Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Join us in this episode of Mere Mortals Book Reviews as we dive into "Endure" by Cameron Haines, with a foreword by Joe Rogan. Discover the unique blend of memoir, motivational manifesto, and a deep dive into the world of bow hunting and ultra-running. Despite its motivational peaks and intriguing insights into Cameron Hanes's life, the book's structure might leave you wanting more coherence. We explore the highs and lows, the repetitive nature, and the book's occasional disconnect with its imagery. Whether you're a fan of bow hunting, ultra-running, or seeking motivational fuel, find out if "Endure" is the read for you. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments and Boostagram in!00:29: First Impressions and Background of Cameron Hanes02:04: Book Structure03:00: Chapter Structure Analysis - Prey, Predator, Ultimate Predator03:29: Repetitiveness and Lack of Coherence04:17: Key Themes: Suffering, Motivation, and Bow Hunting Insights06:06: Personal Reflections and Critiques07:31: The Book's Impact: Motivational Takeaways vs. The Overall Experience08:55: Concluding Thoughts and Rating13:14: Wrap-Up and How to Support Mere MortalsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect With the Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

I explore the themes and insights from the book 'Japanese Death Poems' by Yoel Hoffman. I discussed the spirit of the Japanese people, their ability to embrace opposing ideas, and the complexity and simplicity of reality. I share selected death poems and provides analysis on their meaning. Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing each moment. Finally, the delusion of death poems and emphasizing the value of embracing imperfection and taking action in life.Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and Purpose(1:04) - The Spirit of the Japanese(3:53) - Selected Poems and Analysis(9:40) - The Last Day and the Delusion of Death Poems(12:51) - Conclusion and TakeawaysValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Japanese Death Poems by Yoel Hoffmann is a compelling anthology that explores the Japanese tradition of Jisei, or death poems. The book provides a deep dive into the cultural and historical significance of these poems, reflecting on the life, death, and impermanence of existence through the lens of Zen Buddhism. It is divided into three main sections: an introduction, death poems by Zen monks, and death poems by haiku poets. While the book may not offer practical takeaways, it offers a somber and thought-provoking perspective on life and death.Takeaways:Japanese Death Poems offers a unique insight into the cultural and historical significance of Jisei, or death poems.The book is structured into three main sections: an introduction, death poems by Zen monks, and death poems by haiku poets.Readers should approach the book with the expectation of philosophical contemplation rather than practical takeaways.Japanese Death Poems is recommended for those interested in exploring somber and thought-provoking perspectives on life and death.Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction to Japanese Death Poems(1:04) - Structure of the Book(3:31) - Structure of the Poems(4:30) - Understanding the Purpose of Death Poems(5:00) - Expectations and Practicality(6:17) - Recommendation and Reflection(7:35) - Summary and Final ThoughtsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Would you have the fortitude to stick to your principles, even in the face of certain death?'Sir Gawain And The Green Knight' by an unknown poet is a story from a 14th/15th century manuscript. It tells of Sir Gawain, a knight at Arthur's round table who accepts a challenge from a mysterious & magical being. This requires him to willingly offer up his life whilst first being tempted by the most beautiful lady in the land. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this little ditty and is a great example of poetry told in alliterative verse.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(4:10) - Themes/Questions(8:30) - Moral Learnings(19:21) - Author & Extras(23:28) - Summary(26:36) - Value 4 Value(28:33) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Let's travel back to the days when people didn't take offense so easily ...... or did they?'The Innocents Abroad' by Mark Twain is a compendium of his adventures whilst travelling for 5 months across Europe & The Middle East. It is told in his usual humorous style of witty anecdotes and droll sarcastic one-liners. The bulk of it relates to visiting historic landmarks & places of cultural significance, with some parts on the actual travel journey itself. During his life it became his best selling book, also becoming renowned in the travel genre as well.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:45) - Themes/Questions(15:44) - Author & Extras(19:32) - Summary(23:29) - Value 4 Value(25:04) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Righteous anger can be useful .... if applied to the right people.'A Room Of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf is an essay critiquing woman's literature and female authors. Her core argument is that the lack of financial means, privacy and strict social norms has resulted in the inability for females to write great books. And that it is not due inherent feminine weakness or lack of genius. She also emphasises that women need to write in their own voice and spends a fair bit of time criticising authors like Charlotte Brontë and Mary Carmichael who don't do this adequately (in her opinion).Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:49) - Themes/Questions(16:23) - Author & Extras(20:22) - Summary(23:05) - Value 4 Value(24:58) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Can you think yourself to death?'Confessions Of A Mask' by Yukio Mishima follows a young rather frail boy called Kochan in the 1920-40's period in Tokyo set against the backdrop of WW2. We see his homosexual desires for another boy Omi emerge as well as a morbid fascination with blood, death and love. He tries to force himself to fall in love with a girl called Sonoko but struggles to combine this with his true feelings. Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:53) - Themes/Questions(10:57) - Author & Extras(12:55) - Summary(16:16) - Value 4 Value(17:31) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Manners, decorum, morals, tact, niceties, propriety. Doesn't this all sound fun!'A Room With A View' by E. M. Forster is the tale of a young woman who is constrained by the conventions of her time. Lucy Honeychurch lives in 1900's England and meets the strange George Emerson whilst travelling to Italy. After a brief but intense contact she returns home and becomes engaged to the uptight Cecil Vyse. However coincidence throws the two back together and she has to decide whether to be a proper lady or do what would make her happy.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(3:00) - Themes/Questions(13:11) - Author & Extras(19:10) - Summary(22:28) - Value 4 Value(26:53) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.'Death Of A Salesman' by Arthur Miller is a play that showcases the tragic life of a simple man with delusions of grandeur. Willy Loman is nearing the end of his days as a travelling salesman and the return of his son Biff pushes his instability into overdrive. Through a series of flashbacks we see how the whole family is suffering from their excessive pride before reaching an ultimate breaking point.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:49) - Themes/Questions(9:08) - Author & Extras(10:19) - Summary(12:17) - Value 4 Value(16:31) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Drop the dishes and let's get JACKED!!!'Picnic In The Storm' by Yukiko Motoya is a series of 11 short stories of everyday life in Japan, but with a twist. So inside you'll find stories about a housewife getting jacked, a cat that won't stop peeing everywhere and couples that keep merging into one entity. They were kind of fun although I found them more random than anything else.Hope you appreciate the new shorter format and want to thank Cole for all his fabulous voice acting!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(3:17) - Questions/Themes(7:07) - Author & Extras(10:31) - Summary(12:51) - Value 4 Value(15:33) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Fret your silly head not, you won't leave this book discontented.'The Winter Of Our Discontent' by John Steinbeck takes place in the fictional New Baytown where Ethan Hawley has become dissatisfied with his life. The lingering legacy of his family is in stark contrast to the life of grocery store clerk trying to support his family. He decides to change his circumstances but must act ruthlessly to gain what he wants. He spends a lot of time in his head moralising, giving a great insight into the compromises we must all face at times.Big thanks to Deezlaughs for the support, much appreciated!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:49) - Initial Impression(2:50) - Plot/Style(5:07) - Quote 1(7:12) - Themes/Questions(10:04) - Quote 2(16:00) - Author & Extras(18:38) - Quote 3(20:45) - Summary(23:08) - Boostagram Lounge(24:42) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

A hidden gem of war time literature!'The Moon Is Down' by John Steinbeck is a short simple tale written to encourage passive resistance. A small town in an unnamed country is taken over by an invading force. The townsfolk unhappy with this situation turn the tables by creating a hostile atmosphere that makes it a living hell for the aggressors. The backstory behind the impact of this book is actually quite fascinating!No boostagrams this week, you are actually making a sad puppy :'( But I do appreciate the comments on the YT channel.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:34) - Initial Impression(3:01) - Plot/Style(5:53) - Quote 1(8:59) - Themes/Questions(11:23) - Quote 2(16:03) - Author & Extras(20:42) - Quote 3(23:40) - Summary(25:44) - Boostagram Lounge(30:33) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

How much has the digital revolution changed the publishing industry?'Book Wars' by John B. Thompson is an overview of how the internet and digitisation of books changed the publishing industry. It mostly covers the 2005-2018 period when Ebooks started gain popularity and momentum. It goes into extreme depth so be prepared to read through a lot of history, which makes it a comprehensive book. I quite enjoyed it for the unexpected outcomes that ran counter to intuition but also found it tedious at times to keep going through.Only one boostagram from Brian D O'Leary this week (which is very much appreciated). You are actually making a sad puppy :'( But I do appreciate the comments on the YT channel.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:15) - Initial Impression(3:26) - Plot/Style(6:06) - Quote 1(8:33) - Themes/Questions(15:07) - Quote 2(22:55) - Author & Extras(26:34) - Quote 3(30:04) - Summary(34:22) - Boostagram Lounge(36:52) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

