Lichtenbergianism: procrastination as a creative strategy gives you nine Precepts, ways to restructure your thinking about how you create and why so that you can just get to work and create the work of your dreams.

“Well-researched…[Soon] argues that in many cases eminent figures have done great work while putting off work they were supposed to be doing. Procrastination might, for some people, be part of innovation and the creative process.” — Wall Street Journal A fun and erudite celebration of procrastination An entertaining, fact-filled defense of the nearly universal tendency to procrastinate, drawing on the stories of history’s greatest delayers, and on the work of psychologists, philosophers, and behavioral economists to explain why we put off what we’re supposed to be doing and why we shouldn’t feel so bad about it. Like so many of us, including most of America’s workforce, and nearly two-thirds of all university students, Andrew Santella procrastinates. Concerned about his habit, but not quite ready to give it up, he set out to learn all he could about the human tendency to delay. He studied history’s greatest procrastinators to gain insights into human behavior, and also, he writes, to kill time, “research being the best way to avoid real work.” He talked with psychologists, philosophers, and priests. He visited New Orleans’ French Quarter, home to a shrine to the patron saint of procrastinators. And at the home of Charles Darwin outside London, he learned why the great naturalist delayed writing his masterwork for more than two decades. Drawing on an eclectic mix of historical case studies in procrastination—from Leonardo da Vinci to Frank Lloyd Wright, and from Old Testament prophets to Civil War generals—Santella offers a sympathetic take on habitual postponement. He questions our devotion to “the cult of efficiency” and suggests that delay and deferral can help us understand what truly matters to us. Being attentive to our procrastination, Santella writes, means asking, “whether the things the world wants us to do are really worth doing.”

Are you an academic, author, or blogger or anyone else who wants to make writing a breeze? The Zettelkasten method is the perfect way to harness the power of technology to remember what you read and boost creativity. Invented in the 16th century, and practiced to its fullest extent by a German sociologist who wrote more than seventy books and hundreds of articles, the Zettelkasten method is exploding in popularity. Writers of all types are discovering that digital tools make the method more powerful than ever, turning your digital life into an “external brain,” or “bicycle for the mind.” In Digital Zettelkasten: Principles, Methods, & Examples, blogger and nonfiction author David Kadavy shares a first-principles approach on how to adapt the Zettelkasten method to simple digital tools of your choice. How to structure your Zettelkasten? Kadavy borrows an element of the Getting Things Done framework to make sure nothing you want to read falls through the cracks. Naming convention pros/cons. Should you adopt the classic “Folgezettel” technique, or do digital tools make it irrelevant for your workflow? Reading workflow. The exact steps to follow to turn what you read into detailed notes you can mix and match to produce writing. Staying comfortable. Build a workflow to maintain your Zettelkasten without being chained to your computer. Examples, examples, examples. See real examples of notes that illustrate concepts, so you can build a Zettelkasten that fits your workflow and tools. Digital Zettelkasten: Principles, Methods, & Examples is short, to the point, with no fluff, so it won’t keep you from what you want – to build your Zettelkasten!

Seven Dreams of Falling, is a re-thinking of the Icarus myth. It's late in the post-modern day and Icarus has grown weary of falling out of the sky over and over: in painting, poetry, and myth. Having decided it's time for a career change, he plots his escape from a cycle of doomed repetition even as family and friends, who are part of his story, find themselves struggling with the idea of letting go. Can Icarus simply fly out of his own life? And if he can, what does that mean for those he leaves behind: Deadalus, a father for whom rules, rituals and quantum mechanics are sacred; Theseus, a fading hero who loves the monster he must kill; Ariadne, the hero's former flame, the monster's half-sister, Lesbian cultural-critic; and the monster himself, The Minotaur, who holds a secret that could destroy them all...or set them free. It's a comedy of mythic proportions. a review of Seven Dreams of Falling, "The dialogue is snappy, off-the-wall, and literate, wielded to great comic effect, like early Woody Allen pieces in The New Yorker. There are references to Brueghel, who painted the iconic image of a falling Icarus; to William Carlos Williams who wrote a poem called "Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus"; to Werner Heisenberg's uncertainty principle; to feminist theory; and to the violation of culture-defining mythic master narratives. They're all there, parceled and presented in ways you've never seen before." --The Huffington Post "This is Icarus in modern times. [Wilkerson's] revamping of an old tale is a fine example that there is much to be done with what has already been done." --examiner.com

