“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” —Rick Rubin

Even the smartest among us can feel inept as we fail to figure out which light switch or oven burner to turn on, or whether to push, pull, or slide a door. The fault, argues this ingenious -- even liberating -- book, lies not in ourselves, but in product design that ignores the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. The problems range from ambiguous and hidden controls to arbitrary relationships between controls and functions, coupled with a lack of feedback or other assistance and unreasonable demands on memorization. The Design of Everyday Things shows that good, usable design is possible. The rules are simple: make things visible, exploit natural relationships that couple function and control, and make intelligent use of constraints. The goal: guide the user effortlessly to the right action on the right control at the right time. The Design of Everyday Things is a powerful primer on how -- and why -- some products satisfy customers while others only frustrate them.

The Brand Gap is the first book to present a unified theory of brand-building. Whereas most books on branding are weighted toward either a strategic or creative approach, this book shows how both ways of thinking can unite to produce a “charismatic brand”―a brand that customers feel is essential to their lives. In an entertaining two-hour read you’ll learn: • the new definition of brand • the five essential disciplines of brand-building • how branding is changing the dynamics of competition • the three most powerful questions to ask about any brand • why collaboration is the key to brand-building • how design determines a customer’s experience • how to test brand concepts quickly and cheaply • the importance of managing brands from the inside • 220-word brand glossary

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a memoir by Haruki Murakami where he talks about two things that define a big part of his life: running and writing. Murakami didn’t always plan on being a novelist. He was running a jazz bar in his twenties when, while watching a baseball game, he suddenly thought, “I could write a novel.” He gave it a shot, it worked out, and he eventually sold his bar to focus on writing full-time. But sitting at a desk all day, smoking and not moving much, wasn’t doing his health any good. That’s when he picked up running. For Murakami, running is more than just exercise—it’s part of his routine and, in a way, a metaphor for writing. Both take endurance. Both are long hauls where you push yourself day after day, even when you don’t feel like it. The book follows him as he trains for marathons, competes in triathlons, and grapples with the slow decline of his physical abilities as he ages. He talks a lot about acceptance—accepting getting older, accepting bad race times, and accepting that sometimes you just don’t do as well as you hoped. His attitude is basically: That’s life. You move on. The writing style is straightforward, like he’s just talking to you over a coffee. He doesn’t dress things up. Sometimes he rambles, mentioning things like cycling habits or going off on tangents about global warming. At one point, he describes running the original marathon route in Greece—sun blazing, salt stinging his eyes, everything uncomfortable. But through it all, there’s this calm acceptance. He’s not trying to convince anyone to run; he just shares what it means to him. By the end, what sticks isn’t just the running or the writing, but the way he embraces both the highs and the lows—the post-race blues, the joy of finishing, and the satisfaction of something as simple as a cold beer after a long run. It’s a book about effort, routine, and learning to keep going, no matter what.

The best book about the best director in the world. It was such a great book it was adapted into a movie. Bet the other books on this list can't say that!

The great thing about this book is that it takes a big-picture view of human history. It attempts to explain the main themes of human history without getting bogged down in the details. Sapiens also debunks many popular myths about human history, including the one that people today live happier lives and have better diets than our hunter-gatherer predecessors. It comes with an epilogue about the future of humankind in light of ever-accelerating technological progress. With the recent advances in AI it is more relevant than ever. If you're going to read one book on history this year, read this one.

Create High Performing ads in under a minute Copy These Pre-Tested, Meta Optimized, Done-For-You Ad Creatives To Turbo Charge Your Ad Performance in Under a Minute

Remusic provides an easy-to-use platform for musicians and creators at any level. With our one-click music generation, you can quickly create custom tracks that fit your artistic vision, no extensive music knowledge required. The unique AI Singer feature lets you choose from over 1000 vocalists, each adding their own style to your songs, making every version feel fresh and unique. Plus, our music video generator turns your text and images into beautiful visual stories that enhance your music. Our vocal extraction tool allows you to isolate and edit vocals, perfect for remixing or making mashups. Finally, converting your music into traditional sheet music makes it simple to share your work with other musicians, promoting collaboration and creativity within the community.

Join the debate on the efficacy of affiliate marketing platforms such as OG Ads and CPAGrip. Uncover the differing experiences marketers face and why a nuanced approach to audience and traffic can lead you to your marketing goals, debunking the one-size-fits-all strategy myth. Why Regional Preferences Matter in Choosing Between OG Ads and CPAGrip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd5BHVlhn6U

Anders Larsson’s tutorial sheds light on navigating through deceptive offers on affiliate marketing platforms like OGAds and CPA Grid, highlighting the significance of reputation and genuine content over spammy tactics. His narrative, interspersed with personal anecdotes from experiences on Black Hat World, provides practical advice for marketers aiming to build sustainable and trustworthy digital identities. OGAds & CPAgrid Reviewed: What Works and What Doesn’t: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsA4gqTnULE

The video highlights the overriding importance of storytelling in achieving YouTube success. It suggests that beginners keep their focus on producing content that connects and resonates with the audience, using even the most basic equipment to convey their stories effectively. The narrative also emphasizes the role of digital marketing in understanding and reaching the target audience, advising on patience and the gradual upgrading of equipment corresponding to the creator’s growth and learning curve. The Minimalist’s Guide to YouTube Success: Storytelling Over Gear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW-Vdif2mWE