Forgive me please, I'm about to turn into a hater.In today's episode I'm going over a couple of books that I disliked. The main point of this is to showcase my thinking on the types of things I won't read or dislike to read. Not going to lie, this wasn't my greatest episode ever. I was tired, sick and all my normal settings got disturbed before the live stream. Truly helped me be the greatest hater, bleh.Huge props to Deezlaughs for supporting the show, I really appreciate it!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:15) - Time eliminates untruths(6:24) - Supercharged emotions(10:42) - Communication style(15:52) - Purpose: Persuade, inform &/or entertain(20:40) - Exceptions to the rule(22:29) - Boostagram Lounge(25:03) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Politics, violence & propaganda; what an awful mix.'Manufacturing Consent' by Edward S. Herman & Noam Chomsky explains the propaganda model of communications, which explains why mass media shows an overall biased view. They describe the 5 mechanisms that lead to heavy filtering of information before going over examples from the Vietnam War to Latin America politics. It's a book that made me super angry, distressed, disgusted and depressed. Has really reinforced my philosophy against violence/coercion and also my detestation of politics/mass media.Huge props to Deezlaughs for supporting the show, I really appreciate it!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:37) - Initial Impression(3:58) - Plot/Style(6:44) - Quote 1(9:36) - Themes/Questions(16:09) - Quote 2(19:40) - Authors & Extras(22:20) - Quote 3(26:47) - Summary(31:41) - Boostagram Lounge(34:08) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

Juan's back for a review.Join us on Mere Mortals for a renewed and deeper exploration of David Goggins' renowned book, 'Can't Hurt Me.' This revisit uncovers fresh insights and perspectives on Goggins' journey of mental toughness and self-transformation. Dive into our discussion about overcoming life's toughest challenges and the power of pushing beyond limits.Timeline: (0:00) - Intro(2:10) - Accountability Mirror(4:55) - Darkness(8:03) - Battle of the Mind(11:29) - Taking Souls(13:28) - Being Comfortable(14:56) - The 40% Rule(17:13) - Joy(19:45) - What If?(21:23) - Support UsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Sometimes punishments just can't make up for the crime.'Darkness At Noon' by Arthur Koestler is a taste of a political prisoner's experience during the Moscow Trials. Rubashov is a high ranking party member that has been thrown in jail and accused of crimes against the Revolution. It follows his detention over a several week period as he is tortured and comes to realise the terrible things he has done in the name of 'the greater good'.Huge props to Petar and Ashley Glenday for supporting, really appreciate it!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:33) - Initial Impression(2:56) - Plot/Style(5:50) - Quote 1(8:10) - Themes/Questions(12:27) - Quote 2(17:20) - Author & Extras(19:37) - Quote 3(24:42) - Summary(29:12) - Boostagram Lounge(31:09) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

Aiiiiiiii aiaiaiaia aiiiyayayaiaaia!'The Last Of The Mohicans' by James Fenimore Cooper is a work of historical fiction set during the colonisation of the United States Of America. It follows the dangerous adventures of a mixed group of native Indians and English settlers as they are plagued by adversaries. The dialogue can be a bit hard to interpret at times but the portrayal of untouched nature is beautiful and the constant surprises keep you on your toes.No support again this week, need to pick this up people.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:29) - Initial Impression(2:41) - Plot/Style(6:13) - Quote 1(8:20) - Themes/Questions(12:35) - Quote 2(19:14) - Author & Extras(22:40) - Quote 3(26:26) - Summary(29:57) - Boostagram Lounge(32:55) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

You wouldn't steal a car .... but I would download one!'Free ' by Chris Anderson is an argument for why online abundance has changed the way businesses run and that this trend is only going to continue. He looks at various types of companies/products and shows how zero marginal costs result in 4 outcomes: direct cross-subsidies, the three-party market, freemium and nonmonetary markets. I read this mostly for more material to use on my 'Value 4 Value' podcast so it was part work and part pleasure. A solid book if you're interested in how digital abundance has changed the world.No support this week :'(Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:27) - Initial Impression(2:44) - Plot/Style(5:17) - Quote 1(7:07) - Themes/Questions(12:08) - Quote 2(18:19) - Author & Extras(22:44) - Quote 3(25:23) - Summary(28:44) - Boostagram Lounge(33:21) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

Who will end humanity first, the aliens or us?!'The Three-Body Problem' by Cixin Liu is a sci-fi novel involving aliens, science, warfare and politics. Unexplainable events start to occur to scientists after contact has been made with the Trisolaris world. We gradually learn about their unique ecosystem and why humanity might be in danger not just from the outside, but also within. I loved the first 2/3rds of the book for it's distinctive plot/style but was slightly disappointed at how rushed the end felt. Was still a great read overall though.Thanks to Petar and Joe Martin for supporting the show. Absolute legends!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:15) - Initial Impression(2:20) - Plot/Style(6:10) - Quote 1(8:26) - Themes/Questions(9:37) - Quote 2(15:00) - Themes/Questions (Continued)(18:34) - Author & Extras(21:10) - Quote 3(24:54) - Summary(27:47) - Boostagram Lounge(30:36) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

Prepare for your heartstrings to be plucked.'The Harp In The South' by Ruth Park is a classic Australian book detailing the lives of the poverty stricken Darcy family. This fictional family lives in Surry Hills, which in the 1930's was an inner city slum of Sydney. There is no plot per se as it simply follow the lives of this small family, with particular attention shown to the young daughter Roie. The events that unfold are tragic but they battle through to find the moments of love that make all the pain bearable.Thanks to Cole McCormick & Sam Sethi for supporting the show. Absolute legends!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:03) - Initial Impression(2:16) - Plot/Style(4:34) - Young Love(6:30) - Themes/Questions(10:30) - Poverty(16:27) - Author & Extras(19:12) - Aussie Issues(23:04) - Summary(26:16) - Boostagram Lounge(28:29) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

Will the psychology of humans be compatible with the predicted tech future we face?'The Inevitable' by Kevin Kelly is a series of technological trends that he believes will dictate the future. It is primarily based on what is already happening and his educated guess as to how this will manifest in a couple of decades time. It is broken down into 12 themes which interact and merge with each other. It is somewhat utopic in nature but I feel does a decent job of showcasing what could be possible and at the very least is thought provoking.Thanks to Cole McCormick from the AMERICAPLUS podcast (https://fountain.fm/show/SBJ1veuqZJHNkJDxMBnm) for the guest voice-over and Cole/Sam Sethi for the support.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:43) - Initial Impression(3:38) - Plot/Style(5:31) - Quote 1(7:48) - Themes/Questions(8:16) - Quote 2(11:26) - Privacy & Utopias(17:06) - Author & Extras(18:54) - Quote 3(20:43) - Summary(25:15) - Boostagram Lounge(29:55) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)Connect With Cole McCormick (Voice Actor):Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/colemccormick1 (https://twitter.com/colemccormick1)Podcast: https://fountain.fm/show/6705669 (https://fountain.fm/show/6705669)

It's a fine line between conveying deep insights vs being overly mystical.'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran is a quick read that maybe shouldn't be quick. It has a simple plot setup of a prophet answering questions to townsfolk he is about to leave and never see again. They ask him to speak on 26 topics and he delivers a short poetic response in reply. At times it does seem to hold a deeper wisdom but some of them seemed overly complicated and obtuse.Thanks to Ashley Glenday and Juan for supporting the show. And a reminder that you'll now be able to listen in live via a Podcasting 2.0 app!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:28) - Initial Impression(2:49) - Plot/Style(6:41) - Themes/Questions(10:57) - Author & Extras(14:45) - Summary(18:19) - Boostagram Lounge(20:35) - Value 4 ValueValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Today, I'm discussing "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor, one of my top book recommendations. This book brilliantly combines storytelling with scientific research, exploring the profound impact of breathing on our health and well-being. Nestor's personal journey to understand breathing is interwoven with just the right amount of technical detail, making it an engaging and enlightening read.For those interested in deeper exploration, the book provides extensive research references. It's a perfect read for anyone curious about the science behind one of our most basic yet transformative abilities. Highly recommended for its insightful and transformative approach.Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:20) - Synopsis(6:55) - Breathing(8:40) - TakeawaysValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

Would you condemn a complete stranger to death?'The Stranger' by Albert Camus is a 1st person account from a man who lacks normal feelings. It is set in Algiers and follows the Frenchman Monsieur Meursault in his daily routine after the death of his mother. He kills a man and is put on trial for being a cold blooded murder with no regret nor emotions.I summarised the book as follows. "I found it a slow start but became more engaged as it progressed. It's great for highlighting part of the reason life hard, everyone is a stranger and some people are really strange. Unfortunately the indifference of Mssr. Meursault was contagious and I didn't love it."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:36) - Synopsis(2:49) - Applying Justice: Apathy vs Indifference(16:30) - Observations/Takeaways(23:58) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

We had a lot of people sending in messages (because I did a thing) and I also realised that I'm done with philosophy for a while.In September 2022 we covered 4 books on this channel (but I also threw in a cheeky small one just for this recap). I just noticed that it was a pretty diverse crowd with an Englishman-cum-Australian, French Algerian, American and a fanatic Japanese. That's a good bunch.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:35) - The Sound of Waves: Yukio Mishima(4:41) - On The Beach: Nevil Shute(6:58) - The Stranger: Albert Camus(8:59) - The Fire Next Time: James Baldwin(13:41) - Ego Is The Enemy: Ryan Holiday(15:17) - Boostagram Lounge(20:33) - October 2022(22:12) - Value For ValueConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How would you find satisfaction in a nuclear holocaust?'On The Beach' by Nevil Shute is a story set in Melbourne of two naval officers and their friends/family as impending death from radioactive fallout comes ever closer. The Northern Hemisphere is uninhabited apart from a mysterious signal coming from Seattle. It examines people reactions to mortality and how they mentally cope with the realisation of inevitable death.I summarised the book as follows. "I had to set aside some time after reading this for some pondering as there is a lot to digest. I liked how the plot was moved forward by the submarine cruise and that it started off with the holocaust already well underway. It's not exactly a fun read but I think will inspire some worthwhile introspection."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:31) - Synopsis(2:58) - Nuclear Holocaust: How would humanity behave?(11:07) - Satisfaction: What brings individuals pleasure?(17:57) - Observations/Takeaways(22:28) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Can a book be overly simplistic?'The Sound Of Waves' by Yukio Mishima is a simple tale, a love story in fact, of a young boy and girl who persevere through hardship & gossip. It takes place on Uta-jima, an island off of mainland Japan with a small population that lives an artisanal fishing lifestyle. Shinji has to prove his worth to Hatsue's uncle, whilst dealing with a competitor for her affection.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a beautiful & relaxing read about young love. It is very simplistic in many ways but I quite enjoyed it. Mishima has a distinct style that is worth trying to see if you like it. It hasn't hit a chord deep inside of me and I generally prefer books with a bit more meat to them but after reading a lot of philosophy books this was exactly what I needed."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:32) - Synopsis(2:56) - Perseverance: Continued steady belief in spit of opposition(9:56) - Prudence: The ability to govern & discipline oneself by use of reason(14:41) - Observations/Takeaways(18:57) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Ego is the Enemy' by Ryan Holiday was the eagerly anticipated next read in my trails of absorbing everything Ryan Holiday. Find out just why Ego is truly the enemy.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:17) - Synopsis(3:40) - Themes(6:48) - TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Either philosophy makes little sense ...... or I'm just a little stupid.'Either/Or' by Søren Kierkegaard is a two volume work designed to investigate the life views of the aesthetic (art, beauty, pleasure) & the ethical (commitment, marriage morals). It is written in the unique form of two unknown authors and compiled by a pseudonymous editor. I summarised the book as follows. "My overall feeling coming out of this was an exasperated 'why'. There was a lot of words but it didn't feel like much got said. There were some hints of interesting topics but I became bored by the lack of clarity and wasn't even able to finish the book."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:45) - Synopsis(4:12) - The Either/Or: A seemingly unavoidable choice between two alternatives(8:00) - Observations/Takeaways(13:21) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

We had a lot of people sending in messages (because I did a thing) and I also realised that I'm done with philosophy for a while.In August 2022 we covered 3 books on this channel (but I also threw in a cheeky small one just for this recap). My favourite of the bunch was easily Camus's book. I drew a lot of parallels between this and my fav book of all time (George Orwell's '1984').I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:36) - The Plague: Albert Camus(3:19) - Either/Or: Søren Kierkegaard(5:05) - The Shirts I Love: Haruki Murakami(6:01) - The Obstacle Is The Way: Ryan Holiday(8:24) - Boostagram Lounge(19:52) - September 2022Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'The Obstacle is the Way' by Ryan Holiday begins a journey of discovery personally into Stoic teachings and Ryan's workStructured phenomenally, the book uses three key sections to impart its wisdom. Perspective, Action and Will.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:48) - Synopsis(4:28) -  Themes(8:57) -  Takeaways(12:10) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

You know things are serious when you can't spit on cats anymore ppppptttt ptttp ptt.'The Plague' by Albert Camus is a novel describing life in a city in Oran locked down to due to the outbreak of the Bubonic Plague. A narrator describes the travels of Dr Rieux over the course of about a year as he attempts to help his patients. There are differing responses of his friends and acquaintances as they all adapt to the persistent indifference of the pestilence. I summarised the book as follows. "I found it a slow start to the tale but I think this ended up making the overall work more impactful as that's how life during a plague would really become, slow & tiresome. There are no valiant heroes nor chaotic villains but the payoff in what one can take from this book is huge." I hope you have a fantastic pestilence free day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:41) - Synopsis(3:59) - Pestiferous: Is life inherently tiresome?(10:54) - The Remedy: Fighting against persistent indifference(18:03) - Observations/Takeaways(21:17) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A solid attempt to get to the truth of all things!'Meditations On First Philosophy' by René Descartes is a philosophical treatise designed to prove the existence of God. Descartes creates 6 meditations which run through step by step how he goes about finding out what is irrevocably true. This starts with his famous 'cogito, ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am) position and fleshes out why the senses are misleading and how ideas can be split into separate categories.I summarised the book as follows. "For a short old book it packs a lot of punch. Not only were the ideas clear but it was easy to read with simple examples/analogies. It hasn't convinced me of God's existence but it has shown a very intriguing mode of thinking. A recommendation I have is to use wikipedia or other resources for additional clarity of the final chapters which started to get harder to fully comprehend."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:30) - Synopsis(2:53) - The 6 Meditations: The philosophical demonstration of God(12:51) - Observations/Takeaways(20:07) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

It finally happened, but I warned you dammit I warned you (runs away crying).In July 2022 we covered 3 books on this channel. I enjoyed learning more about Bitcoin and in particular about the history and property of money. Descartes had a real interesting process for finding truth and he conveys this beautifully in the first 3 of his 6 meditations. Juan seemed to enjoy his physics book although it is always gross when politics enter into science, even if it is only a little bit.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:09) - The Bitcoin Standard: Saifedean Ammous(6:58) - Meditations On First Philosophy: René Descartes(16:53) - Brief Answers To The Big Questions: Stephen Hawking(18:28) - Shoutout For Nastia(20:11) - Boostagram Lounge(30:06) - August 2022Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Will this phrase of 'the gold standard' become obsolete due to technology?'The Bitcoin Standard' by Saifedean Ammous describes the history of money and examines the varying properties of currencies. This sets a backdrop for the explanation of a purely digital money called Bitcoin and why it excels in comparison to barter, shells, gold and even fiat.I summarised the book as follows. "If you are expecting a BTC book don't be surprised that 2/3 of it focuses on money with little mention of Bitcoin. It cleared up some misconceptions I had and was a nice summary of a lot of research I had already done. Due to his arguments I have come to appreciate that there is only one real cryptocurrency that has the properties of 'money', although I still have more to learn about economics as a whole."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:31) - Synopsis(3:15) - Money: What is it actually?(12:54) - Bitcoin: A new technological innovation!(21:15) - Observations/Takeaways(28:00) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Brief Answers to the Big Questions' by Stephen Hawking seeks to answer 10 commonly asked questions from his own perspective. The book examines some of the universe's greatest mysteries, and promotes the view that science is very important in helping to solve problems on planet EarthI hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:40) - Who is Stephen Hawkins(2:23) - Synopsis(5:12) - Themes & Observations(10:45) - TakeawayConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Who are you truly and what do you believe deeply?'Reasons And Persons' by Derek Parfit is an examination into our beliefs of what we should do with our lives and our personal identity. Parfit appeals to rationality and argues why theories such as self-interest and consequentialism are self-defeating in their own terms. He does this through a series of hypothetical cases (both realistic and improbable) to demonstrate their paradoxes before providing what he believes is the truly logical way to think.I summarised the book as follows. "This is probably a book for philosophers. I'd say you need to have a grasp on many fundamentals to fully understand the minutiae of Parfit's arguments. His general conclusions still seem quite vague and the use of so many hypotheticals & double/triple negatives became too much for me. Overall it wasn't worth reading as I couldn't take out any practical actions, but hey maybe that's just me." I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(4:04) - Reasons: What do we have the most reason to do?(10:13) - Persons: Your beliefs about your identity over time are false!(16:44) - Observations/Takeaways(25:01) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Next month will be the first where we won't have a book review every week. And philosophy is to blame!In June 2022 we covered 5 books on this channel. Juan did some heavy lifting and bested me for the first time since we began. I've recently been noticing a decline in my desire to read and this could be because I have been slogging through Parfit's book (intermittently) for a couple of months now. And this is how I've generally felt reading the 'classic' philosophy works. Hopefully this will pick up once I start reading for fun again but no guarantees.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:23) - Madame Bovary: Gustave Flaubert(5:52) - Reasons And Persons: Derek Parfit(12:25) - Homo Deus: Yuval Noah Harari(13:12) - Before I Go To Sleep: S.J. Watson(14:11) - The Little Book Of Alpaca Philosophy: Jennifer McCartney(15:09) - Boostagram Lounge(21:03) - July 2022Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'The Little Book of Alpaca Philosophy' by Jennifer McCartney is a simple, easy to read, quirky and short look at philosophy through the eyes of alpacasI hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:30) - Synopsis(4:36) - Themes(5:07) - Observations/TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

