Well Invested Time in July 2010

Hello SCG!

wow, could you explain to me what has happened to the time? Did someone accelerated it? 😉 Yes, 7th books review of 2010 is due, right now.  My July’s reading was rather modest (page count wise) , but incredibly rich in depth of insights.  Let me feed you in on why I loved the books I’ve read so much.

I have started my reading journey in July with Carlos Castaneda’s – Separate Reality (2nd part from series Teachings of Don Juan). I have been “introduced” to Carlos by my dear and wise friend, who is also SCG-er: Denny Coates. After one year break I somehow felt ready to “meet Don Juan again” and it was truly mystical reading experience. Thank you Denny for hooking me up with such powerful wisdom given to us by Carlos Castaneda.

Kindle enabled me to read an excellent-mind blowing-must read book by Steven Pressfield – The War of Art. I have heard about Steven for the first time from Seth Godin in his book Linchpin and since then I have been regular reader of Steven’s blog as well.

Talking about Seth Godin, let me also highlight his yet another gift: e-book called The Insubordinate, which was part of my reading in July, too. Sometimes I wonder when does Seth sleep and eat? He is just so generous and inspiring!

I have been extremely delighted by the last book on my July list. Why? Author of this book is Christine Ranck -> Super Cool Gang-er how else. I felt Christine’s presence and passion on every page of this tiny book, which will take you deep within yourself. Headphones on the picture hanging over Christine’s book are not there by coincidence, but for a reason. Reading Ignite the Genius Within includes soundtrack, which you MUST listen to, while going through truly illuminating thoughts in the book. Thank you Christine Ranck,  working with your book was one uplifting experience!

Quotes of the moth column goes to Steven Pressfield’s – War of Art.

The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.

It is better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.

The professional cannot let himself take humiliation personally. Humiliation, like rejection and criticism, is the external reflection of internal Resistance.

We fear discovering that we are more than we think we are.

To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.

We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or applause.

Like all warriors, artists over time acquire modesty and humility.

School, advertising, the entire materialist culture drills us from birth to define ourselves by other’s opinions. But the artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or calling.

Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.

The professional knows that fear cannot never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.

SCG, I could go on and on, so you better run to bookshop and get your copy of Steven Pressfield’s master piece.

cheers,

i.