Books on Focustivity

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 11:37:11 -0400

Finished reading: The Product is Docs by Christopher Gales 📚 I skimmed through this one. Probably a good read for Technical Writers. I didn’t get much out of it.

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

“And if the robots don’t rise up, if our creations don’t come to life and take the power we have used so badly for so long away from us, who will? What we fear isn’t that AI will destroy us—we fear it won’t. We fear we will continue to degrade life on this planet until we destroy ourselves.” (Ray Nayler, The Mountain in the Sea)

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

“I try to avoid having thoughts. They lead to other thoughts, and-if you’re not careful-those lead to actions. Actions make you tired. I have this on rather good authority from someone who once read it in a book.” (Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker)

Uptime, by Laura Mae Martin

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:20:03 -0400

Finished reading: Uptime by Laura Mae Martin 📚

A well-written productivity book that’s full of actionable advice. However, as someone who is a productivity nerd, I didn’t get too much from the book. I would recommend it for anyone who is new to the productivity space.

The book covers Top 3 priorities, saying no, creating lists, deep work, zero-based calendaring, finding your “power hours”, time reviews, procrastination, downtime (rest), using your environment, setting boundaries, creating plans, make the most out of meetings, mastering email, creating routines, meditation, and mindfulness.

The book is focused on what Laura calls the “5 C’s of Productivity”, which include Capture, Consolidate, Close, Calm, and Create.

Urgent once, take care of it, Urgent seventeen times … something is wrong with the system.

You can think of to-do lists like a funnel: start with the highest level of everything you could possibly do, or want to do, and narrow it down into what you actually will do hour by hour, based on time, energy, and priorities.

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:40:18 -0400

Currently reading: Scythe by Neal Shusterman 📚

Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 22:00:00 -0400

📚 I was listening to the Bookworm podcast and the next book that the hosts will be talking about is Storyworthy, by Matthew Dicks.

I wasn’t interested in the book at first, as I’m not a storyteller, but then I thought there could be some useful tips in here for writing. Anyone who reads my writing knows I need all the help I can get.

So, I picked up a paperback copy of the book and gave it a shot. Was it good? Well, I finished it (although I skipped a little here and there), so that’s a good sign.

As you would expect, Storyworthy, is about creating good stories, so obviously, the book was full of stories. Not long stories. Rather, short, easy to read stories (that didn’t stop the author from plugging the long versions that are available on the website and YouTube channel).

As far as storytelling/writing tips, I was able to abstract a few that I found could be useful for elaborating in some of my writing.

Every story should have a five-second moment. This is the moment when the story contains a turning-point. A transformation.
Every story must have an Elephant, which is a part of the story that is obvious. This may be a clear definition of the problem, or mystery. It signifies where the story is heading.
Always provide a physical location for each moment of the story. This gives your audience something to visualize.
The ideal connection between sentences is “but” and “therefore” including synonyms. Don’t use “and”. When your paragraphs can be connected by a silent “and”, then it feels like rambling. Instead, each should flow into the other.
Stories about failure are more engaging than those about success.
Your story must reflect change over time. Otherwise, what’s the point?

I admit, at times I got lost and didn’t understand the point of what was said. I’d have to reread parts or look back (or forward) to see where the actionable advice is.

There are also a few very short chapters in the book that didn’t have any rhyme or reason for being there. They felt like filler text to make the book a bit longer.

Although I found some parts of the book tedious and disjointed, I found Storyworthy had enough practical advice, with examples, to help strengthen my non-technical writing.

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 13:32:55 -0400

Currently reading: Pause to Think by Jaime Lester 📚

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 13:36:06 -0400

Currently reading: Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday 📚

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 13:34:36 -0400

Finished reading: Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick 📚

This book covers “AI” at a high level, including what AI is today and the possibilities of what it can be in the future. It touches on the ethics and regulation. Overall, the author was optimistic about AI if we learn to use it properly.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:07:47 -0400

Finished reading: A System for Writing by Bob Doto 📚

If you want a practical guide on how to use a Zettelkasten, this is it. The book doesn’t go too much into the history, but rather the implementation. Full of examples showing how to take notes and use your system for writing. Bob is the expert.

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 22:34:18 -0400

Finished reading: How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe 📚

A solid book packed full of tips for those living with ADHD.

Sun, 19 May 2024 17:07:55 -0400

Finished reading: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman 📚

A funny and sad story full of memorable characters. I enjoyed the flow of the book, as it often introduced something bizarre, but then shortly describes how it came to be.

