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Wow! What a life! (thus-far). Trevor Noah, shares stories of his childhood growing up in South Africa during the tail-end of apartheid. Being born, half black, half white, he was Born a Crime under the racist laws of apartheid. The lessons on the journey finding one's identity and cultivating craftiness and ingenuity through numerous hustles from a young age to survive were very relatable and inspiring. You can do a lot with a little, but you need a little to start with. You can teach a man to fish, but if he doesn't have a fishing road, he can't fish, Noah beautifully communicated reflecting on the huge gaps between rich and poor in his country. Because of his mixed race, he was classed as "colored", which made him an outcast, but slight privileges he would find. What connected him with many people was that he learned to speak many different languages. “Language, even more than color, defines who you are to people.” Born a Crime has so much richness and depth to it. It was funny, wise, outrageous. crafty and fearless. Much of Noah's story, was shared with the story of his mother, Patricia. In this story, they both grow together, like partners, it's a coming of age them against the world.

Full reviewFiled under Biography & Memoir, History & Geopolitics

One of the most impactful book's I've read. Stoicism is the guiding philosophy of life, I never knew I was in search of. This ancient philosophy which originated out of Greece, and evangelized by the Roman's has stood the test of time with many principles and relevant pieces of life advice. Irvine summarizes the core Stoic lessons and techniques for attaining tranquility and living the good life in modern times. Some big lessons I learn were how to minimize anxiety and worries, how to detach myself from past failures, and focus on the things within the realm of my control, as well as how to reduce negative emotions like anger, anxiety, fear, grief, and envy. I found the book to be a good introduction to Stoicism before diving into some of the source material from Seneca, Marcus Aurelius and other Stoic Philosophers. I've read this book multiple times and it still has a strong impact on me and I come about with something new on each read.

Full reviewFiled under Philosophy & Ethics, Psychology & Behavioral Science

I think this book should be required reading for any business school student. Or even if you want to be more familiar with business, in general, The Personal MBA gives a good overview without scaring you off with too much technical detail. It was a pleasant surprise that this book was more than business; it included psychology and aspects on how to manage and improve yourself. It's one of my most gifted books.

Full reviewFiled under Business, Economics, Personal Development

A defining trait in our species is the will to strive forward. Kalanithi captures that with his posthumously published book that he wrote while dying of stage IV lung cancer and through that journey trying to more deeply understand the purpose of his work, the life he has lived and has left to live, and the lives and identities he has been entrusted to save and protect as a neurosurgeon. Kalanithi writes and poetic and philosophical memoir as his personal reflection on the challenge of facing death head-on while being both the doctor and the patient.

Full reviewFiled under Biography & Memoir, Philosophy & Ethics

It should come of no surprise that one of the founders of Pixar would be able to craft an amazing story with the book Creativity Inc. in collaboration with Amy Wallace. Halfway through, I knew this book would are my all-time favorites list. What stands out in this book compared to other business books is the selflessness of Ed Catmul, who spoke about his colleagues more than himself and the books balanced blend of business, biography, philosophy and psychology; coming together to illustrate how to enable people to work together. Pixar movies have shaped my childhood and continue to shape my adult hold, telling stories with deep lessons in simple ways that trigger a wide spectrum of emotions. The consistency of quality is high valued at Pixar and it has created a division called Braintrust to make sure the story feels right. In addition, Pixar has a unique culture of fostering creativity, trust, learning and communication to encourage the creation of stories worth telling. There is turbulence along the road to success and Pixar has been on the brink of collapse numerous times. The company has found a way to cultivate skill and manufacturing luck. Change is also always around the corner and the stories about George Lucas of Lucasfilms, Steve Jobs co-founder of Apple who became a majority owner at Pixar, Bob Igner, CEO of Disney who purchased Pixar in 2006, and all the other waves of economic change posed great challenges to try to maintain the Pixar culture while allowed for positive change. The Pixar founders Ed Catmul, John Lassetter and Jim Morris believed in Pixar; they wanted it to outlast them like the way stories last generations.

Full reviewFiled under Biography & Memoir, Business, Entrepreneurship & Startups, Leadership & Management, Technology & Computing

In The One Thing, you learn the art of prioritization and how to train your mind to connect one goal with the next over time until you know the most important thing to do right now. If you don't have a goal in mind, great questions are a way to get you closer, by leading you to an excellent answer. The question you can start with is the focusing question: What's the one thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary? By finding your One thing, you can find the signal through the noise, achieve better results in less time, reduce stress by feeling less overwhelmed and more focused, better manage your energy and stay on track to finish what you've started. Success is about doing the right thing, not about doing everything right. To get there, find your purpose by figuring out what drives you. Don't focus on being busy, focus on being productive. Go all in on what matters to you, and say no, to defend your priority, everything else can wait.

Full reviewFiled under Business, Personal Development, Productivity & Systems

The story of the human body by Lieberman, explores the transition of our lifestyle, diets and body from an evolutionary perspective. We have undergone a “cultural evolution” that has outpaced our “biological evolution”, resulting multiple “Mismatch diseases”, suffering from ailments and other conditions that were rare amount our ancestors. Mismatch diseases occur due to: Overabundance and mismanagement of energy (Eating too much), Obesity, Diabetes, Under use (Not exercising enough), Osteoporosis and Lower back pain. Lieberman suggests solutions we can learn something from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Many of these ideas are the core of the Paleo movement. He also states that culture created the environment for the decline in our health; we live longer but live with much more illnesses. So interventions for mismatch diseases he recommends, are public health policies that assist us in making better choices.

Full reviewFiled under Sociology & Culture, Health, Fitness & Nutrition, Science & Nature

The only kinds of books I have trouble reading and finishing are fiction books. This was one fiction book, that was the exception and I couldn't put it down. It was well written and the flow of the story put my emotions through a slot machine. I felt a part of the Story and cheered Hazel (the main character) on all the way through. Reading this made me ok with being more vulnerable and remembering to cherish the moments we have with those that care about us.

Full reviewFiled under Fiction

Reading Poor Charlie's Almanac is like going on an adventure. Everything isn't always neatly organized. He goes on a tangent at times and later refines and re-emphasizes certain points as he revisits talks and other statements. The illustration added a lot of flavor to the book as well as the commentary and descriptions about the numerous historical figures referenced throughout. Poor Charlie's Almanac is part Memoir, Business, Finance, Economics, Psychology and a jungle of connected wisdom. Drafting inspiration from Ben Franklin, Charlie is a champion and great pro-proponent for Multidisciplinary Learning and acquisition of Mental Models to better understand the world. I was surprised to see how much Charlie spoke about the value of Psychology, but I welcome it all and loved the Twenty-Five Misjudgments of Human Psychology towards the end of the book. The twelve speeches included in the book were mixed, I would say I enjoyed 5 out of the 12, but I think my opinion on the matter will change over time. This is the kind of book you revisit multiple times over a lifetime. There is a lot of wisdom in this book, but it isn't as structured and list organized as Seeking Wisdom. I personally liked this Almanac more. Though he doesn't make it easy for you, some parts are simple, yet grand revelations and other parts it feel like you're searching for buried treasure. He wants you to think first. Be the detective of Life. Acquire knowledge far and wide. Always invert and trust in principles. With this I have nothing more to add.

Full reviewFiled under Finance & Investing, Biography & Memoir

An incredibly insightful book by a plastic surgeon who explores how our self-image shapes our behavior and success in life. Even if someone changes their outside appearance, real change begins with your changing your internal view and belief of yourself. Many people fail not due to a lack of ability but because their self-image subconsciously forbids success.

Full reviewFiled under Psychology & Behavioral Science, Personal Development

The book critiques how societal policies are often crafted by intellectual elites lacking direct experience in the areas they legislate. This can lead to decisions that negatively impact those they're meant to help, without accountability or real-world feedback loops. There's a focus on self-serving moral narratives that disregard empirical evidence challenging their agendas. It's been an area I've seen far too many people sold false promises on. It's far easier to manipulate through the heart, than through the head. The perceived wisdom of the "anointed" thrives with very little skin in the game, as it offers psychological rewards like a sense of moral superiority, despite consistent failures. These visions sustains an elite class that thrives on identifying new "problems" justifying their continued authority and influence.

