Interview With Author Nick Wroblewski
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Alchemy of Chores is my first book – and possibly the first to argue, with a straight face, that enlightenment might be hiding somewhere between the dish rack and the laundry basket.
By training, I’m a lawyer. By day, a trader. But by lifelong curiosity, I’ve always been drawn to mindfulness – not the Instagrammed, beach-retreat version, but the kind that shows up when your sink is full and your patience is thin. I’ve spent over a decade practicing meditation, mostly in the wild terrain of ordinary life. No robes, no incense – just attention, repetition, and the occasional existential crisis while ironing.
This book grew out of that mix: a long-standing curiosity about how ancient wisdom can actually survive a modern Tuesday. When I’m not writing, trading, or making peace with dust bunnies, I love reading, exploring psychology, and learning from different cultures. And yes, I still do my own dishes.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called The Alchemy of Chores, with a subtitle that some platforms include and some don’t “Is Housework the Key to Happiness?”. It was inspired by the deeply humbling realization that no matter how many hours I spent meditating, my inner peace still evaporated the moment I saw a full sink or a laundry pile staging a quiet coup in the hallway.
Over time, I started noticing that some of the same awareness I cultivated on the cushion could show up while cleaning — and sometimes more honestly. Scrubbing, folding, tidying – these aren’t glamorous moments, but they’re constant. And that made me wonder: what if these everyday tasks aren’t distractions from the path… but the path itself?
So this book is part mindfulness manual, part psychological exploration, and part affectionate rebellion against the idea that personal growth only happens in quiet, curated spaces. Sometimes, it happens while cleaning the fridge.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since this is my first book, it might be a bit early to declare any writing “habits” – but if there’s a pattern, it’s this: I seemed to write most ferociously right after getting frustrated with cleaning. Something about glaring at a mop or losing an argument with a vacuum would spark a small existential crisis… which I’d then calm down from with meditation. Somewhere between the aggravation and the breathwork, the writing would pour out. So if that counts as a process — irritation, reflection, and typing — then I guess that’s mine.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
This might sound odd given the topic, but I’ve actually never read much in the way of mindfulness literature. My background is more hands-on – years of meditation practice and working directly with my own mind, not shelves of books with softly lit covers.
That said, I’ve always been a reader. I love classics – The Master and Margarita, anything by Kundera, Dickens, Kafka – and quirky gems like Eduardo Mendoza’s No Word from Gurb, which manages to be both absurd and sneakily insightful. I’m not sure how much those books influenced this one, other than raising the bar for what qualifies as good writing. When you’ve read the masters, you develop a helpful little voice that tells you, “This paragraph is not it – try again.” I listened to that voice a lot while writing this.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m focused on getting the book out into the world — which, as it turns out, might be more challenging than actually writing the thing. Apparently, finishing a book is just the beginning.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still waiting for that bit of enlightenment to arrive – preferably in the form of a very specific URL and a detailed step-by-step plan. Until then, it’s mostly experimentation, mild confusion, and the occasional deep breath.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes – casually mention “The Alchemy of Chores” in conversation as often as possible. I’m fairly certain karma keeps tabs on these things.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat others like you want to be treated. And keep a stiff upper lip. Probably these two.
What are you reading now?
Marketing websites mostly. I started reading Anna Karenina which was long overdue, but it’s waiting for a slower time. I also saw “The Human Capital Playbook: Strategies For Leaders To Hire, Inspire, And Retain Talent” on your website and it made the business guy in me curious – I’ll probably get it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Marketing the book, but of course I do already have a few ideas that I want to try out. I’m starting to see how addictive writing can be.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d probably take The Master and Margarita — because if you’re going to lose your mind on an island, it might as well be with a talking cat and Satan in a tuxedo. No Word from Gurb would come along too, for comic relief and extraterrestrial confusion. The other 2 would be books I haven’t read yet -ideally something enlightening – or at least heavy enough to smash open a coconut.
Author Websites and Profiles
Nick Wroblewski Amazon Profile
Nick Wroblewski’s Social Media Links
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