Sat, 11 May 2024 13:19:46 -0400

Currently reading: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman 📚

Anyone can nurture a myth about their life if they have enough manure, so if the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, that’s probably because it’s full of shit.

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:10:17 -0400

Finished reading: For You by Patrick Rhone 📚

Worth reading slowly, thoughtfully, and on multiple occasions.

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:42:57 -0400

Currently reading: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 📚

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:37:18 -0400

Finished reading: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 📚

Humans find an octopus colony that appears to have culture and language, and are defending themselves from the outside world (humans). While it may sound far-fetched, the book was very grounded in a near future reality. The story dives into deep topics such as AI, Androids, what is consciousness, and what makes us human.

This was a sci-fi book that felt real and made me think about these topics even when I wasn’t reading. I really enjoyed it.

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 12:13:47 -0400

Currently reading: Chatter by Ethan Kross 📚

I’m hoping this book will help me learn from the voices in my head.

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 12:12:16 -0400

Finished reading: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 📚

Cal Newport’s latest book fits his ongoing theme about slowing down and producing good work. His latest, Slow Productivity, doesn't disappoint.

Cal talks about three main aspects of slow productivity: do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality.

The book is structured in a way that makes it easy to digest. There are three main parts; each part starts with a story. Next, Cal translates what it means for knowledge workers and then provides several action items that can help your situation. Finally, he goes into details and attempts to dispel any contradictions.

If I were to rate the book on a 5-star system:

- Importance of the topic: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Structure of the book: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Actionable Advice: ⭐⭐⭐

If you already follow Cal's work, especially his podcast, Deep Questions, you're likely already familiar with the content in this book. I think it was still worth reading.

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:45:38 -0400

Currently reading: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 📚

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:42:47 -0400

Finished reading: A Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout 📚

A good book that explains how to recognize the complexity of software design and provides many recommendations for how to overcome it, by making it obvious, using modular design, abstraction, comments, and naming conventions.

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:36:50 -0400

Currently reading: Driving Value with Sprint Goals by Maarten Dalmijn 📚

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 22:15:14 -0400

Currently reading: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 📚

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 10:40:32 -0400

Finished reading: Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World by Maryanne Wolf 📚

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I admittedly lost interest in the second half.

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:03:46 -0400

Want to read: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 📚

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 12:27:43 -0400

Currently reading: Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal 📚

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 23:47:11 -0400

I finished reading: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 📚

I thought it was an imaginative story that was relatively easy to follow and not too long. The pace kept me interested all the way through.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane may be my first Neil Gaiman book. I’ll be reading more, for sure.

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:19:26 -0400

Currently reading: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 📚

I saw this book recommendation from @manton.
I’m starting to get into it. It’s a great pick.

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 15:08:26 -0400

Finished reading: Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz 📚

It is a book about transforming your writing to convey your meaning in as few words as possible.

It’s a pretty good book you can crank through in less than 2 hours.

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 11:52:05 -0400

Finished reading: Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish 📚

I think thought this was a great book. Easy to read, as all books from Shane Parrish are. It is chalked full of insights.

This book is to Decision Making as Atomic Habits is to Habits. Perhaps the definitive guide for beginners.

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 14:49:46 -0400

Finished reading: Fundamentals of Software Architecture by Mark Richards 📚

A solid book about software architecture that covers high-level rules and concepts for software construction, as well as various soft skills and responsibilities that an architect should have to be successful.

The Four Levels of Reading

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 16:31:46 -0400

📚 According to the book How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, there are four reading levels. Each level has a purpose and is stacked upon each other; in other words, you can’t complete a level without first completing the previous level. Most material we read, including books, papers, and articles, is not worth our time to read at all four levels. Instead, an Inspectional or maybe Analytical reading will suffice.

