What I Read in 2024, Part 3: Personal Development and Creativity
Last year, I ended up reading 61 books and had the best reading year of my entire life. In that spirit, I’ll be sharing every single book I read in 2024 over the next few days. Today’s pairing is personal development and creativity.
In 2024, I made a goal to read or listen to at least 20 pages per day of a book. As a result, I ended up reading 61 books, had the best reading year of my entire life, and enjoyed every single page turn along the way. My favorite part of reading, though, is sharing those books with others and helping someone find their next favorite read.
In that spirit, I’ll be sharing every single book I read in 2024 over the next few days. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here. To make things more fun and because I believe in reading widely, I’ve created unique genre pairings for each part. Think of it like a wine and food pairing, but for the mind. Today’s pairing is personal development and creativity.
Personal Development
Be Useful
Author: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Why Read It: Life lessons from one of the most successful multi-hyphenates in history. Combines practical advice with inspiring stories from Arnold's remarkable career.
Review: I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Arnold is very no-nonsense in sharing his life wisdom and doesn't airbrush his past mistakes either. One of the few celebrity-written books worth reading.
Excellent Advice for Living
Author: Kevin Kelly
Why Read It: Distilled wisdom from a lifetime of curiosity and exploration. Kelly's observations about technology, culture, and human nature offer valuable perspective for modern living.
Review: This will go down as my most-gifted book in 2024. It's short, punchy, and has the most life wisdom per page of anything I read this year. Kevin is the sage we all need in our life.
The Daily Pressfield
Author: Steven Pressfield
Why Read It: Daily inspiration and guidance for creative professionals fighting resistance. Practical wisdom for staying productive and maintaining artistic integrity.
Review: I read one entry of this per day this year and it made me a better creative thinker. Steven doesn't sugar coat the creative life. An excellent daily reader for any creative.
The Daily Drucker
Author: Peter F. Drucker
Why Read It: A year's worth of insights from the father of modern management thinking. While some examples are dated, the principles remain relevant.
Review: I knew very little about Peter Drucker when I started this book and knew a ton by the time I wrapped it up. This is some OG management thinking. It's a little too academic in parts, but you'll still learn a lot along the way.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Author: Haruki Murakami
Why Read It: A deeply personal meditation on running, writing, and what it means to live a dedicated life. Murakami's reflections on his twin passions reveal universal truths about discipline and creativity.
Review: This book felt like tapping into some kind of creative nirvana. It's elegant, real, and will make you feel more in touch with your craft. I couldn't get enough of it. This is a book I'll be gifting in the future.
Creativity
On Writing
Author: Stephen King
Why Read It: Part memoir, part master class by one of our greatest storytellers. King shares the experiences that shaped him and offers practical advice for aspiring writers.
Review: If you want to learn how to write better, start here. It doesn't matter what you do, this book is a great guide to becoming an exceptional writer.
Show Your Work
Author: Austin Kleon
Why Read It: A guide to getting discovered by sharing your creative process, not just the final product. Changes how you think about self-promotion and building an audience.
Review: This book is short, simple, and a very easy read. If you've ever wanted to improve your online presence, I'd start here.
Ignore Everybody
Author: Hugh MacLeod
Why Read It: Unconventional wisdom about creativity and making a living from your art. Cuts through the myths about creativity to offer practical, sometimes brutal advice.
Review: I loved this book because it felt like a punch in the face. Yes, it's brutal. But, we all need to get this kind of advice at one point or another. This will make you a better creative.
Audiobook Recommendation
The absolute best book from this list I’d recommend as an audiobook is below. Plus, it’s a great way to work on your impression of this person too.Be Useful - Arnold narrates this himself, bringing his distinctive voice and personality to his life lessons. His enthusiasm and directness make this an especially engaging listen.