Mark Ragland
@markragland.bsky.social
I write about books, the hero's journey, and the magic of everyday life.
Subscribe to my newsletter! subscribe.markragland.com
Subscribe to my newsletter! subscribe.markragland.com
Reading is so awesome.
• It's good for you
• It's free (with a library card)
• It lets you explore new worlds
• You get to learn about any topic in the world
• You get to learn from people who lived in the past
It's the best.
• It's good for you
• It's free (with a library card)
• It lets you explore new worlds
• You get to learn about any topic in the world
• You get to learn from people who lived in the past
It's the best.
October 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reading is so awesome.
• It's good for you
• It's free (with a library card)
• It lets you explore new worlds
• You get to learn about any topic in the world
• You get to learn from people who lived in the past
It's the best.
• It's good for you
• It's free (with a library card)
• It lets you explore new worlds
• You get to learn about any topic in the world
• You get to learn from people who lived in the past
It's the best.
Create to express the inner part of yourself that must emerge for you to become whole.
October 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Create to express the inner part of yourself that must emerge for you to become whole.
Reading tip: read multiple books at one time
Have a fiction book and a nonfiction book going at all times, I like to read nonfiction in the morning and fiction in the evening.
Have a fiction book and a nonfiction book going at all times, I like to read nonfiction in the morning and fiction in the evening.
October 6, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reading tip: read multiple books at one time
Have a fiction book and a nonfiction book going at all times, I like to read nonfiction in the morning and fiction in the evening.
Have a fiction book and a nonfiction book going at all times, I like to read nonfiction in the morning and fiction in the evening.
Good Morning! This is a reminder to do more of what you like today, and less of what you dislike.
October 6, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Good Morning! This is a reminder to do more of what you like today, and less of what you dislike.
Escape boredom and bring more whimsy into your life
October 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Escape boredom and bring more whimsy into your life
Books, TV shows, and movies releasing in Fall 2025 that I'm excited about 📚📺
Books
• The Strength of the Few by James Islington
• Shadows Upon Time by Christopher Ruocchio
TV Shows
• Stranger Things Season 5
• Percy Jackson Season 2
Movie
• Avatar: Fire and Ash
Books
• The Strength of the Few by James Islington
• Shadows Upon Time by Christopher Ruocchio
TV Shows
• Stranger Things Season 5
• Percy Jackson Season 2
Movie
• Avatar: Fire and Ash
October 1, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Books, TV shows, and movies releasing in Fall 2025 that I'm excited about 📚📺
Books
• The Strength of the Few by James Islington
• Shadows Upon Time by Christopher Ruocchio
TV Shows
• Stranger Things Season 5
• Percy Jackson Season 2
Movie
• Avatar: Fire and Ash
Books
• The Strength of the Few by James Islington
• Shadows Upon Time by Christopher Ruocchio
TV Shows
• Stranger Things Season 5
• Percy Jackson Season 2
Movie
• Avatar: Fire and Ash
I finished my reread of The Will of the Many by James Islington.
Once again, the book was amazing.
Here's why you should read it:
• Main character is easy to root for
• Features an interesting mystery
• The ending is thrilling, and you'll be pumped for book 2
Once again, the book was amazing.
Here's why you should read it:
• Main character is easy to root for
• Features an interesting mystery
• The ending is thrilling, and you'll be pumped for book 2
September 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I finished my reread of The Will of the Many by James Islington.
Once again, the book was amazing.
Here's why you should read it:
• Main character is easy to root for
• Features an interesting mystery
• The ending is thrilling, and you'll be pumped for book 2
Once again, the book was amazing.
Here's why you should read it:
• Main character is easy to root for
• Features an interesting mystery
• The ending is thrilling, and you'll be pumped for book 2
Yesterday's newsletter is about tracking your inner life and listening to what your mind and emotions tell you.
Link below!
Link below!
September 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Yesterday's newsletter is about tracking your inner life and listening to what your mind and emotions tell you.
Link below!
Link below!
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Keep going.
The only way to lose it to quit.
