# Eric Sandroni


## Posts

- [Kurt Cobain, Imperfection, and Why Making Something Matters](https://ericsandroni.com/kurt-cobain-imperfection-creativity/): Something to Keep “I guarantee you I will screw this song up.” Kurt Cobain, before playing “The Man Who Sold the World”. Nirvana’s rendition of the David Bowie song received universal acclaim. A Second Look In his book Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon writes about how we often worry about perfection and judgment when we’re making something in a creative field. The author argues that our job as creators isn’t to judge our own work, but to simply make it and release it, so that the world can judge. According to Kleon, we’ll probably do a bad job anyway. […]
- [The 10 Best Books I Read in 2025 (History, AI, Movies, and Culture)](https://ericsandroni.com/best-books-i-read-2025/): Here's a personal list of the 10 best books I read in 2025, spanning history, AI, movies, culture, and memoirs.
- [Playing Poker in the Library](https://ericsandroni.com/playing-poker-in-the-library/): I’ve been thinking about the newsletter format for some time now. I want something simpler and closer to the way I think. From now on, each issue will have three distinct parts: something to keep, a connection that stood out, and a few things I liked that week. Something to Keep “Gentlemen, Gentlemen… I’ll never understand. All these books, a world of knowledge at your fingertips. What do you do? You play poker all night.” William Somerset – Se7en For those unfamiliar, Se7en is a movie directed by David Fincher. It stars Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Morgan Freeman. Freeman […]
- [Why Character Matters More Than Looks (And Why Most People Ignore It)](https://ericsandroni.com/train-character-not-body/): Introduction: The Asymmetry of Modern Self-Improvement If you look up “How to Become Attractive” on the internet, the top results will encourage you to dress well, smell good, and exercise often. People online will also tell you to get a good haircut and smile more. One of the top comments on a Reddit post suggests that you simply “believe in yourself, as if attraction is something you can simply manifest. This illustrates the main problem with the self-development world: we want quick fixes that others will notice. Whenever the topic of attraction comes up, we discuss it in terms of […]
- [How to Spend Money Wisely: 7 Principles for Intentional Buying](https://ericsandroni.com/how-to-spend-money-wisely/): A simple guide to spending money wisely. Discover practical rules, cost-per-use thinking, and how to avoid impulse buying for good.
- [Enjoyment vs Distraction: How to Tell the Difference in a World of Infinite Content](https://ericsandroni.com/enjoyment-vs-distraction/): Introduction: The Confusion We All Live In Just before writing this article, I spent 45 minutes scrolling through cat memes. I somehow ended up reading an article about Americana, a Brazilian state where, in the late 1800s, thousands of Confederate soldiers settled after the American Civil War. This is not my proudest moment, but it got me thinking: how do you know when you’re genuinely enjoying something versus just numbing yourself with mindless information? The modern world gives us infinite content, dopamine loops, and pseudo-enjoyment disguised as fun, so answering that question is harder than you might think. But here’s […]
- [How to Live a Good Life: 7 Modern Principles That Actually Work](https://ericsandroni.com/how-to-live-a-good-life/): Introduction There’s this universal impulse we all have to try and get a comprehensive manual for life. Throughout history, every religion and philosophy has tried to provide the “ultimate” system for living well, and while diving deep into any of them is overwhelming, most of them reveal the same pattern, which I’ll discuss in this article. Reading about Stoicism, Buddhism, or modern psychology feels productive, but even though collecting maps is useful, at some point, you have to stop reading and start living. Everyone who’s into this kind of stuff falls into the same trap at some point: you won’t […]
- [How Cleaning Your Space Improves Your Mental Health: The Psychology of Outer and Inner Order](https://ericsandroni.com/how-cleaning-your-space-improves-your-mental-health-the-psychology-of-outer-and-inner-order/): You can tell how well my week is going by looking at my desk. It’s not like it’s spotless when I’m thriving, but if it’s organized, that means I’m at least functional. I’ve noticed that whenever something’s bothering me mentally, I need to clean up physically. It’s as if organizing my physical space also organizes my mental space. For a while, I was obsessed with Marie Kondo and books about minimalism. Back then, I couldn’t explain why, but now I do. Being organized is important because external order reflects functional inner order. Interestingly, psychology supports this correlation. Environmental psychology shows […]
- [The Happiness Blueprint You Already Know (but Never Use)](https://ericsandroni.com/happiness-simple-guide/): The Paradox of Happiness: Simple List, Messy Lives I spend too much time thinking about happiness. This isn’t as weird as it sounds, since every major philosophy and religion has focused on happiness for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. From the Stoics to modern psychology, something every major tradition agrees on is that happiness isn’t about what you own, but how you live. I’ve never read something as simple as Morgan Housel’s definition of happiness, though. He defines it as (and I’m paraphrasing here) having a family, friends, health, and a sense of purpose. Could it be that simple? […]
- [The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel](https://ericsandroni.com/the-art-of-spending-money-by-morgan-housel/): The Book in Three Sentences In this book summary of The Art of Spending Money, you’ll learn to harness the power of money to live a better life. The lessons in this book will help you reshape your decisions so that money works for you instead of the other way around. This book isn’t about getting rich, but about making the most out of what you already have. Introduction: The Quest of the Simple Life Happiness is often more complex than we first assume, and that’s evident when it comes to money. With money and success, you want to get […]
- [You Can Buy a Rolex, But Not Respect](https://ericsandroni.com/the-best-things-in-life-are-free/): Introduction: The Paradox of Money and Value In his new book, The Art of Spending Money, author Morgan Housel says that one of the most important assets you can develop is good memories. I like this for several reasons. We’re so obsessed with money that we learn how to earn it, save it, invest it, and spend it. What we never learn, though, is that the most important things in life you can’t buy. Some of these include a spouse who loves you, children who admire you, or a fit body. It’s paradoxical that we focus so much on money, […]
- [The Most Important Skill They Never Taught You](https://ericsandroni.com/how-to-learn-effectively/): Discover the ultimate skill everyone needs in a world of endless information: learning how to learn effectively.
