All Segments
Meet the Stanford Surgeon Turned Podcaster — Peter Attia
31 segments available
“I’ll never forget the first patient whom I ever saw die.” Sheesh, what an opening line, right? Peter has an outstanding resume: he’s a medical surgeon, a Stanford grad, and a longevity expert with 25+ years of industry experience — not to mention, a published author who has sold over two million copies of his book, Outlive. In a nutshell, Peter is a prime example of what can happen when you share your expertise through writing. And he’s going to help you get started. In this episode, you’ll learn how Peter wrote his first book — frameworks, strategies, how he packages industry expertise in a way that’s digestible for the masses — and how you can, too. If you’ve been burning to turn your expertise into a bestseller, this episode is for you. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://peterattiamd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PeterAttiaMD Twitter: https://x.com/PeterAttiaMD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd Newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter Book: https://a.co/d/57euBtR WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage? Join the final cohort and become a better writer in just five weeks. https://writeofpassage.com/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:50 How Peter Attia started his book with a dream 00:04:55 How Peter Attia structured his book around a story 00:07:00 Writing technical vs emotional 00:09:40 Peter Attia's 3-part framework (Strategy, Objectives, Tactics) 00:11:20 How to develop a framework 00:12:50 How to develop your voice and select a medium 00:16:55 Why Peter decided to lower profit with his book cover (Easter egg!) 00:17:30 How to successfully work with a co-author 00:20:30 Collaborating on Google Docs vs in person 00:21:00 Why Peter didn't want a self-help book for the New York Times list 00:22:15 How to provide practical, concrete tactics 00:26:00 Setting your most important goal 00:28:00 How to write painful personal stories 00:31:15 Peter's career (Medical school, McKinsey, Doctor, Writer) 00:34:00 How podcasts changed Peter in 2016 00:35:20 Why the publisher trashed Peter's book 00:39:00 How Michael Ovitz resurrected Peter's book 00:45:00 Peter's daily schedule to write this book 00:46:10 What idea Peter polished the most and his focus on nutrition 00:50:10 How to handle perfectionism, fear, and criticism 00:52:15 Why Peter admires writers and speakers like Sam Harris 00:55:45 Non-linear process of writing a book 00:58:30 How to structure the framing of a book 01:00:00 Editing in the final stages 01:03:30 What matters in writing a provocative conclusion 01:04:50 How to categorize your book 01:06:10 The hardest chapter to write 01:09:00 Explaining core ideas over dinner, not an elevator pitch 01:11:00 The importance of fact checking 01:14:15 How Peter found the courage to share his personal stories 01:15:58 Writing Example (Rocketmen) PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv ABOUT THE HOST: I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. How I Write is a podcast by Write of Passage // Production by Adam Soccolich
Segments Timeline
The Emotional Journey of Writing
Peter Attia discusses the emotional rollercoaster of writing a book, highlighting the highs of inspiration and the lows of despair. He shares personal experiences, including the challenges he faced when his agent and publisher left him, and how he ultimately found the motivation to complete his book, 'Outlive.' This segment sets the stage for understanding the emotional aspects of the writing process.
"if you're going to write a book it's going to be an emotional Journey there's going to be moments where you feel like you just have the greatest idea you've distilled something and you're super proud ..."
The Dream That Inspired a Book
Peter Attia reveals a vivid dream that inspired the opening of his book. He describes a recurring dream from his residency where he struggles to catch falling eggs, symbolizing the challenges faced in medicine. This metaphor serves as a foundation for discussing the transition from traditional medicine to a more proactive approach, which he refers to as 'medicine 3.0.'
"I'm trying to catch the eggs and I I'll catch one and then I'll miss two and I'll catch one and I'll miss three and and and so basically the the the dream was one of not being able to kind of catch al..."
Fast Death vs. Slow Death in Medicine
In this segment, Peter Attia contrasts the medical community's ability to handle fast death versus slow death. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling in his book to illustrate these concepts, particularly through the traumatic experience of witnessing his first patient die. This discussion highlights the need for a shift in how medicine addresses health issues.
"um and what we're not so good at is dealing with slow death and so I wanted to have a story that would contrast that and to make clear What fast death was and so that's that story kind of explains a l..."
Crafting a Framework for Writing
Peter Attia shares insights into structuring his book using a three-part framework: Strategy, Objectives, and Tactics. He discusses the significance of frameworks in writing and how they help clarify complex ideas, making them more accessible to readers. This segment emphasizes the importance of organization in effective writing.
"beginning well I mean I think my you know if you if you if any training I've had in writing has been in writing you know technical writing right so so there you're really not trying to to do that I th..."
Developing Your Unique Voice
Attia discusses the process of developing a unique voice and selecting the right medium for writing. He reflects on the challenges of transitioning from technical writing to a more narrative style that resonates with a broader audience. This segment provides valuable advice for aspiring writers on finding their voice.
