PinnedI Published My 2nd Book Today — It’s Called “2-Minute Pep Talks”Pep talks are like vitamins: You can take them every day preemptively, or you can wait until your body signals a lack of them — but sooner or later, you will need your vitamins. Vitamins aren’t steroids. Their purpose is not to boost you beyond what you are capable of…Books3 min readBooks3 min read
PinnedMy 10 Best StoriesPlus, my 10 most popular and 5 most underrated ones — My 10 Best Stories These are my best stories as in “I think this is my best work.” In no particular order: All These Flaws You See In Yourself Aren’t Real The Future of Learning If You Want To Be Happy, Make The World Small The Strong-Link Theory Behind Successful Careers 3 Simple Words…About Me2 min readAbout Me2 min read
May 16Member-onlyOmotenashi: How the Japanese Remind Us We Deserve to Be HappyIt’s a lot more than just “being nice” — On our last night in Tokyo, we missed the korot stop. It was nearly 8 PM, and we knew this was our last chance. “Dude! We have to turn around!” My friend and I got off at the next stop along the red Marunouchi metro line that connects Shinjuku and…Life7 min readLife7 min read
Apr 17Member-onlyFree Time-Traveling TutorialI just did it yesterday — If you ever wish to travel back to simpler times, chances are, you can do it within three miles of your house — and free of charge. I just did it yesterday. The restaurant was Italian, but as soon as I stepped in, I felt transported back to the tex-mex…Psychology3 min readPsychology3 min read
Apr 12Member-onlyWhen AI Does Our Writing, Who Will Do Our Thinking?The hype exposes how bad we are at this foundational skill — and it’ll only get worse — Three stories, one lesson. Yesterday, a friend forwarded me a sample ad for a car seat, written by ChatGPT: “As a young parent, keeping your child safe and secure is your top priority. That’s why you need a car seat designed by professionals who understand the importance of safety and…AI5 min readAI5 min read
Apr 11Member-onlyIf You’re Waiting for Permission to Focus, You’ll Never Be Happy at WorkFight for it, or forever stay in the limbo of meaningless tasks — 150 years ago, focus was easy because it wasn’t optional. Everyone was a farmer, and if you weren’t busy tending to your crop and livestock as the seasons demanded, you spent your downtime with family and the leisure activities of the time. Work itself was hard, physical, and sometimes grueling…Work6 min readWork6 min read
Apr 9Member-onlyMake Room for ArtIt’s a kind of human connection that feels optional but isn’t — A good friend of mine lives a normal life. He has a stable job, lots of spare time, and enjoys the same things most people do, from watching a good movie to playing sports for fun to having a drink or two with his friends. In other words, my friend…Art4 min readArt4 min read
Apr 6Member-onlyYou’re a Coin With Two SidesWhich one will you fall on today? — Beth is nine when the car crashes. The wreckage lies on a bridge — at the end of it lies the orphanage. The janitor, Mr. Shaibel, will teach her how to play chess. A few rounds in, she’ll start teaching him, and one “simultaneous” against 12 high schoolers later, Beth…Emotions2 min readEmotions2 min read
Feb 2Member-onlySomething to Hold On ToWhen the two teenagers return hand in hand, the world is restored to balance. Months of the scientist’s work couldn’t do it — but love… “They did this!” she exclaims. “Is that really all it took? Something so small and ordinary?” For once, she’s the one who needs explaining, and…Love2 min readLove2 min read
Published inEntrepreneur's Handbook·Dec 22, 2022Member-only7 Lessons From the 7th Year of Running a Book Summary Business#3: Sometimes, it’s better not to know — My business has lasted as long as the average American marriage — seven years. The level of commitment surely feels on par. When I launched Four Minute Books, I had no idea what it would grow into. …Entrepreneurship7 min readEntrepreneurship7 min read
