Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Did you know that the seeds of 'Brave New World' were coming through in the authors head at least a decade before it was published? 'Crome Yellow' by Aldous Huxley is a satirical novel poking fun of the English 'gentry' and their associates. It is set in Crome Manor in the green heart of England and is told from a 3rd person omniscient narrator. The book is silly in its presentation of the eccentric characters but ironically contains some deep themes despite the comical façade.I summarised the book as follows. "There is absolutely no plot to speak of so the book relies on its wonderful characters to act as the driving force. They are totally outlandish but also entirely believable at the same time. It's mildly thought provoking in places but is definitely a light short read. Worth checking out if you want to see the origins of Huxley's more famous book 'Brave New World'."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:45) - Satire: Not necessarily always mean-spirited(4:27) - Irony: Not always humorous(7:49) - Personal Observations(8:09) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What is it like to be in a place so dark that you see no possibility of escape? 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath is a semi-autographical novel published in 1963 just before her death by suicide. It tells the tale of *Esther Greenwood (aka Sylvia) and her struggles with mental health that eventually lead to her being institutionalised. Exposed in this book are how depression was treated before the time of readily available antidepressants as well as how expectations (both externally from society and internally from ourselves) can damage us and lead to a breakdown.I summarised the book as follows. "There's no way around it, this is a depressing book. It details the descent of a typical happy young girls into hopelessness and madness. It's an expose of what a truly dark place looks/feels like but is certainly not pleasant to read about. What makes this story so sad is that it almost seems like Sylvia wrote this book as a form of self-therapy, a light at the end of the tunnel, which unfortunately she never got to see."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:44) - Depression: Trapped under the bell jar(4:48) - Expectations: The belief of what 'should' happen(7:10) - Personal Observations(9:29) - Summary*P.S. Just realised the main character is Esther Greenwood not Esthel Rosenberg (confused her name with a real life person mentioned in the book).Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Are we headed for imminent extinction due to climate change or is it all just a false alarm? 'False Alarm' by Bjorn Lomborg is a book designed to dampen the fear and hyperbole surrounding the methods of dealing with a changing environment. The book has 5 sections addressing why alarmism is wrong, what the full story says, how NOT to fix the problem, 3-4 simple workable solutions and a final conclusion with notes supporting his interpretation. I summarised the book as follows. "I'm a fan of the call to use more rationality and to proceed with moderate action in non-emergency situations. I found the book compelling and easy to understand, much more so than 'Cool It' by the same author. He was reasonable in his presentation of science/facts and wasn't focused on attacking the 'other side' of the debate, simply just trying to make the world a better place."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:56) - Alarmism: Fear makes us do stupid things(4:51) - Climate Change: Effective and ineffective solutions(10:14) - Personal Observations(12:23) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Why is John Keats regarded as one of the finest poets to ever live? 'Selected Poems' by John Keats is a collection of 50 poems written by the English poet. Keats had a pretty rough life as he was an orphan by the age of 15 and himself died at age 25. He is known as a Romanticism poet with the central themes of his poems being around art, beauty, youth, love, mythology and the opposite spectrum of death, sorrow, heartbreak and suffering.I summarised the book as follows. "I surprisingly quite enjoyed these poems as I always struggled with poetry during high school. It is everything one would imagine from a Romantic poet, high grandiose states of exaltation followed by abject misery and depression. I wasn't particularly swept away with emotion myself but did gain a greater appreciation for the art of poetry. Would definitely recommend others to read them poems out loud and to read them in multiple sittings to get the full ambience of the mood."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(1:21) - Style(3:07) - Personal Observations(4:44) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is it worth throwing away your good reputation to help those in need? 'Ruined City' by Nevil Shute is a fictional story of a rich banker (Henry Warren) who sets out to save the destitute town of Sharples. The book is set in 1930's England during the Great Depression and is a story of finding purpose when all meaning is lost. The themes of the book reflect upon what happens to people when they experience real hardship as well as how reputation can actually be used as a transactional tool.I summarised the book as follows. "It's an uplifting story about one man becoming a hero. The era it describes is dark, dreary and quite sad, but the narration of the main character is rather unemotional (fitting in with his general disposition). I felt the whole story was a bit bland and was sort of like the fantasy of an unimaginative banker. Overall, I probably won't remember this book in 10 years time as nothing really made it pop."As always, we hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:10) - Synopsis(2:16) - The Great Depression: Real hard times(4:33) - Reputation: Opinions that are context dependent(6:48) - Personal Observations(8:03) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What do Buddhists believe actually believe what happens when we are reincarnated? 'Meditations On Living, Dying And Loss' by an assorted collection of people including Graham Coleman, Gyurme Dorje, Thupten Jinpa (my man!!!) & the Dalai Lama. It is an examination of some select sections from the larger work of 'The Tibetan Book Of The Dead'. It begins with a bit of history & multiple intros from the editors & Dalai Lama. It's a short book with each section attempting to provide insight on the Buddhist philosophy of reincarnation and how to deal with the death of loved ones.I summarised the book as follows. "I found this eminently forgettable as a whole. Most of the prefaces were useful but on their own the passages of text are unclear and vague. There was a lot of repetition and I think it might require the whole framework of the religion (chants, clothing, incense, culture, buildings, etc.,) to really make sense."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(3:12) - The Big Picture: Why Buddhism is true(4:12) - The Small Details: Why Buddhism (probably) isn't true(7:24) - Personal Observations(8:28) - Summary(9:35) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Prepare myself for some potentially boring readingConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Looking for a non-serious book by a serious author? 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck is a fictional story set in Cannery Row, Monterey, California. It contains a humorous set of characters with the main plot to help the Doc from his listless depression. There are prostitutes with elegant table manners, a sneaky Mexican who is a natural lawbreaker, kind hearted buffoons and a skint millionaire. The themes of the book delve into the strange relationships that can be formed between people as well as manipulating someone in the attempt to help them.