As a caveat to the takeaways below, I had gotten away from formally keeping track of the books I was reading/listening to once I stopped my initial blog on Blogspot. Towards the end of 2023, I realized it was immensely helpful to be able to go back to the books I had read and see what some of my thoughts or takeaways were at the time of reading them. Unfortunately, this was too little too late to do in real time. Instead, I went back in early 2024 and went through the full list mostly just trying to capture what has stuck with me, or what comes to mind when thinking of each title.
1. Pimp: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim
Takeaways:
This was mentioned in a Dave Chapelle special and had been on my list ever since. I felt transported to another universe as nearly everything in the book was so foreign to me. Highly recommend this from a pure interesting narrative/storyteller perspective. “You gotta make like you don’t even have a swipe. You gotta keep your mind on the scratch. Stay cold and brutal, cop your scratch first; don’t let them Georgia you. They’ll laugh at you. They’ll cut you loose like a trick after they flim-flammed you. Your scratch cop is the only way to put a hook in their stinkin’ asses.” Good start to the year.
2. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
Takeaways:
I have come across Ryan Holiday from a number of different sources, work, sports, and interpersonal. In 2021 I dabbled into stoicism as I really began my reading journey, and added the Daily Stoic to my podcast rotation. Doing the book/journal almost everyday for two years and seldom missing a podcast helped to pound the ideas and concepts into my head, but I never ventured into Holiday’s actual books - mostly short-form content. Perception, action, will as the three steps to accomplish anything resonates strongly with me. The ability to recognize that happiness and fulfillment often lie on the other side of struggles and adversity help to take the pain away from the negativity in the moment.
3. Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within by David Goggins
Takeaways:
Can’t Hurt Me was one of the first books I re-read since I began this journey, and I really cannot get enough of David Goggins. The cheesy mashups and audio clips from Goggins have genuinely helped me get through sets. I do not think I would have ran a marathon on my own without the Can’t Hurt Me inspiration. This book takes that to another level continuing to give some insight into the mind of one of the hardest men on the planet. “I’m not crazy, I’m just not like you.” Pretty badass. Similar to some other folks that I have kept up with over the years, concepts like the one-second decision, having an all sticks mentality, and not being satisfied with good enough have all helped me positively at different points in my life.
4. Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Takeaways:
This was a recommendation from a friend and I was glad I gave it a go. I think that religion/meaning/existence are some of the most interesting things to contemplate. I unironically love having these incredibly deep and philosophical discussions with anyone who will humor me on why they think we are here, if we have free will, ultimate good, aliens, God, and all of the interrelated concepts that come along with those heavy subject. There were some arguments made in this book that I did not agree with from a logical perspective, but others I really enjoyed. Especially the concept of pride and how it leads to every other vice. I had not heard that stated before and it has stayed with me.
5. What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence by Stephen A. Schwarzman
Takeaways:
This was an old recommendation from the TIP podcast (I am aware that is TTIPP). I listened to the audiobook while walking around Rincon, PR. At the same time I was thinking about my career and talking to some friends who were at different transitional phases in theirs. The quote that stuck with me most was “it’s just as hard to achieve big goals as it is small ones. The only difference is that bigger goals have much more significant consequences.” I think that this is one of those things that you have to experience yourself in order to understand that it is true. I am early on in my career and life in general and have not really ventured out or tried anything that is significantly meaningful in the world, or at least that is how I feel. Reading stories like these where people go out and build something on their own is inspiring and gives me confidence to do the same. I always am interested in the principles and common themes that come across from these stories, in this case, confidence, honesty, and rationality. Trying and failing is okay and far different from quitting.
6. The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel
Takeaways:
Recognizing we are human and that we are flawed does diagnose the problem, but it does not and cannot fix it. We have ingrained biases and are often driven far more by our emotions and subconscious minds than we would like to admit. These are givens, and so next up is figuring out what to do about it. Money is a difficult subject, and especially being at Princeton and then in the hedge fund world, I have been around a lot of it. It can be easy to get caught on the hedonic treadmill, but actually being thoughtful about what my goals are and what success looks like to me can help to get me out of a hamster wheel like approach of going through life. I have a problem with frugality, and I like to save money when I can, however, I have realized that there are certain areas that I need to allow myself to spend freely on. It is not a free pass to be wanton with spending decisions, but to understand that the reason I don’t spend a lot of time or money or energy is on X is so that I can spend it on Y is an important concept to grasp and take seriously. Thinking about what race I am running and what I want to optimize for across all spheres of my life is important, and I think that this book did a good job at articulating a roadmap of concepts I encountered elsewhere.
7. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
Takeaways:
I am very interested in the combination of Eastern and Western thought. I think by reading widely and trying to engage with different materials I have been able to see common themes that crop up in different geographies in different times, and that speaks to their universal applicability. Much of my sense of morality and general mindset has been shaped by Christianity and Western values, and those are far younger than those of the East. I think that more than anything this book helped me to think about the interconnectedness of all things and the power of meditation as a practice. This is one that I would like to return to a little later in my life when I can bring a new perspective to it.
8. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Takeaways:
Also a TIP recommendation and I have heard anecdotes or quotes from this book from a few different sources so I am glad that I read it. That being said, this was a book I had started and then quit after a chapter or two since it did not seem that interesting to me at the time. Upon coming back, I enjoyed it much more since I was able to appreciate more of the history involved and saw it more as entertainment. I have never been very interested in history or studying wars or anything of that sort; however, I did find myself enjoying the perspective from this book and just how much we as a country have changed and evolved over time, even if this was only in the past 50-60 years or so. It seems like the distant past, but many of the stories mentioned happened within my relatives lifetimes which makes me excited for all of the techonological advancements that are currently underway. Another book that adds to my mosaic of information and stories to pull from, although it is out of my traditional wheelhouse.
9. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Takeaways:
A very gimmicky title, but I am glad that I read it. I actually saved $30 worth of a late fee on a credit card due to this book. Similar to the psychology of money, I think that this book gave me some actionable tools in terms of structuring my life and the decisions that I make that feed into it. Designing my rich life intentionally and with the end in mind has been valuable in how I make those allocation decisions. The simple strategy of being boring with decisions and just having discipline and consistency resonates well with me. Helping myself and helping others to achieve better results across different areas of their life, financial, phsyical, mental, and spiritual, are some of the things that I think would be most valuable in terms of my time allocation.
10. The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
Takeaways:
The Charlie Munger concept of inversion has always been helpful in terms of yielding interesting or unique insights, and in this case, the fact that the way to receive the most is to give genuinely and without expectation or attachment seems so counterintuitive, and yet I have seen this principle play out across different areas of my life. I really liked Adam Grant’s book Give and Take, which explains these concepts. I thought this book was quaint, but the fact that they are illustrative stories rather than real-life and specific examples took a bit of the luster away for me. I want to generally focus on being authentic, genuine, and taking an interest in others for who they are rather than treating relationships as transactional. I believe the energy in those attitudes and mindsets can be felt not only by those around you, but also your own mind.
11. The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason
Takeaways:
This is a classic in the space and I think helped hammer home the eternal concepts of how to be successful in terms of money management. The concepts are relatively simple, saving more than you earn, investing, protecting downside, etc. but they often go against our human nature and that is why there is such difficulty in sticking to simple strategies when times get tough. Taking on the world with positive momentum and a forward lean are themes that come about time and time again across the books I read of successful strategies. This is not necessarily intuitive given the diversity of the authors and contexts in which the books were written.
12. The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Takeaways:
Rick Rubin is a fascinating individual and I have always enjoyed learning more about him, usually tangentially in documentaries, or through his podcast appearances. In terms of a spectrum of woo-woo-ness, Rick is probably pretty far out there compared to your average Joe. I think that a lot of the concepts in the book and in other books that talk about accessing different parts of your mind as well as changing your attitude to get certain results sounds crazy to those of us involved in the rat race with our heads down, but the more I see these ideas the more I feel the need to put them into practice in my own life. I have not made it a priority of mine to engage in a lot of creative work since before graduation, and as such I treat a lot of these concepts as more of a luxury than a necessity. As I hopefully move into a new phase and have some free time to allocate to leisure, I hope to use principles from this book to help me get into the right mindset.
13. Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton
Takeaways:
A TIP recommendation that had been on my list for a while. Many lessons to be learned about business, entrepreneurship, and risk-taking, all while learning about one of the largest retail giants of our time and how it started from one man’s near ceaseless desire for improvement. The biggest takeaways I had from this book were the importance of aligning incentives. By prioritizing the customer, being relentlessly curious and humble, and generally acting with a mindset of abundance in all things, Sam Walton was able to achieve and surpass even his wildest expectations across a number of different areas of his life. That being said, I never look at these types of books as a way to glorify the individual, but I think moreso to grasp the themes or main principles that are common across experiences and the different paths to success.
14. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
Takeaways:
As I have mentioned elsewhere, I am always interested in learning more about mindfulness and meditation. Especially as it relates to clear thinking and being at peace. Zero cost practice that is increasingly recognized to have legitimate clinically tested and proven benefits. The biggest takeaway from me in this book was seeing the past and future as not real, and realizing that the present is all we have. I have always struggled to focus on the present and empty my mind. I have a tendency to overthink and play out scenarios in my head that are counterproductive. I liked this book as a reminder to focus on what I can control and what is in that moment, and by taking each thought and asking simple questions, I can remove the negative feelings or mindsets that can sometimes subconsciously come about.
15. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Bill Gifford and Peter Attia
Takeaways:
An addition to one of the many sources of knowledge and information about the science of health and wellness. I gifted this book to a friend and my dad since I found it was helpful in synthesizing a lot of the concepts and principles I have encountered over time through my own learning journey as I have lifted and dieted with varied goals over the past decade or so. Returning to the concept of beginning with the end in mind, or reverse engineering processes in order to get desired outcomes is one of the key takeaways I had from this book. Thinking “I want to do X when I am X years old” is a different way of thinking about fitness and longevity than I have ever thought about. Most of my fitness goals post-football have just to been to get to a certain number on the scale or a physical appearance, and so thinking about things in terms of what my specific desire is, and then designing a program to get me there is something that has changed my approach.
16. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Takeaways:
There are certain concepts that are hard to intuitively grasp for the human mind. Probability and the power of compounding/exponential growth are two such concepts that have tremendous importance and leverage in our day to day lives if we can understand them well. The takeaways that I had from this book were the importance of tracking -i.e. must be measured to be improved, your attention and intentions matter significantly in order to direct your focus and achieve results, and little things done with consistency over time lead to far more significant results than can be envisioned when looking at the actions in isolation.
17. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke
Takeaways:
I am interested in the brain and how it functions. A lot of the behaviors, emotions, or subconscious decisions that are made throughout our lives each day are products of evolution and are no longer productive in the modern world. Learning more about dopamine and why it exists and the types of things that trigger its release are important in order to better understand how we are being influenced. Knowing that dopamine just leads us to desire more and more and can get reset at hire baselines that can have meaningful impacts on our motivation levels is a scary concept, especially given the fact that a lot of systems and things we interact with each day are intentionally designed to manipulate those reward pathways. It is far easier said than done, but finding things that are negative or painful in the short term but beneficial in the long run, and developing the ability to push through those initial stages to reap the positive second and third order effects certainly resonates with me.
18. The Noonday Devil: Acedia, the Unnamed Evil of Our Times by Jean-Charles Nault
Takeaways:
This was a gift from my father after he attended a retreat. I think that it is an interesting concept and I have heard it in different forms, most notably the resistance in Steven Presssfield’s vocabulary. Taking different views on the sin of sloth in that it can manifest itself as business or “productivity” in things that are still avoiding or neglecting to take care of the task at hand was a new way of framing the traditional view of laziness. Procrastination or a wandering mind when it comes to something important seems to be almost inevitable, but it is one of those muscles that needs to be trained and flexed through small and disciplined actions consistently over time to lose its power. We are social beings, whether that be with one another, or in the case of the book, with God. A lot of sadness therefore stems from being inside our own heads and inwardly focused. Something that I have found gets me out of a slump is to focus my energy and attention outward.
19. Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World by Michael Pollan
Takeaways:
I believe this was an audible exclusive and comes from the same author of a popular book on psychedelics. With my recently developed coffee habit, I felt that this was a good book to learn about history and more ways in which this drug impacts not only me, but society as a whole. I tend to view all books or people who make claims that many different disparate ideas all flow from a single concept skeptically. If nothing else, the fact that a cohesive narrative can be drawn around a singular explanatory variable seems too compelling to take at face value. I do however find it very interesting all of the connective threads and unequivocal tanglible impact that caffeine has had on the modern world.
20. The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance by George Mumford
Takeaways:
Given the surrounding books, you may have noticed a theme surrounding the mind and controlling our thoughts and therefore our actions or our outcomes across different arenas in life. Focusing on the core principles of mindfulness, concentration, insight, right effort and trust make intutive sense to me, and the book as a whole I do believe to be powerfully important in the real world. Focusing on mindfulness and intention in all that we do seems to be a way to increase the chances of success, and to ignore specific intentions seems like a recipe for failure.
21. The Smartest Money Book You'll Ever Read: Everything You Need to Know About Growing, Spending, and Enjoying Your Money by Daniel R. Solin
Takeaways:
I did not particularly enjoy this book and would recommend some of the other books I have read about personal finance and general financial literacy before it. I have noticed that in my reading journey thus far I tend to assign greater ratings or feelings to books where I am hearing about certain concepts for the first time. There are a lot of quotes or anecdotes or studies that are referenced commonly in the categories of books that I tend to focus on, and as such, when I hear something the second or third time, it does not hit me as hard (yet hopefully helps to drill in the concepts which are in fact important). All in all, hearing more about smart principles, even if repeated, is not useless.
22. Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse
Takeaways:
Similar to the thought of beginning with the end in mind, I have found it vital to think about what game I am playing and what success in that game looks like. For a ship with no port, no wind is favorable, and so without goals and a destination in mind, I can get caught in the wrong type of game with a finish line I do not want to get to. This book helped to illustrate another layer to those concepts in that it is not just what game I am playing, but what type of game as well. Focusing on infinite games, or at least recognizing when their principles are at play can help direct your efforts thoughtfully. Thinking about life through a mindset of abundance helps when it comes to infinite games and you can recognize that treating things as non-zero sum where there are not winners and losers is the only rational way to live.
23. How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur
Takeaways:
I actually really like Michael Shur. I heard him on a few podcasts around the time of the book’s release, and it had been on my list ever since. His humor is exactly up my alley, and the tying together of comedy and philosophy could not be a more perfect fit. I think that comedians are the philosophers of modern times as they take very relevant thought patterns or situations that everyone goes through, and then put them out on display for everyone to see. It tends to be the case that the jokes are very relatable and people agree that certain behaviors are funny or ridiculous, and yet they persist. I like to follow arguments to their logical conclusions, and try to defend certain positions or beliefs through logic or reason, and so taking deep philosophical concepts and presenting them in colloquial fashion or with humor is a great way to make things more relatable.
24. The Infinite Game by David Mead, Peter Docker, and Simon Sinek
Takeaways:
I had not known going in that this was related to Finite and Infinite Games, but it was convenient that these both cropped up onto my radar at similar times and I read them in the order I did. Carse’s book is much shorter and very concise, written in bullets that describe the various attributes of each type of game and how they differ. I liked this book instead since it offered a lot more real life examples that seemed to hit home for me or at least provide practically applicable ways to think of the concepts in the book. I always like how reframing the goals of an organization can help change the incentive structures to align with a desired outcome. Zooming out or thinking about the future impacts of the smaller decisions that are made today is a very different strategy, and at least to me thus far, seems like a better way to navigate life rather than focusing on optimizing for shorter time periods and being limited in scope of impact.
25. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Takeaways:
I like the mindset of taking simple ideas seriously. Whether it is health, relationship, or business related, being able to isolate the impactful variables, removing distractions, and then executing on those isolated variables consistently over time and with discipline can lead to massive results if done over time and if optimized correctly. Finding out the few things that are most important for getting you to your goals, and then also the few things that need to be avoided at all costs that will detract from your goals are equally important to ensure adherance to a program that is laid out thoughtfully with intention of achieving a specific set of goals or a target.
26. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Takeaways:
This has been referenced in popular culture, and I thought I would give it a go since it was available at my library. There were several immediately practical and actionable takeaways specifically from this book in terms of how to organize certain spaces, or even becoming more accepting of what I would previously think of as being wasteful. I think that the general and more broadly applicable takeaways were also helpful. These were the concepts that I thought the book would discuss based on the title, but it was helpful to hear them in the author’s own words and with the relevant examples. It was a relatively short read, and so I think it was helpful to do at least once.
27. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Takeaways:
Similar to stoic idea of memento mori, I think it is a useful idea to think about our time as limited. We were all born with a terminal diagnosis, i.e. we will die, it is just a matter of when. We must confront our mortality and make the most of it. When things are important we should not put them off. When we are presented with decisions and have anxiety because we do not know the outcomes, it is often better to make a choice and live with the consequences, as only through hindsight can you limit the potential paths or possibilities. I started tracking on my phone the number of days I have lived, and although it blends into the background and most of the time I completely ignore it, seeing X number of days tick by between the last time I was consciously aware of something has helped give me perspective and realize that no matter what, I can’t get those days, months, and years back.
28. Getting Things Done by David Allen
Takeaways:
Far and away the biggest takeaway from this book was being specific about what the most immediate action to be done in order to move forward towards a goal is. Additionally, the concept of open loops in our lives and how that steals away attention from what is important I think was helpful in my work role given I have to manage a large number of tasks simultaneously. It is a constant flow of reprioritizing what can be done and when. There is almost a never ending list of tasks or items that need to be done, and it is not feasible to be able to do them all. Borrowing from a summary of the book, feelings of being overwhelmed, come from not clarifying what your intended outcome is, not deciding what the very next action is, and not reminding yourself of your intended outcome and action. By transforming all the ‘stuff’ you attract and accumulate into a clear inventory of meaningful actions, projects, and usable information, you can better be able to handle all that is thrown at you in a chaotic environment.
