An easy read and good intro to Stoicism (or refresher)
4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. The author goes on a multi-year quest to pick up Stoicism in order to help er react to life. Then friends run into scenarios, COVID, her column gets cut, etc.
Her approach is very down to earth and not preachy as some books could get. Topics from the ancients are mentioned or quoted, then the author will bring it into the modern day and elaborate on it.
I will be re-reading this. I'd love to hear if the cover photo was inspired on one of her beach walks.
The Stoics understood that if you can control your reactions and manage your emotions, you …
Wealth insights to apply to your investments, if you are just starting or well on the way
4 stars
This book deals out wholesome investment advice across several topics. No specific investments are mentioned, although a few in generalities and descriptions.
He profiles several famous investors with brief summaries of their professional life, and then ties in Stoicism to align the topic. Essentially, lose the emotion, invest on schedules, compound returns, etc.
This book would be most useful to someone yet or just recently started out on their investment strategy. for those of us later in our careers, it's an entertaining read and should help us align our approach to investing.
Great topical book on all things about robo investing and general investing
4 stars
I enjoyed this light and easy read. It covers investing history, basics of investing, and the benefits and drawbacks of using robo advisors to manage money. I had heard of them before, but never really given them second thought.
I heard the author on a podcast promoting the book. After reading it, I feel much more confident and even bullish about robo advisors in the right situations.
I was looking forward to the book, as I know the author had spent a lot of time working on it, and called it one of his most important works.
The book is broken into three sections, and each is filled with short to medium chapters, each which cover a particular topic.
Each chapter dives into modern people who embody the Stoic virtue of Justice. He'll describe what they did and why, and often times opine about it for a bit to connect the dots and bring it to you.
The third section is about doing the right thing for the world. The first chapter of this section is 30 pages on Mahatma Ghandi's life. In fact, this third section didn't feel like it fit too well with the rest of the book. He introduces Tammy Duckworth, the junior senator from Illinois who was injured in a helicopter crash during …
I was looking forward to the book, as I know the author had spent a lot of time working on it, and called it one of his most important works.
The book is broken into three sections, and each is filled with short to medium chapters, each which cover a particular topic.
Each chapter dives into modern people who embody the Stoic virtue of Justice. He'll describe what they did and why, and often times opine about it for a bit to connect the dots and bring it to you.
The third section is about doing the right thing for the world. The first chapter of this section is 30 pages on Mahatma Ghandi's life. In fact, this third section didn't feel like it fit too well with the rest of the book. He introduces Tammy Duckworth, the junior senator from Illinois who was injured in a helicopter crash during military service and saved by her crew, stating that she never wants her former crew to have a second thought of the time and risk they took to save her, thus wants to always do good. However, he only has two paragraphs on Duckworth.
Transitioning from this third section to the multi-page Afterword, you'll feel the flow difference.
I own all of his Stoic related books, and have read about half of them. Given his work and mentions during this online content, I'm a bit let down. It's a tougher topic, but a necessary topic for his series, of which this book is the 3rd of four.
The book has over 300 pages. It's a smaller form factor. I thought the font was small. I'll try reading it again in a year or two.
From becoming an iconic MTV VJ to starring in Dumb and Dumber to being diagnosed …
Philosophy on Life as a parent and human
4 stars
I watched Karen Duffy work as a MTV VJ when I was younger. I recently became aware of this book somehow, and I am really glad I did.
Each chapter is a letter to her son. Likely written over years, each takes on one or two themes and runs with it for several pages. Jostled with her past, her health state, and her philosophy, this is a fantastic read.
Has some laugh out loud moments, such as cleaning her son's sports clothes, to sitting behind Bruce Springsteen at church and he recognizing her, to some of the simply outlandish stories she included, such as Grandma's in Japan chasing wild monkeys.
She obviously has spent a lot of time on Stoicism. She brings it up in many places, and there are quotes from the ancient stoics. She knows her stuff and I'm impressed. Thus this book is really mostly about philosophy …
I watched Karen Duffy work as a MTV VJ when I was younger. I recently became aware of this book somehow, and I am really glad I did.
Each chapter is a letter to her son. Likely written over years, each takes on one or two themes and runs with it for several pages. Jostled with her past, her health state, and her philosophy, this is a fantastic read.
Has some laugh out loud moments, such as cleaning her son's sports clothes, to sitting behind Bruce Springsteen at church and he recognizing her, to some of the simply outlandish stories she included, such as Grandma's in Japan chasing wild monkeys.
She obviously has spent a lot of time on Stoicism. She brings it up in many places, and there are quotes from the ancient stoics. She knows her stuff and I'm impressed. Thus this book is really mostly about philosophy and living.
I enjoyed this book getting through it in a couple days. Folks who grew up in the 80's and 90's might like it. Mothers might like it. Stoicism students would probably like it too.
Joshua's content is very consistent. This book is a easy read. Essentially it's a walk through of about 8 different points that get you to think about if you are living your life to the fullest, and how to minimize regrets. This may involve bucking trends and undoing things that we do that we don't need to do.
