The second half gets much more specific and tactical with advice on adverb use (the road to hell is paved with them), dialogue, descriptions and more. The first half of the book does read somewhat like a memoir with short stories about his life, the development of his writing and the lesson’s he’s learned over a long career. Regarded as one of the best books on writing ever written, Stephen King’s “memoir” lives up to its reputation. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Each chapter/section/point is only a page or two which makes it a great book to keep around when you need a quick shot of motivation before writing. The main idea of the book is overcoming Resistance, which is described as a real force working against you and your creative exploits. ![]() Pressfield is a master storyteller ( Legend of Bagger Vance and Gates of Fire are two of my favorites) and he offers some insights gained from decades of writing. Great book for any writer, artist or anyone trying to accomplish some kind of goal. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield “The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.” It is really just a compilation of all of the best notes from his 200+ podcast episodes, but it makes for a great collection of practical tips that you can refer to often. Ferriss just released a new book this month, Tools of Titans, that is also worth checking out. Now I’m freelance writing with the time and freedom to pursue new ventures and interests that excite me. When I first read this book I was working a standard 9-5 in an office. Some of the lessons are a little outdated (the exchange rate in Argentina isn’t as enticing as it was when he lived there for 6 months, I checked) but the overall ideas of Liberating, Eliminating, Automating and Delegating give any business owner, entrepreneur or professional some key tips for becoming more efficient. The 4-Hour Workweek is the perfect introduction to his overall goal of 10X your effectiveness so you can pursue things you really enjoy. After reading several of his books and following his podcast regularly, I’m on the side that finds him extremely valuable. Many people find his advice and example really inspiring and full of practical advice. Public opinion on Tim Ferriss is pretty split. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss “To enjoy life, you don't need fancy nonsense, but you do need to control your time and realize that most things just aren't as serious as you make them out to be.” One of the most influential parts has been Habit 7, “Sharpening the saw.” Taking time every week to ensure I am working on myself from a physical, mental, social and spiritual perspective has made a huge difference. I read this book at the beginning of 2016 and it helped me set my goals for the year and strive for some major habit changes. I finally opened up Stephen Covey’s book on the powerful lessons in personal change, which has been a must-read for anyone trying to improve or change their habits for decades. ![]() ![]() This year I got around to reading a lot of books that should have been required reading about 10 years ago. Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits.” The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. If you’re looking for a few good books to start 2017, check out how I started my 2016: This year’s reading ended up being more influential than most and as I skimmed back through these books I was surprised how much of these lessons stuck with me. ![]() One of the most important things I like to look back on are the books I read and the influence they had on me. As we wrap up 2016, dot a few i’s and cross a few t’s, it’s fun to look back on the year.
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