Bookworm

In a world of distraction, focus is a superpower. In today’s book, Joe and Mike look at how to channel their attention in a quest to become indistractable. Links Support the show Bookworm #63: Atomic Habits Bookworm #60: The One Thing Bookworm #64: Digital Minimalism Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday Focused #90: Habits > Goals Bookworm #82: Margin Bookworm #2: The Willpower Instinct GoodNot...

How do we win a game that has no end? In today’s book, author Simon Sinek explains how an infinite mindset helps overcome the letdown that typically comes shortly after achieving a goal by commiting to a just cause that inspires us to show up day after day, week after week, and year after year. Links Support the show Noodler’s Black Ink Sailor 1911 Fresca Sailor Manyo Ink – Yomogi The Pen Addict P...

Do you ever feel overhwelmed? Today’s book by Dr. Richard Swenson has the prescription for anyone who yearns for relief from the pressures of overload. Join Joe & Mike as they investigate the topic of margin, reevaluate their priorities, and attempt to simplify their lives. Links Support the show TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen TWSBI 6pack Ink Set The Pen Addict #387: Costs Me Money Every Time...

Bad things happen, but they don’t have to keep you realizing your dreams. Today’s author shares 9 secrets from his own experience of overcoming negative circumstances by changing his perspective. Join Joe and Mike as they examine the mindsets that make people like Neil so resilient, even in the face of personal tragedy and failure. Links Support the show Working With OmniFocus (coupon code BOOKWOR...

What does radical truth and radical transparency have to do with personal and professional success? Everything, argues today’s author. Join Joe & Mike as they dive deep on the systems and principles of life and business in their quest to understand the idea meritocracy. Links Support the show The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek Bookworm #10: Start With Why Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek The Week...

Reality is broken. In today’s book, author Jane McGonigal attempts a fix by applying a gameful approach to personal growth. Join Mike & Joe as they examine the idea that playing games can make us better. Links Support the show The Pen Addict (Podcast) Sheaffer 300 (Mike’s fancy pen) Leuchtturm Notebooks Baron Fig James Clear Habit Journal from Baron Fig Rhodia Notebooks Focused #85: The Depth...

Lifelong learning is a noble goal – but is ultralearning really the best approach? Today’s book aims to help you achieve your goals faster, future-proof your career, and maximize your competitive advantage. Join Joe & Mike as they unpack the principles the author promises can help you learn anything deeply and quickly, without teachers or budget-busting tuition costs. Links Support the show Bo...

Pixar has inspired the creative world for over 20 years with iconic films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and WALL-E, just to name a few. Today’s book gives us an inside look at the meetings, postmortems, and Braintrust sessions that have produced some of the most successful animated films in history. Join Joe & Mike as they discover how to overcome the unseen forces that stand in the way of...

We’ve all heard stories of famous people who knew what they were born to do from a young age. But should we really be trying to follow in their narrow-focused footsteps? Today’s author challenges the traditional idea that 10,000 hours of deliberate practice is what it takes to become an expert, explains why specializing early on in life may actually hurt your long-term success, and make the case t...

Lots of books teach systems to help you achieve more, but the problem is that they are usually very strict and rigid. Today’s book promises to deliver a simple system that is flexible and adaptable so you can change course as needed without sacrificing meaningful results. Links – Support the show – Relay FM Family Feud – Faith-Based Productivity – Lifeonaire (Audible) – Bookworm #73: The 4-Hour Wo...

In today’s book, Joe and Mike embark on a journey from self-centered individualism to others-centered relationalism in pursuit of discovering just what exactly a life worth living looks like. Join these fellow travelers on their quest for a moral life as they examine the 4 commitments that today’s author uses to define a life of meaning and purpose. Links – Support the show – The Weekly Impulse (J...

Today’s book promises to help you escape the 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich. But is it really that simple? Join Joe & Mike as they examine what a millionarie lifestyle looks like (with or without the millions) and unpack the concept of lifestyle design in creating a life worth living. Links – Support the show – All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin – Essential Manners for Men by Emi...

True productivity is not about crushing your to-do list or optimizing every hour – it’s about intentionalliy focusing on what really matters. Join Joe & Mike as they rethink their own defaults, drain the infinity pools, and make time for the things that are truly important. Links – Support the show – Instagram: @bookworm.fm – Twitter: @bookwormfm – YouTube: Bookworm – Send us your library phot...

