In 'Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine,' Derren Brown delves into the concept of happiness from various angles, drawing on influences from Stoicism, philosophy, literature, and modern psychology. The book is divided into three sections: 'Beginnings,' which discusses the stories we tell ourselves and the problems with self-help; 'Solutions,' which explores living a considered life, dealing with emotions, and regaining control over our narratives; and 'Happy Endings,' which addresses the fear of death and how to live in the present. Brown argues that true happiness is not found in material goods or external events but in accepting the indifference of the universe and finding contentment in the present moment[2][4][5].
In 'The Second Mountain', David Brooks explores the concept of two mountains in life: the first mountain, which represents individual success and ego-driven achievements, and the second mountain, which symbolizes a life of deeper meaning, commitment, and contribution to a greater good. Brooks argues that our society's extreme individualism has torn the social fabric, and the path to repair is through making deeper commitments to a spouse and family, a vocation, a philosophy or faith, and a community. The book is both a personal reflection on Brooks' own life journey and a broader social commentary, offering practical advice and stories of people who have lived joyous, committed lives[2][4][5].
This book introduces the Zettelkasten method, a note-taking system developed by Niklas Luhmann. It emphasizes the importance of creating a reliable and simple external structure to compensate for the limitations of our brains. Ahrens explains how to organize notes in a way that fosters deep thinking, learning, and writing. The method involves taking atomic notes, linking ideas, and using a slip-box to store and connect these notes. This approach helps in developing a lifelong pool of rich and interconnected ideas, enhancing productivity, and improving critical thinking and writing skills[2][3][5].
Imagine leaving your corporate job behind because you went viral overnight. After faking his way to the top of London Fashion week Max Fosh shot to online fame, becoming known for his comedy videos on YouTube and social stunts, like running for London Mayor in last years election. Max is also now selling out venues with his brand new stand up show, Zocial Butterfly. In the conversation we talk about Max’s journey through university to the point of 1 Million YouTube subscribers, his creative process for putting together crazy video ideas and the highs and lows of the online world. Enjoy!
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(00:00) Intro
(02:50) How would you describe yourself?
(04:09) Your hatred for the corporate world
(10:41) What is student radio?
(17:35) How did you build confidence to make Street Smart?
(19:20) Starting to create content
(27:10) What was it like going viral for the first time?
(32:40) Evolving as a creator
(37:35) Running for London Mayor
(41:38) What was your creative process for making videos?
(51:10) Building a team
(53:30) How do you make money these days?
(54:22) Do you worry about the future of your career?
(01:00:50) Therapy and hedonic adaptation
(01:12:31) Doing stand up
(01:22:20) How does stand up compare to video?
(01:24:57) What’s it like working with a director to produce a show?
(01:25:20) What are the economics of being a standup comedian?
(01:37:16) What’s your relationship with burnout?
(01:40:05) Advice for aspiring creators
🔗 CONNECT WITH MAX
🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 Twitter
📸 Instagram
💻 Website
🦋 Zocial Butterfly Live Show
🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
📸 Instagram
🐦 Twitter
👥 Linkedin
Find the show notes and the transcript on the website: https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/
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