29. The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor
Takeaways:
This book reiterated a lot of themes that I have seen across other channels in my reading and learning journey, but I found it especially helpful as it focused on “successful” people and why they may be unhappy. Especially looking at Ivy league students or people who seemingly should have set goals and then accomplished them, and yet realizing that they are still unhappy seems like a fundamental flaw in our nature. Being able to have a positive attitude and reclaim agency over our lot in life is an important skill to hone and develop, because it does not come naturally most of the time. “If you work hard, you will become successful, and once you become successful, then you’ll be happy” is a broken formula. It seems as though truly struggling and striving in pursuit of a goal is the best way to get happiness and satisfaction, but the point of this book is that you do not have to wait until the end to experience that joy and happiness, and if you do try to wait, it will stymy your progress and actually is a fool’s errand.
30. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Takeaways:
I enjoyed this book. At times it would delve into sidebars or divert from the sections that I found to be most interesting, but the focus on philosophical concepts and defining quality I found intellectually stimulating. As you have likely seen as a pattern across these books is my desire and interest in what makes life worth living and finding out what drives happiness and why we are here. A small takeaway from this book that I have continued to come back to over time is the fact that there is a right and wrong way to do everything. Especially in the section about a mechanic and their feel of tools and how everything fits together. I think of this everytime I have to tighten a screw. Through practice and repetition, you can always learn more and dive deeper into even the most mundane actions or concepts, and I find that inherently interesting.
31. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud
Takeaways:
I had seen this book towards the top of some lists in terms of popular nonfiction, but did not realize that it was a religious book when I began. I have had several different pushes to try to get more into reading the bible, and I think that the quotations in this book helped to push me over the edge. Boundaries are certainly important in all areas of life, and it can be hard to overcome some of the ingrained behavioral inclinations to be liked and to please others, but especially when it comes to consequential areas of your life such as work or relationships, it is vital to be very clear and disciplined about boundaries and where responsibilities lie. It can be easy to be taken advantage of, especially coming from a mindset of being self-sacrificing or humble, and so to understand where I lie on that spectrum of agreeableness has helped me to draw some lines in the sand and make hard decisions.
32. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
Takeaways:
This book was pretty life changing for me in terms of how I think about how much we are products of our environments. I am nowhere near as fluent in the research and science that led to the principles discussed in this book, but based on my experience, lessons from other sources, and taking the ideas in the book at face value, I think that there is an incredibly significant and lasting impact of nearly all traumatic experiences across nearly every aspect of our lives. I am fortunate enough in my own life to not have experienced anything close to the many tragic events mentioned (many of which will stay with me likely forever), but it helps to increase my empathy for those who have. Definitely a strong recommendation and feel that it is vital for everyone to have at least some baseline awareness of these findings.
33. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Takeaways:
This is another dated recommendation from TIP that I had delayed for a while. Ironic and very unfortunate that Tony Hsieh ended up killing himself after clearly wrestling with some of the ideas of what makes for a meaningful life. I enjoyed learning about the journey of Zappos and the various aspects of their culture which make it worthy of emulation. I have not gotten the chance to work at an organization that had a real culture or mission that prioriritzes employees so far in my life, and so the fact that making employees or customers the main focus can yield such successful results financially as well as in satisfaction for the individuals involved is comforting. I think that the sacrifices made and all out commitment by Hsieh, as well as the conversational tone of the book helped make for a very good story and a lot of practical lessons to be drawn.
34. The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Takeaways:
I have heard it quoted “one must imagine Sisyphus happy” and so was prompted to give this shorter book a whirl. It was definitely a lot more philosophically dense than I had thought as it was my first experience with Camus, but I think at a later stage in my life when I have more experience to draw on, I would like to delve into it a bit more deeply and sit with the ideas. I think that he fundamental absurdity of life is interesting and I had not heard some of these arguments presented before. Asking the question of why anybody chooses to live and why we don’t all kill ourselves is a bit dark, and I believe I had heard it first in a comedy bit, but at its core, it is a pretty good question when you are forced to answer it seriously and logically. All in all, I am glad I gave this a go, I do not think I am at the stage in my reading journey where I will read more philosophy books, but I imagine I will get there.
35. Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Daniel Meyer
Takeaways:
It was at this point in the year where you can see I started delving into a biography kick. I was unfamiliar with Danny Meyer and the origins of his various restaurants, but I think that the story was very interesting. Time and time again, it seems that people who take the idea of customer service seriosuly and treating people with respect and care first without an expectation of reciprocation is the best way to find success in business and in life. Taking a somewhat hands off approach to management and giving employees the reign to handle situations in ways they think are best, and then also having responsibility over the outcomes of those decisions is a takeaway that I have thought about in my life especially as my career path is in its early stages.
