The Reader's Journey

My guest today is Jay Papasan, the co-author of The ONE Thing.Jay Papasan is an NYT bestselling writer and business executive. In this episode,  Jay shares advice on how to be more productive by identifying and focusing on your most important task, how to create better to-do lists, why you shouldn't multitask, tips on work/life balance, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:25] - The big idea behind The ONE Thing [01:25] - Why you should make Success lists, not To-Do lists[09:00] - How multitasking makes you less productive[18:20] - The role of discipline & willpower in productivity[25:25] - The truth about work/life balance  [36:35] - How saying “No” will make you more productive & how to say it nicely[43:45] - Two books that had a huge impact on Jay's lifeResources:Twitter: @jaypapasanWebsite: jaypapasan.com ***If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to subscribe.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 10,000+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex & Books

Hey everyone, I published my first book this week!GET A COPY OF MY BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3wqWCDlConnect with Alex & Books here:InstagramTwitterTikTokYouTubeJoin 10,000+ readers who get my free weekly newsletter here.

My guest today is Sahil Lavingia, author of The Minimalist Entrepreneur.Sahil Lavingia is the founder of Gumroad and an angel investor. Before that, he was employee #2 at Pinterest.  In this episode,  Sahil shares advice on building a successful business, why you want to be a creator before becoming an entrepreneur, lessons learned from Naval Ravikant, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:20] - What is a minimalist entrepreneur?[08:57] - How Sahil built his company Gumroad[12:00] - Be a creator first then an entrepreneur second[18:00] - Why community is vital for building successful businesses[33:20] - The advantages of building-in-public[45:20] - The risks of building-in-public[50:50] - Workplace culture & the future of work[1:03:00] - Lessons Sahil learned from Naval Ravikant[1:08:00] - Two books that had a huge impact on Sahil's lifeResources:Twitter: @shlWebsite: minimalistentrepreneur.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to subscribe.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 9,800+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is MJ DeMarco, author of The Great Rat Race Escape. MJ DeMarco is an entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author of The Millionaire Fastlane.In this episode, MJ shares advice on how to escape the rat race, the myth about compounding interest making you rich, how to find the right business opportunity, advice he would give to a 21-year old kid today, and much more. TIMESTAMPS:[00:17] - Defining the Script that 99% of people follow [2:00] - The myth of compound interest & investing for 40+ years[6:30] - How MJ escaped the rat race & how you can too[11:45] - Advice MJ would give to a 21-year old kid today[13:55] - The truth about passive income[17:35] - The biggest business in the world: Shortcuts[20:00] - How to find the right business opportunity[27:00] - The cornbreads vs champagne principle[29:50] - Does your network = your net worth?[32:00] - Can money buy happiness or not?[37:00] - The Right Book strategy[39:30] - The 1/2/3 Marriage strategy[42:30] - MJ's favorite lessons from his book[47:00] - Two books that had a huge impact on MJ's lifeResources:Twitter: @MJDeMarcoWebsite: MJDeMarco.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to subscribe.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 8,700+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is John Gray, author of Beyond Mars and Venus. Dr. John Gray is the author of the classic dating book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. His books have sold tens of millions of copies and have been translated into approximately 45 languages in more than 100 countries.In this episode, John shares how relationship dynamics have changed over the past 20 years, why men need Cave Time to get in touch with their masculine side, why women need Talk Therapy to get in touch with their feminine side, why little things make a big difference for women, and much more about maintaining a happy relationship.TIMESTAMPS:[00:24] - The biggest change in relationships over the past 20 years[04:15] - Men need to reconnect with their masculine side & women with their feminine side [06:15] - Explaining  Cave Time & why  how it helps men  [1 2:00] - Explaining Talk Therapy & why how it helps women[17:35] - Why complaining doesn't work & how to actually get your partner to change[27:10] - Why little things make a BIG difference for women [43:28] - Things a man can do to help their woman reconnect with their feminine side [52:45] - A common mistake men do in relationships [1:06:20] - A sex tip to boost your testosterone Resources:Twitter: @MarsVenusWebsite: MarsVenus.