Sometime in 2021, I told myself I wanted to be a better writer. Or to at least write better. (Two things, I think, as different as Picasso and a guy that likes to paint). I learned somewhere that the best writers are the best readers, so I started hitting the books — but this time, I was reading them too. Since picking up the habit of reading again, I figured it would be a good idea to share with you some of things I recommend reading.
Books, articles, poems, columns — anything I enjoyed, I’ll share with you at the end of every month. If you want this list sent directly to your inbox, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
First, I’ll give you a quick list of just the titles and links to what I read. Below that, I’ll go into more detail about what I thought about them and why you should read it.
The Quick List
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
Keep reading for more details
1. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
The book in 3 bullets
Essentialism, according to Greg McKeown, is about focusing on the vital few while rejecting the trivial many.
Being clear about what's essential to you will help avoid wasting time and energy on the things that don't.
Learning to say No to the non-essentials is crucial to living a more meaningful and focused life.
My impressions
It’s easy to feel so mentally scattered nowadays. There's so much to do but so little time. If we try to do everything we want to, we'll burn ourselves out. So focusing on just a handful of priorities is important to finding fulfillment and meaning in our lives.
It follows the idea of “Less, but better”. Instead of trying to do more and more, focusing on less but being really great might be both more efficient and sustainable, given our limited time and energy.
The book made me ask myself: What are the things I can cut out of my life and the few I can focus more on? (I'm still trying to figure that out; I ain’t got the answers. But I did write about this idea in a past article. Check it out here: Cutting The Fat: Learning To Focus On The Essentials)
Should you read it?
If you feel like you have too many commitments, you're spreading yourself too thin, or on the verge of burning out, then this book might be worth your time.
2. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
The book in 3 bullets
It’s a book with a more philosophical approach to time management than other productivity books.
On average, we only have about 4,000 weeks to live (If you’re 23 like me, you’ve already lived around 1,200 of those). So how we spend that time should be our top priority.
We can’t do everything we want to do in a day (since we literally don’t have the time and energy to do them all), and that’s OK.
My impressions
This book breathed fresh life into my perspective on productivity; it was surprisingly philosophical, referencing philosophers such as Heidegger and Nagel, which I enjoyed. (I do love me some philosophy.)
Recently, I've been feeling unfulfilled about the amount of things I could’ve gotten done in a day. This book helped me realize that we really can’t do everything in a day. Time is always ticking down no matter what choice we make. So accepting that fact relieved some of the pressure of having to get on top of absolutely everything on my to-do list.
It helped me prioritize the important things, which seems like the most obvious thing, but it’s so easily forgotten (I sure as heck did).
Should you read it?
If you’re looking for a fresh approach to managing your time, and you’re curious about philosophy and productivity, I would definitely recommend this book.
3. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The book in 2 bullets
(I went into this book blind and I think that’s the best way to go into it. So below I’ve tried to tease the book for you to hopefully pique your interest.)
A physicist wakes up from a coma. He’s on a spaceship in orbit — but he doesn’t remember why he’s there. His two crew members didn’t survive the trip, though he doesn’t even remember who they are. He’s alone in space. And, as it turned out, he isn't even orbiting around our sun; he realizes he's in a completely different solar system with no idea how he got there.
As the book progresses, his memories from his time on Earth slowly come back to him. He learns, bit by bit, how he ended up in the ship, why they’re so far away, and what his mission even is. There's also the fact that he needs to find a way to survive alone with limited supplies.
My impressions
Weir wrote one of my favorite fiction books, The Martian, and he didn’t disappoint with this one. Project Hail Mary is funny, interesting, tense, and even emotional at times. It’s an exciting ride of a book that I could not put down (there’s an anti-gravity joke in there somewhere but I can’t find it).
I don’t regularly read fiction books, but this was different. I was so hooked from just the first page that it became one of my fastest reads in some time.
During the period of reading this book, it shot a zing into my life that I didn't know I needed.
Should you read it?
If you’re into science fiction, physics, space travel, and aliens, then yes. Absolutely check this book out. You won’t regret it.
4. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
The book in 3 bullets
Bob Iger was the CEO of the Walt Disney Company from 2005 until 2021. Here, he shares stories about becoming the CEO, then what happened behind the scenes as the company acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox.
He shares the most important leadership lessons he’s picked up from his decades-long career, such as leading with honesty and always striving for perfection.
Though it’s mostly about leadership, the lessons he shares can apply to anyone looking to succeed in their career.
My impressions
Iger comes across as a genuinely likable, stoic, and wise man. I now find myself trying to apply his wisdom to the way I work, especially this nugget:
If you're in the business of making something, be in the business of making something great
I knew being a CEO of a company is hard, but I never realized how tense it actually could be until I read the book. Here’s an example:
The first story he tells was set in 2016. He was in China preparing for the opening of Disneyland Shanghai, an 18-year, $6 billion project and one of the most historic moments of the company. As the opening day crept closer, he received news that there was a shooting in an Orlando nightclub. Several family members and friends of Disney employees had been victims; two part-time Disney employees had been killed. A few days after he learned this, he learned of another tragic event: a 2-year-old boy had been taken by an alligator in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Reading him talk about how he dealt with all these pressures was fascinating. It showed how sincere he is not just as a leader but as a person too.
Should you read it?
I’d say this book might be insightful for those who want to be or are already in a leadership role.
If you want to learn more about the entertainment business and how to operate one, then I’m sure you’ll pick up a few gems in this book
If you’re a fan of Disney and want to learn more about their history, you can consider this book too.
Let me know which books you’re interested in reading! And if you have a book recommendation, let me know! I’m always looking for something new to read.
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