Elementary Reading is what we learn in elementary school and is the fundamentals of reading. It involves understanding the words we read, not necessarily what the author tries to say.
Inspectional Reading is the reading we do with a limited amount of time. It involves skimming the book to understand what key concepts are covered. This is a great way to determine if a book is worth the time for analytical reading. During Inspectional Reading, we understand the meaning of the Title, read through the table of contents, check the index, skim through the chapters, and do a general skim through the material. Next, if it is a difficult book, we should start with a superficial reading, reading from beginning to end without trying to make sense of things.
Analytical Reading is a thorough and complete reading of the material for fundamental understanding.
1. Know what kind of book you are reading.
2. Summarize the whole book in as few words as possible.
3. Understand the significant parts of the book.
4. Figure out what the author’s problems were.
5. Locate the important words the author is using and determine the meaning of these words as used by the author.
6. Mark the most important sentences in the book.
7. Construct the basic arguments by finding them in the connection of sentences.
8. Figure out what the author’s solutions are.
9. You must be able to say “I understand” before you can agree or disagree with the author.
10. When you do disagree, do so reasonably.
11. Respect the differences between knowledge and personal opinion. When you disagree, be sure you can state why.
  1. Is the author uninformed?
  2. Is the author misinformed?
  3. Is the author being illogical?
  4. Is the author’s analysis incomplete?
Syntopical Reading occurs when we read multiple sources on the same topic and use them to create an even greater understanding of the material, compare the opinions of the authors, and form a deep understanding of the material.

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 08:12:47 -0400

Finished reading: How to Read a Book (A Touchstone Book) by Charles Van Doren 📚

Detailed guidance for how to read effectively and have a conversation with the author.

I admit this was hard for me to read and ironically, I skimmed a lot of it.

I lost interest, but still go a few ideas.

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:22:02 -0400

Want to read: How to Be Miserable by Randy J. Paterson 📚

This was talked about on the Focused podcast episode 185. It sounds like a fun read if you’re tired of the typical self development books.

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 21:03:48 -0400

Currently reading: The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul 📚

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 20:21:59 -0400

Finished reading: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter 📚

It is a nice blend of story and scientific evidence stating how we have grown too comfortable in our day-to-day lives.

No big surprises were revealed. Yet an interesting story made it enjoyable to read. It was inspiring but depressing knowing how much healthier I could be with significant lifestyle changes.

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 21:25:37 -0400

Want to read: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter 📚

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 12:26:09 -0400

Currently reading: Fundamentals of Software Architecture by Mark Richards 📚

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 12:37:30 -0400

Finished reading: The Lost Metal: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson 📚

As expected, this book was a lot of fun!

How to Live a Long and Healthy Life (Outlive by Peter Attia MD Book Notes)

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 18:02:32 -0400

Finished reading: Outlive by Peter Attia, MD 📚

The book Outlive by Peter Attia, MD is a guide to learning and planning for a long, healthy life. It is very detailed and covers the science behind it, as well as providing actionable advice. This post includes some of my notes from the book and the author’s other content.

“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in. —Bishop Desmond Tutu

Here’s an example schedule of the recommended training from this book. This is the minimum time you need to spend to get the benefits that will extend your life. Of course, any exercise is better than none!

Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics

Simply seeing your physician every year for an annual physical is not enough. This only evaluates what’s happening with your health now. You need to be proactive if you want to live longer. If you want to play the long-game with your life, you need to start with your objective, then define a strategy, then define tactics.

Your objectives would inlude defining what you want to be able to do in your old age. Common examples include picking up and playing with grandchildren, walking your dog, not be in pain, etc.

You then reverse-engineer your objectives and create a strategy. The strategy is the higher level approach to how you will achieve your goals. What will you learn, what ways will you approach the problems.

The tactics are the things you do day-to-day and week-to-week that will help you achieve your objective.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a major contributor to cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and other medical conditions. It occurs when the body’s cells don’t respond correctly to insulin, which results in too much glucose entering the muscles and organs.

Surprisingly, exercise is the most effective way to combat insulin resistance, not nutrition.

Zone 2 Training

Zone 2 training involves low-intensity exercise that is active enough for you to have a conversation without running out of breath. It is typically 70-85% of your peak heart rate.

During Zone 2, most of the work is done by your “slow-twitch” muscles that are rich in mitochondria. The mitochondria are “the power plants of the cell” and Zone 2 training can help them use fat as fuel.

To benefit and improve your health, you need at least 3 hours of Zone 2 training per week, split into four 45-minute sessions.

VO2 Max Training

VO2 Max is the highest rate at which a person can use oxygen during strenuous exercise. It is an indicator of aerobic fitness and endurance performance.

Achieving VO2 Max can be done by working at maximum intensity for four minutes, followed by a four-minute rest period. Repeat this cycle four times per week and measure your VO2 Max annually to measure progress. Apple Health and other fitness trackers have built-in VO2 Max measurements, though they may be less accurate than tests you can get at a medical facility.

Having a VO2 Max below average doubles the risk of death, which is even greater than the risk posed by smoking.

If your new to exercising, focus on Zone 2 Training for 6 months before starting VO2 Max Training.

