Why am I passionate about this?

I love playing music and games, helping others in therapy, being a father and husband, among other things. It’s taken me some time to figure out how to not only stay on top of them all, but to enjoy myself along the way. The answer to doing so is about finding and guiding play in work. Picasso's statement rings true: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Mastery and feelings of success flow when work is imbued with play. As a psychoanalyst and now as a writer, I work with both clients and readers to help them find meaning and mastery in the day-to-day.


I wrote...

Workflow Mastery: Building from the Basics

By Kourosh Dini,

Book cover of Workflow Mastery: Building from the Basics

What is my book about?

The central theory is that mastery and meaningful work develop from guided play. The question is then how do we…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Kourosh Dini Why did I love this book?

Getting Things Done started my journey of productivity. The central idea completely organizing my thinking: that you can use your own sense of trust to both build and measure a working system. Do you feel that something will get back to you when and where it would be useful to you? If not, what can you do to get it there? The more you can honestly answer these questions, the more it will be off of your mind, and the more you can guide where you want your mind to be.

By David Allen,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Getting Things Done as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The book Lifehack calls "The Bible of business and personal productivity."

"A completely revised and updated edition of the blockbuster bestseller from 'the personal productivity guru'"-Fast Company

Since it was first published almost fifteen years ago, David Allen's Getting Things Done has become one of the most influential business books of its era, and the ultimate book on personal organization. "GTD" is now shorthand for an entire way of approaching professional and personal tasks, and has spawned an entire culture of websites, organizational tools, seminars, and offshoots.

Allen has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking his classic text…


Book cover of Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, Book & Online Audio

Kourosh Dini Why did I love this book?

When I read Werner's Effortless Mastery, the first thing that happened was that my style of piano playing and composing transformed. What was once very methodical became free-flowing. Secondly, whatever I learned at the piano, then seemed to transfer to my writing and other projects. An absolute unsung hero of both mastery and productivity, Werner does a fantastic job of describing the work of getting your mind into that state of play where learning and creating happen best. 

By Kenny Werner,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Effortless Mastery as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Playing music should be as simple and natural as drawing a breath, yet most musicians are hindered by self-consciousness, apprehension, self-doubt, and stress. Before we can truly express our inner self, we must first learn to be at peace and overcome the distractions that can make performance difficult. Kenny's remarkable work deals directly with these hindrances, and presents ways to let our natural creative powers flow freely with minimal stress and effort. Includes an inspiring Includes Online Downloadable code of meditations designed to initiate positive thought. This book has become a favorite of many musicians who credit it with changing…


Book cover of How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking

Kourosh Dini Why did I love this book?

Ahrens opened up my eyes to a method of building on, diving into, and creating notes without them getting lost. I love feeling productive whether I agree or disagree with something. I now have a way to connect my ideas together and gather them when creating articles, books, and courses. It didn't use to be fun to take notes, but now it is since I know I can get back to and update things for however long I like without ever feeling obligated to them.

By Sonke Ahrens,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Take Smart Notes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is the second, revised and expanded edition. The first edition was published under the slightly longer title "How to Take Smart Notes. One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking - for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers".

The key to good and efficient writing lies in the intelligent organisation of ideas and notes. This book helps students, academics and other knowledge workers to get more done, write intelligent texts and learn for the long run. It teaches you how to take smart notes and ensure they bring you and your projects forward.
The Take Smart Notes principle…


Book cover of Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment

Kourosh Dini Why did I love this book?

Mastery goes hand in hand with getting on top of work. Leonard gave me the long view. He does an excellent job of describing how mastery is better considered a process, a path you travel more so than a line you pass. Viewing one's craft as a series of peaks and plateaus and, more importantly, staying on the path is the work of mastery. 

By George Leonard,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Mastery as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Drawing on Zen philosophy and his expertise in the martial art of aikido, bestselling author George Leonard shows how the process of mastery can help us attain a higher level of excellence and a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our daily lives.

Whether you're seeking to improve your career or your intimate relationships, increase self-esteem or create harmony within yourself, this inspiring prescriptive guide will help you master anything you choose and achieve success in all areas of your life. In Mastery, you'll discover:

* The 5 Essential Keys to Mastery
* Tools for Mastery
* How to…


Book cover of How to Meditate: A Guide to Self-Discovery

Kourosh Dini Why did I love this book?

Leshan has an enjoyable brass tacks approach to meditation. As a psychotherapist himself, I found his approach to be in tune with my own. Meditation helps a person better recognize the impact of emotion and thought on one's sense of agency, which is vital in any discussion about creating and accomplishing goals.

By Lawrence Leshan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Meditate as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Lawrence LeShan's classic guide to meditation introduced mindfulness to an entire generation. Now it's back in a special ebook edition.

Since its initial publication nearly 50 years ago, this simple yet powerful guide has helped more than a million readers reap the profound and limitless rewards of meditation. Now, in a special new edition, How to Meditate is back, singing the virtues of a quiet mind in the overstimulating bustle of the modern world.

Outlining a realistic and no-nonsense approach that will enable you to bring meditation effortlessly into your life, no matter how thinly stretched you are, How to…


Don't forget about my book 😀

Workflow Mastery: Building from the Basics

By Kourosh Dini,

Book cover of Workflow Mastery: Building from the Basics

What is my book about?

The central theory is that mastery and meaningful work develop from guided play. The question is then how do we guide play? Workflow Mastery is a deep dive into what it takes to guide play, find success in our lives, and get to where we want to go. It describes, in both practical and psychological depth, how we can get into what we decide to put in front of ourselves. The book is structured to gradually build from simple to complex concepts, but separated so you can decide where and how to improve your own workflows to whatever degree makes sense to you.

This book is currently only available here.

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The Essence: A Guided Journey of Discovery through the Bible

By John Pasquet,

Book cover of The Essence: A Guided Journey of Discovery through the Bible

John Pasquet Author Of The Essence: A Guided Journey of Discovery through the Bible

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about helping people see the incredible beauty of God’s unfolding plan of redemption and restoration that unfolds in the pages of the Bible. In the Old Testament, this plan is hidden in mystery and symbolism. But then in the New Testament, this great mystery is unveiled in all its glory, and the symbolism emerges from the shadows and steps into the light! For the past 15+ years, it has been my great honor to read the Bible with people for their very first time and help them watch this great mystery unfold. These books do that very same thing!

John's book list on helping you truly understand the Bible from beginning to end

What is my book about?

The Bible is the greatest mystery novel ever written. It begins in the Old Testament with seemingly random accounts of ancient people in far away places with strange customs. There’s the prophecy of a coming Hero who will conquer the villain and restore peace to the land. The mystery reaches its climax of anticipation as the Old Testament comes to a close and 400 years of silence ensues and the world longingly waits for its deliverer. Then, in a stable outside a small village in a conquered nation, a peasant woman gives birth to a baby boy. And the great…

The Essence: A Guided Journey of Discovery through the Bible

By John Pasquet,

What is this book about?

The Unfolding Story of God's Ultimate Plan of Restoration

The Bible is the greatest book ever written, and it's more than just a book-it's the very Word of God. It unveils the unfolding story of God's ultimate plan to restore mankind's relationship with Him. The answers to life's deepest questions are found within its pages. It reveals who we are, why we are here, who God is, and how we can know Him. However, for many people, the great riches of the Bible remain undiscovered and its exquisite beauty, unseen. The relevance of the peculiar accounts of ancient people in…


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