The Daily Stoic Why Andrew Ross Sorkin Spent 8 Years Chasing One Story
Dec 3, 2025
Andrew Ross Sorkin, a prominent financial journalist and author, delves into his eight-year journey writing '1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History.' He shares the challenges of balancing intense research with family life and a demanding career. Andrew discusses his obsessive writing process, the fear that drove him, and the intriguing intersection of human behavior and historical events. He reflects on the complexities of historical narratives and how understanding influential but flawed characters enriches storytelling.
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Protect Two-Hour Writing Blocks
- Block at least two hours for focused writing because the first 30–40 minutes are a ramp-up period.
- Use consistent, protected blocks (weekends, nights, flights) to make steady progress on big projects.
Use Travel And Vacation As Writing Time
- Turn off airplane Wi-Fi and treat travel as writing time to avoid distractions.
- Use vacations and odd pockets of time to make progress rather than waiting for perfect conditions.
Vacation Kindle Sparked An Eight-Year Book
- Sorkin fell into the topic after reading books on a vacation and realized a book he wanted didn't yet exist.
- That discovery sparked an eight-year project that began as a hobby and became obsessive.