No real answers here. That's homework for the reader. There's also 20+ pages at the end of more exercises to run through. If you've seen his videos or podcast appearances, the content of this book falls right in with his overall message in it's clear cadence.
This makes my 'reread every several years' list. I'll need to regularly assess that I'm on track.
A little book of advice drawing on the timeless wisdom of chess from Maurice Ashley, …
Chess Grandmaster on his experiences and life
4 stars
This is a nice short book of this Chess Grandmaster looking back and contemplating what chess has brought to his life. He doesn't talk about strategy and only a few times goes into particular game moves - one doesn't need to be a chess player to read this. Other than to know game basics.
It's refreshing to see what chess did for him and others, and what doors it opened.
Each chapter starts off with a couple inspirational quotes to set the chapter tone.
Great general personal productivity book that covers a lot of office worker territory
4 stars
There's no secret sauce or inside tips here. It's general advice over several topics, with a focus on office / tech / business workers. You'll find her on one of the Google Youtube channels with shorts that promote their products/services, some of which I find are really helpful.
She defines Productivity as Vision + Execution. She laments that balance is the new busy. Guard your personal time, work on your flow, and don't plan for you, but for the future you.
She does reflect on her Google work, sometimes mentioning people by full name, other times first name or generally. It's very well written, an easy read, flows well, and each chapter has a summary of important points.
Compare with Make Time by Knapp and Zeratsky, Martin's book flows very well and is organized.
Even if you take 1-2 items from this book immediately, the effort to read it will …
There's no secret sauce or inside tips here. It's general advice over several topics, with a focus on office / tech / business workers. You'll find her on one of the Google Youtube channels with shorts that promote their products/services, some of which I find are really helpful.
She defines Productivity as Vision + Execution. She laments that balance is the new busy. Guard your personal time, work on your flow, and don't plan for you, but for the future you.
She does reflect on her Google work, sometimes mentioning people by full name, other times first name or generally. It's very well written, an easy read, flows well, and each chapter has a summary of important points.
Compare with Make Time by Knapp and Zeratsky, Martin's book flows very well and is organized.
Even if you take 1-2 items from this book immediately, the effort to read it will pay off. This is the type of book you should re-read every couple years or when you feel friction in your life or flow.
She rarely pumps Google services in this book. As I mentioned earlier, she mentions people she's coached. Her advice will generally apply to almost everyone.
A must-have guide to optimizing your life for wealth and success, from bestselling author, NYU …
Profound and insightful, and more about life choices aka wealth
5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and a follow on from his Algebra of Happiness. This book goes over many facets of life, income, earning, vocation, relationships, and more. Wealth = Focus + (Stoicism x Time x Diversification).
I'd recommend this for any upcoming or recent college grad, anyone recently into their career to mid career. For anyone beyond mid career, it's a checkup and call to change.
Four major sections with smaller essays on a particular topic, and each of the major sections gets a summary of "action item bullets".
These twelve lessons are intended as a road map for authentic living, a user's guide …
(sort of) modern philosophy based on Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Stoics
4 stars
This was an interesting read. It may have had "Stoic" in the name to help marketing and selling it. I'd probably call it "Lessons from an American Philosopher" but you get my point.
Essentially modern takes on 12 of Emerson's thoughts on getting to personal awakening. It mentions the Stoics and Stocism several times, as apparently Emerson read them.
Each lesson is followed by a well written brief summarizing the lesson.
At the end, there are a dozen of spiritual / meditation lessons with 2 or 3 exercises each, probably best for one on the path to awakening per Emerson.
This is a good opening for learning about Ralph Waldo Emerson. If you are expecting Stoicism, this probably isn't it.
I heard the author on another podcast, and this book raised my interest. In it's form, it's really a workbook. She has 10 pages of general Stoicism background - enough of the basics to ground you, then 90 days of exercises to practice your journaling.
Each day is titled and has a quote from one of the ancient Stoics. She then offers her take in several sentences and then has two questions to ruminate on. Each day has at least one page of lines for notes.
I find the daily exercises to be very nice and not strenuous. However, this may not be for everyone. Her take on the quote and two questions should be sufficient for most if not all. Doing this well does require some rigor, and the ability to set aside 15-30 mins each day to write your entry.
I can't bear to deface a book, so …
I heard the author on another podcast, and this book raised my interest. In it's form, it's really a workbook. She has 10 pages of general Stoicism background - enough of the basics to ground you, then 90 days of exercises to practice your journaling.
Each day is titled and has a quote from one of the ancient Stoics. She then offers her take in several sentences and then has two questions to ruminate on. Each day has at least one page of lines for notes.
I find the daily exercises to be very nice and not strenuous. However, this may not be for everyone. Her take on the quote and two questions should be sufficient for most if not all. Doing this well does require some rigor, and the ability to set aside 15-30 mins each day to write your entry.
I can't bear to deface a book, so I'm writing my thoughts to her questions in my other journal which I've sputtered with, but do want to get better.
This book would be good for Stoicism devotees who want to get a journaling habit on track. Paperback. I plan to revisit this and use these questions to stimulate thoughts beyond my completion of her program.
