I read and listened to a lot of great stuff this year – books, articles, and podcasts. But when I think about the best of the year, these titles come to mind:
The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday – This book came to me at exactly the right time for me to be absolutely consumed by it. It’s changed my outlook on daily life for the better. I only wish I had discovered it (and the source material) much earlier in life.
The War of Art, Steven Pressfield – This one forced me to look in the mirror and recognize what I really want to do in this life, and what’s holding me back from doing it today.
Steal like An Artist, Austin Kleon – Simple lessons in building creative work. You’re only as good as the ideas you surround yourself with. Embrace influence – nothing comes from nothing.
So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Cal Newport – The core message of this book is that “follow your passion” is overrated advice, and that building skills worth having will help you find the career you really want. I’ve always had a hard time with the “follow your passion” advice anyway, as it seems like something you don’t find until you’re already in your career – and this book really brings that into focus.
The Wizard and the Prophet, Charles C. Mann — A fascinating account of of our history grappling with the four major environmental challenges on this planet: food, water, energy, and climate change, and some ideas on where we may go next. Not as preachy or one sided as Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything, but just as provocative.