Soul in the Game: The Art of a Meaningful Life

by Vitaliy Katsenelson

Overview

“Vitaliy Katsenelson’s Soul in the Game is one of those much-needed reminders that although we have no control over when we’re born or when we’ll die, we are the architects of how we live.”

General Stanley McChrystal, Author, Risk: A User’s Guide

In Soul in the Game, Vitaliy Katsenelson weaves together timeless wisdom from Stoic philosophy, classical music, and modern life lessons. Blending personal experiences with ancient teachings, this book offers practical insights for overcoming challenges in work, family, and personal growth.

Through relatable stories and powerful reflections, Soul in the Game teaches you to:

- Cultivate emotional resilience and self-mastery in any situation

- Balance ambition with contentment to achieve lasting fulfillment

- Foster a mindset that allows you to enjoy what you have and avoid greed

- Develop discipline to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities

- Find joy and meaning in everyday life

Drawing from classical Stoicism and the lives of history’s greatest thinkers, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a meaningful life. Whether you're navigating professional success, personal struggles, or striving for self-improvement, Soul in the Game provides the tools to thrive.

Ideal for readers of self-help, philosophy, and personal development, Soul in the Game empowers you to take control of your life with grace and purpose.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857199072
Publisher:	Harriman House
Publication date:	06/21/2022
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Vitaliy Katsenelson was born in Murmansk, Russia, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1991. After joining Denver-based value investment firm IMA in 1997, Vitaliy became Chief Investment Officer in 2007, and CEO in 2012. Vitaliy has written two books on investing and is an award-winning writer. Known for his uncommon common sense, Forbes Magazine called him “The New Benjamin Graham.” He’s written for publications including Financial Times, Barron’s, Institutional Investor and Foreign Policy. Vitaliy lives in Denver with his wife and three kids, where he loves to read, listen to classical music, play chess, and write about life, investing, and music. Soul in the Game is his third book, and first non-investing book.

Table of Contents

Introduction - How to Read This Book 1

Student of Life 5

Born in Russia, Made in America 7

Soul in the Game 26

Speechless (Future) Father 33

Here She Is 35

This Is What Happiness Feels Like 37

Why Do I Torture My Kids… with Classical Music? 41

Reading and Listening 43

There Is No I in Hannah (But There Are Two in Vitaliy) 46

Girls' Gambit 49

My Russian Book 52

Parents of La Mancha 55

Inhaling the World 57

I Left My Heart… 59

Santa Fe: "Remember This" 64

Inhaling Europe 69

One Day at a Time 77

I Don't Eat Desserts 79

The 8% 82

My Crash 84

I Don't Eat Pork 89

Attend a Party in Your Own Head 92

Dale Carnegie - Better Late than Never 97

You Are Responsible for What You Have Tamed 100

Set Your Egg Timer to Six Months 104

Personal Finance Advice That Changed My Life 106

Stoicism - The Philosophy for Life 113

Stoicism: Part 1 - Operating System 116

Knowing and Doing 119

Dichotomy of Control 124

Event, Judgment, Reaction Framework 128

Negative Visualization 130

Last Time 134

Reframing 137

Temporary Insanity 142

Each Day Is a Separate Life 147

What Others Think 151

Insults 153

In Beta 155

Go Ahead, Covet Your Neighbor's Wife 159

The False Sophistication of Sophists 163

Creating Stoic Subroutines in the Subconscious 167

Cold (and Warm) Showers 169

You Want to Be? Do 171

Stoicism: Part 2 - Values and Goals 172

Material Success 175

Always Being Right 178

"If This, Then…" 180

A Twist: Applying "If This, Then…" to Form Habits 183

Good Values Start with Good Problems 185

What Pain Are You Willing to Sustain? 187

Good Values 189

Tranquility in Motion 191

A Story of Four Books 192

One More Thing 195

Soul in Creativity 197

Don't Let Your Environment Control You 199

Time Does Not Scale 204

Abracadabra 209

Opera. Pain. And Investing. (Or, What We Should Learn From Pain) 217

On Writing 230

The AC/DC Effect 235

Creative Rollercoaster 238

Melody of Life 243

Why I Write About Composers 245

Tchaikovsky - Master of Emotions 247

In the Shadow of Others 251

How Franz Liszt Revolutionized the Piano and Classical Music 255

The Two Sides of Chopin 259

Fantastic Fantastiqae 261

Bruckner - Humble, Odd, Sex-Deprived Religious Fanatic 264

The Art of a Meaningful Life 268

Intermission - Stop Eating Sugar 279

Editorial Reviews

A fascinating, often amusing, occasionally jarring journey—just like life itself. Vitaliy Katsenelson’s Soul in the Game is one of those much-needed reminders that although we have no control over when we’re born or when we’ll die, we are the architects of how we live.”

General Stanley McChrystal, Author, Risk: A User’s Guide

“Vitaliy knows how to tell a story. This book reads like a conversation with Vitaliy: deep, insightful, inquisitive and civilized.”

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Author, The Black Swan

“Soul in the Game is a beautiful way to search for the lost value of happiness, strength and health.”

Wim Hof, Author, The Wim Hof Method

"Soul in the Game is impossible to categorize. It is part memoir and part self-help book; it is part philosophy and partly about parenting; it is partly a book about writing, music history, and art appreciation. In the end, it is nothing less than a manual on how to live a good and meaningful life and achieve those most elusive and yet desirable of all states: balance and self-mastery. This book has changed me, and it will change you as well." — Robert Greenberg, Composer and Author, How to Listen to Great Music

"Touching, honest and insightful — it's hard to put this down." — Morgan Housel, Author, The Psychology of Money

"Wow! This is surprisingly good. Honestly I was suspicious (why should I listen to a money guy talk about life?) but I liked it a lot! Vitaliy brings an insightful, fresh perspective to the question of how to live life. He is caring and considerate, with a really engaging writing style." — Derek Sivers, Author, How To Live

From the Publisher