If love is such a universal good, then why does it inspire such cruelty?'Madame Bovary' by Gustave Flaubert is a tale of provincial love set in Rouen, France during the 19th century. We are privy to the intimate affairs of Emma Bovary as she seeks to capture the romantic fantasies she believes she deserves. Her blind desire comes at a cost however as she becomes ever more desperate to attain something she cannot.I summarised the book as follows. "Women and love can combine for some tragedy. This tale highlighted to me the importance of communication in relationships and to not look externally for one's source of happiness. I wasn't captivated by the characters nor the plot, but the 'literary realism' style is unique and memorable for this alone."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(3:10) - Blind Desire: The cause of ecstasy & immense suffering(10:18) - Ignorant Contentment: Not a solid base for a great life(13:24) - Observations/Takeaways(18:18) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Get ready to have your mind blown on what you think the future may look like'Homo Deus' by Yuval Noah Harari is a logical exploration of our past, our myths, our constructs, inter-subjectivities and many many other viewpoints to craft what ultimately our future may look like. A deep think, this book might provide some answers but it does just as well to leave you with many more fascinating questions to ponder.An absolutely stunning book, I gave this read a 9/10.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:20) - Synopsis(3:30) - Themes(10:15) - Takeaways(12:25) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How trusting would you be?'Before I Go To Sleep' by S.J Watson is a mystery psychological thriller that delves into the questions of memory and the importance of trust. As Christine utilises her journal, she delves deeper and deeper towards the truth and in turn finds out that the origination of her amnesia might not be all it seems to be.A true page-turner, I gave this read a 7/10.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:12) - Synopsis(4:10) - Themes(6:37) - Takeaways(9:30) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Due to some big books and a slower reading pace I did a couple of reviews of books I had read many years ago.In May 2022 I covered 4 books on this channel. Like I mentioned above, the first two by Cialdini and Kafka I had read 10 years and 3 years ago. The book that I rated the lowest was 'The Idiot' but like most Dostoevsky books there was so many themes to ponder upon that it more than made up for the long length of the novel. I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - A question for you(2:58) - Influence: Robert Cialdini(6:05) - The Trial: Franz Kafka(8:41) - The Most Good You Can Do: Peter Singer(16:27) - The Idiot: Fyodor Dostoevsky(21:12) - Boostagram Lounge(26:33) - June 2022Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A naïve idiot can be endearing but can also cause a lot of pain to themselves and others.'The Idiot' by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a large fictional story of semi-aristocratic Russians centering around 'The Prince' Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin. After a prolonged illness he begins to enter society and becomes embroiled in a love triangle with two beautiful ladies. The tale takes place over ~6 months, beginning in St Petersburg & culminating in Pavlosk.I summarised the book as follows. "It's distinctly a Dostoevsky book but with some unusual literary techniques thrown in. I found it harder to follow than some of his other classics and didn't contain a standout scene or speech. There are plenty of meaty themes to dig into but be prepared for a long read to allow them to be fleshed out. Overall I enjoyed it, but preferred 'Crime & Punishment' and/or 'The Brothers Karamazov'."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:33) - Synopsis(3:30) - Naivety: Endearing but harmful(20:13) - Observations/Takeaways(26:30) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have your sanity in order because it will be put on trial in this mystifying process.'The Trial' by Franz Kafka tells the story of Josef K as he is suddenly accused of a crime and must go through a trial. However it is a bizarre and unclear procedure that leads him further and further down a rabbit hole. The more he tries to prove his innocence of this mysterious accusation the more unsolvable and sinister the situation becomes. I summarised the book as follows. "It's an amazing description of .... something. The words Kafka creates is familiar yet not understandable at the same time. I definitely wouldn't read this book if you don't feel you are grounded in reality as it might be a test of your own sanity. A distinct book that will be hard to forget!"I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(3:42) - Kafkaesque: A surreal yet menacing feeling(8:37) - Reason: Escaping the Kafka quandry(17:37) - Observations/Takeaways(20:23) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

As an expert reviewer I'm telling you that you will love this review, also because all your friends do and also because it's only here for a limited time!'Influence' by Robert Cialdini is an uncovering of the shortcuts we use to make decisions (and how these can be highjacked). He list 6 'weapons of influence' (or 7 depending on your edition) which were derived from studies, training observations and 1st hand experience in sales/marketing. He highlights these with interesting stories, modern and historical data, psychological experiments and even reports from readers on how they implemented this knowledge.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fantastic explanation of modern behaviour and why we can sometime be fooled (or do the fooling). It really showcases why certain tactics of persuasion work with real life examples. If you are willing to introspect on how you are being influenced in every day life (or want to use these tricks to your advantage) it will be an extremely useful and practical read.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:39) - Synopsis(3:22) - Persuasion: The '7 Weapons of Influence'(14:31) - Observations/Takeaways(19:09) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Super logical arguments that are convincing but somehow feel like they are missing something.'The Most Good You Can Do' by Peter Singer details the philosophy of effective altruism and how it can be applied. There is a strong slant towards utilitarian ethics with a focus on maximising your individual impact whilst helping others. Specific examples are given of how this can change career paths, deciding on charity recipients and donating body parts. It appeals to rationality through a heavy emphasis on data and thinking about trade-offs whist making donation decisions.I summarised the book as follows. "It was a bit of a conflicting read. On the one hand it is logical and well argued but I noticed internal thoughts of counter points and a feeling that the arguments lacked something. Nevertheless, it's a good intro for those unaware of the EA movement and will hopefully make you consider the effects of your donations."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:29) - Synopsis(4:39) - Judging Value: Ethics vs Morals(12:00) - Doing: An emphasis on real world results(18:30) - Observations/Takeaways(24:00) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A book that's chockas full of useful info, but that probably only needs to be deeply learnt once.'The Social Leap' by William von Hippel is a basic overview of our evolutionary past to explain how/why we behave and interact with others. In this case 'we' can be families, communities, companies, nations, couples, etc. It's split into 3 parts (past, present and future) with a mix of case studies, his own work as a psychology professor, quotes from famous books and personal anecdotes.I summarised the book as follows. "The value here isn't in new info but in a solid theme (i.e., how evolution dictates human communication and behaviour) presented in a new way. It helped me to re-examine my own actions and think about hidden influential factors in my own life. I would have rated it higher if this had been my first book about evolution, nevertheless I still enjoyed it a lot."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:52) - Synopsis(4:03) - Evolutionary Basics: Is this essential knowledge?(9:27) - Observations/Takeaways(13:45) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

All in all this wasn't my favourite month of reading, but yet the reading will go on!In April 2022 we covered 5 books on this channel. My favourite of the bunch was 'The Social Leap' which gave me a decent revision of some evolutionary basics. I was also surprised by how underwhelming 'Beowulf' was. I had heard about it a lot over my life up to this point and assumed it was an epic tale that would throw me into a completely new world. However, it was much smaller than I imagined and I really struggled to be amazed by his exploits.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:45) - Medea And Other Plays: Euripides(4:53) - The Social Leap: William Von Hippel(12:46) - Borges On Writing: Jorge Luis Borges(16:44) - Beowulf: Unknown Poet(19:09) - Rogue State: William Blum(20:37) - Boostagram Lounge(24:07) - May 2022Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