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to subscribe.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 7,900+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Nate Dallas, author of You're Too Good To Feel This Bad.Nate's book is like 10 self-improvement books wrapped into one. He covers over several health-related topics such as sleep, breathing, diet, exercise, mindset, meditation, and many more areas that play a vital role in achieving better health.Listen to this podcast to learn how to sleep better, why you should be breathing through your nose, why you should be drinking more water, why you need to be aware of your self-talk, how owning less stuff can improve your health, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:21] - Why Nate wrote You're Too Good To Feel This Bad [05:25] - Why health is all about the fundamentals [06:21] - Why you need both quality and quantity sleep[11:38] - Why you want to breathe through your nose[16:00] - Drink more water & eat healthier foods[23:23] - The mind-body connection[29:00] - Be aware of how you talk to yourself[33:20] - How owning less can actually make you happier & healthier[40:11] - The relationship between work & health[45:45] - Anxiety is a sign that you need to take action & change something[48:20] - Two books that had a huge impact on Nate's life Resources:Twitter: @FathersBrotherWebsite: natedallas.com ***If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to subscribe.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 6,900+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Christian Busch,  author of The Serendipity Mindset. His book is all about the art and science of creating good luck.That's right, luck is a skill that can be learned and improved upon. In our conversation, Christian explains the difference between blind luck and smart luck (AKA serendipity), how bad luck today can become good luck tomorrow, 10 tips to increase your luck, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:42] - How a car crash changed Christian's life[02:34] - Blind luck vs. Smart luck (serendipity)[06:20] - The formula for luck (triggers + connecting the dots + tenacity)[07:45] - Lucky tip #1: Be more alert[10:18] - Lucky tip #2: Develop a serendipity mindset[13:41] - Lucky tip #3: Start a serendipity journal[16:41] - Lucky tip #4: Be more extroverted[20:00] - Lucky tip #5: Calm your mind [23:15] - Lucky tip #6: Manifest & visualize good luck[26:20] - Lucky tip #7: Plant serendipity bombs[28:48] - Lucky tip #8: Use technology as a way to network[32:00] - Bad luck today = Good luck tomorrow?[36:00] - Lucky tip #9: Reframe your bad luck into a positive[36:50] - Lucky tip #10: Make tiny changes in your daily life to increase randomness[40:57] - Serependity is a skill that can be learned (skilled luck)[43:58] - Two books that had a huge impact on Christian's life[46:46] - How to increase serendipity in your business Resources:Twitter: @ChrisSerendip Website: theserendipitymindset.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to hit subscribe.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 6,700+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

Learn more about Howard's speed reading program at berglearning.com/a/alexbooks. My guest today is Howard Berg, the author of Super Reading Secrets. Howard holds the Guinness record for being the world's fastest reader, reading at 80 pages per minute.In our conversation, Howard shares advice on how to read faster, bad habits that are slowing down your reading speed, how to take notes while reading, how to remember more of what you've read, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:50] - How Howard developed a love for reading [04:32] - Reading ≠ Learning[06:09] - Speed reading tip #1: Determine schema[09:49] - Temporarily losing comprehension while learning speed reading is normal [13:41] -  Speed reading tip #2: Reduce vocalization[15:09] -  Speed reading tip #3: Use your finger[17:21] - Speed reading tip #4: Avoid regression, progression, and distraction [19:37] - Speed reading tip #5: Know when to speed read [22:53] - How to improve your reading comprehension [30:12] - How to remember more of what you read [37:22] - How to analyze the outside of a book to quickly understand what it's about[44:16] - The importance of knowing when to read faster & when to read slower[49:23] - Out of 30,000 books, here are 3 that had a huge impact on Howard's lifeResources:Twitter: @HowardSBergWebsite: berglearning.com ***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 6,400+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is John David Mann, the author of How To Write Good (Or At Least, Gooder). John has coauthored over 30 books including The Go-Giver, The Latte Factor, The Slight Edge, and