#756: Anne Lamott and Josh Waitzkin

464 snips

Jul 19, 2024

Guest

Josh Waitzkin

Guest

Anne Lamott

In a vibrant conversation, Anne Lamott, a bestselling author known for her profound insights on life and spirituality, and Josh Waitzkin, a chess champion and martial artist, explore the intricacies of creativity and personal growth. Lamott delves into overcoming one's inner critic and the importance of radical self-care, while Waitzkin shares transformative experiences in high-pressure environments. They emphasize embracing imperfection, cultivating mindfulness, and the significance of individuality in both learning and parenting, inspiring listeners to reflect on their own journeys.

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ADVICE

Shitty First Drafts

Write badly; all first drafts are unreadable.
Focus on getting words down, not perfection.

INSIGHT

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, hindering progress.
Accept imperfection; even esteemed authors start with flawed drafts.

ADVICE

Bird by Bird

Write bird by bird, focusing on small, manageable chunks.
Like driving at night, you only need to see a little way ahead.

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Dreaming Yourself Awake

Lucid Dreaming and Tibetan Dream Yoga for Insight and Transformation

Brian Hodel

B. Alan Wallace

In 'Dreaming Yourself Awake', B. Alan Wallace explores the practice of lucid dreaming as a gateway to self-discovery and spiritual awakening. The book provides techniques for inducing lucid dreams and delves into the methods of Tibetan Buddhist dream yoga for profound insights. It offers a path to heighten creativity, solve problems, and increase self-knowledge, ultimately leading to enlightenment.

Shapes of Truth

Discover God Inside You

Neal Allen

In 'Shapes of Truth: Discover God Inside You', Neal Allen presents a method for spiritual exploration rooted in Platonic philosophy and Sufi metaphysics. The book introduces thirty-five divine body-forms that represent aspects of God, offering a practical way to connect with one's inner self and find relief from suffering. Allen provides step-by-step instructions for encountering these body-forms, which can help individuals explore their perfect nature.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert Pirsig

This classic novel by Robert M. Pirsig is a personal and philosophical odyssey that delves into the author's search for meaning. The narrative follows a father and his son on a summer motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California, intertwining a travelogue with deep philosophical discussions. The book explores the concept of 'quality' and how it informs a well-lived life, reconciling science, religion, and humanism. It also touches on the author's own struggles with his past and his philosophical quest, making it a touching and transcendent exploration of human experience and endeavor.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Bird by Bird

Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Anne Lamott

Susan Bennett

Bird by Bird is a comprehensive guide to writing that covers various aspects of the craft, from the initial stages of starting a project to the technical details of plot, character, and dialogue. Lamott emphasizes the importance of persistence, faith, and hard work in writing. She advocates for writing imperfect first drafts and warns against the pitfalls of perfectionism and self-criticism. The book also delves into the emotional and spiritual aspects of writing, encouraging writers to confront their deepest fears and desires. Lamott's approach is down-to-earth, humorous, and generously filled with personal experiences and practical advice.

Mindset

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck

In this book, Carol S. Dweck introduces the concept of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Dweck shows how these mindsets influence success in school, work, sports, and personal relationships. She also discusses how to adopt a deeper, truer growth mindset, and how this can transform individual and organizational cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges as key components of the growth mindset[1][2][5].

The art of learning

An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

Josh Waitzkin

The Art of Learning takes readers through Josh Waitzkin’s unique journey to excellence in both chess and Tai Chi Chuan. The book explains how a well-thought-out, principled approach to learning separates success from failure. Waitzkin discusses how achievement is a function of a lifestyle that fuels a creative, resilient growth process. He shares his methods for systematically triggering intuitive breakthroughs, honing techniques, and mastering performance psychology. The book also emphasizes the importance of embracing defeat, making mistakes work for you, and turning weaknesses into strengths. It is divided into sections that cover his rise in chess, his transition to Tai Chi, and the similarities in preparation and execution between the two disciplines.