Fail.
Learn.
Keep going.
The only way to lose it to quit.
September 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Keep going.
The only way to lose it to quit.
Fail.
Learn.
Keep going.
The only way to lose it to quit.
I have read this book 3 times in the past 4 years.
It helps us to wake up and pay attention, so that we can live an authentic life.
Here are 9 lessons from The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life by Boyd Varty:
It helps us to wake up and pay attention, so that we can live an authentic life.
Here are 9 lessons from The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life by Boyd Varty:
September 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I have read this book 3 times in the past 4 years.
It helps us to wake up and pay attention, so that we can live an authentic life.
Here are 9 lessons from The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life by Boyd Varty:
It helps us to wake up and pay attention, so that we can live an authentic life.
Here are 9 lessons from The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life by Boyd Varty:
8 easy ways to be more whimsical:
1. Ride a bike
2. Go for a walk
3. Read old books
4. Make pourover coffee
5. Track the moon phases
6. Carry a pocket notebook
7. Make something with your hands
8. Bring a book with you everywhere
What else?
1. Ride a bike
2. Go for a walk
3. Read old books
4. Make pourover coffee
5. Track the moon phases
6. Carry a pocket notebook
7. Make something with your hands
8. Bring a book with you everywhere
What else?
September 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
8 easy ways to be more whimsical:
1. Ride a bike
2. Go for a walk
3. Read old books
4. Make pourover coffee
5. Track the moon phases
6. Carry a pocket notebook
7. Make something with your hands
8. Bring a book with you everywhere
What else?
1. Ride a bike
2. Go for a walk
3. Read old books
4. Make pourover coffee
5. Track the moon phases
6. Carry a pocket notebook
7. Make something with your hands
8. Bring a book with you everywhere
What else?
Your Hero's Journey in 15 words:
• Listen
• Say yes
• Grow and learn
• Face challenges
• Complete the quest
• Gain confidence and authenticity
• Listen
• Say yes
• Grow and learn
• Face challenges
• Complete the quest
• Gain confidence and authenticity
September 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Your Hero's Journey in 15 words:
• Listen
• Say yes
• Grow and learn
• Face challenges
• Complete the quest
• Gain confidence and authenticity
• Listen
• Say yes
• Grow and learn
• Face challenges
• Complete the quest
• Gain confidence and authenticity
A lot of people have everything they dreamed about 10 years ago.
If you're one of those people, don't take it for granted.
If you're one of those people, don't take it for granted.
September 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A lot of people have everything they dreamed about 10 years ago.
If you're one of those people, don't take it for granted.
If you're one of those people, don't take it for granted.
I turned my Field Notes into a book 📔
Printed and glued a short book into my @FieldNotesBrand notebook so I can read anywhere.
Check it out:
Printed and glued a short book into my @FieldNotesBrand notebook so I can read anywhere.
Check it out:
September 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
I turned my Field Notes into a book 📔
Printed and glued a short book into my @FieldNotesBrand notebook so I can read anywhere.
Check it out:
Printed and glued a short book into my @FieldNotesBrand notebook so I can read anywhere.
Check it out:
Frodo Baggins. Luke Skywalker. Harry Potter.
All these characters walked a path called the hero's journey.
The amazing part? You're on a hero's journey, too. Here's how:
All these characters walked a path called the hero's journey.
The amazing part? You're on a hero's journey, too. Here's how:
September 18, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Frodo Baggins. Luke Skywalker. Harry Potter.
All these characters walked a path called the hero's journey.
The amazing part? You're on a hero's journey, too. Here's how:
All these characters walked a path called the hero's journey.
The amazing part? You're on a hero's journey, too. Here's how:
"Being whimsical is about inhabiting your world more fully. It’s about doing the things that aren’t obvious, and maybe don’t make sense. Doing the things that help you pay more attention to your life."
Read more in today's newsletter, link below!
Read more in today's newsletter, link below!
September 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
"Being whimsical is about inhabiting your world more fully. It’s about doing the things that aren’t obvious, and maybe don’t make sense. Doing the things that help you pay more attention to your life."
