Integrated UpLive Program

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The UpLive Four-Year Program is a transformative journey designed to elevate the mind, body, and soul through structured learning, deep reflection, and purposeful action. Over four years, participants progress from foundational self-improvement and philosophical exploration to advanced critical thinking, interdisciplinary integration, and the pursuit of legacy. By engaging with books, curated activities and discussions, learners cultivate resilience, intellectual depth, and emotional intelligence. Through this journey, participants don’t just learn—they evolve, creating a balanced and fulfilling life rooted in purpose and understanding.

Those of you who want to see a full list of curated books instead can click here.

First Year: Foundations of Growth and Thought

Quarter 1 (Months 1–3): Building Habits and Understanding Human Nature

Focus: Personal growth, habits, and understanding the self.

  • Books:
    • Atomic Habits by James Clear
    • Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven
    • The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
    • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
    • Fiction: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Activities:

  • Journaling exercises for habit tracking.
  • Weekly reflections on purpose and values.
  • Group discussions on themes of resilience and meaning.

Quarter 2 (Months 4–6): Exploring Philosophy and Purpose

Focus: Philosophy, ethics, and finding direction.

  • Books:
    • Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
    • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
    • Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
    • The Republic by Plato
    • Fiction: 1984 by George Orwell

Activities:

  • Philosophy-focused group discussions.
  • Essay: “How Do I Define a Meaningful Life?”
  • Apply Ikigai principles to create a personal purpose chart.

Quarter 3 (Months 7–9): Mindfulness and Present Living

Focus: Cultivating awareness, creativity, and presence.

  • Books:
    • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
    • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
    • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
    • Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
    • Fiction: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Activities:

  • Daily mindfulness exercises.
  • Creative projects inspired by Big Magic.
  • Explore happiness myths through guided readings.

Quarter 4 (Months 10–12): Understanding Society and Connections

Focus: Social systems, relationships, and ethics.

  • Books:
    • Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
    • The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
    • Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
    • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
    • Fiction: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Activities:

  • Role-playing scenarios for improving interpersonal skills.
  • Group debate: “What defines a just society?”
  • Personal reflection: “How do relationships shape my identity?”

Second Year: Deepening Knowledge and Expanding Perspectives

Quarter 1 (Months 1–3): Advanced Personal Development and Emotional Intelligence

Focus: Resilience, self-compassion, and emotional mastery.

  • Books:
    • Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
    • Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
    • Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
    • Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
    • Fiction: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Activities:

  • Resilience journaling: Overcoming obstacles in daily life.
  • Group discussion: “The role of vulnerability in leadership.”
  • Explore emotional intelligence in relationships through reflective exercises.

Quarter 2 (Months 4–6): Delving into Philosophy and Existential Questions

Focus: Existentialism, ethics, and the search for meaning.

  • Books:
    • The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
    • The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
    • Being and Time by Martin Heidegger
    • The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts
    • Fiction: The Stranger by Albert Camus

Activities:

  • Reflective essay: “Confronting mortality and finding meaning.”
  • Create a personal manifesto inspired by existential themes.
  • Group discussion: “What makes life meaningful?”

Quarter 3 (Months 7–9): Science, Technology, and the Cosmos

Focus: Exploring scientific discoveries and their implications for humanity.

  • Books:
    • Cosmos by Carl Sagan
    • A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
    • The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
    • Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
    • Fiction: Dune by Frank Herbert

Activities:

  • Stargazing project inspired by Cosmos.
  • Research and present: “The role of genetics in shaping humanity’s future.”
  • Group discussion: “Science and spirituality—can they coexist?”

Quarter 4 (Months 10–12): Societal Structures and Ethical Dilemmas

Focus: Understanding human societies, justice, and morality.

  • Books:
    • Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
    • Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
    • The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
    • Factfulness by Hans Rosling
    • Fiction: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Activities:

  • Debate: “What makes a society thrive?”
  • Analyze a real-world societal issue using concepts from Why Nations Fail.
  • Reflection: “How do personal values shape societal ethics?”

Third Year: Mastery of Thought and Integration of Knowledge

Quarter 1 (Months 1–3): Mastering Critical Thinking and Decision-Making

Focus: Developing advanced cognitive skills, logical reasoning, and decision-making frameworks.

