Daniel Coulton-Shaw

Life is too small not to always look for exceptional thoughts and things.

Book Notes

Daily Rituals Summary (Added to notion)

daily rituals

By Mason Currey

In this entertaining, if somewhat repetitive, collection of daily rituals of nearly 200 of some of the greatest minds of the last four hundred years, you’ll hear the daily routines of famous writers, thinkers & artists.
I listened to the book on Audible, usually during short driving trips. Here’s the link if you’d like to buy the Daily Rituals Book for yourself or as a gift.

Obviously, having a reoccurring daily routine such as a morning ritual is a pre-requite to achieving any long-lasting success at a chosen craft or skill, but here is a list of the themes that seemed to appear with each of these 161 inspired and inspiring folk:

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Confessions of a Conjuror (Added to notion)

confessions-conjurorBy Derren Brown

Brilliant, hilarious and entirely unlike anything else I have ever listened to before on Audible, Confessions of a Conjuror, read by Derren Brown himself, was a complete and utter joy.

This is not strictly an autobiography but more a combination of a collection of personal stories, comedic observations, and magic tricks.  Derren Brown has a writing style like no other celebrity, or possibly anyone since the days of Dickens and Melville, as the book is told through the intricate process of performing a single magic trick, using the minute observations and feelings experienced throughout performing this trick to Segway into amusing anecdotes, self-help tips, and embarrassing confessions.

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The 4 Hour Work Week

The Four Hour Workweek (4HWW) by Tim Ferriss is an eye-opening read, especially for those like me interested in personal productivity, and running internet-based business models.

Here are the best, no-nonsense takeaways from the book:

  • If you’re spending 12 hours a day at your desk, and still not finishing your work, it’s time to make a change.
  • Interest, energy and ability go up and down all the time. Trying to work through it when you’re miserable is unproductive.
  • Doing less is not being lazy. Don’t give in to a culture that values personal sacrifice over personal productivity.
  • Stop putting hard choices off because of timing. It kills productivity.
  • Ask people for forgiveness instead of for permission.
  • Emphasize what you’re good at rather than trying to correct weaknesses.
  • Figure out how to use stress rather than letting it make you less able and confident.
  • Don’t choose unhappiness over uncertainty. Define the worst case scenario to change this.
  • Watch out for fear disguised as optimism.
  • Give yourself less time to do everything.
  • Most problems solve themselves. Stop making an emergency out of everything and “cultivate selective ignorance.”
  • Master the art of not finishing things and interrupting people.
  • Some things are just time consuming and repetitive. Do them all at the same time.
  • Don’t make people ask you for permission. Clearly delineate when you absolutely need to and avoid otherwise.
  • Consider a remote personal assistant. Outsourcing isn’t just for companies.
  • Set unrealistic and hugely ambitious goals.
  • Forget about time management and the “results by volume” approach. – the real focus should be on doing less.
  • Use the 80/20 rule: 80 percent of the results come from 20 percent of the time and effort.

You can by the book here: The 4 Hour Work Week
And follow Tim Ferriss on his blog here: Tim Ferriss Blog