A Few Good Books for 2010

Some writers who contributed to What Matters Now have new books coming out in 2010. I am interested in three of them - managing attention (Inbox Zero), finding meaning (Evil Plans), and understanding marriage (Committed). So why do I want to read them?

1. Inbox Zero

This is the first book by Merlin Mann, creator of the popular 43 Folders. He gave a talk of the same title in July 2007, which delved into strategies for managing a high volume of incessant emails. The Inbox Zero talk connected with many folks (including yours truly), going by viewership figures of the online video (57,000+ views on YouTube) and slides (135,000+ views on SlideShare).

The book will dig deeper beneath the how-to tips and tricks - there is a larger metaphor in there that can be mined to deal with whatever internal or external distraction, craving, or whim that we face as we strive to do good work.

2. Evil Plans
(Update on 5 January 2010: The book will only be out in January 2011.)

This is the second book of Hugh MacLeod, a web-savvy cartoonist who blogs at Gapingvoid. He wants to convince readers that the great divide can be bridged. Earning a living and doing what you love can be one and the same thing.

What if what you love doing is drawing or dancing? Frankly, I’m doubtful, as I subscribe to The Sex and Cash Theory Hugh mentioned in his first book, Ignore Everybody (2009). That theory says that creative people need two kinds of jobs - the day job that pays the bills and the sexy, creative kind. But I will read with an open mind.

If you are keen to sample Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity, you can download a free pdf file at ChangeThis to read the first 26 tips.

3. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

Then there is Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book, a sequel to her bestselling 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love. What got me interested in Committed was her moving talk at TED2009 - nothing to do with marriage though.

She spoke with conviction that it was possible to do creative work without going mad. She shared candidly on how she wrestled with fears of failure and perfectionist expectations in writing the new book - how she found role models in history and among contemporary artists. Catch her TEDTalk here.