30 years of productivity in 29 words — plus Brené Brown, playlists, and dogs 🐶

Plus . . . a revealing optical illusion and 5 books to make you wiser.

1. NEW VIDEO: 30 years of productivity advice in 29 words. 📹 ✨

After reading lots (and lots and lots) of productivity books over the last three decades, it finally hit me: they all boil down to the same 6 principles.

So, I shot a video that distills all these books to 6 sentences — just 29 words in all. (Example: Do less ruthlessly.) Plus I collected the key takeaways.

Save yourself 30 years of reading by watching here:

2. PINK RECOMMENDS. This week’s top picks 📌💡

👥 GO: Want to hang out with Brené Brown and me?

Brené Brown has a new book, and that’s reason enough to party. So, if you’re in Washington, DC, on September 27, join me in celebrating the launch of her latest, Strong Ground. I’ll be talking with Brené about her fresh batch of ideas — and how we can lead and learn effectively in tempestuous times.

Saturday, Sept 27 at 7:30pm | Sixth & I | Washington DC

Seats are limited — join us in DC.

🎧 LISTEN: Is your life all work — and no playlists?

You’ve watched the video on productivity. Now get to work! But if your concentration needs a boost, Atlassian has assembled some Spotify playlists, backed by science, to help you focus.

📊 COUNT: Has your dog become your soulmate?

Researchers at the University of North Carolina and Ohio State University recently published three studies concluding “that modern dogs now occupy roles historically reserved for close human relationships and often receive greater moral concern than people.” For example, as U.S. birthrates have declined, spending on pets has increased at roughly the same rate. Classic correlation vs. causation caveat applies. But still—woof! (Via Steve Stewart-Williams’s newsletter)

👀 LOOK: What shapes do you see here?

Look at the image below. Do you see rectangles or circles? That depends on where you grew up. A new study finds that people in the U.S. and U.K.—surrounded by boxy buildings—almost always see rectangles in the Coffer illusion. But members of Namibia’s Himba culture, who live in round huts, usually see circles first. Our environments literally shape what we see.

3. FINAL THOUGHTS: 5 books to make you wiser. 🎓 📖

If 29 words aren’t enough, this YouTube Short shares 5 books that will stretch your perspective. Click the image below to watch.