We're onto the epics again and it's about time some Germanic was thrown in the mix.'Beowulf' by an unknown poet is a short poem written in Old English and set in Scandinavia (particularly modern day Denmark & Sweden). It tells of 2 battles against monsters (Grendel and Grendel's mother) by the hero Beowulf as he seeks fame and glory. Many years later he has one final fight against a dragon to to defend his land and to acquire the untold riches that it was hoarding.I summarised the book as follows. "Overall I'm slightly let down. I'd heard much about this tale over the years and I expected it to be longer & more absorbing. The only real question it raised for me, is why it is popular in the first place? I'm glad it was short and hope to find other Norse mythology to read through in the future."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:50) - Synopsis(4:31) - Epics: What defines the exalted few?(10:28) - Observations/Takeaways(14:24) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

The subtleties of translation of prose are enigmatic, so I'm glad it's not my job.'Borges On Writing' by Jorge Luis Borges is an edited transcript of a 1971 seminar in which Borges chats with colleagues and students about all things writing. It includes a deconstruction of his own work, his personal writing process and thoughts on translating from Spanish to English.I summarised the book as follows. "This scratched an itch for me. I was intrigued by the decisions of translators and this gave me some insights into the differences between literal versus free translation. It also gives a glimpse into the 'unpredictable' mind of an artist."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:44) - Synopsis(4:32) - Interpretation: The role of the translator(10:18) - Writers: How to be a good one?(15:31) - Observations/Takeaways(17:34) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

The lady in this story takes the idiom of 'cutting off one's nose to spite one's face' to a whole nother level.'Medea And Other Plays' by Euripides are a collection of 4 complete and translated plays from the Athenian playwright. They are written in the style they were to be performed, so include prompts for the actors and descriptions of what would be happening on the stage. They are relatively simple stories and show the self-destructive effect of revenge and female courage in tough situations.I summarised the book as follows. "This is nice way to learn more about Greek mythology. The characters were way more relatable than the typical heroes and definitely are worthy of the 'drama' title. There was family infighting, arrogant despots, regicide, displays of great sacrifice, traumatic love and nearly even incest! A unique format to learn more about how theatre was performed more than 2000 years ago."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:42) - Synopsis(4:28) - Revenge: Behaviour that makes little sense(10:56) - Female Courage: How did Greek women display it?(14:19) - Observations/Takeaways(17:38) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

The Mere Mortals review 'Rogue State' by William Blum.Testing america by the same standards that get used to judge other countries. The facts are layed out in this book, but perhaps not in the most consumable and unbiased way.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:30) - Synopsis(6:00) - TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A book about crazy people (who are actually pretty sane) saved this month from being a mediocre washout.In March we covered 4 books on this channel. It was a mix of social commentary, fictional realism, complex narrative and a biography. The standout for me was 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' by Ken Kesey, a book about a mental hospital with a tyrannical nurse. I loved the concept of the 'Combine' and thought the author did a fantastic job in creating some unique and memorable characters.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Value For Value(3:30) - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: Ken Kesey(11:17) - Dubliners: James Joyce(13:18) - The Green House: Mario Vargas Llosa(15:19) - Steve Jobs: Walter Isaacson(16:54) - Boostagram Lounge(21:59) - YT Comments(24:46) - April 2022(26:46) - More V4VConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

For a bunch of people in a mental hospital there is a whole lot of decent sense making going on.'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' by Ken Kesey is an exploration of social stigma, overbearing control and fighting for the defenceless. The overbearing power of The Combine matched with the machinery of the institution forms a force that seeks to bring order by squashing all before it. Taking place in a mental hospital, it's narrated by one of the patients (The Chief) as he watches the slick newcomer (Randall McMurphy) as he battles the personification of these processes (Nurse Ratched). I summarised the book as follows. "It's a rather bleak story overall but this hits afterwards as during the reading it's mostly amusing. What I really enjoyed were the solid characters that popped out for their uniqueness. It's a great book but I wouldn't put it in my best of all time as many people seem to do. Although I found the themes fascinating it didn't hit as hard as I think it may have during the different era of when it was published." I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(4:02) - The Combine: Squashing everyone down to size ...... until it can't.(11:08) - Institutions: What happens if 'order' goes too far?(15:59) - Observations/Takeaways(20:31) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

There is a reason most writers stick to the standard narrative & chronological format .... and that's because it can be confusing as fuck without it!'The Green House' by Mario Vargas Llosa is an experimental novel set in the Piura region of northern Peru. It follows 12 characters of roughly equal importance as they deal with interweaving relationships, the rubber trade, Christianity amongst tribal people and the mythical brothel known as The Green House. The stories are set at different places and times over a 40 year period, hence the experimental nature of the book.I summarised the book as follows. "This was mostly just confusing a read. I really struggled to understand the plot and part of this was my fault. It's an experimental book so reading in my non-native language (Spanish) was not a fantastic idea and only reading little bits and pieces over a long time didn't help. That being said I did give it enough chances to grab me with something interesting but nothing really stood out."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:38) - Synopsis(2:23) - Narrative: What is a story?(6:24) - Observations/Takeaways(8:03) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Steve Jobs' by Walter Isaacson is a thick but well informed book into who Steve was, how many of the big brands we know today began and glimpses into stories from many perspectives.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:25) - Synopsis(4:45) - Themes(12:10) - TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

If you want to change your stereotypical impression of the Irish & Dublin .... then don't read this book.'Dubliners' by James Joyce is a collection of 15 short stories published as his first book. They are mostly a description of middle class Irish life with every story being set somewhere in Dublin. It covers a variety of character ages, lives, settings and situations. One theme that isn't crucial to the plot of any individual story but appears constantly is alcohol and overconsumption.I summarised the book as follows. "I found this rather bland overall. There was nothing that excited me nor that jumped out as intriguing. This could have been 15 stories from any city anywhere in the world and it would have been the same. Life is life and it appears that an Irish Dubliners life is just as mundane as any when diving into the day to day machinations."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:41) - Synopsis(2:42) - The Irish Stereotype: Does anything set it apart?(6:41) - Observations/Takeaways(10:32) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

I found a book I rated highly and also had some quotes that spoke to me, which is why this recap is so long!In February we covered 4 books on this channel. It was a mix of philosophy, dystopian sci-fi and emotional love stories. The standout for me was Finite & Infinite Games by James Carse. This is the type of philosophy that I can actually enjoy. It was written in the last couple of decades and whilst has some parts that are difficult to understand, as a whole I found it quite enlightening. Lots of fun books coming up for March so get keen.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Ooooooh(0:27) - Finite & Infinite Games: James P. Carse(2:34) - Snow Crash: Neal Stephenson(6:03) - The Myth Of Sisyphus: Albert Camus(8:34) - Love Stories: Trent Dalton(9:43) - Quotes(27:41) - Boostagram Lounge Part 1(32:26) - Boostagram Lounge Part 2(37:52) - What's Coming Up For Mar 2022?Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Love Stories' by Trent Dalton focus on the myriad experience of love, all told through stories he gained while sitting on the corner of a Brisbane City street.Definitely a book that makes you think about love and helps you reconsider the way you personally have experienced and others individual stories.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:00) - Synopsis(4:35) - Themes(7:42) - TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have you thought about what kind of games you've been playing, if not then maybe you should?'Finite And Infinite Games' by James P. Carse is somewhat of a philosophy that divides human actions and interactions into two types of games. The finite game is bounded, has fixed rules, is serious and theatrical. The infinite game on the other hand has no end, with constantly changing rules/players and has a more casual feeling.I summarised the book as follows. "This is the type of philosophy I can actually enjoy. Carse's general distinction of finite & infinite seemed to make a lot of intuitive sense to me. There were certainly some strange parts of the book but these only minorly subtracted from my overall impression. This is not a book for everybody but has had an impact on me and questioning what games I'm playing in."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:30) - Synopsis(3:05) - Finite vs Infinite: What game are you playing?(12:26) - Genius & Poiesis: Diving nature and creation(20:57) - Observations/Takeaways(23:33) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A book that had a huge impact at its inception is still gaining cultural relevance 2 decades later.'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson depicts a dystopian USA where technology is way more advanced but life is significantly more dangerous. Hiro Protagonist and YT have to save the world from a biological-cum-digital virus that is enslaving people. Notable for it's futuristic ideas that are appearing in real life (such as VR and the Metaverse), the book also dives deeply into linguistics and the core characteristics of language.I summarised the book as follows. "If you like Sci-Fi & dystopian tales this is a solid read. I wanted to read it for its cultural relevance but was pleasantly surprised by the linguistics information and whether language is universalistic or relativistic. In many ways it's a rather simple story with one dimensional characters but I found this a great casing for the cooler futuristic technology and ideas about how language/communication operates.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:40) - Synopsis(4:23) - The Metaverse: Better than reality?(10:46) - Language: The core of communication(18:04) - Observations/Takeaways(23:05) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is Sisyphus trapped in an eternal torment, or is he perhaps the most fulfilled man in history?'The Myth Of Sisyphus' by Albert Camus are multiple essays diving into the philosophy of the absurd. There are 4 main parts that examine whether suicide is a good idea, the thoughts/actions of an absurd man, artists who have created absurd fictional characters and why Sisyphus is the embodiment of the absurd. It also includes some other poetical works, namely of his love for Algiers and its landscape.I summarised the book as follows. "I loved the potential of the initial premise but felt it fell a little flat. It's very poetic and I felt this detracted from the investigations into the morality of suicide. It's useful if you want some philosophy, to know about Absurdism or to enjoy the way that language can be formulated in different ways.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:30) - Synopsis(3:57) - Absurdism: Accepting the paradox of life(8:32) - Suicide: The only serious question(13:27) - Observations/Takeaways(17:45) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Well you can't accuse me of sticking to only one type of book, I was all over shop this month.For January 2022 I tackled Leviathan and man that was booooooorrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnnggggg. I much more enjoyed Lolita (which was less controversial than I thought it would be) and Nathaniel's Nutmeg (detailing the crazy adventurers and merchants in the 1500's). A big thanks to Petar & Oscar Merry for helping to support the show, bloody legends!I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Yes yes welcome(0:27) - Lolita: Vladimir Nabokov(3:23) - Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Giles Milton(6:23) - Leviathan: Thomas Hobbes(9:31) - Twelve And A Half: Gary Vaynerchuk(11:03) - Boostagram Lounge(20:27) - What's Coming Up For Feb 2022?Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A seminal work that many people like to quote (including me), but probably haven't read (not me now).'Leviathan' by Thomas Hobbes is a treatise on human nature/government/religion and how they all mingle. His basic argument is that human emotions & our individual rights lead to war. Therefore we need a government to contain this violence. The book is very detailed and contains lots of definitions and formal explanations of his thoughts.I summarised the book as follows. "It's split into 4 separate sections but I could really only read the first 2. I'm not going to lie, I found it a slog & rather unenjoyable. There are snippets of interesting passages but it's a book on politics & government, subjects that are rather unappealing to me. It fixed a misconception I had about Hobbes's general outlook but it was a high price to pay.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(4:43) - Commonwealths: Why we need political communities for the common good(12:22) - Observations/Takeaways(22:01) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

