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The most important books I've read in the last 10 yrs (with respect to professional growth) are: Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Perform

by b_emery 10y ago

The most important books I've read in the last 10 yrs (with respect to professional growth) are: Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, by G. Colvin The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by C. Duhigg These books have reshaped how I work and how I think about work. With the knowledge contained in these books it's not hard to outline the daily routines needed to be great at just about anything.

myg204 10y ago
I am interested and curious. Could you give an example of something you were dissatisfied with, and at which you became great because of those books? Thanks.
- b_emery 10y ago
  Well, I'm still a work in progress! I'm working on a PhD and passed my oral exams because of these books. I have a weekly schedule that balances reading/doing math, writing and coding and producing toward the dissertation. These books have helped me 'discover' the process for becoming an expert. Cribbed from my notes: One very important idea is the idea of intrinsic motivation: the best motivation is perhaps a really compelling and or interesting problem. Also, time is needed to learn and practice, and this practice comes at the cost of time spent elsewhere (eg producing). So there is a natural division of time into learning (incl. practicing) and producing. A lot of the Talent book is the sort of nuts and bolts of deliberate practice. From the Habit book: Have a plan for what to do when the pain or other emotional event threatens to derail your action. Such as when this happens, I will do __. Having a plan helps people to get through the event, encouraging will power, and continue on until the will power action becomes a habit (by being incorporated into long term memory I suppose). (Incidentally, this is why having a daily plan help one to be more productive. When you get tired and easily derailed, and are low in will power, you can fall back onto your plan). 1) Cue, 2) Routine, 3) Reward. That is the habit loop. A book called Moonwalking with Einstein, as well as a number of Cal Newport's books have also been helpful with these goals.
  - codyZ 10y ago
    Moonwalking with Einstein -Definitely. Also Brain Rules is a good one as well. I would be cautious with Cal Newport's books and take it with a box of salt, however. To be fair, I only read one of his books (So Good They Can't Ignore You). His intentions with framing the book and its details are great. But I found it hard to trust that he actually believes in some of the things he writes - as opposed to just writing books that can sell well

by b_emery 10y ago

myg204 10y ago

I am interested and curious. Could you give an example of something you were dissatisfied with, and at which you became great because of those books? Thanks.

b_emery 10y ago
Well, I'm still a work in progress! I'm working on a PhD and passed my oral exams because of these books. I have a weekly schedule that balances reading/doing math, writing and coding and producing toward the dissertation. These books have helped me 'discover' the process for becoming an expert. Cribbed from my notes: One very important idea is the idea of intrinsic motivation: the best motivation is perhaps a really compelling and or interesting problem. Also, time is needed to learn and practice, and this practice comes at the cost of time spent elsewhere (eg producing). So there is a natural division of time into learning (incl. practicing) and producing. A lot of the Talent book is the sort of nuts and bolts of deliberate practice. From the Habit book: Have a plan for what to do when the pain or other emotional event threatens to derail your action. Such as when this happens, I will do __. Having a plan helps people to get through the event, encouraging will power, and continue on until the will power action becomes a habit (by being incorporated into long term memory I suppose). (Incidentally, this is why having a daily plan help one to be more productive. When you get tired and easily derailed, and are low in will power, you can fall back onto your plan). 1) Cue, 2) Routine, 3) Reward. That is the habit loop. A book called Moonwalking with Einstein, as well as a number of Cal Newport's books have also been helpful with these goals.
- codyZ 10y ago
  Moonwalking with Einstein -Definitely. Also Brain Rules is a good one as well. I would be cautious with Cal Newport's books and take it with a box of salt, however. To be fair, I only read one of his books (So Good They Can't Ignore You). His intentions with framing the book and its details are great. But I found it hard to trust that he actually believes in some of the things he writes - as opposed to just writing books that can sell well