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun, zany tale of caring but foolish oddballs. It had me laughing throughout at the absolute mayhem of their schemes. The only downside is that I could have easily handled another 50 pages in the middle of the book. The ending as well was a bit 'meh', and only wish it could have been a bit more climactic. It is similar to the enjoyment I got while reading 'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:48) - Relationships: Improbable and shouldn't work, but they do(3:40) - Manipulation: Control/influence in a skilful manner(6:12) - Personal Observations(8:04) - Summary(9:13) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Life is too short not to read funny booksConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What is your purpose/cause/belief & are you starting with your WHY? 'Start With Why' by Simon Sinek is a book about leadership/business but it can be used by an individual to help better themselves and bring more clarity to their own life. He explains the difference between successful, long-standing, impactful companies/organisations in a qualitative way. The main themes of the book are his introduction to the Golden Circle of WHY/HOW/WHAT and ensuring that these are implemented in the correct order.I summarised the book as follows. "It initially comes across as the generic 'inspiring' self-help book, but I became more absorbed into his philosophy the longer I read on. It could be a fluke I felt this way or it could be a demonstration of Simon's own WHY in action. It can be a tad confusing with all the WHY's, HOW's & WHAT's but I found it tremendously insightful. I quite enjoyed it but am going to give it a while longer to sink in to see if I am still as impressed with it once the initial motivational kick has worn off."I hope you are having a fantastic day wherever you are in the world, Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:15) - The Golden Circle: WHY, HOW & WHAT(5:45) - Emphasis: Starting with what is important(8:07) - Personal Observations(9:43) - Summary(11:39) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Implement the Golden Circle into my lifeConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Remember to pet a cat that is meaningful while skateboarding with your shoulders back straight, did I get that right? '12 Rules For Life' by Jordan B. Peterson is an eclectic mix of his personal anecdotes as well as the accounts of his academic work. It's a little bit of self-help but also has a strong emphasis on the stories and archetypes that are found in mythology. The book is split up into 12 chapters of his 'rules', which were originally based upon a post he made on Quora.If you would like to support our podcast and grab the book as well the following link will serve you well: https://amzn.to/3xrlNoKAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(3:15) - The Rules(11:15) - Takeaways(16:05) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Stop telling lies(17:40) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have you read any Mexican literature lately and would you be surprised if it is about death? 'The Death Of Artemio Cruz' by Carlos Fuentes is the most notable work of the author during the Latin American Boom period. It is an interweaving of Artemio's deathbed and flashback scenes from his long life in Mexico and abroad. These include his multiple personas as a corrupt politician, lieutenant, lover, orphan, sugar daddy and father. The themes of the book examine the ignominy of a slow death and judging if someone is their present, past or future.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a toss and tumble book that is all over the place, but in a calculated and precise form. It contains the heart of Mexico in its core, particularly that of death, rebellion and corruption. I personally struggled to connect with Artemio or really anyone in his close circle, I found them all a bit shallow and repulsive. Reading the book in Spanish was more difficult than I expected due to the Chilango (Mexican slang) and the quick switching back and forth between the present and past."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:11) - Death: An inglorious decay(5:02) - The Soul: Who is Artemio Cruz?(8:00) - Personal Observations(10:02) - Summary(12:21) - Pragmatic Takeaway: More thoughts on judging and criticisingConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Reflecting on his time as an animal activist, Henry Spira wanted his epitaph to read "he pushed the peanut forward". 'Ethics Into Action' by Peter Singer is a biography of the life of Henry Spira. Spira lived from 1927-1998 and played a large part in the animal liberation movement that erupted towards the end of the 20th century. He achieved some significant changes through his activism; helping to stop cruel fertility experimentation on cats, cosmetic testing on rabbits and unnecessary pain/death of farm animals. The main themes of the book explore how to identify an ethical problem that can be fixed and then go about enacting the solution in reality.I summarised the book as follows. "Henry Spira is probably one of the only people I have come across in calling someone an unsung hero. This book lays open the hard work of a remarkable man who made a huge difference to the lives of many animals. It's not a book for sorting our your ethics but once already establish, how you can implement them into action. I would definitely recommend it to all activists who actually want to make a change in the world, rather than just 'raise awareness'." As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:54) - The Problem: A mix of ethics & reality(4:54) - Action: Will it work?(9:12) - Personal Observations(13:02) - Summary(14:54) - Pragmatic Takeaway: The small individual steps count. Do more!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Did you know of the drug use of methamphetamines and cocaine in the Nazi regime? 'Blitzed' by Norman Ohler (a novelist turned semi-historian & back again) argues that drug use was rampant in the German military of the 1940's as well as in the highest command (amongst Hitler and his direct subordinates). Ohler interprets historical events by focusing on the personal physician of Hitler, a man named Dr Theodor Morell, and his administration of opiates and meth to the Führer from 1941-1945.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a super book that obviously contains a large amount of research. It might have been slightly sensational but as a whole paints a fair picture of the drug use that was happening during the Nazi regime. It adds a whole other perspective about the Wehrmacht and the state of Adolf Hitler during his final years. I would recommend to read some drier history books first to get a grasp of the 100% historical facts before reading this book as it does take some liberties and dramatizations of certain scenes."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:29) - Meth: One hell of a drug(5:50) - Interpreting History: The unwinnable battle(8:30) - Personal Observations(10:49) - Summary(12:47) - Pragmatic Takeaway: I'm going to try Meth!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How can you grow a huge company while simultaneously trying to keep it as small as possible? 'Anything You Want' by Derek Sivers explains this paradox while reflecting on his time running CD Baby (an online music store). It's a mini memoir of sorts, a condensation of 10 years of entrepreneurship into 40 lessons. He details the whole process of starting, growing, delegating, managing and finally selling a company. The core themes that emerge are about establishing a compass (knowing what you want) and actually executing your ideas (getting what you want).I summarised the book as follows. "Wisdom can indeed come in bite sized pieces as each lesson is one or two pages long & the book can be read in less than an hour. Derek's personality shone through the book, which is also reflective of his business philosophy. I found it refreshing to hear the thoughts of someone who didn't get swept away by the superficial bullshit and followed his values/ethics to the end." As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:58) - Your Compass: Knowing what you want(3:33) - Execution: Getting what you want(5:33) - Personal Observations(8:23) - Summary(10:21) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Allow myself to put in more Easter EggsConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Did you know we are past 'peak stuff' and are now using less resources while still having increasing prosperity? 'More From Less' by Andrew McAfee is essentially a book about how technology is changing the world. It's an optimistic outlook of human progress as the data shows we are growing GDP while declining in the amount of resources required to produce products. Andrew believes this is primarily due to the 4 Horsemen of The Optimist: technology & capitalism supported by good governance and public awareness. There are many counterintuitive findings and graphs showing how dematerialisation is resulting in less resource use.I summarised the book as follows. "I was constantly delighted by Andrew's findings even though I was already aware of most. The book is realistically optimistic and makes you want to play in the game of life. He does highlight where things can go wrong with capitalism and constant innovation so it is not all rosy, there is still work to be done. I would definitely recommend to read this in conjunction with 'The Infinite Game' by Simon Sinek as I think these books compliment each other quite nicely."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:24) - Dematerialisation: Regressing from peak stuff(5:32) - Counterintuitive Findings & Nuanced Reasonings(10:39) - Personal Observations(14:33) - Summary(16:14) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Decrease meat consumption a tad moreConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

I just can't wait to get on the road again. 'On The Road' by Jack Kerouac is a classic of American literature and is frequently listed as one of the best books of the 1900's. It is a non-stop adventure that blurs the line between fiction & non-fiction. Sal Paradise (the author) provides a 1st person account as he crosses back and forth across the US with his mad friend Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassady). Kerouac became the voice of the 'Beat Generation' and the frantic energy and madness of travel is truly highlighted within.I summarised the book as follows. "It has a strong start but the longer it went, the more it dragged on. I found myself disliking the main characters and that is a death knell for me. It does do a great job of portraying the frantic energy of a bizarre time and is a snapshot of life in 1950's America. However, I felt it did do an injustice by not highlighting some of the mundane parts of travelling/partying as it really only focused upon the good times."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:52) - Travel: The ups & downs of energy(4:57) - Madness: An unstoppable force if let loose(8:07) - Personal Observations(10:02) - Summary(11:12) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Don't judge madness as only badConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Chew your drinks and drink your food! 'Think Like A Monk' by Jay Shetty is his story of transitioning from a career in high finance to becoming an ascetic monk and back again. The book is split up into 3 main sections titled: Let Go, Grow & Give. These explore topics such as removing the ego, letting go of negative emotions, finding purpose and giving back to others once your house is in order.Juan summarised the book as follows. "This book was in my backlog for a while so I was keen to finally get into it. The book isn't about the lifestyle and day to day activities of being a monk but sticks to its title of the actual mindset of monks. What really won me over was the consistency of the little 'try this' sections, those activities designed to slow you down. I found it to be a great read and got benefits from trying out most of the prompts to alter my thinking patterns."To support the team and grab the book - feel free to use the following link! https://amzn.to/3jiXxPJAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:00) - What To Expect(7:39) - Key Takeaways(9:40) - Final Thoughts(10:59) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Why can chasing profits and short-term business strategies be detrimental to a company? 'The Infinite Game' by Simon Sinek is a book about responsible, ethical, long-term business practices but the thinking can be applied to other areas as well. It contains 11 chapters with mini stories at the start but is more of an expansion of Simon's ideas. The core themes of the book argue for the benefits of a long-term outlook (opposed to short-term cost cutting/boosting of profits/share price increase/etc.,) as well as the criticality of adhering to a 'just cause'.I summarised the book as follows. "There is a driven & clear purpose to Simon's words. He has powerful arguments of the benefits to long-term thinking and spending the time to work out your values (& therefore personal ethics). The book might be slightly utopian in suggesting that the 'Just Cause' is more important than revenue/profit metrics but I found it refreshing as there are already plenty of book out there about how to chase those short-term goals."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:42) - Infinite vs Finite Games: Winning without winning(5:11) - Just Cause - Specific vision of a future state(8:12) - Personal Observations(13:28) - Summary(14:33) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Start thinking about ethical investingConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Find within a key insight into why Buddhist's believe in reincarnation. 'An Introduction To Buddhism' by The Dalai Lama is not a specially written book but a polished transcript of a presentation he gave to a western audience. The book is split into 3 parts. The first is his teaching on the 4 Noble Truths, the second his commentary on 'The 8 Verses On Training The Mind' & the third his deconstruction of Atisha's 'Lamp For The Path To Enlightenment'.I summarised the book as follows. "It's introductory but at times still felt like I needed an even more basic version. The Dalai Lama explains some of the core concepts but not in a structured way. It is easy to tell that this is a modified speech and wasn't crafted with precision. I did gain a couple of insights into the beliefs and rationality behind Buddhism, but felt lucky to acquire them as the book's writing style did not make it easy!"As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:50) - Dependent Origination & The Law Of Causality(6:26) - Guidelines: A hill to fight on(8:26) - Personal Observations(10:28) - Summary(11:56) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Light hearted views held strongly!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