"contribution that that I would put forth from this book is the idea that you can put everything almost everything at least into a framework and so that can be the overarching framework of the book whi..."
The Importance of Visual Aids
In this segment, Peter Attia explains how visual aids, like whiteboards, played a crucial role in his writing process. He shares how drawing and visualizing concepts helped him communicate complex medical ideas to patients and ultimately influenced his writing style. This highlights the value of incorporating visuals in writing.
"you know the Four Horseman actually started out as four pillars right it was and then it was like actually it's three pillars and a found Foundation because metabolic disease sort of speaks to all of ..."
Balancing Profit and Purpose
Peter Attia reveals his decision to lower profit margins on his book cover as a strategic choice to enhance its appeal. He discusses the significance of prioritizing purpose over profit in writing, especially when aiming to reach a wider audience. This segment underscores the importance of aligning values with business decisions.
"funny example where Bill and I argued about this for like a month but I was writing about what makes one of the things that makes the liver such a spectacular organ this is probably in the chapter on ..."
Collaborating with a Co-Author
Attia shares his experiences working with a co-author, discussing the dynamics of collaboration in writing. He emphasizes the importance of communication and compromise in the writing process, offering insights into how to successfully navigate co-author relationships.
"top of that you know I'm a perfectionist I mean and I say that with just as much of an attention on the negative side of that like there was I just couldn't let anything go you know I just couldn't so..."
The Pros and Cons of Collaboration
In this segment, Peter Attia contrasts collaborating on Google Docs with in-person writing sessions. He discusses the benefits and challenges of each method, providing practical advice for writers considering collaboration. This segment highlights the evolving nature of writing in the digital age.
"so I have a policy I will not have authors on the show who actually got their book written by a ghost writer will not do it so before I said yes to this I looked into your relationship and you were de..."
Avoiding the Self-Help Trap
Peter Attia explains why he intentionally avoided writing a self-help book aimed at the New York Times bestseller list. He discusses the implications of this choice on his writing style and audience engagement, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in writing.
"self-help but I didn't want to write a self-help book so I wanted and you know the New York Times has a very clear designation is this straight non-fiction or is it self self-help non-fiction I wanted..."
Providing Practical Tactics
Attia discusses the necessity of offering practical, concrete tactics in his writing. He emphasizes that readers benefit from actionable advice that they can implement in their lives, reinforcing the importance of utility in non-fiction writing.
"interested in which list we were on as I was where we were on the list and so when we made it to General non-fiction I was like we did it like that's that's what we wanted to do and then tell me more ..."
Setting Your Most Important Goal
In this segment, Peter Attia talks about the significance of setting clear, important goals in the writing process. He shares strategies for identifying and prioritizing goals to enhance focus and productivity, providing valuable insights for aspiring authors.
"like three books but read like one book where each of those sections was in service of the next one of the things that you do a good job of is a lot of this stuff can feel abstract mathematical and Te..."
Writing Painful Personal Stories
Peter Attia reflects on the challenges of writing about painful personal experiences. He discusses the emotional toll of sharing such stories and the importance of vulnerability in connecting with readers. This segment offers encouragement for writers grappling with similar challenges.
"tactics to your point tactics are constantly evolving so it it has to be relevant in objective and strategy and so another way to think about the strategy is the strategy is the scaffolding the strate..."
Peter Attia's Career Journey
Attia provides an overview of his diverse career path, from medical school to working at McKinsey, and ultimately becoming a writer. He shares how each phase of his career has influenced his writing and perspective on health and longevity.
"made it into the book is you know maybe 20% of what I wrote um but I but the point is I just sort of wrote that in you know and and it's it's a complicated story right because it was sort of written i..."
The Impact of Podcasts on Peter's Life
In this segment, Peter Attia discusses how podcasts transformed his life in 2016. He reflects on the role of podcasts in shaping his ideas and expanding his reach as a writer and thinker, highlighting the power of audio content in modern communication.
"without anything in the last 10 years I would have been better off doing a PhD which was my original plan in engineering and I would be more well equipped to do what I'm about to do at Kenzie in Risk ..."
The Publisher's Rejection
Peter Attia shares the story of how his publisher initially rejected his book. He discusses the emotional impact of this setback and the lessons learned from the experience, providing insights into resilience in the face of criticism.
"podcast I mean I'm sending this to my parents and I can't tell my parents to listen to your podcast and even if you did which episode would you send them like like just here I've curated it down to th..."
Resurrecting the Book with Michael Ovitz
Attia recounts how Michael Ovitz played a pivotal role in resurrecting his book after its initial rejection. He shares the details of this collaboration and the importance of mentorship and support in the writing journey.
"liability to the first publisher they were kind of like all right you know whatever we paid a bunch for this book and now we're sort of stuck with it and this guy can't even deliver it on time right l..."