many more bestselling books. In our conversation, John shares the three ingredients for good writing, how reading more will improve your writing, the writing process John used to write several bestselling books, the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:42] -  How John went from musician to bestselling author[03:00] - Why you don't need a degree or MFA to become a writer[03:40] - The 3 ingredients for good writing (intention, practice, critique) [09:30] - How reading more books will make you a better writer [13:20] - The importance of deliberate reading & analyzing books[18:50] - John's book writing process[24:00] - How to get over writer's block[30:50] - How to decide what to write about[37:00] - Traditional publishing vs Self-publishing [41:40] - Differences between writing fiction and non-fiction books[48:40] - Books John recommends for aspiring writersResources:Twitter: @johndavidmann Website: johndavidmann.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week I send out a free newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 5,300+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Logan Ury, the author of How To Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love. Logan studied psychology at Harvard, ran Google's behavioral science team, and now works at the dating app Hinge and as a dating coach.In our conversation, Logan shares advice on what really matters in a long-term partner and what doesn't, the pros and cons of online dating, why you shouldn't focus on the initial spark or chemistry on a date, the difference between falling in love and being in love, and so much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:44] - Why modern dating is so hard[03:55] - The 3 dating tendencies (or what's holding you back in dating) [08:10] - Attachment styles and how it affects your dating life[12:00] - Myths around the spark and love at first sight[16:37] - The traits that actually matter in a long-term partner[20:50] - Vetting for a life partner[25:36] - Why you should go on more second dates[28:47] - How to make dates more fun and less like job interviews[33:00] - Tips for staying in love [35:40] - How to know when you found the person you want to marry[38:50] - A book that had a huge impact on Logan's lifeResources:Twitter: @loganuryWebsite: loganury.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 5,000+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is James Altucher, the author of Skip the Line: The 10,000 Experiments Rule and Other Surprising Advice for Reaching Your Goals.  James is an entrepreneur, angel investor, chess master, comedian, and prolific writer. He's also the podcast host of "The James Altucher Show" which has had over 30 million downloads.In our conversation, James shares advice on how to get around the 10,000-hour rule, how to acquire skills quickly, why you want to learn micro-skills, the value of experimenting, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:35] - What it means to "Skip The Line"  [12:41] - Why people don't like it when you try to skip the line  [17:01] - The importance of learning micro-skills [21:50] - Writing tip: Remove the first and last paragraph from your article[23:52] - 6-minute networking tip from Jordan Harbinger[27:20] - Is your network your net worth?[32:20] - How to get around the 10,000-hour rule[39:26] - How coming up with 10 ideas a day changed James's life  [49:26] - How James tried to buy Greenland[51:58] - How to monetize your passion [57:36] - Lessons from Nassim Taleb and his booksResources:Twitter: @jaltucher Website: jamesaltucher.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 4,800+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is  Blas Moros, a talented writer and the creator of a very popular blog called The Rabbit Hole, where he's shared 600+ book summaries, along with dozens of essays and other educational resources.In our conversation, Blass shares advice on how to choose what book to read next, the value of taking notes and writing summaries, how to find time to read more, and more great reading tips.He also talks about the importance of playing infinite games, explains the opportunity paradox, and shares details about his newest project, The Latticework–a multidisciplinary learning roadmap that curates, organizes, and interconnects valuable ideas.TIMESTAMPS:[00:55] - How Blas discovered his love for reading[05:10] - How Blas chooses what book to read next[06:10] - How to find more time to read[08:48] - Blas's note-taking & book summary process[10:48] - Ebooks vs audiobooks vs print books[11:52] - How Blas uses his book summaries to grow as a person[13:51] - What makes a book worth rereading[16:55] - Helpful reading tips for people just getting into reading[20:00] - Lessons from Blas's essay The Infinite Game [25:50] - Lessons from Blas's essay The Opportunity