If you are up against a powerful opponent/system, maybe your perceived weakness are actually your strengths? 'David & Goliath' by Malcolm Gladwell is a collection of 9 core stories showing how an underdog beat the odds to win. The book is split into 3 parts: the advantages of disadvantages (& vice versa), the theory of desirable difficulty and the limits of power. The main themes investigate how our preconceptions can be limiting our potential and what sort of mindset is required to compete against seemingly impossible odds.I summarised the book as follows. "Malcolm Gladwell's books are engaging if you have yet to read his style but this for me lacked a real direction. He points out mistakes that some people have made in their journey but I couldn't detect how this connected to being an underdog. I wasn't bored while reading this book but it wasn't mind blowing so I probably won't remember this in a couple of years time."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:44) - Preconceptions: ideas formed without enough information(5:44) - Underdogs: Is it ever better to be the overdog?(9:35) - Personal Observations(13:56) - Summary(15:24) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Stay clear of 'stories' booksConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Can you actually reason with madness? 'The Madness Of Crowds' by Douglas Murray is an extension of his own fight in the cultural wars as a journalist and political commentator. The book is split into 4 parts each of about 50-60 pages long on Gay/Women/Race/Trans. It highlights the modern absurdities of far left thinking, the historical treatment of minority groups and the implications of getting this all wrong.I summarised the book as follows. "It is smoothly written considering the density of topics and does not feel like a bludgeoning of information/stories. The shocking absurdities are told in a humorous style and is a superb analysis of the current times. It's a book of idea landmines and Douglas is running through full pelt with clown shoes on. A brave soul indeed!"As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:56) - Madness: Extremely foolish behaviour/state of wild, chaotic activity(6:21) - The Cultural War: Choose your battles wisely(9:49) - Personal Observations(15:47) - Summary(16:58) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Read 'Conundrum' by Jan MorrisConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Want an unhelpful book about how to meditate, then look no further! 'Three Steps To Awakening' by Larry Rosenberg (with Laura Zimmerman) is a collection of his audible teachings condensed into a short book. In it he differentiates 'awareness' into the practicing part (actual meditation practice) and into the everyday living part. The book is split into three main sections on how to meditate: whole body breath awareness, breath-as-anchor and choiceless awareness.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a short book that I wouldn't describe as neither beginner nor advanced. It comes across as very scattered and lacked a real structure. It was composed from his audible teachings and this tends to result in a book that is sub-standard when compared to those which are expressly written for the purpose of reading. The only saving grace is the Q&A sections, which actually are somewhat helpful."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:02) - The Three Steps(4:29) - Personal Observations(5:43) - Summary(8:20) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Go to the better source!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Why did Seneca consider the learning and pursuit of 'philosophy' as the most important thing that a person could do? 'Letters From A Stoic' by Seneca are a collection of 124 letters (although this version only contains 40) he sent to his friend Lucilius in the last years of his life. He provides guidance on how to think about mental pitfalls, illness, death and vices but also on nobler topics of pleasure, friendship and serenity. I summarised the book as follows. "The Penguin Classic version by Robin Campbell is an easy to read translation in modern language. It contains gems of wisdom but for me was not as genuine as other Stoic works, such as 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius. He simultaneously shows the knowledge gained from age, as well as the grumpiness! Plenty of helpful advice though on how to contemplate illness and death, particularly in Letters 77 & 78."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:58) - Philosophy: The most vital pursuit(6:16) - Living A Good Life: The outcome of philosophy(7:51) - Personal Observations(13:08) - Summary(14:32) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Use others quotes but expand upon themConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Cycles Of The Phoenix' by C.A. Nicholas is his magnum opus symphony and is a collection of stories that he has written over the years. It is quite a thick book and consists of 'Sanity's War', 'Strange' and 'Kaya: Where Have You Gone?'. These stories are mainly fantasy/sci-fi based and follow his characters as they deal with depression in different environments.Juan summarised the book as follows. "This book was extremely descriptive. The way Charlie writes you can tell he takes it up a notch by describing in detail every part of the scene. Whilst the stories have the fantasy element of swords battles, dragons and demons, the main theme is the deep seated anxiety and depression that his characters face."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:05) - Charlie's book in his own words(4:45) - Why Juan doesn't normally read fiction(6:08) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Willkommen im Schlachthof fünf! 'Slaughterhouse-Five' by Kurt Vonnegut is a thoroughly bizarre book written in his simple, scattered and non-linear style. We follow the life of Billy Pilgrim, an optometrist, alien abductee, prisoner of war and time-traveller. The book is anti-war and is one of the principal works that discussed the fire-bombing of Dresden by the allies towards the end of World War II. As such the themes of the book centre around the atrocities of war as well as the fatalism of the protagonist.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a book that is non-standard in just about every way possible. It takes an awful topic like the holocaust of Dresden and masks it with humour and a ridiculous philosophy. Personally I found the story a bit too out there for my taste and struggled to find an emotional connection with Billy, the protagonist. However I highly rated 'Cat's Cradle' by the same author so this could just be a personal preference rather than a critique of the author or this book in particular."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:24) - Atrocities Of War: No side is guilt free(6:05) - Fatalism: Nihilism without the despair(9:16) - Personal Observations(11:46) - Summary(13:03) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Study German harder and go to DresdenConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Would you go to war if your country demanded it of you? 'Goodbye To All That' by Robert Graves is commonly cited as one of the best books written about The Great War. It is a memoir written at age 33 of his childhood in English boarding schools, the brutality of the conditions in the trenches during WWI and his post-war life amongst fellow poets/writers. The bulk of the book is focused on his direct experiences at the front resulting in his general pacifist attitude as well as being ostracised by the rabidly patriotic non-combatants back home.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a gritty and raw tale coming from a sensitive poet, an unusual combination. It shows trench warfare in it's horrifying ignominy but then will quickly contrast this with the blandness of not fitting into a normal civilian life. It is about as real as you can get as Graves does not particularly have any allegiance to a particular group and is simply recounting his life as he sees it."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:38) - Pacifism: Can there be a just war?(7:48) - Ostracism: How much can one endure?(11:29) - Personal Observations(13:57) - Summary(15:51) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Read more about 'just war'Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is it possible for humans to extend their life span, possible even to reverse aging altogether? 