Peter's Daily Writing Schedule
In this segment, Peter Attia reveals his daily schedule for writing his book. He discusses the importance of routine and discipline in the writing process, offering practical tips for aspiring authors to establish their own writing habits.
"of shape it's in but uh you really like you know I was kind of like is he just saying that to be polite or does he really want to read it sure um and I sort of dropped it but then I think he emailed m..."
Polishing Key Ideas
Peter Attia discusses the specific ideas he focused on polishing during the writing process, particularly around nutrition. He emphasizes the importance of clarity and precision in conveying complex concepts to readers.
"other things like that but if I have to sit and and write like I'm happy to be sitting or standing at my desk and writing yeah what is an idea that you really polished up through the writing in this b..."
Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear
In this segment, Attia shares his strategies for handling perfectionism, fear, and criticism while writing. He discusses the mental hurdles writers face and offers encouragement for overcoming these challenges.
"you if you go and look at the Treasure Trove of nutrition books out there every one of them is the same my one diet is the true diet now there's 5,000 different variations of that but every person is ..."
Admiring Influential Writers
Peter Attia expresses his admiration for writers and speakers like Sam Harris. He discusses the impact of influential figures on his writing style and philosophy, highlighting the importance of learning from others.
"luckily like most people kind of forget that but there's something a little bit more permanent about a book than a blog post or a podcast and um and then there's also what you said earlier which is of..."
The Non-Linear Writing Process
Attia reflects on the non-linear nature of writing a book, emphasizing that the process is rarely straightforward. He shares insights into navigating the complexities of writing and the importance of flexibility in the creative process.
"how you write how you articulate things yeah I just need to I just need to provide the best rendition of my voice rather than try to capture the the voice of somebody who I think is better than me I g..."
Structuring a Book's Framework
In this segment, Peter Attia discusses how to structure the framing of a book effectively. He shares strategies for organizing content and ensuring that the narrative flows logically, providing practical advice for aspiring authors.
"from each chapter and that that was just hard I mean I this is the expression I'm sure you've heard a million times before right which is every writer has to learn how to kill their babies yep and I m..."
Editing in the Final Stages
Peter Attia shares his approach to editing during the final stages of writing. He discusses the importance of thorough editing in refining ideas and ensuring clarity, offering tips for writers on how to approach this critical phase.
"of you know what what could we what could we give a person so that when it's all said and done and they've read the book they they actually have a road map for what they can go and do the other thing ..."
Crafting a Provocative Conclusion
Attia discusses what matters in writing a provocative conclusion. He emphasizes the importance of leaving a lasting impression on readers and shares strategies for crafting conclusions that resonate.
"make and they were far more than the editor would have loved because it absolutely was painful for everybody you know right into New Year's Eve um we're we're mostly just like we can say this a little..."
Categorizing Your Book
In this segment, Peter Attia explains how to categorize a book effectively. He discusses the significance of genre and audience targeting in the publishing process, providing insights for authors on how to position their work.
"of life doesn't matter and if you focus on the quality of your life you will get length associated with it um and again I I think that those those two things which are very related but not the same um..."
The Hardest Chapter to Write
Peter Attia reveals which chapter of his book was the hardest to write and why. He shares the emotional and intellectual challenges he faced during this process, offering a candid look at the struggles of authorship.
"so it's a little it's a little awkward to say it but the science and art of longevity both acknowledges that there is an empirical art art form to this but it's it it begins in a foundation of science..."
Explaining Ideas Over Dinner
Attia discusses the importance of explaining core ideas in relatable terms, likening it to explaining concepts over dinner rather than in an elevator pitch. He emphasizes the need for clarity and connection in communication.
"like I really believe s this book is littered with analogy that's how I communicate um and I understand that most people aren't into race cars so maybe in that sense the analogy is a bit lost on peopl..."
The Importance of Fact-Checking
In this segment, Peter Attia highlights the critical role of fact-checking in writing. He discusses the responsibility authors have to ensure accuracy and credibility in their work, providing insights into maintaining integrity in writing.
"something that's really complicated probably can't be explained in 30 seconds yeah um and therefore um if you have a dinner you you actually should be able to explain mostly anything um you know you c..."
Finding Courage to Share Personal Stories
Peter Attia shares how he found the courage to share his personal stories in his writing. He discusses the vulnerability involved in opening up to readers and the impact of authenticity on connecting with an audience.
"talk about studies is you always talk about how the studies are done there are opportunities in your world where the way that a study was done create created some some kind of fraudulent data so a pub..."
Writing Example: Rocketmen
In this final segment, Peter Attia provides a writing example from his book, discussing the concept of 'Rocketmen.' He illustrates how storytelling can effectively convey complex ideas and engage readers, wrapping up the conversation on writing.
"that's probably a good way to do it right you say if you take nothing else from my story take this if I can change you can all of this has to begin with the simple belief that real change as possible ..."