Episode · How I Write · 2024-01-24
Books mentioned on I Spent 50 Hours With 20 Master Writers
David Perell recommended Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly, The Consolation of Philosophy, and Against Method by Paul K. Feyerabend, and discussed The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss, Atomic Habits by James Clear, and The Daily Pressfield by Steven Pressfield. Also mentioned: MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE by Herman Melville.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The 4-Hour Workweek
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss is a popular lifestyle design and productivity guide focused on escaping the nine-to-five routine, automating income, and reclaiming personal time.
Discussed“When Tim's writing process and this goes back to his very first book, The 4-Hour Workweek, where he clearly struggled through that book.”
Where to get it
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Excellent Advice for Living
Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly is a practical collection of insightful maxims and life lessons covering careers, relationships, and personal growth.
Recommended“The next is number two, Kevin Kelly, who wrote Excellent Advice for Living, which is a book of maxims and my favorite one is don't aim to be the best, be the only.”
Where to get it
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Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a bestselling guide on habit formation that outlines how small daily actions and identity shifts can create lasting personal and professional change.
Discussed“if rather than reading Atomic Habits, you know, it's the first one that comes to mind as one of these books which is everywhere you know, if rather than reading Atomic Habits, you go and read I don't know Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy.”
Where to get it
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The Consolation of Philosophy
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius is a foundational medieval philosophical classic written as the Roman statesman awaited execution, addressing the nature of fortune, free will, and true happiness.
Recommended“if rather than reading Atomic Habits, you go and read I don't know Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy.”
Where to get it
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Against Method
Against Method by Paul K.
Recommended“She recommends this book called Against Method by I think it's got a name Feyerabend.”
Where to get it
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The Daily Pressfield
The Daily Pressfield by Steven Pressfield is a structured daily guide and companion journal designed to help writers and creators overcome internal resistance, manage their time effectively, and maintain disciplined creative habits.
Discussed“What had happened was before the episode, Pressfield was like, yo, you got to read my new book, The Daily Pressfield.”
Where to get it
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MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is an epic American novel that chronicles the obsessive, self-destructive quest of Captain Ahab to hunt down the giant white whale that maimed him.
Discussed“Or for instance in it doesn't always have to be a woman. In Moby Dick, the sea is the female. And the sea carries the mystery, right?”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (6) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“4-Hour Workweek, 4-Hour Body, 4-Hour Chef and then Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors.”
“4-Hour Workweek, 4-Hour Body, 4-Hour Chef and then Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors.”
“4-Hour Workweek, 4-Hour Body, 4-Hour Chef and then Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors.”
“4-Hour Workweek, 4-Hour Body, 4-Hour Chef and then Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors.”
“4-Hour Workweek, 4-Hour Body, 4-Hour Chef and then Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors.”
“I wanted this show to be like the Paris Review interview series, where if you haven't read it, you've got to read them... I wanted basically the equivalent of Stephen King's On Writing in interview form.”