5-4-3-2-1: Highlights of 2019

Five articles that sharpened my ideas on a range of subjects in 2019

1. On the mundanity of excellence. An article that talks about (1) how excellence is achieved through qualitative differences (2) focusing on talent is a distraction and (3) excellence is achieved by doing small things really well, repeatedly.

2. Joy of giving lasts much more that joy of getting. Experimental evidence shows that giving is not subject to diminishing returns. A insightful point made is that in getting we are focusing on outcomes and the experience becomes tiresome, whereas in giving we are focused on experience and see it as something fresh every time.

3. Fulfillment comes from meaningful relationships and a good way to build that is through positive alacrity - when you see something good voice it.

4. Kahneman on happiness vs satisfaction. He argues that we experience happiness (experiencing self) and satisfaction (remembering self). He implies that money can buy satisfaction but not happiness. However, I think the the research is based on people's common definition of success and it hence incorrectly posits that happiness and satisfaction are exclusive. I agree that if one builds a life narrative where success is based on social validation or on comparison then misery ensures.. However, if one build a life narrative that is based love and service, I feel that the goals of happiness and satisfaction will not be at odds.

5. Mammoth that we feed for social acceptance

Four books that changed my routine in 2019

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

2. Good to Great by Jim Collins

3. Why we Sleep by Matthew Walker

4. It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried

Three podcasts that I learnt a lot from in 2019

1. Tim Ferris's interview of Jim Collins was packed with so many insights that I had to reduce speed and listen to this twice

2. Shane Parrish's interview of Tobi Lutke (Founder of Shopify) is laced with ideas and lessons that Tobi gained while building Shopify

3. Naval Ravikant's interview by Joe Rogan

Two twitter accounts for daily dose of inspiration and wisdom in 2019

1. https://twitter.com/JamesClear

2. https://twitter.com/NavalBot

One movie that changed my lifestyle in 2019

1. Game changers While some of the asserted facts were questionable, this movie gave me the inspiration needed to turn vegan

Format borrowed from James Clear's 3-2-1, a news letter that I highly recommend.