- [Confidence: The Cure for the Third Text](https://ericsandroni.com/confidence-beyond-dating/): The Myth of Dating Confidence (and What It’s Really About) Confidence is supposed to make you more attractive, but it mostly keeps you from crying when your crush leaves you on read. This important quality makes you balanced, capable, and emotionally resilient not just in romance, but in every area of life. The purpose of confidence in the dating world is undeniable. After all, few experiences are as emotionally charged as putting yourself out there. It demands intimacy, vulnerability, and uncertainty, which, conveniently, are also the three things humans are worst at. That said, confidence is an existential asset whose […]
- [The Empathy Machine: In Defense of Media](https://ericsandroni.com/in-defense-of-media/): The Good Place: Why Culture Doesn’t Need to Be Useful Few things feel as comforting as pressing play on a show after a long day. However, I’ve noticed that many people discuss media in terms of productivity, distraction, or profit, as if the sole value of a story is whether it sells or wastes our time. We talk about art as if it needs to justify itself, as if feeling moved, inspired, or connected isn’t enough. Consuming media isn’t something to feel guilty about, and I’m not saying that because I spent countless hours watching TV. I’m saying that because […]
- [You’ve Been Left on Read by Evolution: The Real Reason Romantic Rejection Hurts So Much](https://ericsandroni.com/romantic-rejection-psychology/): Romantic rejection hurts deeply, but science explains why. Learn what your brain and heart are really fighting over.
- [The Art of Almost Doing](https://ericsandroni.com/productive-procrastination-art-of-almost-doing/): Introduction: Stop Polishing the Guitar and Play the Damn Song One of my favorite pastimes is playing the guitar. As soon as I grab the instrument and start strumming, I lose track of time. Soon, hours feel like minutes, and everything outside music dissolves, including worry, self-judgement, and the fact that I still have to do my taxes. The best part is that I can fully recreate the image of being a rockstar without an audience or pyrotechnics. And the best part is I can do it in my living room, wearing pajamas. But there’s a problem: sometimes I spend […]
- [The Way of the Superior Man Book Summary by David Deida](https://ericsandroni.com/the-way-of-the-superior-man-summary/): The Book in Three Sentences In this book, you’ll learn about the most important issues in men’s lives, including career, family, women, and intimacy. The Way of the Superior Man is a guide for living a life of integrity, authenticity, and freedom. The goal of this book is to teach men how to achieve a life of fulfillment. Introduction The roles of men and women are no longer fixed. Since the 1960s, men have increasingly embraced their feminine side by growing long hair, wearing vibrant colors, and adopting a more carefree lifestyle. Likewise, women have also embraced their masculine side […]
- [We Hear With Our Eyes: Why Aesthetics Shape the Way We Listen](https://ericsandroni.com/psychology-of-music-visuals/): Before the First Note, You’ve Already Decided I’ve never been shy about my fondness for emo music. Although I love the genre’s introspective lyrics and raw instrumentation, I’ve never identified with its visuals. To me, emo music has always been about the sound, rather than the fashion. Think skinny jeans, black eyeliner, studded belts, and long bangs. This is ironic considering that my bangs were never long enough to cover the shame. Yet regardless of the genre, we don’t just listen to music; we see it. And even if I don’t want to accept it, I identify with emo visuals […]
- [Good to Great Book Summary by Jim Collins](https://ericsandroni.com/good-to-great-summary/): The Book in Three Sentences In this summary of Good to Great, you’ll learn how good, mediocre, and bad companies can achieve enduring greatness. With this book, Jim Collins aimed to identify the distinguishing features that distinguish a company from good to great. To define that, the author studied companies that sustained great results for over fifteen years. Chapter 1: Good Is the Enemy of Great Few of the things we make ever become great. It’s so easy to settle for good that no one takes the time and effort to achieve greatness. In this sense, good is the enemy […]
- [From Biodiversity to Monoculture: How Algorithms Are Killing Our Taste](https://ericsandroni.com/algorithms-flatten-culture/): Introduction: The Earth Isn’t Flat, But Our Culture Is We live in an era ruled by algorithms: Tinder decides who we date, Facebook what we believe, Yelp where we eat, and Spotify what we listen to. All of this makes our culture incredibly homogenous and flat. Despite having access to everything, we consume the same content and have the same opinions. It’s why every Halloween party is just Barbie meeting Wednesday Addams while Sabrina Carpenter plays in the background. We live in what I call “modern monoculture”. While the content is abundant, we’re spiritually anaemic. But what if the reason […]
- [The Burden of Now, the Illusion of Then](https://ericsandroni.com/past-vs-present-illusion-simplicity/): Tamagotchis, Flannel, and the Illusion of Simplicity What I remember most about growing up in the 90s was the endless summers. When you’re young, there’s something almost sacred about the season because you have all the time in the world to go out and explore. And explore I did. Apart from spending entire days in the pool with Super Soakers, I vividly remember the screeching sounds of the internet and running to the bathroom during commercials. What’s missing from my memories is just as important as what remains: the internet was barely there, and notifications didn’t rule my life. In […]
- [The Last Time You Did Something for the First Time](https://ericsandroni.com/comfort-zone-experiments-existentialism-play/): When Was Your Last First Time? Some questions stay with you long after you’ve heard them for the first time. Like, where do all my missing socks go, and are they happier without me? The one I keep thinking about ever since I heard it in an interview was: “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” I inevitably asked myself the same thing, and the silence was so loud I couldn’t ignore it. Most of the “new” experiences were Netflix shows, swapping my regular emo playlist, and watching the latest Marvel movie. In other words, […]
- [The Quiet Rebellion of Being Bad at Something](https://ericsandroni.com/useless-hobbies-for-more-joy/): Discover why embracing “useless” hobbies can spark more joy, lower stress, and free you from the pressure to perform.