36. The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Takeaways:
I was gifted this book and it had been on my list for a while. I am glad I read it, and think that it is incredibly interesting to think about how much this narrative structure has influenced our modern world. Once the patterns of certain stories are revealed to you, they become obvious across all the different mediums that you encounter on a daily basis, and it is surprising how pervasive some of the archetypes are. I have not really delved into learning about good storytelling or writing, but I think that it would be interesting to me to deconstruct what makes certain narratives or ways of storytelling more or less compelling. Another commonly referenced book that I am glad to now have under my belt.
37. Based on a True Story: A Memoir by Norm Macdonald
Takeaways:
I think it is safe to say that Norm is my favorite comedian and he has forever influenced my sense of humor (hopefully for the better). I listened to the audiobook which he narrates, and was genuinely cracking up at parts, rewinding to listen to jokes again. Part of the beauty of Norm is that you never know what is true and what isn’t, but I feel like I have somewhat of an understanding of his comedy style, and as such can get takeaways that are not reliant on the factual basis of particular anecdotes. I could see myself revisiting this audiobook in the future just to hear some of his stories and jokes again.
38. The Art of Mindful Living: How to Bring Love, Compassion, and Inner Peace Into Your Daily Life by Thich Nhat Hanh
Takeaways:
Again, I enjoy learning about Eastern wisdom traditions, and I think that this book did a good job at distilling some of the concepts in a more conversational or colloquial way. I think that Thich Nhat Hanh has many small quotes that are concise and practical. Focusing on mindfulness and being more thoughtful and intentional in my day to day life is something that I have struggled to prioritize, but I think would be one of the most important levers that I could employ. A concept that has stuck with me is the ability through mindfulness to deeply encounter yourself in the present moment and realize the interconnectedness of all things in the universe through time.
39. The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World by 14th Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler
Takeaways:
Similar to other books that bring teachings from Eastern Wisdom traditions, I find it interesting just how many similarities there are to Western thought and Christianity. Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you suffer by how you choose to respond to it. Being able to accept suffering is inevitable and finding meaning in it seems to be the most rational way to go through life. Deeply understanding that suffering is not permanent, and exploring why and how emotions can crop up in our lives are some of the main takeaways that I had from this book.
40. Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday
Takeaways:
Ryan Holiday has had a pretty strong impact on my life through his conveying of stoic philosophy. From his podcast to his emails to the daily stoic journal, I believe that my life has been forever changed due to his popularization of the philosophy. I have not read many of his actual books, and so I was excited when he announced his series on the four virtues. I hear him speak so frequently on the podcast that a lot of these examples or ideas have already been expressed, but he is a good writer and storyteller, and so it is nice to have the ideas packaged in a cohesive narrative with intention as opposed to conversationally in a podcast where he may not fully flesh out ideas. Excited for the others in the series to come out/enter my list.
41. The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Study on Happiness by Marc Schulz and Robert J. Waldinger
Takeaways:
The main study that the book focuses on is often referenced across different materials, and so it was nice to learn more about the study itself and the takeaways over time. I think the primary takeaway for me from this book was that developing and maintaining meaningful relationships across one’s life is what leads to the most consistent joy. The other primary levers that can impact subjective wellbeing are focusing on gratitude and mindfulness. I think those two are things that I have tried to focus on at different points in my learning journey over the past few years, but I really have not given them intentional effort. I think re-upping a committment and developing a practice to include them as standards in my life while also cultivating meaningful relationships are how I would best utilize the lessons from this book.
42. Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness by Gretchen Rubin
Takeaways:
Similar to Marie Kondo’s book, this one was short and essentially pointed out the interconnectedness of one’s environment and their wellbeing. I think that it is helpful to start with the end in mind and define a purpose for specific spaces or areas in your home and then isolate what is essential for that purpose, and then optimize the space for that purpose within reason. Not taking things too far or getting overly neurotic about minor details is a good way to get to a sustainable place that can be maintained relatively easily. It leads to a virtuous cycle where you are more productive and feel better and want to keep the changes you made so as to not break a flow.
43. From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks
Takeaways:
Based on the subtitle, I should have known that this book is focused on an older demographic who is at a later stage in life; however, I still found the takeaways applicable to my own life. Also, I found it interesting to hear the stories and advice and look at the lives of those around me who are at later stages in their careers and see how people have been successful or unsuccessful in achieving goals or maintaining purpose. I think Arthur Brooks is very intelligent and a good thinker - his guest spots on some podcasts I listen to have been bookmarked to return to at a later date. All in all, for a relatively short book, I felt that it was helpful and interesting and would advise people who are maybe closer to the workaholic side of the spectrum to give it a read.