  • Books:
    • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
    • Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan M. Gardner
    • The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn
    • Fiction: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Activities:

  • Group exercise: Forecasting future trends based on current events.
  • Analyze personal decision-making habits and identify biases.
  • Write an essay: “How do scientific revolutions change the way we think?”

Quarter 2 (Months 4–6): Exploring Creativity and the Role of Stories

Focus: Creativity, storytelling, and the impact of narratives on individual and collective understanding.

  • Books:
    • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
    • The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr
    • The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
    • The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal
    • Fiction: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Activities:

  • Write a personal story inspired by Big Magic or The Alchemist.
  • Discussion: “What makes a story resonate universally?”
  • Engage in a creative movement activity to explore the connection between mind and body.

Quarter 3 (Months 7–9): Philosophy, Freedom, and Moral Dilemmas

Focus: Advanced philosophical concepts and their relevance to modern life.

  • Books:
    • Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
    • A Theory of Justice by John Rawls
    • Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick
    • The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt
    • Fiction: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Activities:

  • Debate: “What is justice? Rawls vs. Nozick.”
  • Group reflection: “Freedom vs. responsibility in personal and societal contexts.”
  • Write a personal reflection: “What does Beyond Good and Evil teach about modern ethics?”

Quarter 4 (Months 10–12): Integrating Science, Philosophy, and Society

Focus: Synthesizing knowledge across disciplines to address larger societal challenges.

  • Books:
    • The Big Picture by Sean Carroll
    • Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    • Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
    • The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
    • Fiction: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Activities:

  • Research project: “What makes societies resilient or fragile?”
  • Group discussion: “Is violence truly declining, as Pinker argues?”
  • Synthesize learnings from The Big Picture into a personal “map of meaning.”

Fourth Year: Synthesis, Leadership, and Legacy

Quarter 1 (Months 1–3): Leadership and Purpose

Focus: Cultivating leadership skills, fostering resilience, and defining personal purpose.

  • Books:
    • Start with Why by Simon Sinek
    • The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
    • Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins (revisit for advanced reflection)
    • Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven (revisit as a capstone text)
    • Fiction: The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

Activities:

  • Create a personal leadership manifesto inspired by Start with Why.
  • Reflect on resilience strategies learned throughout the curriculum.
  • Group discussion: “What does it mean to leave a lasting legacy?”

Quarter 2 (Months 4–6): Exploring the Future

Focus: Examining the future of humanity through science, technology, and society.

  • Books:
    • Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
    • The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku
    • The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee (revisit for future-focused reflection)
    • The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
    • Fiction: Dune by Frank Herbert (revisit with a new lens on societal dynamics).

Activities:

  • Write an essay: “What role do I play in shaping the future of humanity?”
  • Debate: “Is technology more likely to save or harm the future of humanity?”
  • Research project: “What does the sixth extinction teach us about our responsibilities today?”

Quarter 3 (Months 7–9): Synthesis of Knowledge Across Disciplines

Focus: Bringing together insights from philosophy, science, and personal growth.

  • Books:
    • Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter
    • The Big Picture by Sean Carroll (revisit for advanced integration)
    • Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
    • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig (revisit for capstone reflections)
    • Fiction: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (revisit to explore interconnected themes).

Activities:

  • Synthesize a “Personal Theory of Life” using insights from The Big Picture and Gödel, Escher, Bach.
  • Discussion group: “What connects the seemingly unconnected?”
  • Creative project: Create a visual or written “map of meaning” based on the four-year journey.

Quarter 4 (Months 10–12): Legacy and Contribution

Focus: Reflecting on lessons learned and planning for long-term impact.

  • Books:
    • The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson (as a practical, reflective guide).
    • The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm (revisit for its focus on connection and compassion).
    • Factfulness by Hans Rosling (revisit for its hopeful view of societal progress).
    • The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton
    • Fiction: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Activities:

  • Reflective essay: “What is my legacy, and how will I live it?”
  • Community project: Implement a group initiative to give back or inspire others.
  • Capstone discussion: “What lessons have I gained from these four years, and how will I carry them forward?”

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