Paradox[31:30] - Why more discipline equals more freedom[33:24] - Blas's newest project: The Latticework[36:00] - What is  first-principle thinking & how did Elon Musk use it to build SpaceX & Tesla[40:10] - Explaining second-order thinking[41:40] - Two books that had a huge impact on BlasResources:Twitter: @BlasMorosWebsite: blas.comThe Latticework***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 4,700+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Scott Young, the bestselling author of Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career.Scott is a prolific writer who writes about learning, productivity, and habits. He is known for documenting learning challenges such as completing 4-years of MIT computer science classes in one year and learning four languages in one year.In our conversation, Scott talks about how to learn skills faster, the paradox of learning and why sometimes learning strategies that feel that easiest are the least effective, how to remember more from the books you've read, how to prevent yourself from forgetting a skill, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:44] - What is Ultralearning?  [04:02] - How Scott completed 4 years of MIT classes in 12 months  [08:37] - How to deal with distraction and procrastination  [13:08] - The importance of direct learning  [20:20] - The paradox of learning (sometimes learning that feels easy is the least effective)  [26:31] - How to remember more of what you've learned & prevent yourself from forgetting information [29:25] - Why you want to space your learning and not cram for an exam [31:15] - How to remember more from the books you've read[37:55] - Advice to people starting their first ultralearning project  [40:26] - How to maintain skills and prevent yourself from losing them  [45:40] - How to raise your kids to be ultralearners [50:50] - Two books that changed Scott's lifeLearn more about the author:Twitter: @ScottHYoungWebsite: scotthyoung.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 4,200+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Alex Banayan, the author of the #1 international bestseller The Third Door: The Wild Quest to Uncover How the World's Most Successful People Launched Their Careers.At 18-years old, Alex won The Price Is Right and sold the grand-prize to fund his journey of tracking down the world's most successful people to uncover how they launched their careers. He interviewed Bill Gates, Tim Ferriss, Steve Wozniak, Warren Buffett, Larry King, Maya Angelou, and many more incredible individuals. In our conversation, Alex shares advice on how to pursue your dreams, overcome setbacks and rejection, the books that changed his life, how he met Tim Ferriss and learned his secret cold email technique, an exclusive look into Alex's new book, and so much more.This is a podcast you do not want to miss.TIMESTAMPS:[00:39] - How the book Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh changed Alex's life[07:40] - Why Alex Banayan and I love reading[09:30] - How to find the courage to pursue your dreams [12:24] - The Third Door analogy explained [16:17] - Alex & Books' Third Door journey[19:00] - How to deal with setbacks and rejection[27:06] - How Alex used The Third Door method to interview Tim Ferriss[36:00] - Lessons from being over persistent [41:35] - Two books that changed Alex's life[45:42] - EXCLUSIVE: Alex's talks about his upcoming bookLearn more about the author:Twitter: @AlexBanayanWebsite: thirddoorbook.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 3,300+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Robin Hanson, the co-author of The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life. Robin is an associate professor of economics at George Mason University and a research associate at the Future of Humanity Institute of Oxford University.In his book, Robin explores the hidden (and oftentimes sometimes darker) motives in everyday life. In our conversation, Robin talks about the hidden meaning of body language, how humans deceive themselves and others, the dark motivation behind charity donations, how sex, status, and politics all play a role in our motives, and much more. If you're into evolutionary psychology or ever wondered why humans act the way they do, you'll find this conversation fascinating.TIMESTAMPS:[00:45] - What is the elephant in the brain?