Book 9: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

The most fascinating thing that has happened from all my reading is seeing how the books overlap. One book will say one thing and another will say something entirely different but it will somehow back up what the other book said. I wish I had an example off the top of my head but alas I don't, next time I will try to remember to write them down.

So what did I learn this week?

Worry really is worth it. I've know that my whole life but when you read a book that over and over shows why it isn't worth it, it makes you realize how foolish it is. I enjoy reading Dale Carnegie's books (He is also the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People) because they are so practical. He doesn't only show why worry isn't worth it but he shows how to combat it and what to do. I feel more capable of fighting the worry in my life and cutting it off before it grows roots. If you have every struggled with anxiety or worrying please do yourself a favor and pick this book up. It won't be a waste of your time.

This week I am taking the week off of reading but I shall pick it up on Monday of next week reading Book 10: The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz. It was recommended to me by a friend!

I can't believe I am going to be reading my tenth book!

Book 8: Authentic Happiness

I have decided that I am going to attempt to just post on Mondays. That way I read Monday to Sunday and post on Monday. I think this idea will work out for me... or it will make me continue to slack off and I will post on Tuesday (like I am today...whoops!).

What did I learn?
The number one thing I am going to take away is to focus on building on my strengths, instead of making my weaknesses less weak. There is much to glean from this book about living a more authentically happy life but for me I know I can make my life more enjoyable by taking my attention off all the things I am not very good at refocusing on what I am good at. I have gifts and talents that are often neglected because I am trying to make myself better in areas where I suck. For instance I am a terrible small talker, I have come to accept I will always be terrible and instead of trying to be an excellent small talker I am going to be an awesome authentic genuine conversationalist because really that is what I am good at.

Side not if you want to take a test on your strengths (or other random tests to learn about yourself) head on over to www.authentichappiness.org and take the strengths test.

Book 9: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
-I will be taking next week off (I have learned I am not productive during holidays)

Book 7: Beyond Revenge - The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct

First things first, Thanksgiving messed up my routine. I decided half way through the week to take it off and spend my time with family instead of reading. It was a decision I am glad I made.

So I finished the book this past week. What did I learn?

Revenge or vengeance has caused majority of the chaos in this world. In the present time we rarely use the word revenge unless it is in the context of superhero or comic book, but whether we use the word or not, it is all around us. For Americans like me, think about how we were sold war after 9/11. It was sold on the premise that we were wronged and we must punish (revenge) those who have wronged us (I realize it is much more complex than that but you get my point).

With that said, I think the realization of how revenge can often drive humanity to violence is something that we all need to take to heart. Because when we can identify that revenge is what is causing the problem we can take control and replace the revenge with forgiveness.

I enjoyed this book but it is definitely a heady book, basically a compilation of a bunch of research on revenge and forgiveness. It is not an easy read but it is fascinating.

Book 8: Authentic Happiness - Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E. P. Seligman

Book 6: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

This is late. I am going to blame it on Thanksgiving travels. I did finish the book on Sunday but as usual I am late on posting. This blogging has been been more of a challenge than the book reading but it is keeping me accountable.

So what did I learn?

I don't necessarily think there was one thing that I learned but instead it encouraged a philosophy I have come to believe. The idea that we all don't fit into the cookie cutter the education system has developed. Sometimes people aren't sugar cookies, they are chocolate chip or they aren't even cookies at all. Bad metaphor I know, but hopefully you get my drift. I think this cartoon really exemplifies what I am trying to say.

The Element has challenged me to find my passion. Michelangelo once said, "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." I want to find my passion and take it as far as I can.

Next week is book 7. The books are all starting to meld together in my learning process but I am growing and learning so much. This week is Beyond Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct by Michael E. McCullough. I think this one is going to be interesting.

Sir Ken Robinson

I told you I would post a TED talk by the man who wrote the book I am currently reading. Well here it is! It is worth the time out of your day. By the way if you don't know what TED talks are, GOOGLE IT! They are often fascinating talks about everything you can think of. I have learned so much from all the talks I have watched. They are mini lectures of awesome :)

Book 5: The Culture Code

5 books in 5 weeks. I must say I am kind of proud of myself. I wasn't sure if I would keep this up and I am definitely not slowing down. I am more and more motivated to keep going and getting really excited about the books I am picking for the weeks to come. I am also getting much better at setting aside time to read. Even if it is for 10 min before I fall asleep.

I love all that I am learning and I love that I am loving learning. It really is quite awesome to choose what you want to learn and then doing it for yourself. I also have had a change of heart when it comes to those of you reading my blog. Originally I thought it would be cool if people read the same books I was reading but now I think it would be even cooler if people would find books that they love and tell us about them. Like a community blog. I obviously have personal interests I am fond of but there are so many more things out there than my small circle of interest. Anyone interested in being a guest post? Tell us about a book you read and what you have learned? Just an idea...

Ok so what did I learn?

Culture codes are kind of weird. The fact that Dr. Rapaille (the author) has been able to identify words that sum up our unconscious beliefs about things like love, luxury, and home, is pretty ingenious. Especially when you read how they are being used. (this is a book on marketing)

I have learned a lot from this book but mostly it reinforced my fascination of how cultures influence how we all see the world. The culture around us essentially is our glasses to the rest of the world and a lot of things don't make sense but that is because through our lenses other cultures are blurry and in order to make sense of it all, the discovery and application of the lenses of another culture are needed. That was a mouthful but I hope you get what I am pointing at. I think The Culture Code helps discover those lenses. 

Well week 6. I am excited to read this book. It has been on my list for a long time. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson. I hope to post some TED talks by him this week as well. Look him up, he is awesome.

Book 4: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcom Gladwell

So two things:

First, I was supposed to be reading a different book. I thought I had the Power of Now but I had accidentally picked up a book about the Power of Now so I went ahead and changed my book of the week to Blink. So in the coming weeks I will get the Power of Now.

Secondly, I did finish the book yesterday but ran out of energy and daytime to write this post. So here it is a tad late... again.

What did I learn?

I have learned that it is important to trust my instincts and initial reactions because they often are more reliable than I realize. Blink is the idea that our unconscious is aware of what is going on or how we feel quicker and more reliably than our conscious. And that our conscious often mucks up or distorts reality when it doesn't align with what we think is right.

I think this is fascinating. Because essentially Blink says that those feeling or intuitions that we sometimes get can be trusted. We can't explain why we feel the way we do but we know that they are right. The reason we can't explain them is because we are aware on an unconscious level. Maybe it is the nerd in me but I think these types of things are pretty dang cool.

Book 5: The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille