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Sloww Sunday Newsletter 052 (Mar 7, 2021) — Effective Habits, Intro to Stoicism, & More
Hi friends,
Sloww Sunday is a free newsletter delivering the latest from Sloww along with the most interesting things I came across last week.
New News
🎉 Sloww Sunday turned one year old (this is the 52nd issue)! If you’ve been enjoying the newsletter, I’d be grateful if you shared it with some friends or family.
😃 “The Hierarchy of Happiness” eBook just crossed 2,000 downloads. Did you get your free copy yet?
🐦 I’m thinking about picking up my personal Twitter account (@KyKow). Follow along if you want to learn more about the creator economy, enlightened entrepreneurship, and more “behind the scenes” stuff. I just posted a thread with all my highlights about Naval Ravikant.
🆕 Due to the depth of the content, I’m still working on my book summary and Premium synthesis of Early Retirement Extreme. But, don’t worry! I have another new post to share with you today.
Sloww Stuff
New Premium Post:
🔒 How to Build Effective Habits with “Atomic Habits” by James Clear (+ Infographics)
I originally read and summarized Atomic Habits in 2019. Since then, I’ve found myself revisiting my notes countless times—whether it’s just looking for a quote or giving myself a refresher on the habit building process. This premium post is my attempt to turn Atomic Habits into a more practical action plan. It includes all the highlights you need to know. If James Clear claims the book is “an operating manual,” then this premium post is your “quick start guide.” Enjoy!
In Case You Missed It:
Here’s the public book summary of “Atomic Habits.”
Modern Knowledge
📈 Habit Building with James Clear & Ryan Holiday
(53 mins | YouTube)
This podcast is so insight-dense that I created a Twitter thread to share all the highlights.
James Clear’s Writing Process:
- Wake up, shower, glass of water.
- Pre-writing ritual: music with headphones on, desk facing wall without windows (reduce audio/visual distractions).
- 2 hours of writing: long enough to get into the work, short enough to feel energized after.
- The goal for 2 hours: “I want to live in the document.”
“One of the central things I talk about in Atomic Habits is the idea of starting with identity rather than results … Start with the identity you want to have or the lifestyle you want to live, and then start doing small habits that reinforce that identity.” — James Clear
Timeless Wisdom
📚 Stoicism as a Philosophy for an Ordinary Life
(18 mins | YouTube)
Massimo Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and in Philosophy. In this TED Talk, he gives a nice overview and intro to Stoicism including: the founding of the philosophy, the key Stoics, the pillars of Stoicism, the roles we play in life, and more.
Pillar 1: The Cardinal Virtues
- Practical wisdom, courage, justice, temperance
Pillar 2: The Dichotomy of Control
- Some things are up to us, other things are not up to us
Pair with:
- “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius (Book Summary)
- “On the Shortness of Life” by Seneca (Essay Summary)
- “Enchiridion” by Epictetus (Book Summary)
“For the Stoics, the best kind of human life you can actually have is one in which you apply your reason (your intelligence) to improve social living (to improve everybody else’s lives).” — Massimo Pigliucci
💭 Deep Quote
“External solutions for internal problems don’t exist.” — @thisisdebonair
Sharing: If you enjoyed this issue, please forward this email to one friend who could benefit from it. They can subscribe for free.
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Feedback: It’s always much appreciated. Please send me an email or reach out socially.
Have a reflective week!
Kyle Kowalski
Founder, Sloww
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