Learn the essentials of creating and running a blog on the user-friendly platform systeme.io, as I highlight its free options, contrasting them with ClickFunnels’ steep pricing. The video serves not just as a technical guide but also as a motivational tool, with discussions on the ethical implications of business models in digital marketing. I share personal experiences and challenges faced during my own startup phase, making the session relatable and enriched with real-life applicability. Systeme.io’s Blogging Platform: How It Supports Aspiring Entrepreneurs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdyVXU_0G-0

In an engaging YouTube tutorial, the speaker presents a case study of their online coaching experience, emphasizing the "15-day business builder challenge" offered by legendary mocker. Initially skeptical about its low cost, the creator elaborates on how the product surpasses expectations, providing substantial value and catalyzing an expectation shift among users. The video further discusses the broader implications of setting price points in digital marketing, suggesting that a modest investment can lead to significant educational empowerment and reduced refund demands. The presentation concludes by inviting viewers to try the challenge themselves via a provided link and to subscribe for more insightful content. The Little Investment That Could: How $7 Opens Doors in Online Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0tD-jGQ6O4

Through a narrative of personal experience and technical explanation, I unravel the complexities behind the scenes of ad networks like Bing. I share insights into how unsuspecting marketers can fall prey to sophisticated bot schemes that click on ads without any intent to purchase, explaining the financial and psychological toll such deceptive practices can take on individuals striving to make it in digital marketing. Deciphering the Code: How Ad Networks Manipulate Traffic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-FNb7nEZew

Discover the secrets to a long, healthy, and fulfilling life with "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. This insightful book delves into the Japanese concept of ikigai, or a "reason for being," which is believed to be a key factor in the remarkable longevity of the residents of Okinawa, a Japanese village known for having the world’s highest percentage of centenarians. Through interviews with these vibrant centenarians, the authors uncover how the principles of ikigai—where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—contribute to their happiness and longevity. The book reveals the residents' daily practices, from their nutrient-rich diets and active lifestyles to their strong community bonds and purposeful work. "Ikigai" provides practical advice and tools to help readers discover their own ikigai, offering a blend of cultural wisdom and actionable steps towards a life filled with purpose, health, and joy. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in enhancing their well-being and finding deeper satisfaction in everyday life.

Song Finder: Your Ultimate Browser Music Identification Companion Ever wondered about that catchy tune playing in a video or streaming site? Song Finder is here to solve your music mysteries! Our powerful Chrome extension lets you identify any song playing in your browser with just one click. 🎵 Key Features: Instant Recognition: Click once to identify songs playing in any tab. Accurate Results: Powered by advanced audio fingerprinting technology. Detailed Information: Get artist, title, genre, label, and release date. Song Analyzer Integration: Dive deeper into song details with our online analyzer. Works Everywhere: Compatible with streaming sites, video platforms, and more. Privacy-Focused: No permanent audio storage or recording. 🚀 How It Works: Play any audio in your Chrome browser. Click the Song Finder icon. Wait a few seconds as we analyze the audio. Get instant results with comprehensive song details. Perfect for music enthusiasts, playlist curators, and anyone curious about the songs they encounter online. Expand your music knowledge and discover new artists effortlessly! 🎧 Use Cases: Identify background music in videos Discover tracks in live streams or podcasts Find the name of that song stuck in your head Build your playlist with newly discovered music 💡 Pro Tip: Use Song Finder in combination with your favorite music streaming service to quickly add identified songs to your playlists! Note: This extension requires tab audio access to function. We respect your privacy and do not store any audio data. Download Song Finder now and transform your browsing experience into a musical adventure!

BigSpy possesses a massive database that undergoes millions of data updates every day. Moreover, BigSpy's database covers some of the most crucial platforms highly regarded by advertising practitioners, such as TikTok, Facebook, and Admob. With its abundant filtering options, you can effortlessly find the advertising materials that best meet your needs and gain inspiration. The homepage analysis function enables real-time monitoring of competitors. In addition, BigSpy offers features like selected advertisements and creative rankings, further helping you pick out the most valuable advertising creativity and greatly enhancing your efficiency in finding advertising inspiration.

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is William Finnegan’s story about growing up obsessed with surfing. It’s not just about catching waves—it’s about a whole way of life that’s demanding, addictive, and sometimes dangerous. Finnegan started young, learning to surf in California and Hawaii, and kept chasing waves into adulthood, traveling through places like Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, and Africa. Along the way, he mixes adventure with self-reflection, talking about friendships formed in the water, the culture around surfing, and how it all fit with the times—especially during the social changes of the 1960s and '70s. The book isn’t just about the thrill of surfing; Finnegan dives into the technical side of waves and the patience it takes to master them. He’s honest about his youthful recklessness—like taking LSD before surfing a massive wave in Maui—and the risks that came with his travels, from malaria scares to navigating shady markets. Still, surfing pulls him along, even when he’s juggling a career as a war reporter and later, family life. At its core, Barbarian Days is an old-fashioned adventure tale mixed with a thoughtful look at what it means to be hooked on something so completely. Finnegan’s writing captures both the beauty and the grind of surfing, making you feel like you’re right there with him—whether on a remote beach or paddling out into icy waves off Long Island.

A directory of writer tools, including AI-generators, AI-detectors, and plagiarism scoring systems. Our curated collection highlights the most popular writing tools, ranked according to user satisfaction and effectiveness. We've categorized these tools into four main segments: AI Writing Assistants & Generators, Plagiarism Checkers & AI Detectors, Copywriting Tools & Content Generators, and Book Writing & Creative Writing Tools. Each section is designed to help you find the right stack for your specific writing and copywriting needs.

This is the only audiobook I've ever listened to lol. But it is a very interesting story about Elon, arguably the most interesting person alive.