Are you choosing the right book for the season you’re in—or just grabbing whatever looks interesting?

In this solo episode, Jay Papasan walks through the ten books he recommends and gifts more than any others. These are not simply his “favorites”—they’re the books that shaped his craft as a writer, helped him level up as an entrepreneur, grounded him in discipline, clarified his thinking about money, and strengthened his understanding of character and growth. 

Jay shares why "The War of Art" has become an annual reread for so many, how Peter Drucker’s "Managing Oneself" can reset your approach to personal mastery, why Ryan Holiday’s "The Obstacle Is the Way" remains essential for anyone doing hard things, and how Morgan Housel and JL Collins make the world of money simple, sane, and actionable. He also covers his top writing books, the research-backed lessons of Adam Grant, and the beautifully illustrated gift book he’s given to hundreds of clients.

Challenge of the Week:  

Ask yourself: "What is the book I need for this season of my life?" Read for what you need—not for what’s trending. Choose one book, commit to it, and let it gift you something you’ll someday pass forward.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

Why certain books become “sacred shelf” books Jay returns to again and again

How creativity, discipline, money, and character are shaped by what we read

How to choose the ONE book you need right now based on the season you’re in

Books Mentioned:

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker

The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

On Writing by Stephen King

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Your First 1000 Copies by Tim Grahl

Give and Take by Adam Grant

The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins

Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Free Resources

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Produced by NOVA