Writing Motivation

Maria Bamford is a creative genius. But the process of creating is not something that “comes easily” or “is enjoyable” for her. So, over the years, she’s invented a number of helpful techniques for tricking, shaming, coercing herself into doing things. You Are (A Comedy) Special is 15-step comedic send up of a self help guide that examines Maria’s approach to stand-up in a hilarious fashion.

Business, like any adventure, begins with a leap into the unknown. Brian Tracy's first dream was of a journey. Not a leisurely drive to the beach or a weekend campout-a wide open adventure that would take him 17,000 miles from his home on Canada's Pacific Coast all the way to South Africa. His journey - a harrowing series of false starts, long days, and narrow escapes- taught him about "becoming unstoppable," not only in pursuing adventure but in daily life and business as well.

Stretching across 500 miles of northern Spain, the Camino de Santiago has been a pilgrimage route for centuries. Setting off as a competitive, shrewd negotiator with little patience for small talk, Victor Prince emerged as a very different person - more balanced, more caring, more present in the moment, but looking to the future. Prince translates this growth experience into seven leadership skills, each linked to values that have guided Camino travelers for centuries.

Writing is important to many of us—for our careers, studies, businesses or creative fulfilment—but sitting down and doing it can feel impossible. We often struggle to give it the attention it deserves. We can't find time. Our focus is torn. Distractions are everywhere. Our inner critic keeps telling us we're no good. But what if you could find a highly effective writing habit that was perfect for you? Bec Evans and Chris Smith have helped thousands of people stop procrastinating, overcome their blocks and reach their writing goals. Now they share their successful approach with you.

Why We Travel is a smart-thinking travel book, which uses travel as a window into human motivations. It explores what we can gain from venturing out into the world. It threads together reflective memoir, evocative travelogue, research, conversation, advice and big ideas. Some of the travels are epic adventures; others are closer to home; and some are journeys of internal exploration.

The Huck Finn of foreign correspondents provides a colorful account of old Honolulu, the island nobility, the City of Refuge on the Kona coast, and the active volcano of Kilauea. These selections of Mark Twain's newspaper dispatches are both charming and informative. The light touch of the great humorist is seldom missing as he reveals the "loveliest fleet of islands that lie anchored in any ocean".

Success is something that many of us are encouraged to pursue from a young age - but what defines 'success'? Many people are taught to set goals in pursuit of a generic definition of success that is dictated by society: chase money, pass exams, build profile, attract followers, or generate likes. Even if we do reach the top of the mountain, we often find it to be less than we expected. Living someone else’s life is draining; individuals are tired and society is poorer as a consequence. The Modern Maverick sets out a roadmap for a different way forward.

In For You When I Am Gone, Rabbi Steve Leder taught us how to write an ethical will, a letter to our loved ones that helps them understand what we have learned about how to live a meaningful life. Now, in this beautiful journal, Rabbi Leder provides prompts, exercises, and inspirational quotes to help us write our own ethical wills. As a helpful companion to the previous book or a complete stand-alone, this journal will show each of us how to create a lasting, meaningful legacy while enjoying the process of examining our lives.