What I’ve been reading:
A History of the Hero by Noah Huisman
Noah Huisman is probably my favorite “discovery” on social media this year.
On Instagram, which is full of meme-speaking, fascist and neo-nazi imagery sharing but pretending to be noble and virtuous, not backing up any claims with personal life examples masculinity pages, it’s always refreshing to see a real man, actually striving to live a life of virtue and excellence and share his journey with others. That’s Noah.
Besides Instagram, I enjoy his substack The Lumenorean and highly recommend it to everyone.
Considering how much I’ve enjoyed his short-form content and substack essays, it was only right to read his book.
A History of the Hero is the second book in the series titled This Way to the Stars, which traces the origins and development of Western philosophy and mythology.
One thing that stands out for me is that, while reading it, you can feel the intention with which A History of the Hero has been written. Noah isn’t trying to use the book as a tool for gaining authority. He is fully invested in restoring the sense of the True, Good, and Beautiful in our modern age and wants to take you on this journey with him.
This Way to the Stars book series.
What I’ve been listening to:
Kendrick Lamar and Rick Rubin conversation
I have recently heard from a person whose opinion I respect that, while Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act is good, his conversation with Kendrick Lamar that they recorded for GQ 7 years ago gives even better insights on the creative process.
More than anything creativity-related, listening to Kendrick Lamar speak was an excellent and extremely rare example of someone who is down to earth and humble but at the same time supremely confident.
What I’ve been thinking about:
This past Saturday, I finally launched my YouTube channel by hosting a live on men’s mental health.
You can check it out here. And, of course, subscribe to my channel. Do it. Please.
This wasn’t a one-time thing, nor will the channel be strictly focused on men’s topics, just like my writing isn’t.
The live went on for 4 hours. As a friend told me, “So Joe Rogan-esque of you.”
I loved every single minute of it, and I’m still buzzing with excitement from it. Right now, I’m in the process of figuring out how many prerecorded videos and lives I can have per week without it completely consuming my schedule.
Yes, the enthusiasm is that high. But it was in 2020 that I was first asked to make a long-form video on one of the topics I was writing about. And I have been asked to do it countless times since then.
I will not dwell on the fact that I’ve avoided this chapter of my creative journey for 3 years. At the very least, I have learned to look forward and make sure not to waste any additional days, months, or years. But I am sharing this to challenge you.
What project are you scared to take on, even though you know you should do it? Do you want to give up on it completely? If not, why wait 3 years like me? Why wait one more month or week? Do you really think you will be more prepared than you are now?
I’ll let you in on a little secret: The feeling of “preparedness” you will gain with time, if you even gain it, is nowhere near worth the sense of momentum you gain from taking action.
Thank you for reading.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
Free Resources:
My free ebook: The Lost Art of Reading
Paid Resources:
The Art of Showing Up: A Clear and Practical Method for Mastering Consistency
The Gold Pill: Timeless Ideas for a Life Worth Living
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Sometimes it takes a while to break the initial obstacle . I like to see it as the time it takes a seed to first sprout out of the soil .