- [You Were Authentic Once, and Then You Grew Up](https://ericsandroni.com/authenticity-in-a-performative-world/): Introduction: The World Wants You Real, As Long As It’s Marketable I vote for the outcasts, the losers, and the creeps / Who can bring it back again, make me believe! The Explosion, No Revolution While Spirited Away was racking up awards (including the Golden Bear in Berlin and an Oscar for Best Animated Feature), the film’s director, Hayao Miyazaki, stayed in Japan. He sent a studio rep to give the acceptance speeches while he continued drawing from sunrise to sunset. Even when Roy Disney offered him a private Boeing 737 to attend the ceremony, Miyazaki refused emphatically. At the […]
- [Phones Replaced Priests, and It’s Not Going Well: Why Losing Rituals Made Modern Life Feel Hollow](https://ericsandroni.com/phones-replaced-priests-and-its-not-going-well-why-losing-our-rituals-made-modern-life-feel-hollow/): Phones replaced priests. Rituals became routines. Now we’re anxious and doomscrolling. Here’s what we lost and how to reclaim it.
- [You Only Love That Band Because You’re Afraid to Die](https://ericsandroni.com/nostalgia-and-music/): Introduction: The Timeless Song I vividly recall the first time I heard the intro riff. It sounded like revolution at the time, and it evokes the same feeling today. With four power chords, Kurt Cobain had created “the ultimate pop song”, as he had described “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in a Rolling Stone magazine interview. At the time, I wasn’t paying too much attention to the nonsensical lyrics. I was hypnotized by what I was seeing. The images of the high school pep rally are burned in my retinas: the dingy gymnasium, students on bleachers, and cheerleaders wearing black with […]
- [You Are Not Enough](https://ericsandroni.com/you-are-not-enough/): A hard look at why “you are enough” feels good but holds you back. You’re not broken. But you’re not done.
- [Modern Dating: Where Romance Goes to Die](https://ericsandroni.com/why-dating-apps-dont-work/): In this funny essay, I explore how dating apps killed romance and replaced emotional growth with swiping, bots, and burnout.
- [You’re a One-in-a-Trillion Mistake That Somehow Worked](https://ericsandroni.com/odds-of-being-born/): You shouldn’t be here, but you are. This article explores the mind-blowing odds of being born, from cosmic coincidences to microscopic sperm races.
- [Did You Hear About Jane? The Evolutionary Power of Gossip](https://ericsandroni.com/why-people-gossip/): Why is gossip so irresistible? Discover the surprising science behind gossip, why everyone does it, and how it shaped human civilization.
- [Fail Early, Fail Often — And Stop Caring What Your Mom Thinks](https://ericsandroni.com/fear-of-failure-and-confidence/): Afraid of failing? Good. Do it anyway. This article explains how failure builds confidence, crushes neediness, and makes you more likable.
- [Life’s Too Short to Be Vanilla: The Importance of Having Strong Opinions](https://ericsandroni.com/importance-of-having-strong-opinions/): Having strong opinions makes you stand out in a world of social media conformity. Learn how passion, humility, and honesty help you grow and connect authentically.
- [The Big Scary Thing That Shows Up Every Ten Years](https://ericsandroni.com/the-big-scary-thing-that-shows-up-every-ten-years/): Once every ten years, the world breaks. I call this event “The Big Scary Thing” and here are some ideas on how to deal with it.
- [The Fellowship of the Feed: Five Creatures of the Social Media Realm](https://ericsandroni.com/the-fellowship-of-the-feed-five-creatures-of-the-social-media-realm/): In 2007, Facebook took the world by storm. The social media platform promised people they could connect with their friends, family, and high school buddies they never would have bothered to find otherwise. A couple of decades later, social media is something completely different than what Facebook promised us. It’s this evil force that draws us in for hours on end and makes us unhappy. Social media is like a bad high school party. Everyone’s part of it, but no one’s having fun. Despite the seemingly infinite content at your fingertips and the countless people taking part, you can condense […]
- [Breaking: The World Is Fine, You’re Just Watching the News](https://ericsandroni.com/breaking-the-world-is-fine-youre-just-watching-the-news/): I have some unpopular opinions. One of them is I don't watch the news, and I don't think you should either. Here's why.
- [Love Is Not Enough: Choose Your Life Sentence Wisely](https://ericsandroni.com/love-is-not-enough-choose-your-life-sentence-wisely/): Some decisions in life have a tremendous impact on your overall health and happiness. Here's the most important one you can make.
- [A Day in the Life of a Caveman (or Shut Up and Be Grateful)](https://ericsandroni.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-caveman-or-shut-up-and-be-grateful/): This article explains how the world around us has changed in the last 12,000 years, but humans have stayed the same.