[03:45] - Hidden motives in chimps[05:54] - The 3 main games people play: sex, status, and politics[07:58] - Social norms & hiding our darker intentions[13:20] - Understanding the secret message of body language [18:12] - The hidden motives behind buying luxury items [23:32] - The darker motives of why people give to charities[27:47] - Hidden motives of speaking  [31:29] - Why people laugh & how it serves as a signal to others[36:17] - How this book can help you develop a new mental model of the world[41:06] - The hidden motive behind the educational system[44:52] - Two books that had a big impact on RobinLearn more about the author:Twitter: @robinhansonWebsite: hanson.gmu.edu***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 3,100+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Nir Eyal, the author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, former Stanford lecturer, and behavioral design expert. In Indistractable, Nir explains the hidden psychology behind distractions and shares practical advice on how to get the best out of technology without letting it get the best of us. In our conversation, Nir talks about what really drives human behavior,  what to do when you get distracted, how to prevent distractions such as email and smartphones, how to raise kids to use technology properly, and much more. TIMESTAMPS:[00:43] - What it means to be Indistractable  [03:17] - Why discomfort is the root cause of our distraction[05:33] - The opposite of distraction is traction[10:14] - Why you shouldn't shame or blame yourself when you get distracted[15:17] - The role of willpower and mindset in minimizing distractions[17:46] - How knowing your values & planning ahead helps avoid distractions[22:51] - Greg McKeown & Essentialism[24:11] - How to hack back emails[31:17] - How to hack back your smartphone[36:22] - How to make your kids Indistractable[41:50] - Kids & social media[43:48] - Two books that had a big impact on Nir Eyal[Learn more about the author:Twitter: @nireyalWebsite: nirandfar.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 3,000+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Eric Jorgenson, the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness.  Naval Ravikant is the co-founder of AngelList, investor in 200+ companies, and considered by many to be a modern-day philosopher. This book is a collection of Naval's wisdom and experience shared as a curation of his most insightful interviews, essays, and podcasts. In our conversation, Eric shares Naval's advice on how to build wealth, learn the skill of happiness, become a better reader, and much more. You can get a free ebook copy of the book here: navalmanack.comTIMESTAMPS:[00:41] - The background story of this book  [03:18] - Who is Naval Ravikant?[05:13] - How to get rich without getting lucky[08:12] - If you want to get rich, you have to own equity[11:23] - How you can use leverage to create wealth[16:27] - Why you want to productize yourself[21:27] - Happiness is a skill you can learn[32:03] - The benefits of meditation & how it can make you happier[37:25] - How Naval reads books & reading tips[43:33] - How has Eric evolved after studying Naval[46:12] - How to apply what you read [49:50] - Books that had a huge influence on Eric & how they changed him[54:50] - Update on Alex & Books Learn more about the author:Twitter: @EricJorgenson***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & write a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 2,500+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is James Altucher, the author of several books including the WSJ bestseller Choose Yourself! He is an entrepreneur, angel investor, chess master, comedian, and prolific writer. He is also the podcast host of "The James Altucher Show" which has had over 30 million downloads.In our conversation, James shares advice on how to find your passion, why you should choose yourself and not wait for the approval of others, advice from billionaires, how to be happy, and much more.   TIMESTAMPS:[1:14] About James Altucher & his background  [2:49] The benefits of trying new things[4:54] What it means to Choose Yourself[9:56] We live in a Choose Yourself era[12:52] How to find your passion[23:21] You don't have to quit your day job to be an entrepreneur[25:47] Dealing with failure & how to keep going when things get tough[29:53] Why you should experiment often & share your ideas [32:13] How to be happy & the role money plays in happiness[35:04] How James was able to overcome depression & rebuild himself from nothing[41:10] Things James learned from interviewing billionaires[46:06] It's never too late to Choose Yourself[49:00] Books that had a huge influence on James & how they changed him[53:38] How James inspired me to choose myself & start this podcastLearn more about the author:Twitter: @jaltucher Website: jamesaltucher.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 2,200+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

