This summer, building on our list from last year, we’re offering reading recommendations for people to enjoy wherever and whenever they travel. This is the fifth in a series of posts from our in-house staff and editors. Enjoy.

Master of Change (2023)

By Brad Stulberg

Sometimes, even the most seemingly secure things in life can suddenly become unstable. Brad Stulberg takes this idea further. In Master of Change, he explains that change is the rule, not the exception: life follows a cycle of order, disorder, and reorder. 

In light of this fact, Stulberg argues that we shouldn’t focus on becoming more resilient. Instead, to survive (and even thrive) through life’s constant changes, we should adopt a more flexible mindset and identity, one which he describes as anti-fragile. 

The concept of “antifragile,” initially coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, describes systems that not only survive but also benefit from disorder or volatility. (If this idea intrigues you, listen to our Templeton Ideas podcast episode with Nick Holton, which explains this concept in depth.) 

But how do we turn chaos into a catalyst for growth? Stulberg provides many practical methods and case studies that illustrate how we can become more antifragile in our health, careers, and more. 

My favorite piece of advice from Stulberg is simple: keep showing up. Whether your goal is to become healthier by cultivating a workout routine or to grow in your career by learning a new skill, by staying consistent (even on the days when you really don’t want to), you will eventually reach your goal.

This isn’t a novel idea. What struck me is how Stulberg connected the concept of consistency with antifragility. When you keep your commitments to yourself and your growth, you can become anti-fragile, no matter what curve balls are thrown your way.