Franz Kafka, frustrated with his living quarters and day job, wrote a letter to Felice Bauer in 1912, expressing his need for subtle manoeuvres to get his work done. He is among 161 minds who describe their daily rituals to get their work done, such as waking early or staying up late, self-medicating with doughnuts or bathing, drinking coffee, or taking long walks.
Thomas Wolfe wrote standing up in the kitchen, dreamily fondling his “male configurations.” Jean-Paul Sartre chewed on Corydrane tablets, ingesting ten times the recommended dose each day. Descartes liked to linger in bed, experiencing every pleasure imaginable.
Some notable writers include Anthony Trollope, Karl Marx, Woody Allen, Agatha Christie, George Balanchine, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, Pablo Picasso, and George Gershwin. They all had daily rituals, such as writing three thousand words each morning before going to work at the postal service.
Other notable writers include Charles Darwin, Andy Warhol, John Updike, Twyla Tharp, Benjamin Franklin, William Faulkner, Jane Austen, Anne Rice, and Igor Stravinsky.
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About the Author
Mason Currey is the author of the Daily Rituals volumes, which include succinct summaries of the daily activities of over 300 outstanding creative thinkers. He is presently authoring a fortnightly email about wiggling through a creative life, Subtle Manoeuvres, and working on a new nonfiction book.
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Review
One of the most important questions that writers and artists are frequently asked about their methods is, “How do you do meaningful creative work while also earning a living?” The result is a lively examination of the working habits of “some of the greatest minds of the last four hundred years,” as Currey set out to gather as much information as he could on the routines “brilliant and successful” creators adopted and followed.
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Quotes and intriguing revelations about the whims of the creative life abound in this fervent and prudent collection. Benjamin Franklin, Henri Matisse, Nikola Tesla, Stephen King, Twyla Tharp, Federico Fellini, Ann Beattie, Gustav Mahler, Toni Morrison, and nearly 200.
Other artists—including comedians, composers, caricaturists, filmmakers, philosophers, playwrights, painters, poets, scientists, sculptors, and writers—are among the dizzying array of people Currey highlights their habits with.
These are the incredibly industrious and the almost dysfunctional, the early risers and the night owls. While ironing, George Balanchine considered his options. Sequestered in a “tiny, mean” hotel room, Maya Angelou writes.
“I truly am incapable of discipline,” admits Marilynne Robinson. Currey’s compilation is delicious and instructive. –Review by Donna Seaman
“What recommends this compendium of mini-biographies is its revelation of the infinite variety, unpredictable zaniness and inimitability of artists’ routines.”–The Journal of the Wall Street
“An encouraging read for creative types and a delightful peek into that world for the rest of us.” –The Morning Edition of NPR
“I just can’t recommend this book enough.” –Lena Dunham
“Reading Currey’s accounts of the work habits of 161 highly successful, creative people shows that there’s no magic, one-size-fits-all solution–only the way that’s right for us.” –Gretchen Rubin
“It started to accompany me every day. I marked almost every page since there were jewels everywhere… This routine sparked a creative explosion in addition to shocking me out of a deep depression. — Ferriss, Tim
“A great book.” –Handler, Chelsea
“An addictive read.” –Austin Kleon
“Interesting. Almost everyone who has influenced contemporary art and thinking may be found here.–The Chicago Tribune
“Interesting… entertaining. Its succinct essays humanise greats like Hemingway and Picasso and provide insight into the working life of lesser-known modern geniuses, stating unequivocally that there is no one right technique to produce great art—all greats have their own methods. Additionally, some of those methods are quite strange. –NPR.org
“Hard to put down.” –The Globe of Boston
“Currey’s compendium is elucidating and delectable.” –List of books
An opportunity to witness what wonderful lives look like after the tragedies, successes, interruptions, and divorces have all but evaporated. Anyone who is curious about the finest ways to spend a day will find it fascinating. –The Guardia”n A very amazing compilation…
For flaneurs who fantasise about the book, movie, or painting they would produce if they had more time, this book is the perfect response. It conveys the idea that dedicated artists set aside time, and the majority of them do it daily at the same time. –London’s Sunday Times: “A treasure trove of thought-provoking comparison and entertaining anecdote.
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The Telegraph
“A thoroughly researched, minutely annotated and delightful book, full of the quirks and oddities of the human comedy.” –Review of Literature
“Interesting. Intriguingly, it also shows that there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for success, so it’s really a celebration of uniqueness and eccentricity.” –The Huffington Post
“Great… This book is likely to inspire you if you’re interested in the practices of some of the most well-known authors, artists, and musicians and/or are searching for methods to improve your own creative routine. –USA Today
“It’s ideal for the back of the toilet or the nightstand and makes a thoughtful present. A person’s work process serves as a synecdoche for the piece itself, making each entry a small portrait. –Bookforum
“I’ve gifted it to three separate individuals and read it twice… Reminding myself that there is no secret to achieving your creative goals was motivating to me. It really simply comes down to sitting at your desk and working hard. –Sponge Design
“A wonderful delight… There is never a magic recipe in Currey’s foible-affirming anthology. Rather, it’s a tribute to the benefits of everyday luxuries like coffee, peaceful walks, family meals, and consistent, concentrated labour. –Remodelista
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Summary
The goal of Daily Rituals is to help anyone become more productive, overcome writer’s block, and become more creative and efficient in their daily work by compiling the greatest habits and practices of successful people from a variety of industries.
Everyone is having trouble being more productive, cutting back on procrastinating, and generally bettering themselves in both their personal and professional lives. We may access the creative, uninterrupted state of mind that we so urgently want by adopting certain daily routines.
Small routines like sitting in the same place in the morning or drinking our typical cup of coffee at the same time of day help us be more productive. How can I tell? Mason Currey’s book Daily Rituals describes how successful individuals and geniuses have incorporated little habits into their daily routines that have enabled them to succeed.
History demonstrates that mankind did not learn this recently. For a long time, academics and psychologists have been trying to figure out how to make the mind more concentrated and focused. Fortunately, they did find several quite intriguing routines and behaviours that can assist us in doing so.
Let’s examine three of my favourite teachings from this book to better understand them:
- Developing regular routines, consuming coffee, and looking for inspiration can all help you become more productive.
- Connecting with what matters most to you will help you get ready for work.
- Maintaining strong connections will help you stay focused and effective at work.
You may better grasp these lessons’ core idea by thoroughly examining them, which is what we’ll do in the paragraphs that follow!