A Director of Creative Operations' Favorite Reads

I found real value in these books' explorations of the mind and how we can all become more introspective--I hope you find them valuable, too.

The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

I'm increasingly fascinated with human consciousness and the idea of transcending it and/or exploring it--however terrifying it may be. Huxley dives into this idea in the book, writing about his experience taking mescaline in 1953 (in a controlled environment). I chose to list this book because I think this world would be a far better place if we all looked inward more often.

“To see ourselves as others see us is a most salutary gift. Hardly less important is the capacity to see others as they see themselves.”

The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber

It's a classic book about how to build a business, and I chose to read it because I couldn't manage to escape it. Every podcast I listened to seemed to mention it. I'm including it so that you have a tougher time escaping it.

“Nobody is interested in the commodity. People buy feelings. And as the world becomes more and more complex, and the commodities more varied, the feelings we want become more urgent, less rational, more unconscious. How your business anticipates those feelings and satisfies them is your product.”

Arbitrary Stupid Goal by Tamara Shopsin

Sometimes (every day) we need to be reminded that life is about the god dang journey and not the destination. This book is a non-linear memoir about Tamara's childhood in and around her parents' corner grocery store in Greenwich Village, where she learned about living in the moment.

"A goal that isn't too important makes you live in the moment, and still gives you a driving force. This driving force is a way to get around the fact that we will all die and there is no real point to life."

Self-Discipline in 10 days by Theodore Bryant

I think it's pretty clear what this one is about. I added this book to the list because I really want to grow as the master of my mind rather than a slave to it...and this book actually helped me do that in a few ways. Also, I'm really into the cover and wanted to share that with you people.

"Chasing perfection is like chasing the fountain of youth—it's a fool's mission. Immediately divorce your self-esteem from perfectionism."