- [The Art of Taking Responsibility for Your Actions (or Why Your Ex Isn’t Such a Bitch)](https://ericsandroni.com/the-art-of-taking-responsibility-for-your-actions-or-why-your-ex-isnt-such-a-bitch/): This is Timmy. Timmy is three years old, and he told his first lie. This is just the beginning, since by the time he turns four, Timmy will be lying more often. This isn’t his fault, though. Lying for the first time is considered a cognitive milestone. Timmy and most three-year-olds have reached the psychological point where they understand that other human beings have unique mental states (this is what psychologists call theory of mind). They also have cognitive skills that enable them to plan, organize, and carry out tasks (this is called executive function). Those are impressive feats for […]
- [The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi – Book Summary](https://ericsandroni.com/book-summary-the-courage-to-be-disliked/): The Book in Three Sentences In this summary of The Courage to Be Disliked, you’ll learn to free yourself from past experiences and societal expectations. The book uses the teachings of Alfred Adler to help you become the best version of yourself. The Courage to Be Disliked is an accessible psychology book that millions have read to unlock their potential. The Courage to Be Disliked Summary This book is based on Alfred Adler’s philosophies. Along with Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, Adler is one of the most important contributors to psychology. This book attempts to distill Adler’s teachings in a […]
- [Why Your Opinions Won’t Change the World (But This Will)](https://ericsandroni.com/why-your-opinions-wont-change-the-world-but-this-will/): “The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” Jack Dorsey Having strong opinions is important in a world where most people use the same items and consume the same media. If you find yourself in a group of people agreeing with everything everyone says, then you have a serious problem. To be clear, I’m not suggesting you should be contrarian for the sake of being contrarian. I’m saying you should be an independent thinker. Then comes the second part: you must support your strong opinions with definitive action. Expressing one’s opinions is easy. In fact, it’s never […]
- [The Only Men’s Style Guide You’ll Ever Need to Dress Better](https://ericsandroni.com/the-only-mens-style-guide-youll-ever-need-to-dress-better/): I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to dress well. I read books and articles, watched videos, and researched Pinterest tirelessly, but nothing seemed to help. The problem with most fashion advice is that the people behind those resources tell you to dress how they think you should. Nevertheless, creating a wardrobe shouldn’t be about following simple instructions. Creating a wardrobe should be a series of principles anyone can apply according to their unique style. With that in mind, I decided to write an article with some principles I swear by that helped me dress better as a […]
- [The Best Thing You Can Buy Is Freedom](https://ericsandroni.com/the-best-thing-you-can-buy-is-freedom/): “People who live far below their means enjoy a freedom that people busy upgrading their lifestyles can’t fathom.” Naval Ravikant At least once a month, I find myself going over online wishlists. As you get older, you get more money and upgrade your lifestyle. I never got around to doing this for some reason, but I feel that compulsion. As soon as I notice this, I stop because I remember my true north: freedom. The best thing money can buy isn’t a fancy watch, a faster car, or a bigger television. The best thing money can buy is freedom. Let […]
- [Everyone’s Racing Ahead; I’m Slowing Down](https://ericsandroni.com/everyones-racing-ahead-im-slowing-down/): “I love the feeling of making something with my hands, but with a computer you could go so much faster. Well, I don’t want to go faster. If anything, I should go slower.” David McCollough – The Paris Review From a young age, the first tools we use are analog. At some point, we replace analog tools with digital ones and never question this decision. If you’re not careful, you could spend your entire life using tools that may not be right for the job. It’s as if society agreed on certain things. Computers replaced typewriters. Phones replaced books. Social […]
- [The Best Things in Life Are Invisible (And Why They Matter Most)](https://ericsandroni.com/the-best-things-in-life-are-invisible-and-why-they-matter-most/): “Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.” Naval Ravikant Sometimes, I spend time with people and inevitably compare myself to them. I notice all the things they have and I don’t: a newer car, a nicer place, a bigger TV. That’s somewhat unfair because the more I talk to them, the more I realize all the small luxuries they have come at an expensive price. They have all those things, but they also have debt and a burning feeling that (despite their flashy possessions) they’re behind in life. This led me to the realization that the nicest things in life […]
- [The 5 Types of Wealth Summary – Sahil Bloom’s Guide to True Riches](https://ericsandroni.com/the-5-types-of-wealth-summary/): The Book in Three Sentences In this book summary of The 5 Types of Wealth, you’ll learn that money isn’t the only type of wealth. A wealthy life may involve money, but it will be defined by everything else. This book gives you a blueprint to build your life around five types of wealth: Time Wealth, Social Wealth, Mental Wealth, Physical Wealth, and Financial Wealth. The 5 Types of Wealth Summary Prologue: The Journey of a Lifetime We all assume that money leads to happiness, but that’s not the case. We never question the assumption that having nice things is […]
- [How Social Pressure Kills Your Potential (And What to Do About It)](https://ericsandroni.com/how-social-pressure-kills-your-potential-and-what-to-do-about-it/): “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” Epictetus I often think about humility: how soon in life we lose it and how hard it is to get it back, if only momentarily. If you spend time with a small child, you’ll notice that they do the same activity over and over, even when they’re not “good” at it. The task completely absorbs them, and no one can persuade them to stop and do something else. That humility, and to a certain extent, lack of social skills, is blissful. You can devote every working hour […]
- [The Magic of Creative Risk-Taking: Why Bold Choices Matter](https://ericsandroni.com/the-magic-of-creative-risk-taking-why-bold-choices-matter/): The sixth episode of Netflix’s supernatural horror drama, The Haunting of Hill House features a series of long takes that were seamlessly combined into one. The third segment was hard to complete and, due to technical issues, the people involved had one last chance to get it right. Creator Mike Flannagan knew this but didn’t say anything to the cast. As they were ready to shoot the final take, he said: “I’ve got a good feeling about this one.” They got the take before the equipment broke beyond repair. Of the episode’s 53 minutes and 38 seconds, 51 minutes are […]