44. The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Daniel H. Pink
Takeaways:
I particularly like this book because the core tenet of the thesis surrounds inversion. Instead of trying to think of all of the things that may contribute to a good life, it is flipping the problem on its head and looking at what people most commonly express to be their biggest regrets and then avoiding those - or at least being cognizant of them. A chart in a summary of this book separated the four main types of regrets and I will list them here in the format of type of regret - example - need: Foundation - If only I’d done the work - Stability, Boldness - If only I’d taken the risk - Growth, Moral - If only I’d done the right thing - Goodness, Connection - If only I’d reached out - Love.
45. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Takeaways:
The biggest takeaway I had from this book was just how nebulous the early days of the USA’s existence truly were. Looking back now it seems like certain ideas or principles are almost self-evident, and of course the principles of democracy make sense and are just. However, the Revolution and the creation of America was really more the first experiment of a new form of government. Many of the ideas that we now think of as American, such as all people being created equal, was not really what the founders meant at the time, and it is baffling that after centuries, so many of the principles have held up. The sheer amount of things that Hamilton was able to accomplish and be involved with during his time is pretty remarkable.
46. Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller
Takeaways:
This was a TIP recommendation and I am glad I gave it a go. I really knew nothing about chip making and the intricacies of the process to manufacture chips - nor their incredible importance in our world today. After reading this book I can confidently say that I know nothing + 1. It is such a technologically complex process, but at least understanding where we are at and where we came from and the current dynamics as it relates to geopolitical tensions helps to make me more informed and concerned about the current status. It was incredible to learn just how pervasive chip technology has become across our increasingly tech enabled world, and so it will be interesting to see how these tensions are navigated in the coming years.
47. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Takeaways:
This book was on my list, and then recommended by my boss - which was interesting in and of itself given the parallels between their leadership styles and personalities. Elon is so ubiquitous in popular culture today that his success and intelligence can easily be overlooked. I had read the other biography of Musk by Ashlee Vance, and so I was glad to also add this one to my list with a different perspective and an updated version that includes more recent events and a pretty drastic change to his public persona. As a part of my biography kick, I was happy to add some of Walter Isaacson’s work since I think he is a great storyteller. Definitely recommend, and similar to Chip War, it is useful to see the history of a volatile situation told to the present day where the near future could be meaningfully different or have significant consequences.
48. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Takeaways:
I have yet to read any Stephen King, and so perhaps I should have done that prior to doing this one. I still found it useful as a guide on how to think about writing and telling stories. As a part of my biography kick I think that his story was very interesting and you can tell that he has had a passion and a gift for a long time. I think that a lot of my goals in reading biographies are to learn some takeaways or themes from people who are the most successful at their craft or in their field, and see what useful items I can take for my own life. So far, I am not much of a writer, but I am a storyteller in that much of what we do interpersonally on a day to day basis consists of telling a story or at least conveying a story in one way or another. As such, learning to improve storytelling is actually a way to improve communication.
49. Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
Takeaways:
I really enjoyed this autobiography. I think comedians are generally great storytellers and writers, and so I always enjoy hearing their perspectives and origin stories. I am a big comedy fan, though not of Steve Martin specifically, and have not heard any of his stand up. I am not opposed to him in any way, but I have only really seen him in his various movie roles at later stages in his career so I was glad to get to peer into the early days and it sparked my interest to watch some of his old stuff. Similar to other successful people in their fields, you can tell there was a determination and passion for the craft that was almost relentless. I especially appreciated his vulnerability in describing the struggles and drawbacks that came along with his increased fame and success.
50. Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
Takeaways:
This book very honestly blew my mind. I thought it was incredibly interesting from start to finish and I think is a must read for anyone who is even remotely interested in his story. It is unbeliebable how much of a surveillance state has been developed in the past 20 years, and this is coming straight from the horse’s mouth. I can’t imagine how extensive the systems of tracking have developed since the writing of this book, as it certainly has not regressed. There are many facts like this that are from reputable sources describing pretty outrageous antics of our government or various authority figures across different arenas, but most people hear them and move on, I guess because there is seemingly not much we can do about it.
51. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Takeaways:
This book was pretty popular and so I thought I would give it a read. This was the first time I had heard this list of concerns with people living longer and longer and some of the unanticipated problems that have come about. I have been surprisingly interested with how medical care has progressed over time and how it changes with new ways to diagnose and treat diseases with the assistance of technology. I heard a compelling argument that the role of doctors in the future will be more akin to psychologists trying to deal with the human and interpersonal components of care given that a lot of technology and artificial intelligence will be able to do better jobs than their human counterparts. It was not my favorite book, but I think that it was helpful to introduce certain statistics or information and change the way I think about some practices in medicine.