VO2 Max is perhaps the most powerful marker for longevity. - Peter Attia, MD

Strength Training

Strength training increases muscle mass, which uses excess glucose. As we age, we lose muscle, so the more muscle mass we can build while we’re younger, the more we’ll have stored for our later years.

To maximize the benefits of strength training, perform exercises 3 days per week with a focus on grip strength. Examples of exercises that target concentric, eccentric, and isometric strength include farmer’s carry, deadlifts, and more. Eccentric strength is especially important to prevent injuries, such as the ability to stop yourself from falling.

It’s also important to note that strength training is not effective if we don’t consume enough protein in our diet. Aim for about 1g of protein per pound of total body weight per day (2.2g/kg/day).

Stability Training

Stability is essential for training, as it helps to prevent injury and is necessary for strength and performance. When we lack stability, we might be strong, but we are wasting energy in the wrong places, such as joints and other muscles, which prevents us from reaching our full potential. ¹

To ensure stability, dedicate 10-15 minutes of your day to stability training and one hour twice a week. Focus on Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), which is based on natural movements.. ²

Nutrition

When it comes to nutrition, there are some key principles to follow. One of them is getting enough protein. Protein is the most important macronutrient and we often don’t consume enough of it. As we age, it becomes even more important to aim for 1g/lb/day (2.2g/kg/day) of protein, based on our current body weight. This should be spread out throughout the day, as excess protein can be converted into glucose.

In addition to protein, strive to eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are preferable to processed food. However, the best approach is to monitor your own nutrition and adjust according to what works for you.

Getting nutrition wrong has far more negative consequences than getting it right. ³

Sleep

We need to sleep between 7 1/2 and 8 1/2 hours each night. Sleep deprivation can lead to insulin resistance. High stress can lead to poor sleep, which can further increase stress levels.

Studies show that sleeping less than 6 hours is associated with a 20% higher risk of heart attack. People who sleep less during middle age years are more likely to develop dementia later in life.

A couple of hours before bedtime, turn off unnecessary lights, especially LED, and replace blue lights with warmer colored lights. Get at least half an hour of sunlight during the day, which will also help with sleep. Keep your room and bed cool while sleeping.

Breathing

Breathing is essential for balance, motion, and power. It also reflects our emotional state. Long, slow breaths can suggest relaxation, while short, quick breaths can suggest anxiety.

An ideal inhalation engages the entire rib cage and abdomen simultaneously.

Mental Health

Investigate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a therapeutic approach designed to help people process trauma. It can also be beneficial for those with less severe emotional health concerns. ⁴

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 13:23:14 -0400

Currently reading: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 📚

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 18:34:25 -0400

Currently reading: The Song of Significance by Seth Godin 📚

Sun, 28 May 2023 16:12:05 -0400

Currently reading: The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan 📚

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 22:41:24 -0400

Want to read: Shareware Heroes by Richard Moss 📚

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 12:08:30 -0400

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman 📚

Oliver recommends having 3 main tasks you can currently work on. When one task is complete, you can determine which task from your backlog to insert into the empty slot. You can also drop a task from the three if necessary.

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:01:56 -0400

Discarded: The Future Is Analog by David Sax 📚I just couldn’t get into this book. It’s all about the pandemic with an “I told you so” attitude.

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:32:04 -0400

Currently reading: THINK STRAIGHT by Darius Foroux 📚

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 10:33:05 -0400

Currently reading: The Future Is Analog by David Sax 📚

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:16:16 -0400

Currently reading: Move The Body, Heal The Mind by Jennifer Heisz 📚

How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 14:12:15 -0400

I finished reading: How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey 📚

This book discusses different ideas for managing stress, cultivating a mindset for productivity, and several techniques to help improve overall well-being.

My book notes can be found here.

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:45:14 -0400

Currently reading: Secret Project #1 by Brandon Sanderson 📚

A book review of Antinet Zettelkasten by Scott P. Scheper

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 11:49:52 -0400

Finished reading: Antinet Zettelkasten by Scott P. Scheper, 📚 a book about how to create an analog Zettelkasten (slip box) that acts as a “communication partner” for thinking and creating.

After seeing a couple of videos from Scott and keeping up with his website, I expected this book to be a deep and dull venture into the analog Zettelkasten, including tons of history and facts. Not that his other content is this way, but the build-up to the book made me think this. However, I thought it flowed nicely and was pretty easy to read. Perhaps this is because I’m already familiar with the material, so I didn’t get stuck at any point. Also, the book appears much longer than it is. Each chapter has several pages of footnotes, and I recommend exploring them, but they take up a lot of space.