The real spice wars don't turn out so well for the little guy, but there is just as much death/mayhem.'Nathaniel's Nutmeg' by Giles Milton is a narrative history of the spice trade in the early 1500's to mid 1600's. It reveals the shipping rivalry that occurred between England & The Dutch over the highly valuable spices of nutmeg, pepper and cloves. It's told through individual adventurers with their ships and of their route, tropical diseases, warfare, politics and living conditions.I summarised the book as follows. "A nice overview of a wild time on the high seas. Lot's of compelling adventures & most of it based off documented history. I liked the addition of maps & drawings to give some geographical and visual representation to the tales. There's actually surprisingly little about Nathaniel Courthope but plenty of learning about the Dutch East India Trading Company and the quirks of history."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:36) - Synopsis(4:08) - Death & Disease: The price of adventure(9:52) - Staggering Wealth: The Dutch East India Company(14:37) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(17:38) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Delusion, obsession and dubious ethical choices swirl around in the head of this unreliable narrator.'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov details the disturbed account of Humbert Humbert's (the narrator) fantasy with the young Dolores Haze (Lolita). Humbert lusts after 'nymphets' and begins a semi-consensual sexual relationship with the underage Lolita. However the relationship is perhaps not all it seems as the delirium and bizarre behaviour of Humbert become more apparent.I summarised the book as follows. "Don't be fooled by the general controversy surrounding the book, I found it be rather mild. It barely hints at a consensual relationship and overall is rather condemning of Humbert's actions. It's cleverly written as your initial impressions of Humbert and Lolita will likely change as the twisted narration becomes hazier. The prose, plot line and style are all fantastic."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:00) - Synopsis(6:03) - Nymphets: Sex meets controversy(12:30) - Obsession: The breeding ground for delusion(18:59) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(27:13) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Twelve and a Half' by Gary Vaynerchuck (aka Gary Vee) focuses on the 12 emotional traits that are the crucial ingredients to successful interactions, on and off the business landscape. The half includes an emotion which Gary himself is building up, kind candor, and the book is split up into three parts: Decription of each emotion, examples and excercises to build up your skills in each emotion.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:55) - Synopsis(7:13) - Themes (10:50) - Personal Observations/TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'The Art of Learning' by Josh Waitzkin might be better detailed as the Art of Mastering. I summarised the book as follows. "Broken up into the fundamentals and the progress from chess master to push hands champion, Josh does a phenomenal job of sharing his life lessons with us"I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:30) - Synopsis(6:14) - Themes(12:54) - Takeaways & SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Unfortunately there were no real standout books for this month.For December 2021 I have been reading some slightly thinner works and took a break from the philosophy to find some fun ones that wouldn't test my brain too much. And whilst I did enjoy all of these, none of them stood out as something I would remember strongly and be likely to bring up in everyday conversation. I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:47) - The Portrait Of A Lady: Henry James(4:51) - Peril At End House: Agatha Christie(7:38) - Don't Tell Mum I Work On The Rigs: Paul Carter(9:49) - The Art Of Learning: Josh Waitzkin(13:52) - A sneak peak of Jan 2022(15:01) - V4VConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Woooooeeeewooooeeee. Misleading title alert!!!'Don't Tell Mum I Work On The Rigs' by Paul Carter is a memoir of Paul's 35 years of life from 1969-2004. It's told in a chronological order and is centred around his work life in the oil drilling industry. This profession took him all over the world (Nigeria, Brunei, Colombia, Russia, Singapore, etc.,) and resulted in zany stories involving bar fights, a horny monkey, shocking injuries and a bar full of midgets.I summarised the book as follows. "It's definitely fun & enjoyable, but it won't leave much of an impression on me. There are a lot of crazy stories but I'm unsure of which parts are genuine, especially due to the clickbait title. However, it's a book that will make you want to travel and gain the wildest experiences from life (whether they be good or bad)."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(2:41) - Storytelling: Artistry & embellishing(8:41) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(12:04) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Mon Ami, Hercule Poirot is on the scene!'Peril At End House' by Agatha Christie is a whodunnit crime story that will leave you guessing until the very end. Nick Buckley has 3 close calls with death before her cousin Maggie is killed in her place. Fortunately Poirot and Hastings are available to investigate the crime and untangle the weave of seemingly incomprehensible events.I summarised the book as follows. "I found this mystery quite fun despite the morbid nature of the crime. It's the perfect length for me & satisfied my OCD of wrapping up everything neatly in a bow. A book like this could be a 10/10 for others but I typically want something more out of the box with new concepts or ideas for my general reading. Nevertheless, it's an amusing problem to try and solve."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:39) - Synopsis(3:17) - Why Whodunnits?: What makes them special(9:32) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(11:29) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

The ritual of courtship has really changed in the last century & a half. 'The Portrait Of A Lady' by Henry James is a fictional (although realistic) tale of love set in the 19th century. It follows Isabel Archer, a beautiful middle class American teenager who is elevated into the upper society of Europe and is courted by a suite of bachelors. It features a core group of 12-15 ladies & gentlemen and explores the themes of love and societal expectations.I summarised the book as follows. "This book was perfect for lazy night time reading. There's not too many individuals to keep track of and those who exist had depth & complexity. Apart from the strange communication style between characters the rest (scenery, descriptions, plotline, etc.,) was top notch. A nice throwback to see how the upper class lived so very long ago."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:33) - Synopsis(2:59) - Societal Expectations(21:23) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(28:53) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Cilka's Journey' by Heather Morris is the sequel to 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' which we have covered on the channel before.I summarised the book as follows. "Didn't quite live up to the original, the book felt like it was several pages too many and while the story itself was great it could have been constructed in a better way."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!If you'd like to support the team and grab the book, why not use this link! https://amzn.to/3cV7j87Timeline:(0:20) - Intro(1:00) - Synopsis(6:30) - Themes(10:55) - Takeaways(15:00) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

This recap was supported with the help of Petar the slav, many thanks for the boostagrams!Well I tried my best to understand what the Germans think about life but it wasn't too successful. I found the writing of Nietzsche and Heidegger to be quite obscure and didn't really learn anything from them. I did have fun diving into the Dune world though, just in time to see the upcoming movie. Juan enjoyed reading (as much as one can) about the story of The Tattooist Of Auschwitz and I reveal some of the upcoming books that will appear in December.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:23) - Value For Value: Petar's boostagrams(10:07) - Dune: Frank Herbert(12:33) - Beyond Good And Evil: Friedrich Nietzsche(14:30) - The Question Concerning Technology: Martin Heidegger(15:49) - The Tattooist Of Auschwitz: Heather Morris(18:31) - A sneak peak of December 2021Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