Full reviewFiled under Politics & Public Policy, Economics

A look into the generational & psychological effects of slavery and misguided education in the African American community and the systemic injustices that still linger. Originally written in the 1930s, the tone and subjects of the book sadly remain relevant today. People are legally free persons, but can be economically enslaved. They can also be taught to despise their own people; the fear themselves. This creates another type of mental and environmental imprisonment that will lead to actual imprisonment when desperate situations lead to desperate actions or the whims of justice's mood. The primary focus of the book is education and the core point is that the mere imparting of information is not education. In certain circumstances, the successful were the one's who had no formal education; they did not fall prey to the miseducation. "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions." I feel sadness, and then anger at slight times with the level of effort it can take to survive in an environment, where one believes they are worth less than another human. I also felt great hope for the strong individuals who never doubt themselves and become true mentors and leaders for those around them. This is a fight that has gone on for generations and I can pay my respects by continuing to learn about the people brave enough to help progress the people and not to allow hate to continue forward, but to share love and knowledge.

Full reviewFiled under Education & Learning, Sociology & Culture

The book is a story of a young woman who makes a deal with the devil to be fully free, and as a side effect becomes immortal. But there's a catch, she is given a curse that everyone she meets forgets her, when she leaves their sight. She lives on for hundreds of years traveling across the world and generations. It was a beautifully poetic, painful and soul expanding book that explores identity, love and the price of freedom. Addie explores the edges of freedom and that of her curse and tries desperately to leave a mark to be remembered.

Full reviewFiled under Fiction

Models encourages confidence through vulnerability and non-neediness, opening up yourself to share more while still holding onto your values and being self-reliant. Models is based on good intentions, as opposed to some other opportunities and manipulative dating books, so I resonated much more with Mark's principled approach, that aligned much strongly with personal development. The structure of the book was very easy to go through, with a blend of new and old topics that emphasize the core parts of relationship building, and I felt myself finishing and wanted to immediately go back through the book.

Full reviewFiled under Personal Development, Communication & Influence

The amount of wisdom packed into this small book blew my mind. I immediately knew it was making the list only halfway through. In the practicing mind, the author emphasizes the importance of process over product and results. Most of the anxiety we experience in life, and failure to finish what we start comes from this feeling that there is a point of perfection in everything we do. Early life is all about trial-and-error practice, but modern life's technological speed, habitual multitasking, and promises of instant gratification have made us lose touch with consistent hard work and trust in the process. By focusing on “process, not product,” you'll learn to live in each moment, where you'll find calmness and equanimity. Creating the practicing mind comes down to these simple rules: keep yourself process-oriented, stay in the present, make the process the goal and use the overall goal as a rudder to steer your efforts, be deliberate, have an intention about what you want to accomplish, and remain aware of that intention. Some of the most powerful traits you can get from being more process-oriented are becoming a more patient and disciplined individual. You'll be able to pick a goal and apply steady effort to reach it while finding love in the journey of getting there.

Full reviewFiled under Personal Development, Psychology & Behavioral Science

In Between the World and Me, Coates write to his fifteen-year-old son, Samori, about questions regarding the nation's history, culture, racial struggles and his experiences living in a black body in America. Forgetting about the past and the pain that comes with it is easy, but remembering and understanding is very hard. Coates talks about ‘The Dreamers', who have forgotten the origins of this country's wealth and seek to preserve themselves in this countries privileges, backed by systems that have robbed and imprisoned a generation of peoples. Throughout the rest of the book, I felt his pain and anger. I saw a man who had given up faith in beliefs of a higher faith, in a broken educational, judicial and cultural system and who saw the American Dream as a destructive illusion. I wondered to myself, what would my father write to me? I had no father to ask this advice. Raised by a single mother, who was breaking under the pressure of the world, I could not ask these questions as she always pointed me towards asking God; there was no response. If I had read this when I was Coates, son's age, would I have accepted his message and done the choices I have made?

