Hey Player — Here's what we'll learn today:

• 🌸 The Japanese secret to longevity and happiness

• ✍️ How to create content with a competitive edge

• 🎤 Taylor Swift's Empire

• 📱 How social media force artists into relentless self-promotion

Happy Reading!
– Phelipe

Book of the Week

Ikigai uncovers the essence of longevity and happiness, a concept deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, especially among the residents of Okinawa. It lies at the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. The book meticulously details the process of discovering one's Ikigai—essentially one's reason for being—by integrating passion, profession, vocation, and mission to achieve a balanced and fulfilling life.

Top Articles

A roundup of the week's most popular articles and essays from Playtext.

1. How To Write Stuff No One Else Can (9 min)

Strategies for achieving competitive advantage by tapping into the knowledge of behind-the-scenes experts rather than relying solely on public figures or conventional sources.

2. How to Build an Empire (Taylor’s Version) (32 min)

Explore how Taylor Swift conquered the world. The article shares the concept of the "imperial phase" in the careers of musical artists—a period marked by a dominant position in the industry, characterized by creative control, widespread public interest, and significant commercial success.

3. Everyone’s a sellout now (27 min)

How the rise of social media and the decline of traditional revenue streams have forced creators to engage in constant self-promotion and adapt to algorithmic demands, often at the expense of their art and personal well-being.

Notes

• 4 rules to boost your deep work (link)

• Love Reading? Playtext turns any Text into an Audiobook so that you can read 3x faster!

• More books? Playtext Books has over 100 summaries on business, science, and productivity.