- [Are You Playing the Right Game? How to Avoid Wasting Your Life](https://ericsandroni.com/are-you-playing-the-right-game-how-to-avoid-wasting-your-life/): “My father has zero intellectual insecurities… It has never crossed his mind to be concerned that the world thinks he’s an idiot. He’s not in that game.” Malcolm Gladwell You could play many games in this life, but most people never take the time to figure out what those games are. You could, for instance, play a game where you’re trying to become the richest or the most famous. The problem with most games is that they’re stupid. As renowned investor Naval Ravikant once said, “Play stupid games, win stupid prices.” In other words, when you make foolish choices, you […]
- [Get Rich the Right Way: The Boring Path to Financial Freedom](https://ericsandroni.com/get-rich-the-right-way-the-boring-path-to-financial-freedom/): “There is only one success, to be able to spend your life in your own way.” Christopher Morley We think we want money to buy expensive things, but the best thing money can buy is freedom. Being able to do what you want, for as long as you want, with whoever you want is priceless. Yet few people ever talk about this, even if it’s the most valuable financial lesson you can learn. I find it fascinating how certain financial experts cover (or in this case downright ignore) certain topics. They treat money as a rational topic, ignoring the most […]
- [The One Lesson About Creativity for Unparalleled Success](https://ericsandroni.com/the-one-lesson-about-creativity-for-unparalleled-success/): “One is trying to say everything that can be said for the things that one loves while there’s still time.” W. S. Merwin Some words are hard to define, especially the ones that refer to abstract ideas. Certain words mean something different depending on who you talk to. I’m sure my definition of freedom will differ from yours. The same can be said about wealth, beauty, or love. One such term is “art”, but one of the best explanations comes from W. S. Merwin and you can read it above. To me, the purpose of art is to express something […]
- [The Breakthrough Benefits of Learning New Things You Need to Know](https://ericsandroni.com/the-breakthrough-benefits-of-learning-new-things-you-need-to-know/): “When you want to learn how to do something yourself, most people won’t understand. They’ll assume the only reason we do anything is to get it done, and doing it yourself is not the most efficient way. But that’s forgetting about the joy of learning and doing.” Derek Sivers – Anything You Want It wasn’t until I sat down with pen and paper and some unstructured time that I realized that one of my core values is learning. This sounds like a waste of time, but figuring out your values might be one of the most powerful exercises you can […]
- [The Secret to Authenticity You Need to Know](https://ericsandroni.com/the-secret-to-authenticity-you-need-to-know/): “Man, sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself.” Miles Davis Authenticity is having clear values and doing actions that align with them. For this to happen, you need to understand yourself deeply. This is harder than it seems, especially when you start doing something for the first time. When you look at someone who looks or sounds authentic, I can assure you that person spent a sizeable part of their life getting to that point. One of the hardest parts of being authentic is we feel external pressure to conform. This is a natural part of […]
- [The Unparalleled Advantages of Disconnecting](https://ericsandroni.com/the-unparalleled-advantages-of-disconnecting/): “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes – including you.” Anne Lammot A common problem most people struggle with is the overuse of technology. We live in a world where escaping technology is hard. If we’re not careful, we can take push notifications, a 24/7 news cycle, and endless inboxes wherever we go. For everything that technology gives us, it also takes something precious from us: solitude. To produce great work or rest, we must disconnect occasionally. I’m most productive when disconnected from the internet, which is probably the case for most people. For […]
- [Small Risk, Disproportionate Results](https://ericsandroni.com/small-risk-disproportionate-results/): “The thing that’s important in entrepreneurship: you just have to be right once.” Naval Ravikant Certain activities in life are asymmetric. This is when the downsides of doing something are minuscule compared to the potential rewards. Our job is to identify these asymmetries, especially the ones that offer big rewards that change your life for the better. As Naval Ravikant once wrote, entrepreneurship is one such example. Another example is when you’re single and meet potential romantic partners. You never know who you’ll spend the rest of your life with. If meeting that person demands five minutes of discomfort, you […]
- [Essential Gear for Everyday Writing](https://ericsandroni.com/essential-gear-for-everyday-writing/): For some reason, I’ve always wanted to discuss the tools I use regularly. When I was an absolute beginner, I was obsessed with tools. The more I write, the more I realize tools aren’t important because few tools can encourage you to do your work. I divided this article into two sections because that’s how my setup works. There’s a digital desk on one side of the room and an analog one on the other. I stole the idea from Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist. As you’ll see the gear I use is extremely minimalist. The best part is […]
- [Learn to Love the Little Things in Life](https://ericsandroni.com/learn-to-love-the-little-things-in-life/): “An old friend of mine, a journalist, once said that paradise on earth was to work all day alone in anticipation of an evening in interesting company.” Ian McEwan – Machines Like Me I often think about quotes like these. We tend to pursue big dreams, but we forget the best things in life are simpler. Have you ever noticed how the small things are the ones you wouldn’t give up for anything? It could be anything. Going on long walks without your phone, exploring the outside world, or playing with small children. As long as what you do, you […]
- [The Best Way to Achieve Focus](https://ericsandroni.com/the-best-way-to-achieve-focus/): “Write a little every day, without hope, without despair.” Isak Dinesen Sometimes the difference between a mediocre day and an amazing one is as simple as doing an activity that makes you lose time. Carl Jung put it best when he wrote “What did you do as a child that made the hours pass like minutes? Herein lies the key to your earthly pursuits.” This is known as flow state and a variety of activities lead to it. It could be playing sports, hiking, gardening, cooking, or painting. In my case, I’ve always had an affinity with writing. Losing yourself […]
- [The Definitive Guide to Finding Your One Thing](https://ericsandroni.com/the-definitive-guide-to-finding-your-one-thing/): What would you do if you had to spend an hour every morning doing deep work (preferably offline and without screens)? I’ve always admired those who devote their lives to a singular, analog activity because it feels like a superpower. “Commitment gives you freedom because it hones your attention and focus, directing them toward what makes you most healthy and happy”, Mark Manson once wrote. Commitment isn’t the problem for many people, but identifying the activity they want to commit to is. We know the goal is mastery, but it’s hard to achieve that if you don’t know what to […]
- [The Notecard System: How to Remember Everything You Read](https://ericsandroni.com/notecard-system/): In this article, you'll learn everything there is to know about the notecard system which helps you remember everything you read.