From an Emmy Award–winning writer, witty and hilarious advice to classic literary characters—from Lady Macbeth to Victor Frankenstein—on how to cope with their most arduous, “real-life” struggles. Why do we love literature? There are many reasons, of course, but one of them has to be that we find the characters relatable. Even while fictional, their problems and predicaments feel real, speaking to human nature and reality even when wrapped in fantastical or romantic packaging. When a real-world person has a problem, they turn to their friends, family, therapists—and advice columnists. In Novel Advice, our favorite characters from classic literature do just that, writing in to Aunt Antigone, the “agony aunt for the fictional” who dishes out practical advice, along with a fair dose of snark. By turns amusing, touching, and enlightening, see what Aunt Antigone has to say about: -Relationships, with advice for Ophelia and Ishmael about their dating woes -Careers and Work, when Dr. Jekyll searches for the perfect work/life balance -Mental Health, when Scarlett O’Hara wants tips about the best way to handle stress -Finances, in response to Mrs. Bennet’s request for tips to manage her money woes -Community and Society, as when Hester Prynne writes in for help with her judgy neighbors​ Emmy Award–winning writer Jay Bushman imaginatively considers those scenarios and dozens more. He shines a light not only on the key themes and plot points found in our favorite classic novels and plays, but also on the human nature that lies beneath these enduring works of fiction. Perfect for fans of Texts from Jane Eyre, Tequila Mockingbird, and booklovers everywhere, this book is a hilarious and thought-provoking look at our favorite literary characters seeking help from an advice columnist with her own dramatic background.

Insights and inspiration for anyone who makes art (or anything else) The Ultimate BuzzFeed Books Gift Guide - Official Selection From the creative mind and heart of designer Adam J. Kurtz comes this upbeat rallying cry for creators of all stripes. Expanding on a series of popular essays, this handwritten and heartfelt book shares wisdom and empathy from one working artist to others. Perforated tear-and-share pages make it easy to display the most crucial reminders or to pass a bit of advice on to someone who needs it. As wry and cheeky as it is empathic and empowering, this deceptively simple, vibrantly full-color book will be a touchstone for writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else who wants to be more creative--even when it would be easier to give up and act normal.

A revised and updated edition of the classic self-help book that has served as a lifeline to the millions of adults who have ADHD! With over a quarter million copies in print, You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! is one of the bestselling books on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ever written. There is a great deal of literature about children with ADHD, but what do you do if you have ADHD and aren't a child anymore? This indispensable reference—the first of its kind written for adults with ADHD by adults with ADHD—focuses on the experiences of adults, offering updated information, practical how-tos, and moral support to help readers deal with ADHD. It also explains the diagnostic process that distinguishes ADHD symptoms from normal lapses in memory, lack of concentration or impulsive behavior, offering guidance on how your reframe our view of ADHD and embrace its benefits. Here's what's new: The new ADHD medications and their effectiveness The effects of ADHD on human sexuality The differences between male and female ADHD—including falling estrogen levels and its impact on cognitive function The power of meditation ADHD coaching tricks and tips And the book still includes the tried-and-true advice about: Achieving balance by analyzing one's strengths and weaknesses Getting along in groups, at work and in intimate and family relationships—including how to decrease discord and chaos Learning the mechanics and methods for getting organized and improving memory Seeking professional help, including therapy and medication