What to Read to Become Awesome

by bsrubin on January 29, 2012

I’ve just spent some time lining up a boatload of reading – with the goal of learning how to become fucking awesome.  Thought I’d share what what is on my shelf for the next few months.

Unlimited Content – How to Choose

There is an unlimited amount of content out there that will help achieve you goals.  Makes it tough to figure out what to hit up next.  My Amazon Wish List if over 1,000 items long.

Where to start?

  • Start with my vision for my life – and where I know I need work.
  • Develop a few pithy themes to group content around
  • Read’em
  • Adopt techniques

‘My Mind is Sharp’

I’ve done a bunch of physical body hacking recently – everything from diet to workout to digestion.  I’ve had the intention for some time now to begin hacking my mind.  Here is where I’ll start.

 

Mind Performance Hacks: Tips & Tools for Overclocking Your Brain

Broad range of topics (memory, creativity, decision making) with specific techniques and practices to improve performance in each.

Memory Power

Specific techniques to achieve superhuman memory.

The Creative Habit

Specific techniques to become more creative in all aspects of life.

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It

This one has me fascinated.  Willpower is a mental muscle.  By exercising it in the right way – it grows.  If you know what you want and have a deep pool of willpower – you’ll get it.

iQ Mindware

Software that trains your brain to become smarter.  This came highly recommended by Dave Asprey and Andrew Clark.

‘I feel connected to something larger than myself’

I wish I could believe there was a bearded man watching over us and giving our lives meaning.  Can’t do it.  But out of the corner of my eye I sometimes think I glimpse the truth that there is more to our existence than meets the eye.  I shall explore.

‘ By tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization.‘
Seems like a guide that isn’t based in any particular religious or spiritual tradition – a major plus for me.
A classic.  The Steve Jobs biography reminded me to read this.

‘I am consistently looking for and executing new ways to become fucking awesome’ – ie. how should I live my life?

 

Recommended by many – ‘The extraordinary story of a man’s quest for truth. It will change the way you think and feel about your life.‘

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life

I absolutely love the premise of this book.

‘ Two movie producers contacted him about creating a film out of his life, but Miller’s initial enthusiasm was dampened when they concluded that his real life needed doctoring lest it be too directionless for the screen. Real stories, he learned, require characters who suffer and overcome. In desultory fashion, Miller sets out to change his own life—to be the kind of guy who seeks out his father, chases the girl and undertakes a quest.‘

Live your life like a story someone would want to follow.  Fuck yeah.

Tim Ferriss turned me on to Stoicism - an ancient Greek philosophy for how to live your life.  This book should provide more good insights into this life philosophy.

‘Learn About How People Think’

I am fascinated by how people tick.  By learning more about the subject – I feel I will be better able to control my own actions – and develop products that help large numbers of people make changes.

‘Forget everything you thought you knew about how to motivate people–at work, at school, at home. It’s wrong. As Daniel H. Pink explains in his new and paradigm-shattering bookDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, the secret to high performance and satisfaction in today’s world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.‘
I’ve had an ongoing conversation with Johnny (my awesome coach) on goals.  Set them and stick to them?  Or forget goals and just work hard at awesome stuff?  My current philosophy is to do the following:
  • Figure out what I want – draw out my ideal life.
  • Think about behaviors that will get me towards my ideal life.
  • Set goals that make it easier/more enjoyable/purposefulness to engage in those behaviors.
But it’s really tough to know when a goal no longer serves it’s purpose and is just driving you in a direction you don’t want.  Johnny suggested The Dip as a quick read to help determine when goals are serving a purpose - and when to fire them.

‘Explore the Power of Minimalism’

I’ve been exploring minimalism a bit recently.  Constantly purging my stuff, driving across the country with only a pickup, etc.  I’m bought into the idea that for the most part less is more.

The Power of Less

Should be a good quick read on becoming more minimal in all areas of life.

‘presents a series of inquiries that lead readers to the personal words that guide the spirit, look and feel of their life‘
Sounded interesting…

Another quick read on minimalism.
Suggestions here?  I feel like I haven’t yet hit on the seminal works in the area…

Whew – so much reading…

I honestly don’t know how long it will take me to get through all of that.  Given my commitment to the topic I think I can read around 2-4 books per week if I really dig in.  So call it 2 months of reading there.  The real challenge though - consuming the content does little – incorporating it into my life is everything.  Just one of those books could set me off on a multi-year spiritual quest.  I’ll check in and let you know what I’m finding useful, what I’ve managed to incorporate into my life, etc.
What else should I add to this list?
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