I don't use the word often, but 'polemical' describes this work perfectly.'Beyond Good And Evil' by Friedrich Nietzsche is mostly an attack on philosophers but also contains snippets of his general thoughts on the interplay between religion & society, the mindset of a free spirit and some other assorted rants. It was originally written in his native German and is mostly comprised of statements (rather than logical arguments) of his opinions on all these topics.I summarised the book as follows. "It's an angry book written in an angry way by an angry guy. I struggled to understand a lot but there were hints that it could become clearer with more reading of his other philosophical works. I'm not really convinced by anything he said as he provided no basis for his statements, they were all personal assertions. I might come back and try again one day but this attempt was of little value."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:28) - Synopsis(3:17) - The Free Spirit: A break from blind dogmatism(7:07) - Assorted Rants: Beyond sane and rational(13:55) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(20:51) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

More questions than answers, more confusion than clarity.'The Question Concerning Technology' by Martin Heidegger is a philosophical book containing multiple essays by the German philosopher. It centres around his concepts of 'Standing Reserve' & 'Enframing' but also contains a deconstruction of Nietzsche as well. The book contains no real structure but does have many helpful notes from the translator (as it was originally written in German).I summarised the book as follows. "I have no idea what this book was about. Major props and kudos to anyone who can understand it. I gave it a low rating not because I disagreed or disliked the thesis, simply because I didn't understand it. One of those books where I'm not at all encouraged to even attempt to read any of the author's other works."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:37) - Synopsis(2:43) - ???(4:49) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(9:04) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' by Heather Morris blends fiction with reality to bring the tale of the Tattooist of Auschwitz to us all, his love for Gita and the things one must do to survive.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!If you would like to support the Mere Mortals, feel free to grab this book here: https://amzn.to/3H16rMOTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:30) - Synopsis(8:40) - Themes/Takeaways(11:34) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

He who controls the spice controls the universe!'Dune' by Frank Herbert is a sci-fi classic that is comparable with some of the other amazing fictional universes. The story takes place on Arrakis, a barren planet scarce of water but containing the immensely valuable spice. House Atreides suffers a catastrophic betrayal and so the young Duke Paul undergoes a quest for revenge and to restore his rightful inheritance. I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun world and I can see why it has fanatical supporters. I found it easier reading than LOTR but also noticed myself skipping the poetry & songs. It's great for night time reading and to lose myself in the story, but I probably won't bother to dive fully into the whole Dune universe."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:33) - Synopsis(3:59) - Water & Spice: All you need in life(9:22) - The Essence of Sci-Fi: Making boring stuff fun(13:24) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(16:01) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Everything you know about human nature is a falsehood, but maybe that's a good thing.'Humankind' by Rutger Bregman is an argument for why humans are good at heart (and in action). He presents this as a dichotomy between the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes & Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Much of the book is spent debunking commonly cited examples of our innate cruelty (Milgram Shock/Standford Prison experiments), but also has anecdotes from history and more trustworthy statistics.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a crazy amount of condensed critical thinking. It burst a couple of ideas that were too simplistic but also might be refuted in the future for the same reason. It's well presented and contains elements of Rutger's personality (which matches my own) that made me like the book even more, although this obviously clouds my judgement as to the absolute 'truth' of his arguments. Nevertheless, being hopeful is fun!"I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:29) - Synopsis(4:19) - Veneer Theory: Are we about to crack?(7:44) - A Hopeful History: Mixing the future and past(11:53) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(16:27) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

I had to slow down my reading pace to about 1 x book per week due to focusing on some new goals. I also think my average page length might be slightly increasing which also is a reason for the slow down. So only 3 x reviews for me from this month. The real highlight (which I forgot to mention) was Juan's review of Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari which he reckons is the best book he's ever read. Worth going to check out that book review!I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:01) - Humankind: Rutger Bregman(4:24) - An Autobiography: M.K. Gandhi(8:04) - The Heart Of The Buddha's Teaching: Thich Nhat Hanh(11:23) - Boostagram time(15:05) - A sneak peak of November 2021Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Let's go on a journey through human history in 500 pages.A glimpse into my love for the book Sapiens, the points that really struck me and how much information can be packed in one book is beyond me.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!If you would like to support us and grab the book use our link here! https://amzn.to/3vfVfXeTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:28) - Synopsis(3:05) - Not a historical book(4:35) - Synopsis, or not(5:27) - Personal observations(10:15) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortals...Discord: https://discord.gg/BeCRYs4ESupport the show

A delve into the thoughts of a great leader, inspiring visionary, a venerable soul, but ultimately just a man.'An Autobiography' by M.K. Gandhi (also known as 'My Experiments With Truth') is an overview of his life from birth in 1869 to 1921. It is split into 5 parts which reflect his time spent studying in England, working in South Africa and protesting in India. It was originally published as a series in a magazine in 166 individual chapters, so contains diverse topics such as dietetics, ethics, weaving and his reasoning behind particular decisions.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a brief glimpse into the life of an extraordinary dude. I really admire certain aspects of his personality but also dislike others. The writing in the book is of high quality but unfortunately autobiographies are not my favourite so this won't make it into my best of all time list. However, I do think it might be great for those who already love the effect that Gandhi had on the world an want to learn more about his personal life."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:40) - Synopsis(4:06) - Satya: Truth & God(6:31) - Ahisma: Nonviolence(11:07) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(15:08) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

I'm finding a common pattern amongst books on this subject that I'm really not enjoying.'The Heart Of The Buddha's Teaching' by Thich Nhat Hanh is an explanation of the most essential ideas, instructions, teachings and guides of Buddhism & the Buddha. It is split into 4 parts with the first two deconstructing the Four Noble Truths & The Noble Eightfold Path and the latter two examining other basic precepts and direct discourses from the Buddha.I summarised the book as follows. "For me, nothing distinguishes this from any of the other Buddhism books that I have read. I found it a bit too disordered and honestly struggled to get through it. It contains all the core info I have learnt from Buddhism but you are probably better suited to gain this knowledge from somewhere like Wikipedia."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:37) - Synopsis(2:51) - The Buddha's Teaching: Core doctrines of Buddhism(8:06) - The Heart: Other basics & discourses(10:21) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(14:55) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Authentically Russian. Depressingly bleak, a touch of divinity and more than a little strange.'The Death Of Ivan Ilyich' by Leo Tolstoy is a collection of 11 novellas, which contain Russian everything (characters, landscape, traditions, culture, etc.,). There is no connecting theme in the stories but they do contain some commonalities. They're told from an outside narrator, have men as the principal characters, contain multiple references to Russian words or Arabic influences and are about everyday interactions.I summarised the book as follows. "These are probably the easiest way to introduce yourself to Tolstoy's 'realistic fiction' without having to commit to an 800+ page book like Anna Karenina or War & Peace. I've never been to Russia but this conforms to most of what I have heard elsewhere about their traditions and culture. There is a strong emphasis on the bleakness and suffering in life, but hey, that's just how Russians roll."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:38) - Synopsis(3:28) - Anguish: Extreme unhappiness due to mental/physical suffering(8:22) - Rumination: The Russian version of introspection(12:19) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(13:33) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Recap timeeee! Yessiree, here's an overview of the 7 books I read (and 2 x book review from Juan) that was posted in September 2021. The standout for me was Candide by Voltaire, very witty and has obviously stood the test of time (it was published 260 years ago!). Most of the rest were pretty solid books that ranged from philosophy to children's books to religion to suffering (both fictional and in real life). Quite a mixed bag indeed.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:37) - Candide: Voltaire(1:45) - The Little Prince: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry(2:57) - Going Clear: Lawrence Wright(4:18) - Lord Of The Flies: William Golding(5:53) - Hiroshima: John Hersey(7:20) - Discourses & Selected Writings: Epictetus(9:18) - The Death Of Ivan Ilyich: Leo Tolstoy(11:13) - Changes coming up in October 2021Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

