Adam TikTok test
We read this one as a group at Pluralsight. The different approaches to having content connect with people were very interesting. Some of the ideas that I really want to explore more include:
Pre-testing as a way to introduce people to a subject. Multi-subject teachings rather than single subject teaching. Giving time to forget and relearn to help drive a topic in. Give people deliberate interruptions when learning. Helping people teach each other as a way to learn.
After watching Browns Ted talks and hearing a number of recommendations, I knew I had to check out her books. Browns openness sets a tone for the reader, staying vulnerable and staying curious on how she can adapt. The core concept of the book - that embracing vulnerability is a path towards many things is best conveyed by one line from the book:
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”
I've never put much effort into negotiating. Some of the questions asked in this one are excellent ways to help a conversation move forward. For instance, after someone states what they want, asking “how did you determine that?”. Diving into the how and why of someone else helps better understand where they're coming from.
Switching into the PM role myself lately, I was looking for some guidance on what that involves. The most useful parts of this were the early descriptions elaborating on the difference between a Product Manager and a Project Manager, as well as some of the descriptions of what PMs do at various tech companies. After that though, I found less value in this one. Going into how to write cover letters and resumes wasn't as useful.
Never has a book been so good and so bad all at once. After finishing the first two in the Speaker series, I couldn't wait to read the conclusion. Although I did thoroughly enjoy the overall story, the pacing and focus was too spread out for me to enjoy this one in the same way.
This short story published in the New York Times in 1938 follows Walter Mitty as he is driving his wife to a hair appointment and running a few errands. During this afternoon out, his mind wanders to adventures, legal cases, sporting events and more. While completely different from the recent movie, the idea is still novel as a story today.
A short story by Sanderson which earned a Hugo award. Much of the feel from this seemed to be the inspiration for the soulcasters in his Stormlight Archives series. Like other worlds, this has a magic element which allows for “forging” – modifying the history of an object to change how it appears today. For instance – rewriting the history of a neglected table to have been cared for in order to make it strong a beautiful today. What about rewriting the past of a person? Would that change their soul?
The concept behind “virality” has always seemed vague. In the early internet days before Twitter and big stars with their own internet followings, very few things achieved this. In retrospect it makes sense - the systems weren't there to support the fast flow of ideas. Now though, a single celebrity Tweet can lead to something going viral.
The concept that stuck out to me most was the idea that most people want something new, but they don't want it to be TOO new. They usually want a better version than something they need to be a beginner again. This quote hits on that idea: “Most consumers are simultaneously neophilic – curious to discover new things – and deeply neophobic – afraid of anything that's too new.”
In “A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy”, “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius was mentioned as a source material for Stoicism. If “Guide to the Good Life” was easy to read, Meditations was Stoicism on hard mode. Often I can give a book partial attention, I needed full concentration on this one to make it through. It features a number of one off lines that are inspiring and influential, but often hidden away in a few paragraphs that wander around a subject before jumping in.
It's rare for me to read a financial book and nod in agreement so much. Even still J.L. Collins presented a few ideas that challenged my own view on investing - which was happily unexpected. In addition to index fund investing and taking advantage of tax-free growth, two areas he mentioned stood out as things I've advised that he recommends against: dollar cost averaging and international funds. If the market grows more often than not over time, then why DCA? If international markets overwhelmingly track the US market, why invest in intl? Both good questions that i don't have great answers to. Either way, they got me thinking.
I recently realized I love real-life adventure tales. Memoirs of extraordinary journeys that are true tales. Into Thin Air is one such telling of a trip to climb Mt. Everest by a journalist writing about the commercialization of Himalayan adventures. Things go horribly wrong and the result is one of the worst years in history for climbers. I've never wanted to go to Everest (well, maybe base camp could be fun) but after reading this I feel cold just thinking about it.
Religion and war going wrong serves as a fascinating and depressing backdrop to Cat's Cradle. While touching on important topics like the arrival of the atomic bomb, the storytelling was what really drew me in at times. Not all of the story, but for parts of it I was mesmerized by the multiple lines of thought being weaved and brought back together in a very short period of time. It's a technique of story writing I haven't seen too often but would love to learn.
The 3rd book in Browns Red Rising series doubles down on some of the grit that makes it different than other scifi books around while putting strategy in the forefront. The deceit and planning kept me on my toes – even when guessing I knew what was going to happen I was constantly second guessing myself. A great ending to one of the best series I've read since The Hunger Games.
Walking around B&N I noticed this book and thought I'd check it out from the library and give it a read. The “12 Rules” have a much different tone than books I usually read which got me interested. Things like “Don't bother kids when they're skateboarding” and “pet a cat when you encounter one”. What I didn't realize was just how religious it was! In every chapter somehow the story is turned back to The Bible. It was during this book that I realized that using Libby I could skip chapters. That worked great for this book where skipping would just fast forward to the next rule.
Although Dune Messiah (Dune #2) wasn't one of my favorites, this one was much more interesting. The way the Atreides family evolves and works its way into the Dune planet went in some unexpected and interesting ways. The interesting parts for this one though, took a while to come out.
This short story is a follow up to Steelheart, elaborating on the story with the same characters. I enjoyed where it took the city and the characters after the book left me wanting more. The main villain Mitosis, an epic who can split into multiple versions of himself, serves to both advance the characters and our knowledge of the world – just what you would want in a short story set in the same universe.