Available September 22, 2026 from Harmony (Penguin Random House)
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. Drawing on his successes as well as setbacks, he shares how to create and fulfill your own invisible list, introducing concepts like:
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 BIG ONE: Takes a lot of time and resources—not impossible, but requires planning.
THE GIVE BACK: A pursuit that builds community, empathy, and relationships.
Part memoir, part guidebook, part manifesto, The Invisible List illustrates how to create a life worth living.
"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, and this book will actually change your life."
— Amy Chua, New York Times bestselling author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Golden Gate
"In The Invisible List, Ravi Gupta confronts the quiet backlog of the dreams we all carry. With a blend of memoir, motivation, and actionable strategy, Gupta shares how a high-achieving life left him burnt out, unfulfilled, and disconnected — and how he reignited his spirit by dedicating himself to learning a single skill each year. This is a blueprint for joyfully rewriting your story, one passion at a time."
— Charles Duhigg, New York Times bestselling author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit
"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: the compassionate mirror and practical map we need to make the most of our lives now."
— Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
"Ravi gave me permission–and a plan–to rewild my yard in 2026– something I’ve 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 to do that thing you’ve always wanted to do."
— Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor
"WARNING: Cracking open this book means you are likely to crack open yourself – your deepest doubts, desires, insecurities, and that whole new world you secretly want to conquer. Yes, the big one – be it astrophysics or knitting. The one new skill that could change everything…if only you’d dig in and do the work. It’s a daunting thing, determining what’s missing from your life and committing to making it happen. But it’s a lot easier with this compassionate, get-going guide. If you’ve been trying to choose between grind and growth and, in your heart of hearts, want to choose the latter, here’s your answer. And road map."
— Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids
"I’ve spent my life thinking about how people learn—how curiosity is sparked, how confidence is built, and how opportunity can be reclaimed even after it feels lost. The Invisible List adds something essential to that conversation. Ravi Gupta reminds us that learning doesn’t end with school or early adulthood—and that it is never too late to become serious learners again. This is a generous, practical, and deeply human book about reclaiming dormant passions and building a life of continued growth. Anyone who believes learning is lifelong should read it."
— John B. King, Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education and Chancellor of the State University of New York
"A charming, years-in-the-making story, The Invisible List is as inspiring as it is practical—a framework for making your next ten years deliberate and meaningful."
— Gabriel Wyner, author of Fluent Forever
"A book about all the dreams that lay dormant within us, and how to bring them into reality. It may just inspire you to start something you’ve been holding back on."
— Scott H. Young, author of Ultralearning