- [The One Secret that Leads to Massive Success](https://ericsandroni.com/the-one-secret-that-leads-to-massive-success/): “In my whole life, I’ve never been good at something I wasn’t very interested in. It just doesn’t work. There’s no substitute for strong interest.” Charlie Munger – All I Want to Know Is Where I’m Going to Die So I’ll Never Go There Learning new things is one of the best ways to invest in yourself. You can’t start learning something just because it’s popular or because you think you should. You must pursue your interests, not someone else’s. When you do, you acquire a unique skill set and no one can compete with you. Learning new things, but […]
- [Some Powerful Questions to Change Your Life](https://ericsandroni.com/some-powerful-questions-to-change-your-life/): I keep a series of questions on my notecard system. I’ve noticed that the questions are often more interesting than the answers. Since this might help others, I compiled my favorite ones in this article. In my case, I tend to ask myself questions regularly and answer them in my journal. That said, I’m sure the simple act of thinking about certain things is powerful enough to change the trajectory of your life. As Eugene Ionesco once wrote, “It is not the answer that enlightens us, but the question.” You’ll notice that some questions are tricky to answer (and sometimes […]
- [The 10 Outstanding Books I Read In 2024](https://ericsandroni.com/the-10-outstanding-books-i-read-in-2024/): Here are some of the best books I read in 2024. In a way, I didn’t read as many books as I hoped I would this year. But when it came time to write this list and review the books checked out this year, I realized I read more than I thought. Writing this list was harder than I expected. Do you include books you read last year but didn’t have time to include on the 2023 list? Books you reread? Books you read a fraction of? Ultimately, I focused on everything that resonated and ignored everything else. How to […]
- [The Secret to Making Better Decisions You Need](https://ericsandroni.com/the-secret-to-making-better-decisions-you-need/): “The pain of regret lasts forever. The pain of action fades quickly.” Shane Parrish Recently, I listened to an episode of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck podcast where Mark Manson talked about certain things in life being asymmetric. The idea is that the downsides of certain things are minuscule compared to the potential rewards. His example was that if you’re single and want to start a relationship, always go to parties and talk to the stranger you find attractive. Best case scenario: you have an amazing relationship that lasts a long time and your life changes dramatically. […]
- [Two Powerful Ways to Write that Will Change Your Life](https://ericsandroni.com/two-powerful-ways-to-write-that-will-change-your-life/): At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, writing has changed my life. I often talk about the importance of reading, but writing is as important. When you’re reading, you’re passively consuming. When you’re writing, you’re actively engaging with the content. Ideally, what you do involves a combination of the two. The problem with writing is that it’s one of the hardest activities you can do, so it’s difficult to know where to start. Here are two simple steps to start writing regardless of who you are and what you do for a living. Journal “Paper has more patience than people.” Anne […]
- [4 Secrets to Freedom (from the World’s Best Thinkers)](https://ericsandroni.com/4-secrets-to-freedom-from-the-worlds-best-thinkers/): I enjoy reading about topics like happiness, success, and freedom because those values mean something different to everyone. In other words, my definition of freedom might be different from yours. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you take the time to develop your own definition. Even when I disagree with someone else, reading about topics like these makes me reflect. We all need to discuss things like these, but they are difficult to discuss in everyday conversation. With that in mind, I compiled a series of quotes about freedom that might help you develop your own […]
- [The Thing You’ll Regret the Most Isn’t What You Think](https://ericsandroni.com/the-thing-youll-regret-the-most-isnt-what-you-think/): “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain Reading about regret is a habit for me. Like many other topics, regret inevitably comes up when talking with other people. I assume it has a similar effect on others as well, but it motivates me to do something because I know I have time as long as I’m alive. In The Top Five Regrets […]
- [The One Thing You Can’t Bypass on Your Way to Success](https://ericsandroni.com/the-one-thing-you-cant-bypass-on-your-way-to-success/): “Mastery is the best goal because the rich can’t buy it, the impatient can’t rush it, the privileged can’t inherit it, and nobody can steal it. You can only earn it through hard work. Mastery’s the ultimate status.” Derek Sivers – How to Live Some things you can’t replace and hard work is one of them. When we see someone who has devoted their life to a singular task, we want that for ourselves. The problem is we don’t know where to start. It’s as if we want to become masters, but we don’t know which activity to master. I […]
- [All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Dating Books](https://ericsandroni.com/all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-from-dating-books/): “The only real dating advice is self-improvement. Work on yourself. Conquer your anxieties. Resolve your shame. Take care of yourself and those who are important to you. Love yourself. Otherwise, no one else will.” Mark Manson – Models  People often ask me why I read dating books so diligently. My answer is always the same: you can learn the basics of psychology from dating books. When you do, this gives you an advantage in social settings. Some of the lessons you can find in dating books are universal and work well in contexts where you interact with people you have […]
- [The Recipe for Success Is to Catalog Your Failures](https://ericsandroni.com/the-recipe-for-success-is-to-catalog-your-failures/): “To do something that you feel in your heart that’s great, you need to make a lot of mistakes. Anything that’s successful is a series of mistakes.” Billie Joe Armstrong I’ve been obsessed with failure lately. Although we think of failure as the opposite of success, they are two sides of the same coin. Each failure takes you closer to where you want to be. As Albert Einstein once said, “Failure is success in progress.” For many people, failure sounds like a bad word and while certain cultures celebrate failure, most find it shameful. In The Subtle Art of Not […]
- [Learn Everything There Is to Know About Productivity in Under 5 Minutes](https://ericsandroni.com/learn-everything-there-is-to-know-about-productivity-in-under-5-minutes/): “Anything you do to optimize your work, cut some corners, or squeeze more ‘efficiency’ out of it (and out of your life) will eventually make you dislike it.” Nassim Nicholas Taleb – Skin in the Game I used to think that life was something to optimize. The more I read about productivity, the more I realize that it’s not about learning complex principles and rules to do more things. The main pillar of productivity should be to find something you consider important. Once you do, the rest takes care of itself. In Keep Going, Austin Kleon wrote “Worry less about […]