Read more in today's newsletter, link below!
Read more in today's newsletter, link below!
You don't find your purpose by thinking about it.
You find your purpose by taking action and trying new things until it reveals itself.
You find your purpose by taking action and trying new things until it reveals itself.
September 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
You don't find your purpose by thinking about it.
You find your purpose by taking action and trying new things until it reveals itself.
You find your purpose by taking action and trying new things until it reveals itself.
Donald Miller used the term “narrative void” to describe the feeling of not being interested in your own life because you’ve created a boring life.
If you’re stuck in a narrative void, you’re coasting. You’re stuck.
If this is you, find a way to take action and get out of it.
If you’re stuck in a narrative void, you’re coasting. You’re stuck.
If this is you, find a way to take action and get out of it.
September 15, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Donald Miller used the term “narrative void” to describe the feeling of not being interested in your own life because you’ve created a boring life.
If you’re stuck in a narrative void, you’re coasting. You’re stuck.
If this is you, find a way to take action and get out of it.
If you’re stuck in a narrative void, you’re coasting. You’re stuck.
If this is you, find a way to take action and get out of it.
When you scroll social media, it's easy to compare yourself to others.
Avoid this.
Don't try to live another person's story. Live your own story and enjoy the journey.
Avoid this.
Don't try to live another person's story. Live your own story and enjoy the journey.
September 14, 2025 at 12:34 PM
When you scroll social media, it's easy to compare yourself to others.
Avoid this.
Don't try to live another person's story. Live your own story and enjoy the journey.
Avoid this.
Don't try to live another person's story. Live your own story and enjoy the journey.
You have the ability and responsibility to create the life you want. No one else will do it for you.
This is good news.
This means that through intentional action, you can live a meaningful life filled with purpose.
This is good news.
This means that through intentional action, you can live a meaningful life filled with purpose.
September 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
You have the ability and responsibility to create the life you want. No one else will do it for you.
This is good news.
This means that through intentional action, you can live a meaningful life filled with purpose.
This is good news.
This means that through intentional action, you can live a meaningful life filled with purpose.
If you're not satisfied with your current life situation, you can change it.
September 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If you're not satisfied with your current life situation, you can change it.
Take a look back into your past and identify the seasons or moments when life felt really meaningful.
What elements from those moments could you replicate in your life now?
Be curious about where you've been, and it might help you find where you need to go.
What elements from those moments could you replicate in your life now?
Be curious about where you've been, and it might help you find where you need to go.
September 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Take a look back into your past and identify the seasons or moments when life felt really meaningful.
What elements from those moments could you replicate in your life now?
Be curious about where you've been, and it might help you find where you need to go.
What elements from those moments could you replicate in your life now?
Be curious about where you've been, and it might help you find where you need to go.
Don't chase happiness.
Chase deep relationships and meaningful work.
Happiness will follow.
Chase deep relationships and meaningful work.
Happiness will follow.
September 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Don't chase happiness.
Chase deep relationships and meaningful work.
Happiness will follow.
Chase deep relationships and meaningful work.
Happiness will follow.
A good reading tip:
Read after you put your phone away at night, and before you pick up your phone in the morning.
This guarantees you spend time each day reading without your phone interrupting you.
Works every time.
Read after you put your phone away at night, and before you pick up your phone in the morning.
This guarantees you spend time each day reading without your phone interrupting you.
Works every time.
September 11, 2025 at 9:45 PM
A good reading tip:
Read after you put your phone away at night, and before you pick up your phone in the morning.
This guarantees you spend time each day reading without your phone interrupting you.
Works every time.
Read after you put your phone away at night, and before you pick up your phone in the morning.
This guarantees you spend time each day reading without your phone interrupting you.
Works every time.
A life well lived:
Spending most of your time with people you love and on work you care about.
Spending most of your time with people you love and on work you care about.
September 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
A life well lived:
Spending most of your time with people you love and on work you care about.
Spending most of your time with people you love and on work you care about.