure I read this book before, but long enough ago that this time was almost anew. I’ve been reading about liberty, freedom, equality, and democracy. I’ve read and written about slavery and the Holocaust. Soviet / Stalinist gulags are on par, but different, and equally important to understand what a nation, or dominance hierarchy,[…] Keep reading →

Another big, passionate writing day

on January 17, 2026 in Creativity, Habits

Last week I finished the first draft of my next book, though more accurate I finished the most challenging parts. I took a couple days off after a couple days of intense writing, then got back to work. Regarding the word “work,” here, I talked to a friend who said he wouldn’t want to write because of deadlines and pressure. He sounded like writing sounded like a burden or obligation.[…] Keep reading →

I searched “comprehensive list of environmental solutions.” No wonder everyone feels hopeless and gives up.

on January 16, 2026 in Creativity, HandsOnPracticalExperience, Leadership, Nature

I searched “comprehensive list of environmental solutions.” The results search results showed nothing meaningful or helpful. Before continuing, I should point out what prompted that search was writing my next book, which does present a solution, not only to our environmental problems, but to things that result from it, such as corruption, tyranny, racism, addiction, despair, and more. So I don’t feel despair or anxiety from pointing out that not[…] Keep reading →

My neighbors leave their windows wide open in temperatures below freezing, presumably blasting their heaters

on January 15, 2026 in Stories

Coming home this evening, I noticed a window of the apartment a few floors directly below mine was open, I estimated by 8 to 10 inches. The light was on and someone was home. The temperature outdoors was about 30 F (-1 C). I presume the person wasn’t freezing, which meant they probably blasted the heat. Tomorrow, when it’s brighter, I’ll take and post pictures of how I tape my[…] Keep reading →

What I wonder when people ask how I get by

on January 14, 2026 in Choosing/Decision-Making, Freedom

People ask me all the time things like “how do you get by without flying?”, “How do you get by without a contract with the power company?”, and “how do you get by producing so little trash?” I know they’re thinking about material things and mainstream values of acquiring more stuff even at the expense of relationships so from their perspective I’m depriving myself and sacrificing. From my perspective, I’m[…] Keep reading →

The Atlantic Magazine ads

on January 13, 2026 in Nonjudgment

I read stories on The Atlantic‘s website sometimes, but rarely read the physical magazine. I found a copy in my building’s mailing room’s recycling bin. I guess a neighbor with a subscription didn’t feel like reading this month’s issue. Here’s the issue in particular online. The articles tended to be intellectual, left-leaning or full anti-Trump, but largely portraying either victimhood or implying solidarity with or support for the downtrodden. The[…] Keep reading →

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