A radical guide to pursuing the things you never thought you had time for.
A radical guide to pursuing the things you never thought you had time for, right now, from a restless entrepreneur who overcame burnout by devoting himself to one new passion, every year.
We all have an "invisible list" of things we say we'll do when we finally have the time: learn guitar, take up tennis, write a book, get our French from rusty to passable. But life, jobs, families, the obligations of being a person, always get in the way. The Invisible List is a blueprint for finally making those goals real. And the first step? Giving yourself permission.
From educator and entrepreneur Ravi Gupta comes a bold, inspiring approach to resurrecting your passions, no matter how limited your time or money. After realizing that he had stopped doing anything for the sheer love of it, Gupta shifted course and decided to dedicate one full year to becoming competent in one of his long-deferred hobbies. No quitting allowed. It soon became a yearly pursuit that has included taking on screenwriting, surfing, and powerlifting, and led him to find new friends, new focus, and to discover he is never "too old" to learn new things.
Early Praise
This book will actually change your life.
This stunning book had me gripped from page one. The Invisible List is brilliant, hilarious, bracingly insightful, and genuinely mind-opening. Ravi Gupta is an irresistible writer.
“A blueprint for joyfully rewriting your story.”
Ravi Gupta confronts the quiet backlog of dreams we all carry. With a blend of memoir, motivation, and actionable strategy, he shares how he reignited his spirit by dedicating himself to learning a single skill each year — one passion at a time.
“The compassionate mirror and practical map we need.”
In my work as a therapist, I see how often people defer their dreams until conditions are perfect, which means forever. Ravi Gupta knows this trap intimately, and he's offered us a profound gift: a way to make the most of our lives now.
“You don't have to wait any longer.”
Ravi gave me permission, and a plan, to finally do something I'd always wanted to do but never quite dared. Full of inspiration and practical, tactical advice, The Invisible List will prove to you that you don't have to wait any longer.
Seven kinds of year. Pick one.
Drawing on his successes and setbacks, Ravi shares how to build your own invisible list.
"Part memoir, part guidebook, part manifesto — illustrates how to create a life worth living."
The Launch Pad
A building block skill that gets you in shape for more challenging years.
The Anywhere, Anytime
An easy to access, afford, and practice pursuit.
The Sustainable Sport
A new sport or exercise that you can enjoy for years to come.
The Mental Marathon
A mind-sharpening hobby that grows your memory.
The Sequel
A return to a previous passion, but taking it somewhere new.
The Give Back
A pursuit that builds community, empathy, and relationships.
The Big One
Takes a lot of time and resources. Not impossible, but requires planning.
Join The Invisible
Posse.
A founding group of readers committed to pursuing one Invisible List item this year — together.
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About Ravi Gupta
Ravi Gupta is a serial social entrepreneur dedicated to reforming civic institutions. He is the co-founder and CEO of The Branch, a media company committed to combating online polarization. At The Branch, Gupta hosts several shows, including The Lost Debate and Majority 54 — two podcasts focused on bridging the political divide — and Killing Justice, a collaboration with Crooked Media investigating an alleged political murder in India.
Previously, he co-founded Arena, where he led efforts that helped elect dozens of candidates and launched one of the largest campaign-staffer training academies in political history. Earlier in his career, Gupta founded RePublic Schools, a network of charter schools in the South, and established Reimagine Prep, Mississippi's first charter school. He also served in key roles during President Barack Obama's first campaign and term.
A Staten Island native, Gupta graduated from Yale Law School and Binghamton University. He has won numerous awards, including recognition in Forbes's "30 Under 30" and two Webby Awards for podcast journalism, and is the author of the Gotham Book Prize finalist Garbage Town.