[SB 188] Younger Next Year, Huberman's Core 5, Don't Answer Me

Hi, I’m Matt. Welcome to Steady Beats: a newsletter about building the middle-aged life you want in small and steady beats.

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Health Beats

Huberman’s Five Rules

Andrew Huberman’s podcast is a treasure trove of science-based and actionable ideas for physical and mental wellness.

But the episodes are so … damn … long.

Which is why I loved this clip from Tim Ferriss, where Huberman sums up his philosophy in concise fashion:

Tim Ferriss @tferriss

Dr. Andrew Huberman (@hubermanlab) on The 5 Core Pillars of Health 👇

If that clip is too long for you, Huberman’s Core 5 are:

1. Sleep: sleep better, function much better

2. Nutrients: 80% of nutrients from unprocessed foods

3. Movement: A combination of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training

4. Light: Sunlight in the early day, and minimize artificial light late in the day

5. Socialization: maintaining strong relationships

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Book Beats

Younger Next Year

Although the first edition was written in 2004, many of the ideas to fight aging shared in “Younger Next Year” hold up well. In short, authors Chris Crowly and Henry S. Lodge implore us to:

1. Do an hour of Zone 2 cardio four times per week

2. Strength train 2-3 times a week

3. Invest in human relationships

4. Care about something—have a purpose

The book is written conversationally and lightheartedly. At times, that style comes at the expense of brevity, and I found myself skimming over some long stories and anecdotes.

Overall, there are lots of good ideas to set up for a long and healthy “final third” of life. You can read a review and browse my Kindle highlights here.

(Thanks to Rick Lewis for the recommendation.)

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Music Beats

Don’t Answer Me by The Alan Parsons Project

One way to make something new is to borrow from something old.

In 1984, The Alan Parsons Project did that twice on the same song.

“Don’t Answer Me” was a departure from the band’s usual sound, and that was due in part to a recording technique called the “Wall of Sound.”

Phil Spector created the approach, which involves cramming all the singers and musicians into the same recording space at the same time:

Rather than attempting to record instrumental sections with minimal interference, Spector chose to exploit the sonic qualities of the studio itself, allowing sounds to bounce around the room and blend into a dense sonic mess, rich with complex overtones.

With heavy remixing and use of effects after recording, the Wall of Sound approach was used to record numerous pop hits in the 60s, including songs from the Ronnettes and the The Beach Boys.

Secondly, The Alan Parsons Project employed a throwback approach to their music video, adopting a noir comic book style. The video nearly won an MTV Video Award for Most Experimental Video, and was one of the most unique videos of the era.

I remember being instantly drawn to this song. I’m sure it was that rich and familiar 60s pop sound I was so used to hearing my mom fill the house with.

“Don’t Answer Me” peaked at #15 in 1984. As the band’s last Top 40 single, the song combined some old techniques to create something new, unique, and lasting.

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