 My guest today is Greg McKeown, the NYT bestselling author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. He teaches and lectures about the importance of living and leading as an Essentialist around the world. He is among the most popular bloggers for the Harvard Business Review. He also holds an MBA from Stanford University. In our conversation, Greg teaches us how to be an Essentialist, the importance of trade-offs, why it's important for adults to play and get plenty of sleep, how to say no to opportunities, how you can apply Essentialism to leadership, and much more.  TIMESTAMPS:[00:41] Defining Essentialism & why Greg wrote this book   [02:49] Why trade-offs can be a good thing [06:34] Zoom fatigue & work-life balance[13:00] Why being always busy can be dangerous  [16:28] The benefits of play as an adult[20:55] Greg McKweon & BJ Fogg's conversation [24:49] The role of sleep in being a high performer[29:28] How to say No & when to pass on opportunities[35:39] How to uncommit from a project or opportunity[40:56] How to apply Essentialism to leadership [50:31] Books that had a huge influence on Greg & how they changed himLearn more about the author:Twitter: @GregoryMcKeown Website: gregmckweon.com ***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from amazing books. Join 2,000+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is BJ Fogg, PhD, the bestselling author of Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. Fogg founded the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and has been researching social behavior for over 20 years.In our conversation, Fogg shares how tiny habits can create major changes, why emotions (not repetition) wires in habits, the role of motivation & ability in behavior, the importance of celebrating after completing a habit, how to develop a reading habit, and much more. TIMESTAMPS:[00:45] Background about BJ Fogg & his passion for habits [02:11] Anyone can learn how to create new habits [03:45] The power of tiny habits  [06:59] The one tiny habit everyone should do [12:15] People change best when they feel good[13:12] The importance of celebrating after completing a habit[14:58] To develop new habits seek rewards, not incentives[18:08] Emotions create habits, not repetition[19:35] Why it doesn't take 21 or 60 days to create a habit[22:10] Behavior = Motivation & Ability & Prompt[27:55] Look for habits that you actually want to do[29:58] How prompts create action[33:42] How to create a reading habit[38:11] How to wire your reading habit faster[43:00] Pearl habits & stoicism[46:381] Books that had a huge influence on BJ & how they changed himLearn more about the author:Twitter: @bjfoggWebsite: bjfogg.com***If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Every week, I send out a free weekly newsletter with actionable advice from the books I've read. Join 2,000+ readers here.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Morgan Housel, the author of The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness. Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund and a former columnist at The Motley Fool and The Wall Street Journal.In his book, Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better financial decisions. In this episode, you'll learn what money can and can't buy, the difference between being rich and being wealthy, how 50% of your investments can go wrong but you can still make a fortune, what to do to become a better investor, and more helpful advice. TIMESTAMPS:[00:54] How people view money differently & why you shouldn't buy lotto tickets[04:36] How money buys you freedom & some happiness[08:07] Things money can't buy you [11:13] Looking rich versus being rich[13:37] The importance of savings rate to becoming wealthy[16:12] How 50% of your investment can fail & you can still make a fortune[20:15] Warren Buffett & the power of the compound effect[23:09] Why you need to increase your time horizon to become a better investor[25:23] Volatility is the fee you pay the stock market for great returns[27:21] Bernie Madoff & how to prevent yourself from getting greedy[30:02] The role of luck & risk in investing[34:08] When you should & shouldn't take investment advice[36:28] Investment advice for listeners[40:11] Possible explanations for why the stock market keeps going up[43:03] Morgan's personal investment strategy[45:07] Books that had a huge influence on Morgan & how they changed himLearn more about the author:Twitter: @morganhousel***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Alan Jacobs, the author of The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction. Jacobs is a scholar of English literature, writer, and literary critic. He is a distinguished professor of the humanities at Baylor University.In his book, Jacobs offers an insightful and playfully guide on how to make reading pleasurable and enjoyable. You'll learn why you probably don't want to read only Great books, the benefits of writing in your books, the truth about speed reading, and many more wonderful reading tips.TIMESTAMPS:[00:39] About Prof. Alan Jacobs & growing up a reader [02:56] Thoughts on How To Read A Book by Mortimer Alder[06:26] The truth about giving book recommendations  [09:53] The difference between liking to read & liking to have