📚 The Creative Act by Rick Rubin 🎨, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer 🌾 & The ONE Thing by Gary Keller 1️⃣ (+ the only productivity tool you need ⏲️)

"All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now." ​ — Rick Rubin  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

​ The 4 Minute Read New-ly ​July 15, 2023 || Read in browser​ They look like 2 M&Ms, but there's just one ;) The other guy? He made all the beats. Hey heyyyy, happy Saturday, and welcome to another edition of The 4 Minute Read in New-ly! This week, we have the debut book from an all-time great musician, a productivity classic, and more! Here are the goods: ​The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (one of the greatest music producers ever teaches creativity as a way of life) ​Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer (lessons from Native Americans on living in unity with nature) ​The ONE Thing by Gary Keller (delivers a focusing question that'll change how you look at work forever) ​The Pomodoro Technique Explained in 4 Minutes (the perfect tool to put The ONE Thing into action) Let's jump in! Hot Off The Press The Creative Act ​by Rick Rubin You might not have heard his name, but you have definitely heard his music. For more than 40 years, Rick Rubin has produced songs with legends like Eminem, Jay-Z, Metallica, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Johnny Cash. Now, he finally shares his process. In this book, Rubin explains how we can live and breathe creativity as a lifestyle that'll become second-nature. It's about becoming the kind of person that makes art more so than tricks and tactics, and it's an empowering read for anyone who's trying to ship creative work of any kind — and even if you're not, his ideas around mindset, calmness, and mindfulness will likely resonate with you. A must-read! Read the Summary » ​ ​ Quote of the Week "All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now." ​ — Rick Rubin ​ The Big 3 From the Book 1. To begin your creative journey in earnest, open your mind and let everything inspire you. 2. When you first begin to create, keep the stakes low to not stifle your creativity. 3. For more than any other reason, make art for art's sake — it's the only kind that has the power to shine. Master the Lessons in 4 Minutes » ​ A Book Brought to Life Robin Wall Kimmerer was raised as a Native American in upstate New York. The clash of cultures was real. Her grandmother taught her to treat nature like a family member rather than a pool of resources to just take from. As such, Kimmerer was always bewildered at how her classmates treated the world around them. The wild strawberry field behind her school? Most kids just came, took the berries, and left. Kimmerer always collected a few seeds and planted new strawberries. It felt natural to reciprocate Mother Nature's gift. In her bestselling book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer explains how we all can live more with nature and less in it. If you want to better understand what it takes to save our planet and learn how you can contribute in small ways, all while living more in line with nature, watch this video. ​ ​ ​ The Freebie ​ ​The Pomodoro Technique is a simple time management method that breaks work into 25-minute chunks followed by 5-minute breaks. It makes work feel less overwhelming. It'll also help you focus on individual tasks for longer periods of time. If you want to learn everything you need to know to implement this tool into your life and become more productive immediately, today's 4-minute explainer has you covered: ​What Is the Pomodoro Technique?​ ​How Does It Work?​ ​Why Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?​ ​How Can I Get the Most Out of Using the Technique?​ ​Who Invented the Pomodoro Technique?​ ​Why Is It Called "Pomodoro?"​ ​Are There Any Pomodoro Timer Apps?​ ​Where Can I Learn More About the Technique?​ Whether you are facing a monumental task and don't know where to start or feeling burned out at the end of the day despite not accomplishing much, the Pomodoro Technique can help you overcome these challenges. I hope you'll give it a try. It only takes 4 minutes to learn. Become a Pomodoro Master 4 Minutes » PS: The Pomodoro Technique will also help you a great deal in implementing the lessons from our productivity classic below. ​ Dusty But Brilliant The One Thing​ by Gary Keller If you want a simpler approach to productivity that cuts through the clutter and gets things done, The ONE Thing is for you. In this book, real estate legend Gary Keller delivers a stellar framework for focused work, based around a single question, to help you trade clutter, distractions and stress for focus, energy and success. It's a good one. Take a look! Read the Summary » ​ The Big 3 From the Book 1. You can figure out your long- and short-term priorities and goals with a single question. 2. In order to get focused, you have to learn how to say no. 3. Never sacrifice your personal life for work. Master the Lessons in 4 Minutes » ​ The Meme Shelf Let's face it, even Apple's VR Headset won't be able to compete with this. Brain magic all the way! 🧠 🪄 That's everything for now. Enjoy your weekend! Happy reading, -Nik PS: Did you know that there's a memory technique called "rubberducking" where, if you explain something to a rubber duck, you are much more likely to remember it? Well, if you explain it to a real person, the chance of memorization soars even higher! That's what Blinkist Spaces* are for. Invite anyone, let them read and listen to the book summaries you recommend from their catalog, and discuss — free of charge! Try it for free here and get an extra 35% off if you stay* »​ What can we do to improve the next edition? Tell us here. Did someone forward you this email? If so, you can sign up here. ​​​​​​ Copyright © 2023 Four Minute Books Preferences | Josef-Obenhin-Str. 4, Munich, 80634 | *Affiliate link ​Unsubscribe​