Full reviewFiled under Biography & Memoir, History & Geopolitics, Sociology & Culture

The Inner Game of tennis is about reaching a state of peak mental performance, through the art of relaxed concentration. The author talks about two states within us, Self 1, the teller and Self 2, the doer. The key is improving the relationship between the conscious teller and the natural capabilities of Self 2, enabling one to turn thoughts into fluid action. When you attain mental peak performance, you will learn how to get the clearest possible picture of your desired outcomes, how to trust self 2 to perform at its best and learn from both successes and failures, and how to see “non-judgmentally” – that is, to see what is happening rather than merely noticing how well or how poorly it is happening. The Inner game of Tennis uses tennis as a medium to discuss these skills. The most indispensable tool for human beings in modern times is the ability to remain calm in the midst of rapid and unsettling changes; this is an important book to help you get there.

Full reviewFiled under Personal Development, Psychology & Behavioral Science, Health, Fitness & Nutrition

One of the few books I've been able to read completely through in one sitting, being on a 5-hour flight helps I guess. Even though this is a novel, Patrick paints a picture that makes you believe this is attainable today and uses the narrative to communicate his insights in what it means to be a true trusted advisor. The Getting Naked part is a reference to allowing you're to be vulnerable to your clients for a more compassionate and partnership oriented customer service. Vulnerability will enable you to build a client relationship built on trust, integrity, honesty, humility, and transparency. The Three fears the book talks about to move closer to a deeper customer relationship are the fear of losing the business, the fear of embarrassment and the fear of feeling inferior. To get over the fear of losing business one would consult instead of sell or be more open to giving away business. To overcome the fear of embarrassment don't be afraid to ask dumb questions and celebrate your mistakes. To overcome the fear of feeling inferior, make everything about the client and don't be afraid to take a bullet for the client.

Full reviewFiled under Business, Leadership & Management

Pragmatic Thinking and Learning was an insightful journey into better understanding how the brain works and then using that knowledge to extend and get the most out of our minds. Although, the book it marketed towards programmers and uses some technical analogies, it still is a very engaging read for a wide range of people. The book includes many practical tips for to learn better, become more self-aware, improve upon your focus and advice for improving on how you go about work. I would recommend this book to all self-proclaimed life-long learners.

Full reviewFiled under Software Engineering & Programming, Productivity & Systems, Psychology & Behavioral Science

The world is a complex system made up of many smaller systems all interacting, and we can benefit from viewing things from a bigger picture; seeing the connections. With that knowledge, we can design better systems and adapt and influence the systems in our communities and the world as a whole. This book was an amazing read and I would recommend it to anyone. Your perspective on the world will change.

Full reviewFiled under Business, Economics, Science & Nature

Wow, what an inspirational read, in spite of all the tragedy. Dr. Frankl's story illustrates that even when one is at their weakest point they have the opportunity and a choice to be at their strongest. Reading this book has greatly impacted my life.

Full reviewFiled under Biography & Memoir, History & Geopolitics, Philosophy & Ethics, Psychology & Behavioral Science

"Grit is that mix of passion, perseverance, and self-discipline that keeps us moving forward in spite of obstacles." If you want to get better at getting better, The Little Book of Talent is a good start. This was a very fun read. I felt so excited to implement a good portion of the tips from the book of talent. It's jam packed full of wisdom and I see myself referencing this book repeatedly.

Full reviewFiled under Education & Learning, Personal Development, Psychology & Behavioral Science, Writing & Storytelling

The lessons of history are your tools to use today. There are many forms of power and it is your responsibility to understand them, as to not fall victim to abuse or manipulation of power. When I was done, I felt like I now acquired 48 shields. The insights from this book are practical and will aid you in your freedom to grow. You will be more aware to not just judge people by their intentions, but more objectively from the decisions they make. The 48 Laws of Power is a dense read, but if you can't get through it all you can skim through to find what can help you for your current situation.

Full reviewFiled under History & Geopolitics, Personal Development, Philosophy & Ethics, Psychology & Behavioral Science

This timeless book by Dale Carnegie is a story about respect and empathy. We all should take notice of the little things, showing our appreciation for others and commitment towards building a relationship. The lessons from this book are simple one's that we sometimes forget, if made awarer, we could have many more opportunities and lasting friendships. Emotional intelligence is increasingly important in our ultra-connected world.

Full reviewFiled under Business, Communication & Influence, Personal Development, Psychology & Behavioral Science