read[11:26] Why you probably don't want to read only Great books[14:35] Great books require a lot of your time, attention, and reflection  [17:24] Niccolo Machiavelli's relationship with books   [21:26] The benefits of writing in your books[24:51] Pros and cons of reading on a Kindle[32:24] The truth about speed reading & why you may be reading too fast already  [36:06] The benefits of rereading books[42:40] Two books that changed Alan's lifeLearn more about the author:Website: ayjay.org***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Connect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Bob Burg, the co-author of The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea. The book has sold over 950,000 copies and was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine's list of the Most Motivational Books Ever Written. It's great to be a Go-Getter, they take action and make things happen. But, it's even better to be a Go-Giver. Go-Givers reach high levels of success in their lives by focusing on giving to others and adding value to their lives. The Go-Giver is a parable about a man named Joe who seeks advice from a legendary consultant named Pindar. Pindar introduces Joe to several Go-Givers and learns about the power of giving. TIMESTAMPS:[00:43] The differences between a Go-Getter and a Go-Giver[02:37] The difference between price and value [05:25] Your compensation is determined by how many people you serve[08:48] Why you shouldn't aim for win-win situations[10:51] The 3 universal reason for working: Survive, Save, Serve[12:37] Why successful people are happy to help others[15:08] How anyone can be a Go-Giver & why it's the path to success[18:24] Reciprocity, receptivity, and why you need to be open to receiving[22:17] 3 Books that had a huge influence on Bob & how they changed him[26:58] How to connect with Bob & learn more about himLearn more about the author:Twitter: @BobBurgInstagram: @realbobburgWebsite: burg.com***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Todd Herman, author of The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life. Todd has over 20 years of experience working as a high-performance coach and mental game strategist with Olympic athletes, business CEOs, and many more top performers. You're probably familiar with the idea of an alter ego: Superman had Clark Kent, Kobe Bryant had the Black Mamba, and Beyonce had Sasha Fierce. In this episode, Todd explains why it's good to have an alter ego, how it can help you overcome personal obstacles, how to create your own alter ego, and much more.TIMESTAMPS:[00:58] About Todd Herman & how he became a mental game coach[07:28] Defining the Alter Ego effect[12:10] Difference between "fake it till you make it" & an alter ego[15:25] Why rappers & entertainers love Todd's book [17:36] Todd & Kobe Bryant had plans to write a book together[19:16] How imposter syndrome, personal trauma, & narratives prevent us from reaching success[25:24] How changing the story you tell yourself can change your life [28:41] How to create your own Alter Ego [31:34] Creating an Alter Ego for first-time authors[41:41] My Alter Ego: Alex & Books[45:27] Two books that had a big impact on ToddLearn more about the author:Twitter: @todd_hermanInstagram: todd_hermanWebsite: toddherman.me***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Dr. Robert Glover, author of No More Mr Nice Guy: A Proven Plan for Getting What You Want in Love, Sex, and Life. Dr. Glover holds a PhD in marriage and family therapy and has over 30 years of clinical work with countless men and women.If you've ever been called a Nice Guy or want to improve your dating life, this episode is for you. We dive into common traits of Nice Guys, why they aren't actually nice, how they try to buy love, how to stop being a Nice Guy, and how to improve your romantic relationships.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Updates about the podcast2:13 About Dr. Glover & why he wrote this book 7:52 Common traits of a Nice Guy9:59 Why Nice Guys aren't actually nice14:29 Cover contracts & how Nice Guys try to buy love22:21 Why women say they want Nice Guys but go after jerks26:02 The Victim Triangle that most Nice Guys are stuck in28:58 Why Nice Guys need to accept themselves32:17 The 2 types of Nice Guys & why you need to release your shame35:27 Why Nice Guys need to connect with more men40:16 Why you need to set boundaries in your relationship49:21 How boundaries make you & your partner happier52:21 How to stop being a Nice Guy in your career 56:54 Three books that had a huge influence on Dr. GloverLearn more about the author:Twitter: @dr_r_gloverWebsite: drglover.com***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Anne Bogel, author of I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life and podcast host of What Should I Read Next? Anne shares lessons from her