Bookworm

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...

No matter how careful we are or how healthy our habits, one day we will all die. In this episode, Joe & Mike tackle their most uncomfortable topic yet as they consider how to bring meaning and purpose to end of life care. Links – Free Agents #63: Lessons Learned – Personal Retreat Course  (coupon code BOOKWORM to save 50% before 1/1/2019) – Free Agents #58: A Better Path, with Joe Buhlig – Mac...

Is Scrum really the magical project finishing formula that author Jeff Sutherland says it is? Joe & Mike share their own Scrum stories and point out the pitfalls in this episode covering Bookworm’s most requested book. Links –  10% Happier – JIRA – Freedom – Whims at Work – OmniFocus – Faith-Based Productivity – Personal Retreat course – coupon code BOOKWORM to save 50% – Bookworm 57: Predicta...

When it comes to making decisions, we like to think we’re capable of making smart, rational choices. But are we? Tune in to find out why Dan Ariely believe our irrational behavior is completely predictable – and what you can do about it. Links – Free Agents w/ Joe Buhlig – Day One – MoodNotes – Mike’s MoodNotes Shortcut – The Economist – Bookworm 56: Hyperfocus by (and with) Chris Bailey – Your Mo...

Focus is a hot topic, but there’s more to it then just turning off Twitter and blocking out distractions. Today’s book shows us how to manage our focus, helps us understand how it works, and shows us how to recharge it when it gets low. Author Chris Bailey joins us at the end to talk about writing Hyperfocus, what he learned from the process, and which mechanical keyboard is the best. Chris Bailey...

Happy people are productive people, but can you really choose to be happy? Things may not always happen for the best, but in today’s episode Mike & Joe figure out how and why some people are able to make the best of the things that happen. OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock Mac Power Users MailMate Todoist Dark Mode trailer Things Dark Mode announcement Asian Efficiency Core Values Evernote Notion Day One...

Can the world of professional chefs teach us anything about productivity? Joe and Mike seem to agree with Dan Charnas and say, yes. Mis-en-place! MPU Talk OmniFocus Spark Mailmate Work Clean by Dan Chamas The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working by Tony Schwartz Bookworm on Deep Work 10% Happier by Dan Harris Mikes on Mics David Sparks Learn OmniFocus Sharpen the Saw Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy The H...

Should you set limits on what you’ll do with and for other people? And if so, what should those lines be? And do those limits have a place in the church? Discuss on the Bookworm Club The Productivity Show Bookworm on Peak Bookworm on The Productivity Project Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey Boundaries Bookworm on Getting Things Done Bookworm on The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family Macstock Work...