What blogs are you reading?

Right now, I’m using the RSS readers Inoreader and Reeder to subscribe to the following blogs: Snakes and Ladders – by Alan Jacobs Farnam Street — A Collection of Signal in a World Full of Noise. Seth’s Blog Study Hacks – Decoding Patterns of Success – Cal Newport James Clear Barking Up The Wrong Tree – How to be awesome at life. The Appademic » Technology, productivity and workflows for academics, students and other nerds McSweeney’s Internet Tendency Lifehacker – Do everything better What are you reading?...

January 13, 2019 · 1 min · joshuapsteele

Help me StickK to my writing habit

I need to finish this dissertation. To do so, I need to write regularly. For me, that means writing every day—a minimum of 500 words every day. Last spring, I did a pretty good job of writing regularly. However, I’ve fallen off the wagon for various reasons, and it’s been a bear to get back on! So, I’ve decided to put some money on the line, using a service called StickK....

January 8, 2019 · 1 min · joshuapsteele

This is a fantastic wooden pencil (Mitsubishi 9850)

Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to this fantastic pencil: the Mitsubishi 9850. It’s cheap, writes well, erases well, and looks great! For more on wooden pencils, read this JetPens guide to the best wooden pencils. And, while you’re at it, check out JetPens’ recommendations for the best pencil sharpeners.

November 22, 2018 · 1 min · joshuapsteele

Here's the Template I Use to Take Notes on Books I Read

Developed from How to Read a Book, by Mortimer J. Adler. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA: Author(s): Editor(s): Translator(s): Title and subtitle: Title and subtitle of any larger work that contains the source: Pages: Volume: Issue: Edition: URL and date accessed: Publisher: Place: Date: INTERPRETATION: Kind of Book (Practical or theoretical?): Subject Matter: Problems Attempted to Solve: Summary (What is the book about as a whole?): Outline of Source: Key Terms: Key Propositions/Arguments (What is being said in detail, and how?...

September 6, 2018 · 1 min · joshuapsteele

Two More Pieces about Jordan Peterson

Previously, I catalogued a bunch of different takes on Jordan Peterson, before giving my own take. Since that post, two other pieces about Jordan Peterson have been written that I’d like to share. “Jordan Peterson, Custodian of the Patriarchy,” by Nellie Bowles (New York Times) Nellie Bowles writes Mr. Peterson, 55, a University of Toronto psychology professor turned YouTube philosopher turned mystical father figure, has emerged as an influential thought leader....

June 8, 2018 · 6 min · joshuapsteele

The Four Tendencies: 4 Ways You Can Play to Your Personality Strengths

In both my personal and coaching conversations recently, Gretchen Rubin’s personality framework called “The Four Tendencies” has really seemed to resonate with people. So, I thought I would take a few minutes to share it with you. Gretchen Rubin Explains the Four Tendencies First, here’s a six-minute video of Gretchen herself explaining the Four Tendencies and their relevance to changing one’s habits. How do you respond to INNER EXPECTATIONS and OUTER EXPECTATIONS?...

June 8, 2018 · 3 min · joshuapsteele

Hate Running? Try Rucking Instead

(DISCLAIMER: You are, of course, more than welcome to try rucking, even if you also love running.) Rucking > Running It took me a long time to “fall in love” with running. It did not take me nearly as long to fall out of love with running! And yet, even though I’ve long enjoyed doing kettlebell swings and doing the 5×5 weight-lifing workout, I did begin to miss the benefits of cardio training....

June 8, 2018 · 4 min · joshuapsteele

What to make of Jordan Peterson? Some takes, then my own.

UPDATE: Read my post, “Two More Pieces about Jordan Peterson.” If I remember correctly, I first heard of and listened to Jordan Peterson on an episode of The Art of Manliness podcast. (Or perhaps it was this episode.) However, I could be mistaken, because Peterson’s been popping up in conversation all over the place in my circles. Blog posts, podcast episodes, conversations with friends – Peterson has been popping up everywhere, so it seems....

March 28, 2018 · 11 min · joshuapsteele

Do More Better: Tim Challies' Excellent Little Book on Personal Productivity Could Change Your Life

Tim Challies begins his book, Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity with a bold claim: “I believe this book can improve your life.” However, after reading the book, which is just 120 pages long including endnotes!, I believe that Challies makes good on his claim. As far as explicitly Christian approaches to personal productivity go, Challies’ Do More Better stands alongside Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done....

March 23, 2018 · 5 min · joshuapsteele

I Need to Develop a Writing Habit. Do You?

Because good writing = good thinking, I believe that everyone could benefit from developing the habit of regular writing. However, because I Am a Ph.D. student about to begin work on his dissertation Edit a blog (Rookie Anglican) Write this personal blog I really need to develop the habit of regular writing. Up until now, I’ve largely relied upon writing in fits and starts, when the Muse descends, as it were....

March 19, 2018 · 5 min · joshuapsteele