Scott explores the analog Zettelkasten, made famous by Niklas Luhmann, a German sociologist, philosopher of social scient, and a prominent thinker in systems theory. Luhmann used a note card system that enabled him to publish dozens of books and hundreds of scholarly articles over his lifetime. The Antinet is Scott’s version of this system, nearly identical to the original.

The four principles of the Antinet are Analog, Numeric-Alpha, Tree, and Index. The Net in Antinet stands for network. I won’t try to go into the details in this post; there are plenty of other articles that do this well (or get the book).

While Scott has an article on his website explaining how to get started with an Antinet, the book goes into much more detail. You’ll learn how to create the cards, bib notes, index, and other system components. It does take a while to get to the step-by-step instructions, but it’s probably important to understand the concepts first.

Scott spends a reasonable amount of time discussing how this analog system can become your “communication partner.” This idea is pulled from Luhmann’s essay “Communicating with Slip Boxes.” If you want to go deeper into Luhmann’s work, you can visit the Niklas Luhmann Archive.

Scott mentions (several times) How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens and how, although Sönke introduced the Zettelkasten system to modern day, he also gets much of it wrong, especially by trying to make it work in digital tools.

Who should create an Antinet? This system is not for those who need to capture technical notes, meeting notes, etc. This is a thinking tool, and you would use it to gather your thoughts during research. The system is best suited for specific projects where you need to do a lot of research, gather your thoughts, and then create an output (academic paper, article, book, etc.).

You want to use an analog Zettelkasten because it forces you to slow down and think. Not only do you have to take the time to write notes by hand on index cards, but you also have to think about where to put the card. This is intentional, forcing you to think and connect ideas by flipping through your cards. As you do this, you engrain these thoughts into memory.

Am I going to create my Antinet? Maybe someday, but I don’t need it now. As I mentioned earlier, it is best to have a big project or do a lot of research. I’ll be honest. When I first read How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens, I tried to create a digital Zettelkasten. I spent about a year of my life trying different tools and approaches. I later realized I was pursuing the system for the wrong reasons. I was trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Not only that, I was trying to replicate it in Digital tools, which misses the point.

Overall, this was a good book. I would recommend you check out Scott’s website and videos first. If these are interesting, then the book is for you. I enjoyed it more than I expected, but I admit, I geek out on this stuff.

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 09:49:18 -0400

Currently reading: Antinet Zettelkasten by Scott P. Scheper 📚

If you are interested in analog note-taking, this is the book to read—the book details the analog Zettelkasten system and how and why it works.

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 23:54:25 -0400

Currently reading: The Staff Engineer’s Path by Tanya Reilly 📚

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 23:53:01 -0400

Finished reading: The Laws of Creativity by Joey Cofone 📚

Project Hail Mary

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0400

Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary is by the same author as The Martian. While The Martian’s story is grounded in current science, Project Hail Mary adds more sci-fi without violating scientific principles.

The other difference between The Martian and Project Hail Mary is the scope. In The Martian, Mark Watney is stranded on Mars and needs to get home. In Project Hail Mary, a phenomenon is destroying the Sun, and Ryland Grace must travel to a distant star to save Earth.

The protagonist, Ryland Grace, is a science teacher who ends up as the sole survivor of the Hail Mary traveling to save Earth. After waking from a coma with no memory of how he got there or who he is, Ryland’s memory returns gradually.

As Ryland solves problems aboard the Hail Mary, his memories return. We see the Project Hail Mary mission planning on Earth and how someone “chose” Ryland for it, along with the sacrifices made for the mission.

The writing is engaging and fun. You can grasp the point without understanding the math, and it makes sense. This is a unique aspect of Andy Weir’s style. He loves this stuff. He researched and discussed “what if” scenarios with real scientists and astronauts. After The Martian’s success, he has a wealth of resources.

This story isn’t typical sci-fi. It could happen. Ryland’s science-based problems felt realistic instead of forced plot twists. I imagined what happened in a standard action story. Instead, we get a great tale about somebody solving extraordinary issues.

An excellent book, and I can’t wait for the movie!

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:39:43 -0400

Currently reading: The Lost Metal: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson 📚

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:36:25 -0400

Finished reading: King: Fairy Tale by Stephen King 📚. A character-driven and realistic adventure into another world where many of our fairy tales began.