52. Going Infinite by Michael Lewis
Takeaways:
This whole saga was pretty absurd. I have heard plenty of conspiracy theories surrounding the rise and fall of SBF, but until this book, I was at arms length to most of the story. I never got involved in FTX or any cryptocurrencies beyond bitcoin through some specific counterparties and so was not as close to this as it was playing out in real time. We certainly have not heard the last of this story, or the intertwining stories in the space evidenced by the fact that binance has (since the publication and my reading of this book) been indicted for money laundering. I think that the whole space and the various developments that have come about have been fascinating, and I am partially along for the ride, willing to stomach the volatility, and lose some money in order to take part in this moment in history.
53. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson
Takeaways:
Benjamin Franklin, similar to Hamilton, showed me just how much a single person can accomplish in a lifetime. It is pretty unbelievable that he was able to be so astute across domains and was seemingly endlessly curious and wise. It is hard to distill the takeaways from some of these biographies in short blurbs as there are many anecdotes and general principles that will stick with me for life. I wonder if someone like Ben Franklin in today’s world with the development of technology and the distractions of modern life would be able to be as prolific as he was across domains, or if he would perhaps be even more so. Keeping in mind the time he lived in, having to travel between continents by ship, around the colonies by horse, and communicating via letters makes his accomplishments all the more impressive. With all the tools and advantages I have on a relative basis it seems like I should be ashamed I have not done more.
54. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X, Alex Haley
Takeaways:
First and foremost, I did not realize Malcolm X was a redhead and had the nickname “Red.” Pretty cool. The audiobook is narrated by Laurence Fishburne which rocks. I had never really heard about the Nation of Islam and so that was illuminating in and of itself. Similar to other historical pieces, I enjoyed learning more about a specific time in history that is so far from my current life experiences. A lot of anecdotes from the book will stick with me, from hairstyles, to gambling, to prostitutes, to the NOI, to railroads, to burglary. I think that this vastly different perspective told from Malcolms X’s own perspective has changed the way that I think about race relations and has made me more understanding of the violent approaches to civil rights reform.
55. Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results by Shane Parrish
Takeaways:
I forget where I first was introduced to Shane Parrish, but I have enjoyed several episodes of his podcast and the various rabbitholes I have gone down due to his email newsletter/website. As many of the books I have read over the past few years have surrounded cognitive biases, how we think, and the various roadblocks to rational decision making, there was not a ton of content in the book that was novel, but there were some new anecdotes and all of the ideas are very important and timeless, so it is good to have reminders. I am very appreciative to live in a time where there is so much free content and information out there from people who are far older and wiser than I am. Shane is one such individual who has been having deep conversations with people who are the best in their fields and he communicates that knowledge in an easily digestible way.
56. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath
Takeaways:
I really liked the Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath, and so I saw this was available at my library and gave it a go. It is all about, as the subtitle says, making changes. I liked the analogy of directing The Rider, motivating The Elephant and shaping The Path to explain that we need to first figure out which part of the decision making process needs to be focused on in order to achieve our goals. Respectively, these are our rational mind, our emotional mind, and our environment. This topic is right up my alley in terms of interests. I am always trying to think about thinking and how I make decisions and whether they are new tools, or reiteration of old tools, I like to hear about how other people have structured decision making processes and achieved better outcomes. It is always helpful to try to learn from others mistakes and use them as guides along the journey.
57. The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War by Malcolm Gladwell
Takeaways:
It has been a while since a Malcolm Gladwell book has been in my rotation. I had heard about this on a podcast I believe, and then it became available at my library so I added it to the list. I have not read a lot of history during this reading journey, but I actually enjoyed the story and learned a lot. Gladwell is a great storyteller and he did a great job with the audiobook incorporating sounds and various interviews. I did not realize how much of an impact planes had on war strategy, and it is interesting in and of itself to see how warfare has evolved with the advent of various technologies. Speaking of decision-making, I can’t imagine the stress of some of the people in charge of various military groups during the war who were constantly doing calculus of how to win the war and try to keep as many friendly troops alive as possible.
58. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Takeaways:
Almost immediately after starting this audiobook I ordered the physical copy. I have heard Pressfield referenced from several other sources and enjoyed his guest appearances on podcasts over the years. Bar none, the biggest takeaway from this book was the concept of resistance. Very likely the concept from any book or podcast this year that I have returned to the most, and practical across different parts of my life. The resistance, to me at least, is the immense pull away from doing something. I use it as a test to see whether or not something is truly important. It is funny how often I catch myself succumbing to the resistance when there are things I should be doing or contemplating, and yet I go to the gym, or do the dishes, or clean my room, or start my taxes - all to avoid the most important thing. By bringing that resistance into my consciousness, I have been better able to draw a line and tackle the important things I tend to put off.