Everyone wishes their lives were… better. Better is a vague word—but it’s often the only word we have to describe what we want their lives to be.
Sometimes, it’s okay to be vague, but when it comes to designing our lives It’s hard to make forward progress when you aren’t sure what the destination is—that’s goal setting 101.
Noven Jaisi’s debut book Make History is all about finding clarity in a confusing world.
If your superficial self-help radar is sounding the alarm, don’t worry—Jaisi isn’t here to give you empty platitudes or tell you that your problems are all in your head. The book is full of actionable strategies and frameworks that the author has used to build a life that brings him fulfilment.
About the Author (and Why He Wrote the Book)
As we learn in the introduction, Make History is the fortunate result of a very unfortunate period in Noven Jaisi’s life.
A decade ago, Jaisi he found himself in hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder. An illness that causes hallucinations, insomnia, and paranoia. To combat his ailment Jaisi began consuming every bit of information he could find on improving the quality of the human experience—from psychology to philosophy to productivity. Everything he learned, he journaled. Those journals form the foundation of Make History.
Fast-forward to today, and Jaisi is living his best life. He’s healthy, sober, and fufilled. He has found success as an award-winning filmmaker, producer, writer, coach, and philanthropist, working with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including:
- The Beach Boys
- The Jacksons
- The Frank Sinatra Estate
- Leo Sayer
- Bob Dylan
What Is Make History About?
I’ve touched on the central concept of Make History already—that is, the importance of finding clarity in the pursuit of meaningful lives.
But there’s more to it than that. The book is also about how to make effective goals, how to find your Calling (not just your career), and how to live a life of contribution.
There are 10 chapters in total, each focusing on a different aspect of the human experience. The topics range from the “The Power of Guides” to “Dealing With Adversity”, but they all tie back into the book’s central message in one way or another.
My Favorite Parts of the Book
There are a lot of great insights and stories in Make History, but here are three of my favorite aspects of the book:
1. The focus on actionable tips.
A lot of self-help guides focus on vague concepts like “motivation” and “mindset”. While these definitely have their place, I’ve always been disappointed by the lack of actionable tips. It’s not that I’m looking for someone to tell me exactly what to do, but I do want to see some examples of what has worked for other people.
Make History delivers on this front. Every chapter includes real-world examples of the strategies Jaisi has used to improve his life.
2. The underlying personal narrative.
This ties into the first point—the fact that the book is based on Jaisi’s personal experiences makes it much more relatable (and therefore useful) than many other self-help books.
It also makes for a great read. The stories Jaisi tells are fascinating, and his writing style is incredibly engaging.
3. The focus on long-term thinking.
One of the things I appreciate most about Make History is its focus on long-term thinking. Too often, we get caught up in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of our larger goals and aspirations.
This book is a great reminder that life is about more than just getting through the next week or month—it’s about making choices that will have a positive impact on our lives for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Make History is a great book for anyone who is looking for ways to improve the quality of their life. Whether you’re struggling with a specific issue or just looking for some general guidance, Jaisi’s insights will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to make positive changes in your own life.