I’d love to see this book made into a movie!

📚 Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:03:18 -0400

I finished reading: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 📚

Stolen Focus does not provide a personal step-by-step guide to remove distractions from our lives. Instead, it is about how this “Attention Crisis” impacts society.

Here are some of my notes about the author’s points in this book.

What impact is this Attention Crisis having on our lives?

We’re finding it harder to find “Flow,” during which we become engrossed in an activity without disruptions.
With all the tiny bits of information continuously flowing into our lives, it becomes less likely that we’ll read books.
It’s harder to think because we don’t allow our minds to wonder as much as we should. Mind wandering is a critical stage in which our brain has insights, makes connections, and plans for the future.
Technology is becoming better at keeping us distracted. The more we look at their service, the more money the company makes, so they manipulate us to keep us engaged.

What is contributing to this Attention Crisis?

We’re bombarded with chemicals that harm our health and, ultimately, our attention.
Failing to explore ADHD. More people than ever are diagnosed with ADHD, yet we’ve prescribed medications rather than solving the causes.
Our children are not allowed to explore and play like in the past. They’re no longer playing in the streets and wandering the neighborhood. They’re told precisely what to do in school and what the outcome should be rather than allowing creative learning.
We’re not getting enough sleep due to artificial light and consumer capitalism. We’re spending too much time flipping through Tick-Tock videos rather than going to bed at a decent time and allowing our brains to recover and make connections during sleep.

How do we recover?

Fewer work hours to allow us more time to rest and recover.
Allow our children more time to play and explore, especially at school.
Change our technology to be less disruptive to our lives. Yet, the companies building it do not have an incentive to do so unless regulations are established, which is an entirely different issue.
Take it upon ourselves to control what we consume, get more sleep and exercise, and spend quality time reading and just being bored. It’s good for us!

Get Stolen Focus on Amazon.

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 22:25:15 -0400

Currently reading: The Laws of Creativity by Joey Cofone 📚

The benefits of mind wandering

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 09:15:47 -0400

Reading Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 📚, the author discusses the “Disruption of Mind Wandering” in Chapter 5 and how we tend to consider mind wandering negative. Yet, the author explains, it’s part of how we learn and create.

“Creativity is not where you create some new thing that’s emerged from your brain.” “It’s a new association between two things already there.” Mind-wandering allows “more extended trains of thought to unfold, which allows for more associations to be made.” - Stolen Focus p96

While this is nothing new, it caught my attention because I daydream. Ever since I was a kid, I would get in trouble for not paying attention. I suppose my excuse now is, “I’m creating something!”.

Mind wandering is a necessary part of how our brains work. For example, as we read, we focus on the words. Our mind tries to make connections to the ideas we’re reading about. We may think of past experiences, related reading, or even contradictions. This is precisely what we should be doing. This part of reading helps us learn and make sense of things.

Of course, we can easily take our minds wandering too far when we’re trying to read but keep thinking about checking Twitter or what’s for dinner. In these cases, we’re getting into distraction territory.

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:27:18 -0400

Currently reading: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 📚

It’s when you set aside your distractions, he said, that you begin to see what you were distracting yourself from. - Stolen Focus p27 💬

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:11:48 -0400

Currently reading: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 📚

As a kid, I’ve always struggled with focus and attention, even without digital distractions. I’m a daydreamer. Today’s digital tools have made our lives simpler, yet at a cost. Even as I read the introduction to this book, I noticed I picked up my phone at least twice.

Staying focused becomes more manageable when working on something I enjoy—writing code, building something, solving a problem. It’s easy to get into focus during those times. We can’t always be in deep focus. What do we do when we’re not?

I’m hoping this book is not only about scare tactics. I’m not expecting some miracle cure, but perhaps a guide through my own thoughts to help figure out what works for me.

I hope I can stay focused enough to read through the nearly 300 pages in this book. :)

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:00:07 -0400

Just received my physical copy of Daily Creative: A Practical Guide for Staying Prolific, Brilliant, and Healthy by Todd Henry 📚

This book was highly recommended. I’ll try to take my time and read it as intended, one day at a time.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 22:22:29 -0400

Finished reading: Project Hail Mary: A Novel by Andy Weir 📚.

“Working the problem” - NASA

Here is what I thought.

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 23:49:30 -0400

Currently reading: Clean Architecture: A Craftsman’s Guide to Software Structure and Design (Robert C. Martin Series) by Martin Robert C. 📚