'Superhuman' by Dave Asprey is his explanation of how we can increase our life span and stop the aging process. His approach is scientifically driven and he delves deeply into the research to back up his claims. The main themes of the book are on the Seven Pillars of aging that contribute to our decline and the simple interventions that can be used to stop this process.Juan summarised the book as follows. "It is a goddamn technical book. There was a page or two where he got very specific and detailed that I just had to skip by. A lot of information and takeaways but you have to work for them. The book is well written and Dave himself comes across as a funny and likeable guy, when he is not deep diving into the actual science. I felt like there was plenty of practical and implementable techniques to use for myself."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:58) - Structure of the book(4:34) - Heavy on the science(5:51) - Key takeaways(11:55) - Final thoughtsConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What circumstances would drive someone to voluntary smuggle themselves back into a concentration camp? 'The Happiest Man On Earth' by Eddie Jaku is the memoir of a man who endured tremendous suffering, managing to survive through the holocaust. The book starts with life before WWII, his subsequent experiences in the concentration camps before moving away from Belgium/Germany and emigrating to Australia. There are some intense and amazing stories from his time in the camps, including his daring escape from Auschwitz and need to return by smuggling himself back in.Juan summarised the book as follows. "I thought I would get quite used to reading those Holocaust books but I didn't with this one. It was a really enjoyable read because of the way it is just so succinctly broken up into the various chapters, it will keep you coming back for more. The perspective that these books provide are what I always gain as a pragmatic takeaway. As Eddie says 'life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you.'"As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:53) - General Thoughts(4:00) - Smuggling Himself Back Into Auschwitz(6:05) - Key Principles(9:26) - Final ThoughtsConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What are the reasons for the rise of safe spaces, microaggressions and extreme social justice on American college campuses? 'The Coddling Of The American Mind' by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt attempts to explain the psychology and cognitive distortions of iGen (also known as Generation Z). Three Great Untruths have been adopted by these students which has led to the culture of 'safetyism' in which safety has become a sacred value that cannot be questioned.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a detailed and critical examination of a particular type of mass psychological mania. Greg & Jonathan present sound arguments of well-balanced research that shows how overprotection and technological change is creating an energetic but poorly directed culture amongst students. It provides plenty of specific and broad advice on how to fix the problems and my only negative was that I personally have become less interested in the topic than I was say 2 or 3 years ago and therefore found myself becoming bored in parts."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:36) - Anti-Wisdom: The three great untruths(5:40) - Safetyism: An uncalculated risk(8:00) - Personal Observations(12:58) - Summary(14:47) - Pragmatic Takeaway: No screen TuesdayConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What is the strange attraction and repulsion that we have towards violence? 'In Evil Hour' by Gabriel García Márquez is a fictional story set in the same universe as his most famous work of '100 Years of Solitude' but without the magic realism he is famous for. The story starts and ends with a killing, depicting the start of the oppression and the escalation that is to follow. Violence (both overt and subtle) lingers throughout the interactions of the tyrannical mayor as he re-institutes a curfew and control over his town.I summarised the book as follows. "This is one of the first works from García Márquez and for me, not one of his finest. He captures the environment and ambience of the setting but the story and characters lacked a bit of bite. It felt like it needed a more dominant, driving antagonist as the mayor was responding to everything that happened, instead of instigating it like a 'proper' villain would do. That being said it still does contain the unique style of the great Colombian and is worth reading if you want to see his progression as a writer."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:22) - La Violencia: The political battle of Colombia(3:36) - Los Pasquines: The dark side of human nature(6:33) - Personal Observations(9:23) - Summary(11:05) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Keep up the out loud readingConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Looking for a book full of truth that is actually full of shameless lies? 'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut is a satirical novel of black humour that treats of a dangerous situation similar to the Cold War. It follows the writer John as he researches Felix Hoenikker; one of the fathers of the atomic bomb & the inventor of the insanely dangerous Ice-Nine. Along his journey he meets an enigmatic midget, the most beautiful girl in the world and the mysterious Bokonon. The underlying themes of the book centre around the possibility of Armageddon due to rampant technological increase and the absurd religion designed to give purpose and meaning.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun easy read that will have you laughing. Totally ridiculous with biting dark humour on actually serious issues. Some of the finest satire I have read. The book has a unique style of extremely short chapters, there being 127 in only 206 pages. I would recommend it to those who enjoy the series of Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy or The Diceman."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:07) - Armageddon: The price of technology and development(5:19) - Bokonism: The religion of the absurd(8:36) - Personal Observations(10:58) - Summary(12:18) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Have some absurdityConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is it better to generalise or specialise? 'Range' by David Epstein argues that generalists actually manage to do better in a specialised world. He previously wrote a book called 'The Sports Gene' and he himself said he put around 150% more effort into producing this book. Some arguments he makes are that hyper specialisation can be detrimental due to becoming cognitively entrenched in a field and that a thinker can become worse not better by the additional information they are provided.Juan summarised the book as follows. "While a lot of what he says is true, I don't think hyper-specialisation is a bad thing and it is just when you actually decide to hyper-specialise seems to be the problem in the matter. Some of the best ways of learning for me personally is through engaging stories and this book has them. However it has 60-70 stories and probably has 10 too many."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(3:58) - Cognitively Entrenched(5:52) - Learning Is Hard(8:02) - Information Overload(11:49) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Do you believe the global warming debate is full of hyperbole and needs calmer arguments? 