Before you buy anything, ask these 5 questions.
Plus . . . two great new books
▶️ NEW VIDEO: 5 questions that make every purchase better
You know how to earn money. But do you know how to spend it?
In our newest YouTube video, I share five research-backed questions—from scholars like Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton—to help you spend your spondulicks in ways that actually improve your life. Before you buy almost anything, run it through this filter:
Does this buy me time—or steal it?
Is this a story—or just a thing?
Will this bring me closer to people?
Can I make it a treat, not a routine?
Can I pay now and enjoy later?
If your purchase gets three yeses, you’re probably making a smart move. If not . . . beware.
I walk through all five (with examples) in this short video. ⬇️
PINK RECOMMENDS: The week’s top picks 📌
A few things worth your time this week.
📚 READ: How to answer the ultimate question
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, is back with his first book in twelve years — and this one hit me like a ton of bricks. What to Make of Life (Amazon | BN.com | Bookshop | Public library) examines people who — through choice or circumstance — found themselves responding to a serious life inflection point. Among the book’s most heartening conclusions: Lots of high achievers produce their greatest achievements late in their careers.
📊 COUNT: What do Americans consider immoral?
Pew Research recently asked a large sample of Americans about what’s right and what’s wrong. The responses are fascinating and the partisan divide is wide.
📚 READ SOME MORE: How constraints make us better
David Epstein is one of my favorite writers. I loved both The Sports Gene and Range. His new book, out today, is just as good. Inside the Box (Amazon | BN | Bookshop | Public library) argues that the secret to creativity isn’t wild freedom, but tight constraints. It’s already reshaped how I approach several projects.
📺 WATCH: 16 things everyone should know how to do
One of our most popular videos of 2026 explores the stuff that every adult should know how to do — including:
Ask good questions
Be a decent house guest
Open a bottle of wine
Understand three key financial concepts
Apologize properly
For the complete rundown — and exclusive footage of me fixing a toilet — click the image below. ⬇️
🗳️ THE PINK POLL: What do you wish you knew how to do?
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The results of our previous Pink Poll suggest that in the age of AI, intellectual humility — curiosity combined with wise judgment — may be the killer app:
