Episode · How I Write · 2023-11-22
Books mentioned on A Master Storyteller Reveals His Secrets | Steven Pressfield | How I Write Podcast
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by F.
Discussed“You know, Hunter S. Thompson rewrote The Great Gatsby just so he could feel what it was like to write a great novel.”
Where to get it
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Gates of Fire
Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire is a historical novel depicting the epic Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of a Spartan warrior.
Discussed“The Legend of Bagger Vance and Gates of Fire.”
Where to get it
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The Legend of Bagger Vance
The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield is a mystical historical novel that reimagines the Hindu spiritual text the Bhagavad Gita through the lens of a depressed veteran participating in a high-stakes golf tournament during the Great Depression.
Recommended“Have you read my book, the Legend of Berger Vance? No. Well, you should read it.”
Where to get it
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Zero to One
Zero to One by Peter A.
Discussed“Peter Thiel wrote Zero to One. But if you actually follow the thread, Zero to One is... A Christian book”
Where to get it
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The War of Art
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a practical self-help guide addressing the internal mental blocks and self-sabotage that prevent creators from achieving their goals.
Discussed“But I found, this was after the War of Arts came out, that the comments that were coming in, We're all in the war of art here.”
Where to get it
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The 48 Laws of Power
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers is a provocative exploration of power dynamics, drawing on historical strategies and philosophies to outline how individuals acquire, defend, or navigate power.
Discussed“I would not say that applies to, say, the 48 Laws of Power, where Robert Greene really gave it, you know, a massive amount of stuff.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I was going to write The Sun Also Rises or something?”
“So anyway, that's, you'll like the book. The Authentic Swing, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Way better than the movie.”