Tom Irwin Jr.
Systems, books, technology, and the work of building a more deliberate life.
Recent Writing
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10 Expensive Things That Are Worth the Money
Ten purchases that earn their keep every day, from Instacart+ to a navy blazer. The real test isn't the price tag, it's whether you're still using it a year later.
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The New Standard: Why Google Sheets Is Outperforming Excel
Google Sheets has moved well past lightweight web alternative. Here is why it now outperforms Excel for collaboration, big data, AI, and automation.
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The Case for Reading Slowly
Why reading fewer books more carefully is worth more than racing through a list. A reflection on pace, attention, and what stays with you.
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Claude Cowork and the Rise of Agentic AI
Claude Cowork is part of a new wave of agentic AI tools that can perform tasks on your computer. Here is what it is, why it matters, and how to start.
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Make TextEdit Open With a Blank Document
How to make TextEdit launch with a new untitled document instead of the Open panel, and how to change it back.
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Finishing Anna Karenina and What It Stayed With Me
Reflections on completing Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and my connection to Levin, the novel’s tragic core, and the force of its characters.
Reading
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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
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Straight to Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, and Billion-Dollar Deals
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White Nights
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The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
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The Enchiridion: Pocket Edition
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The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
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Small Things Like These
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Foster