'Cool It' by Bjørn Lomborg (a Danish statistician/political scientist) is the sequel to his wildly successful book 'The Skeptical Environmentalist'. In it he argues against dramatic climate change response due to the overhype & poor ROI of the proposed solutions. The book is also largely a rebuttal against Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' and focuses upon unemotional realism and deciding upon our priorities to make the proper trade-offs.I summarised the book as follows. "It is a book of solid rational sense from start to finish. Bjørn argues against the hyperbole of global warming and is supported by a large amount of data showing why it is not an existential threat. He firmly acknowledges that global warming is real and man-made, but states that we can make better use of our resources to fix the problems that we all acknowledge."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:00) - Unemotional Realism(3:58) - Tradeoffs: Smarter solutions & deciding our priorities(8:49) - Personal Observations(11:32) - Summary(12:40) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Bring the data/factsConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have you got your shit sorted? 'Sort Your Sh!t Out' by Gary Waldon is a guide to confronting your own mind and the self-talk that goes within. The book is a mix of mini-activities, deeply personal stories and an introduction to Bob (the negative persona inside your own head). The book is split into 4 sections: knowing, owning, dealing and maintaining your shit. Gary essentially induces the reader to take responsibility for their own problems and their own life.I summarised the book as follows. "This is a self-help book that will have you questioning whether your shit is actually sorted. I believe it would be useful for those unused to self-reflection/introspection and who need some help along that journey. I personally had come to many of the same conclusions as Gary has through my own experiences so didn't find it as engaging as I would have whilst younger. Nevertheless it is a solid book and Gary is a top notch bloke, as seen by the discussion I had with him on a Mere Mortals Conversation #36."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:25) - Layout(5:03) - What Sets It Apart: The onus is on you!(7:42) - Personal Observations(9:51) - Summary(11:13) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Use the bibliographyConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Did you know that the world is running out of antibiotics? 'Superbugs' by Matt McCarthy explains how antimicrobial resistance is rising against our current batch of antibiotics, thus creating superbugs. The book is a mix of the author's clinical trial of Dalbavancin, the history of antibiotics (think Alexander Fleming), the relationship he has with his mentor Tom Walsh, the science of antibiotics and exactly how these superbugs are developing.I summarised the book as follows. "The book follows a smooth narrative that will scare you shitless of germs and hospitals. It contains heart-rending stories from dying patients and the personal trials of Matt as their doctor. Questions are raised about the incentives of the healthcare industry and showcases the real world ethics that doctors face. Personally the book didn't leave a lasting impression on me as I found it a bit to abstract from my everyday life."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:03) - Healthcare Incentives(7:24) - Real World Ethics(11:40) - Personal Observations(14:09) - Summary(15:15) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Stop Shaking HandsConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Deep in, deep out. Breathe Mother Fuckers!!!!! 'The Wim Hof Method' is the layman's guide to the daily practice created by Wim Hof. The book teaches you the direct instructions but also contains a biography of the Iceman, testimonials of advocates and ends with his spiritual philosophy. The book explains how he came about his 3 Pillars (Breath/Mind/Cold) and the benefits to your health and performance that can be gained.I summarised the book as follows. "It's an overview of Wim Hof's method that translates his message in a purely textual format. It starts on firm scientific ground but gets shakier towards the end as he introduces his own spiritual beliefs. Personally I find the use of testimonials unconvincing and the message doesn't come across as strongly without the charismatic personality of Wim in person. That being said the WHM is probably something to at least try for those people with health problems that conventional science has not been able to alleviate."I hope you're having a fantastic day wherever you are in the world, Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:12) - The 3 Pillars: Breath, Mind & Cold(4:34) - Benefits: Health, Performance & Beyond(6:55) - Personal Observations(9:56) - Summary(12:27) - Pragmatic Takeaway: I'm stopping the breathingConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have you ever tried running barefoot? In Christopher McDougall's best-selling book titled 'Born To Run' we dive into the world of ultramarathon running with a race that combines the modern with the old. The book is a mixture of biography, history, science and adventure; all wrapped up in a story of an ultramarathon held deep in the Mexican Copper Canyon. The principal themes of the book explore the lost art of endurance running and why a barefoot/minimalist shoe style might actually be beneficial to prevent running injuries.I had this to say after not being able to put down the book. "It's a very engaging tale of people pushing their limits that will make you want to run! It's engaging probably because it is a little bit exaggerated but as long as you keep that in mind it's a fascinating book about ultramarathoners, running long distances and crazy people in general."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:14) - The lost art of endurance running(6:40) - Foot health and running injuries(9:12) - Personal observations(12:29) - Summary: an engaging tale of people pushing their limits(13:12) - Pragmatic takeaway: running barefoot and without pressureConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"In the face of pain there are no heroes." This is a small quote from the book 1984 (usually fully spelt out but I'm lazy today) by George Orwell. In this bonus episode I philosophise about some of the intriguing concepts raised by the book, which include: the structural and grammatical components of Newspeak and how the language was aimed to diminish consciousness, why living in the present was discouraged and how negative emotions were used as an energy outlet, the psychological burden of torture/meaninglessness/pain, doublethink and why it is a useful concept to use in real life and the genius of the book as a whole.As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:50) - Language modification and newspeak(6:05) - The past, present and future(10:41) - The need for an emotional pressure valve(12:40) - Psychological hell: knowing the how but not the why(18:54) - The value of consciousness(22:25) - Cultural mainstays: doublethink, control and sanity(28:41) - Why 1984 is so good!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