book such as the benefits of reading and rereading books, why the Book Police don't exist, why you should consider writing in your books, and more great reading tips.If you love reading, you'll enjoy this episode. TIMESTAMPS:00:49 About Anne Bogel1:17 What inspired Anne to write a book about reading2:00 Challenges of giving book recommendations3:41 There's no Book Police (or why you can read whatever you want)6:00 Joy of finding the right book at the right time8:06 Benefits of reading books9:30 Benefits of going to libraries11:14 Dangerous of being book bossy & avoiding the word Should14:45 The rite of passage all reader go through (being a reader post-school)16:34 Benefits of rereading books19:03 Why you should write in your books20:50 Benefits of tracking your reading & using Goodreads 23:08 How reading can be a social activity25:16 The emotional impact of a great book 26:58 Two books that had a huge impact on Anne31:02 Two books that influenced Anne to become a writerLearn more about the author:Twitter: @AnneBogelInstagram: @AnneBogelWebsite: ModernMrsDarcy.com***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is David Kadavy, author of The Heart to Start: Stop Procrastinating & Start Creating. David shares lessons on how we can overcome fear, self-doubt, and distractions to stop procrastinating and start working on our creative projects.TIMESTAMPS:00:42 About David Kadavy2:08 Inspiration for writing his book6:14 How creative projects transform you8:13 The dangerous of not pursuing your creative project11:52 How the Ego stops you from pursuing your art14:04 How to use curiosity to fuel your creativity20:11 Why you should follow the voice in your head24:22 Give yourself permission to suck27:43 How dreaming too big can backfire31:18 How to use motivational judo35:06 How to read more books37:17 How creating art will make you a better person38:40 Two books that had a huge influence on DavidLearn more about the author:Twitter: @kadavyInstagram: @kadavyWebsite: Kadavy.net***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Allen Gannett, author of The Creative Curve: How To Develop The Right Idea, At The Right Time. By interviewing everyone from billionaires to neuroscientists, Allen developed four steps, backed by science, that you can follow to achieve creative success.TIMESTAMPS:00:39 What inspired Allen to write this book2:12 Debunking the creative myth around Mozart4:23 The truth behind JK Rowling & Harry Potter7:04 IQ and creativity8:59 Why you can learn new things, even at an older age12:09 The truth about the 10,000 Rule15:54 Creativity tip: The 20% Rule20:08 Ben Franklin method & balancing novelty 25:13 Why you need a creative community28:49 The importance of testing & feedback31:17 Two books that had a huge influence on AllenLearn more about the author:Twitter: @AllenInstagram: @AllenWebsite: Allen.xyz***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

My guest today is Hassan Osman, the author of Write Your Book on the Side: How to Write and Publish Your First Nonfiction Kindle Book While Working a Full-Time Job.He has published 8 books, 4 of which are Amazon bestsellers, while balancing a demanding full-time job. He is also the podcast host of Writer on the Side. In this episode, Hassan shares helpful writing advice, talks about publishing on Amazon vs. Gumroad, how to get your book to the top of the Amazon bestsellers list, and more.TIMESTAMPS:0:41 Hassan shares his background1:51 Why Hassan wrote a book about writing3:18 The most important thing about writing a book4:31 The 3 traits of great books7:47 How to make time to write while working a full-time job12:15 How to overcome writer's block13:29 Why you want to separate writing from editing16:42 Common mistakes first-time writers make22:14 Using Amazon reviews as market research24:18 Different ways you can make money from your book30:11 Publishing on Amazon33:37 How to become an Amazon #1 bestseller37:41 Publishing on Gumroad vs Amazon41:57 Two books that had a huge influence on HassanLearn more about the author:Twitter: @HassanOInstagram: @hass.osmanWebsite: thecouchmanager.com***If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a positive review.Discover my favorite books: alexandbooks.com/bestbooksConnect with Alex & Books:Twitter: @alexandbooks_Instagram: @alexandbooks_YouTube: Alex and Books

Hi everyone, this is Alex from Alex & Books and welcome to my podcast: The Reader's Journey.On this podcast, I'll take you on a journey to meet amazing authors, discover brilliant books, and learn valuable lessons along the way.I'll be covering a wide range of subjects including productivity, writing, psychology, dating, creativity, business, and much more.Please support this podcast by hitting Subscribe and leaving a 5-Star review. Thank you so much for listening!Follow Alex & Books:InstagramTwitterYouTubeWebsiteBook Recommendations