A dive into the brutality of humanity, but childlike in nature and without the bullshit of politics.'Lord Of The Flies' by William Golding is a boy's dream adventure that takes a dark turn. It begins with an intro to a group of 6-14 year olds who are stranded on a small island without an adult in site. Tensions run high as the responsible tribe formed by Ralph is splintered by the tribalistic Jack. The savagery of human nature and deep seated fear of the Beast is exposed as the hunting progresses. I summarised the book as follows. "It's a tale of day/night, beauty/beast and fun/fear. It takes a real look at human nature by examining us at our most primal, when we are little beastly children. It's a short book but gives you time to get to know each character. Overall it felt like a mix of Robinson Crusoe with any generic children's book (such as The Fantastic Five or Deltora Quest)."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:34) - Synopsis(3:57) - Human Nature: Savagery without sophistication(7:32) - The Beast: A meta-fear that everyone knows(12:41) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(16:11) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Shocking and devastating in every which way.'Hiroshima' by John Hersey details the accounts of 6 survivors from the atomic blast on August 6, 1945 @ 8:15 am. It goes over their injuries, the general chaos, widespread destructive effects, uncertainty of the future, overt heroism on the morning of, and the statistics of the death count. 5 chapters form a timeline of their stories before/during/1 day/3 days and 40 years after their horrific ordeal.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a brief snapshot of an event that changed the lives of so many. This was my second reading and some of the stories were still imprinted on my brain from the first time. Overall it's a short & unemotional recount from individuals, but it will still probably make you as the reader tear up from the sheer tragedy/magnitude caused by one bomb."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:31) - Synopsis(3:06) - Devastation: Severe & overwhelming shock or grief(7:27) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(9:42) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Like most moralising old men, this philosopher will either enlighten you, bore you, piss you off or a combo of all.'Discourses & Selected Writings' by Epictetus are the words of wisdom from a notable stoic philosopher. It goes over his core principles/main ideas through the medium of assertions, arguments and conversations. Like most stoic philosophy, there is an emphasis on making this practical and pragmatic; to provide implementable changes in your day to day life.I summarised the book as follows. "Rome wasn't built in a day and stoic philosophy is not just one guy. After reading multiple stoics I believe you'll find your favourite author, which actually is Marcus Aurelius for me. The core message I got from this is that one should watch their own reactions and to anticipate your emotions before immediately acting upon them. Epictetus is very assertive and somewhat humorous in his stubbornness, a grumpy old man for sure."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:31) - Synopsis(3:28) - Impressions: Noticing the initial reaction(6:40) - Pragmatic Philosophy: Implementing changes in the real world(9:51) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(11:43) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Begone you engrams, let me be the Thetan I was born to be!'Going Clear' by Lawrence Wright is an exposé mixed with the history of Scientology. The first half begins with a bio on the mythical/enigmatic L. Ron Hubbard and his life. The second half is of modern Scientology & its influential figures (such as David Miscavige, Tom Cruise and Paul Haggis). The book explores the beliefs, controversies, internal disputes as well as asking what is a religion? I summarised the book as follows. "I felt it was a fair take on the history and religion of Scientology. It presented both sides of the story and looked into some of the more 'out there' and just plain false assertions of Hubbard and the behaviour of the Sea Org & its leaders. An engaging read considering I don't care much for the topic of religion."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:36) - Synopsis(3:10) - Belief: Faith, fact, fiction or science(8:23) - The Church: What defines a religion?(12:20) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(14:50) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

One of those rare books that appeals to adults & kids alike.'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a surprisingly complex story to convey a simple message. It is a combination of two tales that are intertwined together. One is of an adult aviator who has forgotten how to see the world through the eyes of a child. The other is of an interstellar boy who easily sees the foolishness of adults, but also must learn about relationships and love.I summarised the book as follows. "It's definitely worth of the 'classic' moniker. It has planes, planets in outer space, a bunch of weirdos and a cool fox (what more does one need)! It's a nice reminder to find some childlike naivety and view the world through a new pair of eyes. A very solid book."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:27) - Synopsis(3:25) - Childlike Innocence: The pleasure & pain of youth(7:02) - Life Lessons: Let's add some adult complexity(11:08) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(12:50) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Everyone Has A Plan Until Sh!t Hits The Fan' by Tofe Evans looks at the journey from dispair & depression through to success, a focused mind and personal resilience.I summarised the book as follows. "A quaint and straight to the point book written by Tofe. The quintessential self-help book written by someone who just wants to ensure it is read by someone and helps them out to the utmost. Splices his troubles as a young man, getting out of drug addictions and using running as the tool to harden his mind."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here! https://amzn.to/2WsFZZGTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:56) - Synopsis(6:05) - Themes(11:20) - Personal ObservationsConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

An unwavering spirit maybe isn't such a great thing after all.'Candide' by Voltaire is a funny satire on the philosophical idea/theory of Optimism, which was popular during the French Enlightenment. It is a roving adventure of the ever hopeful Candide as he learns about the harshness of the world while chasing his love Cunégonde and spreading the philosophy of Dr Pangloss. His travels take him across Europe, South America & the Middle East with numerous mishaps and encounters with embittered souls along the way.I summarised the book as follows. "It's an absolutely biting attack on the idea that 'all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds'. The humour is fantastic and it can be read lightly as an engaging story containing memorable characters. It can also make you think deeply about ethics and philosophy if you choose to do so. Quite similar in style to Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here! https://amzn.to/2UMfxd9Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:25) - Synopsis(2:53) - Optimism: Insisting all is good when it really isn't(6:05) - Pessimism: Joy in the worst of all possible worlds(8:20) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(12:05) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

'Shoe Dog' by Phil Knight details the journey of Nike's humble beginnings, from the Blue Ribbon Sports, through battling the Fed's, getting thrown out by banks.. the story does not hold back.I summarised the book as follows. "I really enjoyed reading this book, the way that Phil wrote the book himself and allowed the story to shine was excellent"I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Mere Mortals out!If you would like to support the team and enjoyed this review, you can grab a copy using the following link! https://amzn.to/3yEXXWrTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:54) - Synopsis(4:30) - Themes (10:05) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(13:40) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Bit of a different episode for you today, I'm outdoors! And indeed I'm giving a recap of the 7 books I read (and 1 x book review from Juan) that was posted in August 2021. The standout really was Catch-22, can't rave about this book highly enough. It will make you laugh and still has plenty of room to bring up some darker themes related to war and the absurdity of politics/bureaucracy. Highly recommended!!I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:21) - Catch-22(1:23) - Heart of Darkness(3:08) - Of Mice & Men(5:04) - The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea(6:33) - Breakfast At Tiffany's(8:44) - Mortality(11:50) - The Cubs & Other Stories(13:35) - The Art of Resilience(14:49) - What's coming up next month?Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

You only have yourself to blame if you get burnt by girls like this.'Breakfast At Tiffany's' by Truman Capote is set in the middle of WWII in glamorous New York City. An unnamed narrator meets Holly Golightly, a young & pretty socialite who lives in his apartment building. Over the course of a year he becomes fascinated with her enigmatic lifestyle and her charisma. The book contains no real plot line and is more of a look at life in the 1940's and of why Holly is such a fascinating individual.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a simple story of a carefree socialite who doesn't learn any lesson in particular. Holly certainly leaves an impression whether it be bad or good. I thought the 'untameable wild animal' analogy used in the books was quite a suitable way to describe her. I'd really like to meet someone like her in person but think that the real life experience might not be as fun as it appears in writing."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here!https://amzn.to/2Wpg5qgTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:35) - Synopsis(3:37) - Female Charisma: Beautifully enigmatic with feminine wiles(8:14) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(11:56) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Easily the funniest book I've ever read!'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller is fictional novel set on a US air force base on an island off Northern Italy during WWII. It follows Yossarian whilst he tries to avoid flying missions as everyone is out to kill him. He is joined by a collection of other wacky characters as they all show their peculiar idiosyncrasies. The book highlights the absurdity of army politics, the waste that is generated by bureaucracy and the mundanity of war (with brief flashes of intensity).I summarised the book as follows. "To say this is funny is an understatement. It is absolutely hilarious although it does contain disturbing/gory scenes, as it is after all about war. Catch-22 has become mainstay of the English language due to the absolute perfection of Heller in creating situation of paradox that can't be resolved. One of the best books I've ever read!"I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here! https://amzn.to/3zmGbIHTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(0:30) - Synopsis(3:11) - Catch-22: The funny side of paradox(6:58) - The Wastage Of War: Ridiculous, futile bureaucracy in action(11:41) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(15:17) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"What can we learn from the individual who swam around Great Britain"'The Art of Resilience' by Ross Edgely walks through the strategies for an unbreakable mind and body - right up the Mere Mortals alley!In summary "Simply written, it ties together Ross's learnings while swimming around Great Britain and brings together information that he has sourced through a lot of his travels as well tribulations. The learning summaries at the end of each chapter where nice, but after a while i found myself not reading them. It showed a lot of emotional points as well. Overall solid".I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here! https://amzn.to/2UT3DyoTimeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:40) - Synopsis(4:35) - Themes(10:50) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(16:30) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show