In this little bonus episode Juan goes over some of his learnings from Joseph Campbell's 'The Hero With A Thousand Faces'. His previous review of the book goes over the general themes of the book so this is more of an exploration into certain ideas and quotes that stood out to him. These include: being conscious of your own emotions while making decisions, getting too stuck in particular details of the story, asking if the ego can put itself to death, not mistaking something for what it really is and the use of beautiful language pieces from Napoleon and other figures from history.As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:45) - Emotions control your decisions(1:45) - Symbols are only the vehicles of communication(3:28) - Ego(5:20) - Mythology is psychology(6:27) - Beautiful language(7:02) - Sum up & outroConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Will the censorship enabled through technology be our downfall? 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is an already classic fiction book published in 1949 by the author Eric Blair (under the pseudonym of George Orwell). We are treated to a small snippet from the life of Winston Smith as he battles a futile fight against a totalitarian regime. The core themes of the book revolve around control through censorship and the addiction of pure, raw power.Kyrin had this say about the book. "A book that keeps on giving. Nineteen Eighty-Four contains a memorable yet harrowing world that we have attempted to create in real life (the USSR and gulag camp system for example). The book is a true classic and has introduced cultural mainstays such as: Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime and newspeak. It has powerful insights and sublime writing that is unique to George Orwell, truly one of the best books ever!"As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:30) - Control through censorship(6:06) - Totalitarianism & power(8:49) - Personal observations(9:41) - Summary(12:10) - Pragmatic takeaway: use more colourful language!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Are you looking for a hard to read book with a vocabulary that will leave you uncertain of your English abilities? 'The Hero With A Thousand Faces' is one of the most famous works by Joseph Campbell, detailing the archetype of the hero and comparing myths/legends from across the world. It is a highly influential work with its impact reaching out from the era of Star Wars up to modern day philosophers such as Jordan Peterson.Juan had this to say about the book. "It was enjoyable in pieces and I was sharing this with a couple of people that probably 10% of it I wanted to keep on reading and really enjoyed. But it almost shot itself in the foot as you got onto the next chapter, as the next chapter just became overly ballooned with words and I just thought you could have dialled this back and really told this message you were trying to get through."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:53) - A hard book to read(3:01) - Breakdown of the book(5:20) - A humbling vocabulary(6:02) - Psychology & myth(7:24) - Final thoughtsKyrin's previous review of the book:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iG32M6MF6oConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What are the secular parts of Buddhism that align with evolutionary biology/psychology? In the somewhat provocatively titled 'Why Buddhism Is True', Robert Wright explains the insights that can be gained from mindfulness meditation and juxtaposes these with observations from hard science, natural selection and Darwinian thinking. The central themes revolve around Dukkha, Anatta and Sunyata, all of which weave together to create an explanation for why humans experience suffering and what we can do to resolve it.I summarised the book as follows. "Robert does a fantastic job of combining the subjective experiences that arise from mindfulness meditation with the solid base of scientific knowledge gained from evolutionary biology/psychology. There is no mention of the unverifiable claims of Buddhism (such as reincarnation) and the book contains some great insights and doesn't become too philosophical. I appreciated the engaging mini-stories from his own retreat but did get lost a couple of times when the terminology became difficult to understand. An interesting introduction for someone who wants to know more about the secular parts of Buddhist meditation."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:13) - Dukkha: suffering or unsatisfactoriness(4:24) - Anatta: not-self and the self is an illusion(7:08) - Sunyata/Sunnatta: formless or emptiness(9:42) - Personal Observations: mini-stories and lost in terminology(11:41) - Summary: insightful and unexaggerated(13:23) - Pragmatic Takeaway: listen to a podcast with the authorConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How can we use our resources to help others the most? William MacAskill, one of the cofounders of the Effective Altruism movement tries to answer this question in his book 'Doing Good Better'. Effective altruism essentially tries to provide guidelines for what an individual can do to have the maximum impact of 'good' in their lifetime. The book is roughly split into two sections; the theory and the implementation. The theoretical side addresses questions related to measurement of charities and ways to ensure that good intentions have good outcomes. The practical implementation addresses whether it is better to donate directly, vote with your product choices, work in a profession to directly help others and social activist causes that could benefit humanity as a whole.I had this to say after reading the book. "William has a no nonsense approach to the age old problem of good intentions not necessarily leading to good outcomes. He does this by analytically determining what charities do the most good and giving a good list of practical steps that an individual can take to be effective in their choices. He has solid rational arguments with my only gripe being that the book can come across as too dispassionate and not taking into account my individual emotions/feelings to certain causes close to my heart. I found this book addressed a lot of my own arguments against donating and was well thought out and researched."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:26) - Theory: 5 Key Questions(8:57) - Practice: What should you do right now?(17:37) - Personal observations: moral issues and assumptions(18:41) - Summary: solid arguments but overly rational(19:31) - Pragmatic Takeaway: starting to donateConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How many people do you know that you would describe as a 'psychopath'?. If you answered none than you might be surprised at some of the info contained within 'The Psychopath Test' by Jon Ronson. The book is written in Ronson's signature style, jumping between different branches of the topic and interviewing bizarre people connected with the world of prisons, insane asylums and high powered CEO's.Kyrin had this to say about the book. "Psychopaths are disturbing and morbidly fascinating, there is a reason why there are so many true crime shows and podcasts. As far as the book goes, Jon Ronson weaves a beautiful narrative, there can be no doubt about it. His books are just plain fun due to his style and witty observations. He is also excellent at raising intriguing questions but doesn't spend a lot of actually answering them, so not a book for someone who likes to deep dive into a topic."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:39) - How do you define a psychopath?(5:01) - Overdiagnosis & slippery slopes(10:54) - 1/100 people are a psychopath(12:49) - Summary(14:07) - Pragmatic takeaway: Using the word 'psychopath'Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Two Who Survived' is the story of Rose & Max Schindler in the Nazi concentration camps, written by M. Lee Connolly. It follows their separate journeys as kids in an increasingly hostile Europe leading up to WWII, their survival through the Holocaust and subsequent life post-war. The book touches upon the need for hope/optimism in the darkest of times when staring in the maws of death. For those wanting more explicit detail, Rose appeared in a fantastic podcast episode with Jocko Willink.Juan had this to say about the book. "It's a 140 odd pages which also includes some pictures linking to the people and locations being discussed. Although the book deals with some dark themes and horrific stories, you also get to take a peak at when humanity shines through. A cohesive, packed book that you can read in short order and one in which you will come away with a greater appreciation for your life and the ability to grow old."