For many writers, few things are as intimidating as staring at a blank page – but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you’re looking for some solid writing advice, today’s book is for you. Join Joe & Mike as they confront perfectionism, shine the light on the monsters within, learn to quiet the radio station in their heads, and seek to discover their own unique writing voice. Links – Support th...

A system to help you achieve more *and* do less? It may sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what today’s book promises to deliver. Join Joe & Mike as they take a closer look at Michael Hyatt’s approach to the topic of focus. Links – Support the show – Success Profiler research manual – Bookworm calendar – Macstock (use code FOCUSED to save $70) – Moodnotes – Free to Focus by Michael...

It can be difficult to measure, but the topic of emotional intelligence is a worthwhile study for anyone with a desire to reach their full potential. In today’s episode, Joe & Mike take a deep look at a different way to be smart. Links – Support the show – Macstock (use code FOCUSED to save $70) – Bookworm 68: How to Take Smart Notes – Vim – Drafts – Notion – Ulysses – zettelkasten.de – nvUltr...

It’s been said that for a writer, nothing is as intimidating as a blank page. But the author of today’s book says that doesn’t have to be the case. Join Joe & Mike as they look at how to take better notes and automate the writing process. Links – Support the show – Bookworm Shirts – Macstock (use code FOCUSED to save $70) – Bookworm 67: Quiet – How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens – Zettelk...

The rise of the Extroverted Ideal has led to a world that can’t stop talking. But where does that leave you if you find groups exhausting or prefer to work alone? Join Joe & Mike as they discover the soft power introverts possess and why understanding it is so important. Links – Bookworm #33: The Monk & The Merchant – Bookworm #30: The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team – Bookworm #47: 3 Questions f...

We can’t control everything that happens to us, but how might our lives look different if we assumed ownership for them anyway? That’s the topic Joe & Mike examine in today’s book. Tune in to find out why “responsibility” is not a dirty word. Links – Bookworm Premium Membership – Bookworm Shirts – Macstock (use code FOCUSED to save an extra $10) – Learn Ulysses (The Sweet Setup course) – Groun...

Our environment shapes our thoughts and actions in myriad ways, without our permission or even our knowledge. In today’s episode, Joe & Mike discover the subtle but substantial ways in which outside forces influence our everyday behavior. Links – Bookworm Premium Membership – Bookworm Shirts – Drafts – Focused #70: Digital Decluttering, with Shahid Kamal Ahmad – Bookworm #57: Predictably Irrat...

Few things have impacted our everyday lives as much as the smartphone. In today’s episode, Joe & Mike discuss the fallout from our digital addictions and contemplate Cal Newport’s radical approach as a potential cure in the war for our attention. Links – Leuchtturm1917 (Joe’s fancy notebook) – Bookworm 63: Atomic Habits by James Clear – Productive (Mike’s habit tracker) – The Best Habit Tracke...

Can small habits really transform your life and deliver amazing results? Author James Clear believes they can. In today’s episode, Joe and Mike revisit a familiar topic to tackle one of Bookworm’s most requested books and see if it lives up to the hype. Links – Bookworm sweatshirt – 10% Happier w/ Gary Vaynerchuk – Bookworm #62: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin – Procourse – Atomic Habits by...

Have you ever struggled to achieve a goal, even though you were fully committed to and believed in it? Today’s book gives you a simple framework to help you understand why. Join Joe & Mike as they try to understand themselves a little bit better. Links – Oak meditation app – Bookworm 56: Hyperfocus by (and with) Chris Bailey – Headspace – Bookworm Club conversation on Blink – Bookworm 61: Blin...

Your brain is an incredibly powerful computer, rapidly processing information to help you make better decisions – except when it doesn’t. Should you really trust your first impressions? Join Joe & Mike as they dive into the world of rapid cognition and thinking without thinking. Links – Bookworm shirts – Prodcon – GoodNotes – The Focus Course – Faith-Based Productivity – Blink by Malcolm Gladw...

Is it true that less is more? When it comes to goal achievement, Gary Keller & Jay Papasan say, “Aboslutely!” In today’s episode, Joe & Mike dive into the surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results to see if the answer really is that profound or if Mike is just remembering one of his favorite books through sentimental, rose-colored glasses. Links –  Das Keyboard Model S Profess...