- [The Most Important Skill You Can Learn About Money](https://ericsandroni.com/the-most-important-skill-you-can-learn-about-money/): “I’m called ‘the poorest president’, but I don’t feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more.” Jose “Pepe” Mujica – Former president of Uruguay One of my favorite books is The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. In the book, Ravikant talks about the three things everyone’s after. Those are wealth, fitness, and happiness. The investor adds, “We pursue them in that order, but their importance is in reverse.” Overall, being rich isn’t that important, or at least, not as important as being healthy or happy. That said, we often […]
- [Everyone Wants the Same Thing, but They Are Wrong](https://ericsandroni.com/everyone-wants-the-same-thing-but-they-are-wrong/): “I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom” Bob Dylan Like most people, I spend too much time thinking about money. I’m not attracted to the social prestige that comes with money, but I believe that the ultimate thing money can buy you is freedom. In The Bed of Procrustes, Nicholas Nassim Taleb said “The ultimate freedom lies in not having to explain why you did something.” For the last few years, I’ve optimized my life for freedom and getting as much money as possible. On top of that, I […]
- [The Single Productivity Tip that Will Change Your Life](https://ericsandroni.com/the-single-productivity-tip-that-will-change-your-life/): “Your brain is most intelligent when you don’t instruct it on what to do – something people who take showers discover on occasion.” Nassim Nicholas Taleb – The Bed of Procrustes Sometimes slowing down is the weapon to charge ahead. Writer Ryan Holiday refers to this idea as “stillness”. Holiday wrote a book called Stillness Is the Key where he compiled ideas from Stoicism and Buddhism to illustrate the importance of stillness. How many things can we improve by letting them alone or thinking without taking action? The first thing that comes to mind is rest. In Excellent Advice for […]
- [I Read 264 Books, These Are My Ten Favorites](https://ericsandroni.com/i-read-264-books-these-are-my-ten-favorites/): According to my Goodreads account, I’ve read 264 books over the past three years. Since my favorite genre is nonfiction, finding ideas I haven’t read before has been difficult. This means I never finish most of the books I start, but I’m fine with that. Morgan Housel calls this strategy of starting any book but giving it up as soon as it becomes uninteresting “wide funnel, tight filter” (you can read more about it here). The books I read belong to several categories, including habit formation, personal finance, relationships, philosophy, and productivity. You’ll notice there are over 130 book summaries […]
- [The One Skill that Will Boost Your Productivity](https://ericsandroni.com/the-one-skill-that-will-boost-your-productivity/): “Silence and solitude are crucial. Our modern world of push notifications, 24/7 cycles, and constant contact is almost completely inhospitable to the kind of retreat artists must have in order to focus deeply on their work.” Austin Kleon – Keep Going To be productive, you need to disconnect from technology. You need what Austin Kleon calls “silence and solitude.” I often think about how I went from being connected all the time to being disconnected most of the time. The answer is “you do it gradually.” Why would you want to disconnect in the first place? Tim Kreider put it […]
- [The Day I Became a Professional Reader](https://ericsandroni.com/the-day-i-became-a-professional-reader/): “The best strategy I’ve come across is the idea of a wide funnel and tight filter. Be willing to read anything that looks even a little interesting, but abandon it quickly and without mercy if it’s not working for you.” Morgan Housel I recently listened to The Knowledge Project podcast. In it, Morgan Housel (author of The Psychology of Money and Same as Ever) discussed his “wide funnel, tight filter” approach to reading. As described in the quote above, the idea couldn’t be simpler. You approach any book with curiosity but stop reading it and move on to something else […]
- [The Incredible Power of Focusing on What Matters](https://ericsandroni.com/the-incredible-power-of-focusing-on-what-matters/): “The barriers are self-imposed. If you want to set off and go develop some grand new thing, you don’t need millions of dollars of capitalization. You need enough pizza and Diet Coke to stick in your refrigerator, a cheap PC to work on, and the dedication to go through with it. We slept on floors. We waded across rivers.” John Carmack – Masters of Doom When someone asks me why I read books from a wide range of disciplines, I answer: “You never know where your next idea is going to come from”. David Kushner’s Masters of Doom tells the […]
- [The Most Effective Ways to Deal with a Reading Slump](https://ericsandroni.com/the-most-effective-ways-to-deal-with-a-reading-slump/): Lately, I’ve been on a reading slump. I feel somewhat disillusioned with most nonfiction books. Most of the books I start, I never finish. As someone whose identity revolves around reading books and writing articles based on them, I’ve been experiencing some sort of identity crisis. Reading is one of the greatest gifts and one of the activities with the best return on investment. Charlie Munger once said “There is no better teacher than history in determining the future. There are answers worth billions of dollars in a $30 history book.” Munger was notorious for being an avid reader. He […]
- [Go Ahead and Slay the Dragon](https://ericsandroni.com/go-ahead-and-slay-the-dragon/): In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield describes what finishing his first manuscript was like. The author says “But that moment when I first hit the keys to spell out THE END was epochal. I remember rolling the last page out and adding it to the stack that was the finished manuscript. Nobody knew I was done. Nobody cared. But I knew. I felt like a dragon I’d been fighting all my life had just dropped dead at my feet and gasped out its last sulphuric breath. Rest in peace, motherfucker.” That is poetry. Few writers can eloquently articulate what […]
- [Book Summary: Creativity by John Cleese](https://ericsandroni.com/book-summary-creativity-by-john-cleese/): The Book in Three Sentences In this summary of Creativity, legendary comedian John Cleese shares everything he knows about the subject. The short guide describes creativity as a skill anyone can develop. According to Cleese, anyone, regardless of what they do for a living, can be more creative and he shows us how. Creativity Summary Cleese defines creativity as “new ways of thinking about things.” This is a way to distinguish it from most people’s definition of creativity which mostly involves the arts. Creativity, the author argues, permeates everything because it means doing things in new ways. It isn’t a […]
- [The Strong Power of Habits That Leads to Awesome Results](https://ericsandroni.com/the-strong-power-of-habits-that-leads-to-awesome-results/): In What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Murakami compiles essays about the power of habits and how they influenced his writing.
- [Unsurpassed Lessons for Finding Meaning](https://ericsandroni.com/unsurpassed-lessons-for-finding-meaning/): Determining what you want to do with your limited time on this planet is difficult Nevertheless, we humans need to find some kind of meaning.
- [Book Summary: The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene](https://ericsandroni.com/book-summary-the-art-of-seduction-by-robert-greene/): In this book summary of The Art of Seduction, you’ll learn a series of maneuvers to captivate the minds, hearts, and bodies of others.