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(1:41) - Hope and optimism in terrible situations(3:07) - Reading from the book(4:36) - A book packed with action(6:23) - Key takeaway: never forgot what we humans are capable of(7:58) - Perspective: the gift of life(8:24) - Juan's summaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How well do you really know your own mind? 'Thinking, Fast And Slow' is a hugely influential book published by the Nobel Prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman. In it he summarises 40 years of psychological research that helped to create the field of behavioural economics. The book is littered with gems of insight into the human brain and why humans behave the way we do. This includes heuristics such as loss aversion/anchoring/priming as well as larger concepts such as System 1 vs System 2, Econs vs Humans and the Experiencing Self vs Remembering Self.I summarised the book as follows. "This was probably one of the most referenced books I had come across in my life and was finally glad to read it. This would have been mind blowing to me if I had not already heard all the concepts being talked about by people who had already read it! I particularly enjoyed the little tests at the start of the chapters which really highlight how easily your mind can be led astray. My only fault with it was that some parts did become a little dry and I found myself getting distracted until I came into the next chapter. All in all a fantastic book if you want to learn more about psychology and the way the human brain works!" I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Book overview(1:40) - Prospect vs Utility theory(5:58) - System 1 vs 2, Econs vs Humans & Experiencing vs Remembering Self(9:21) - Personal observations(13:20) - Summary(15:06) - Pragmatic takeaway: be wary of probabilitiesConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What is the most shame you have felt and was it something public or private? 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' is a deep dive into the topic of shame by the gonzo journalist Jon Ronson. In the book he interviews some notable people who have been shamed on a worldwide level (thanks to social media) as well as investigating the psychology of the people instigating the shaming. In his research he touches upon the role of technology, anonymity, privacy and the creation of an online persona.Kyrin had this to say about the book. "I quite enjoyed Ronson's style of mixing compelling stories, deep investigative research and personal observations all weaving through his writing. This book won't become a classic but it does raise some current concerns about how humans are using the internet and what could befall any of us. Some of the stories will arouse compassion, distaste and even annoyance at the actors on his stage. Easy to read and all in all I would describe his book as fun and interesting without becoming overly philosophical."Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction to Jon Ronson(3:00) - Public vs private shame(9:36) - Technology, anonymity and the mob(15:58) - Kyrin's observations(19:26) - Summary of the book(20:53) - Pragmatic takeawayAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Disgrace: the loss reputation/respect as the result of a dishonourable action. J. M. Coetzee is a Nobel Prize winner and also was awarded the Booker Prize for 'Disgrace', a fictional story of a disgraced professor in post-apartheid South Africa. The books touches upon many themes such as: sexual misconduct, growing old, race relations, creating art, rape and animal rights. However the two principal themes are about desire and disgrace.I summarised the book as follows. "Be prepared for an uncomfortable read that while beautifully written contains graphic details of a gang rape scene, an old man fornicating with a young girl and euthanisation of helpless dogs. It is quite confronting yet also is a necessary reminder of the bad things that can happen in life and how one can perhaps mentally prepare for them. A relatively short book that while not pleasant, is quite gripping."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro, general plot and themes(3:30) - Sexual desire(10:11) - Disgrace: the loss of reputation(19:17) - Personal observations(22:44) - Summary of the book(23:17) - Pragmatic takeaway: the gift of fearConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

In this bonus episode Juan goes through some of his favourite quotes and learnings from Steven Pressfield's 'The War of Art'. This is supplementary to his main book review, which can be found in the link below. Although it is a relatively short book, there is a bounty of quotes and beautiful language contained within. Juan found that many of these were great for keeping him motivated and on track with his goals related to business and fitness. That's it for today, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:45) - Homer's 'Odyssey' and invoking of 'The Muse'(2:57) - Resistance is the enemy within(5:30) - It is one thing to study war, quite another to live the warrior life(8:27) - The supreme virtue is the contempt for death'The War of Art' book review - https://youtu.be/y_ZJY_yuIRwConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Do you find yourself procrastinating and unable to overcome the negative self-talk of why you can't do something great? 'The War Of Art' is a fabulous kick in the pants by Steven Pressfield. In this book he explains his concept of 'Resistance', which is essentially the force that stops one from achieving the internal desire of creating and accomplishing something. It is similar to procrastination but he talks about it in a way that makes it easier to understand and overcome. The book is split into 3 sections on this topic and explains Pressfield's own methods of 'invoking the muse' and the mindset required to constantly combat 'Resistance'.Juan had this to say about the book. "It did prove to me that as I read on and on (as Kyrin suggested), by the tail end of the book I was consuming it as fast as possible in a way that I just wanted to get stuck into it. By the end I really really enjoyed it. So for me it was an 8/10."If you'd like to support us and grab the book - make sure you use this link! https://amzn.to/3hTbmoQTimeline:(0:00) - Intro and background(1:46) - Themes: defining 'Resistance'(4:18) - Combating 'Resistance' & turning pro(5:20) - Beyond 'Resistance' & the higher realm(7:56) - Key takeaway: difference between the hierarchical vs territorial mindsetAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How much can one man endure while fulfilling his personal obligations to family/society? 'The Age of Innocence' was published in 1920 and one year later Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. Her book is set in the 1870's and follows the personal dramas of high society New York, centring around the love triangle between Newland Archer, his fiancée May Welland and her captivating, enigmatic cousin Ellen Olenska.I summarised the book as follows. "I was somewhat surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book. Drama and interpersonal relations don't tend to draw me in but I actually resonated quite a lot with Newland and his predicament. The book explores themes of social class, breaking taboo's and where an individual's happiness is acceptable in light of the obligations/duties owed to his society and family." I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Background & synopsis(2:43) - Social class: doesn't make someone 'better'(8:13) - Mixing duty/obligation with love(13:24) - Is intense, fiery love sustainable?(16:16) - Personal observations(20:02) - Summary & pragmatic takeawayConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show