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This episode is brought to you by…you guys. To help keep this podcast going, please check out the Tim Ferriss Book Club, where, every 1-2 months, I highlight one book that’s changed my life. Here are the first four books.
Now, on to our guest… Neil Strauss!
You asked for him as a guest, so here he is. We had a blast, and I learned a TON.
Neil has written 7 New York Times bestsellers, including The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists. He’s also been an editor at Rolling Stone and a staff writer for The New York Times. Not only that, but he’s built highly profitable companies and is an all-around hilarious guy.
Even if you never want to write, his thinking can be applied nearly everywhere.
In this episode, we discuss life, maximizing creativity (and creative output), and generally answer the questions:
- How did he become a creative powerhouse? How does he consistently create amazing work?
- How does he overcome writer’s block and other pitfalls?
- What are Neil’s favorite books and movies?
- How did Neil become a master conversationalist, and how can you?
- What’s next?
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Show notes and links (e.g. mentioned books, resources) can be found below.
Neil is a close friend, and this is one of my favorite conversations we’ve had together. Please ping him on Twitter (@neilstrauss) to let him know what you thought.
Enjoy!
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Teasers and Select Links from Episode 15
- The story of Neil Strauss’s first rejection by publishers
- Why he received hate mail from the great Phil Collins
- Neil’s techniques for conducting engaging, one-of-a-kind interviews
- Proof that writer’s block doesn’t exist, and what that feeling really is
- A deep-dive into Neil’s creative process
- How the art of empathy improves any creative endeavor
- How to hater-proof your book, Eminem-style
- The importance of figuring out what your “white tennis shoes” are and removing them from your writing space
- The books that Neil gifts the most
LINKS FROM EPISODE 15
- Visit the Tim Ferriss Book Club to find a new book each month (or so) that’s changed my life
- Paul Graham’s Essay – Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule
- Freedom – Internet-blocking productivity software
- Rescue Time -Time management software for staying on track
- Intego Family Protector -Mac Parental Control Software
- Joel Stein’s Writing My Memoir Palin-Style
Books Mentioned in the Episode
- On the Shortness of Life by Seneca
- The Game by Neil Strauss
- Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life by Neil Strauss
- The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Neil Strauss
- Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead: Journeys into Fame and Madness by Neil Strauss
- The Art of Nonfiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers by Ayn Rand
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Gregory Rabassa
- The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski
- Life Is Elsewhere by Milan Kundera
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