- [The Tested Path That Will Make You a Master](https://ericsandroni.com/the-tested-path-that-will-make-you-a-master/): This idea of achieving power comes up several times in Greene’s books, but one of the most important forms of power is that of mastery.
- [Above All, Try Something](https://ericsandroni.com/above-all-try-something/): If you find yourself paralyzed by fear or the number of options, remember you’re allowed to overthink as long as you take action.
- [How Long-Term Thinking Affects the Information We Consume](https://ericsandroni.com/how-long-term-thinking-affects-the-information-we-consume/): When you start doing something, everything seems important, but you soon find out that there are some core principles you must focus on.
- [The 48 Laws of Power Summary: 48 Timeless Laws to Master Strategy & Influence](https://ericsandroni.com/book-summary-the-48-laws-of-power-by-robert-greene/): In this book summary of The 48 Laws of Power, Greene turns three thousand years of history into a series of principles related to power.
- [This Is What Happens When You Never Give Up](https://ericsandroni.com/this-is-what-happens-when-you-never-give-up/): Being consistent with your habits is one of the most important things you can do. Simply put, once you start, never give up.
- [The Unknown Benefits of Reading LESS](https://ericsandroni.com/the-unknown-benefits-of-reading-less/): As they say, learning without action is just entertainment. Here's why you have enough information and should read less than you think.
- [The Simple Guide to Finding Purpose in Life](https://ericsandroni.com/the-simple-guide-to-finding-purpose-in-life/): There are endless options out there, so what should we be focusing on? How can you find your purpose in life?
- [The Secret that Will Change Your Life](https://ericsandroni.com/the-secret-that-will-change-your-life/): In the world of finance, there’s a concept known as compounding. This is when you start getting interest on interest.
- [Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday – Book Summary](https://ericsandroni.com/book-summary-right-thing-right-now-by-ryan-holiday/): In this summary of Right Thing, Right Now, you’ll learn the importance of doing what’s right.
- [The Thing You Will Regret the Most](https://ericsandroni.com/the-thing-you-will-regret-the-most/): Of all the ideas of the greatest thinkers I’ve written about, the one that I have the most trouble internalizing is regret.
- [The One Habit That Will Make You Happy and Rich](https://ericsandroni.com/the-one-habit-that-will-make-you-happy-and-rich/): There’s one habit that will make you happy and rich and it keeps coming up again and again the more I read.
- [Mastery Summary by Robert Greene – How to Become a Master at Your Craft](https://ericsandroni.com/robert-greene-mastery-summary/): In this book summary of Robert Greene’s Mastery, you’ll learn that everyone has the potential to become a Master. 
- [The Simple Guide to Decision-Making](https://ericsandroni.com/the-simple-guide-to-decision-making/): “A good decision is risking a little for the opportunity to gain a lot. Similarly, a bad decision is risking a lot for the opportunity to gain little.” Mark Manson In The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, the angel investor talks about the value of collecting mental models. For those unfamiliar, mental models are a series of principles that help you during decision-making. You can learn new mental models from a variety of disciplines, but according to Naval, the best ones often come from evolution and game theory. Also, you can adopt mental models from people like Charlie Munger, Benjamin Franklin, […]
- [Achieve More Doing Less](https://ericsandroni.com/achieve-more-doing-less/): “I’m as proud of what we don’t do as I am of what we do.” Steve Jobs Steve Jobs was notoriously difficult to work with. Some would even describe him as tyrannical. That said, Apple wouldn’t be the company that it is today if it wasn’t for clear vision. Jobs was a minimalist (you’ve probably seen images of him sitting on the floor of his seemingly possessionless mansion). This philosophy translated into his fashion, but more importantly, into his work ethic. When Jobs designed Apple products, he always kept this in mind. A fan of Zen Buddhism, Steve Jobs tried […]
- [The True Path to Happiness Is Not What You Think](https://ericsandroni.com/the-true-path-to-happiness-is-not-what-you-think/): We’re wired to pursue more. But what if I told you there’s a path to happiness and that we’re all capable of achieving it?
- [1 Unconventional Way Bill Gates Stays Productive Regularly](https://ericsandroni.com/1-unconventional-way-bill-gates-stays-productive-regularly/): Bill Gates repeats the same ritual every year where takes a week off and gives himself space to think by going to a cabin in the woods.
- [Book Summary: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor](https://ericsandroni.com/book-summary-the-happiness-advantage-by-shawn-anchor/): In this summary of The Happiness Advantage, you’ll learn that happiness is the realization that we can change. 

## Pages

- [Now Now Now](https://ericsandroni.com/now/): Updated October 1st, 2023 Here’s my routine for anyone interested: This “now” page has been inspired by Derek Sivers and you can read all about it here.
- [Contact Me](https://ericsandroni.com/contact-me/)
- [Improve Your Life One Summary at a Time](https://ericsandroni.com/): Hi, I’m Eric. I read too much and write just enough. This site features 130+ free book summaries, a brutally honest newsletter, a growing collection of essays, and a bunch of articles on topics like productivity, decision-making, and why minimalism isn’t just for monks. Everything here is designed to make you think clearly, live better, and maybe even laugh a little.
- [Best Book Summaries – 140+ Non-Fiction Titles You Can Read for Free](https://ericsandroni.com/best-non-fiction-book-summaries/): Table of Contents Toggle 1. New here? Start with these2. Book Summaries in Alphabetical Order3. Book Summaries by Category4. Best Books by Year5. More Resources 1. New here? Start with these If you’re new to the site and have no idea where to start, I recommend these summaries. Latest book summary: The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel (Posted on November 12th, 2025) 2. Book Summaries in Alphabetical Order Looking for the best book summaries online? I’ve compiled over 140 non-fiction book summaries covering topics like business, self-help, creativity, productivity, and more. These are the exact books that shaped […]
- [Newsletter](https://ericsandroni.com/newsletter/): [newsletter]


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