So many topics swirl in my brain that I want to write about. But I feel the need to spend hours on my longer blog posts so they never materialize. It’s said Ramit from iwillteachyoutoberich.com spends 20+ hours per post. Craziness. But I used to read his blog ritually. It was really good.
Anyway, I just wanted to jot down some books and documentaries I’ve read/seen “recently” (this past year). Hopefully, I’ll write a piece about each of them.
The Price of Altruism:
George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness by Oren Harmon
Read this gem in 48 hours or 2 nights. Dense reading but amazing.
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor
Read this book last year. Perhaps the best book I’ve ever read crossing the bridge between neuroscience and spiritual enlightenment. A chronicle of her stroke and recovery. Lessons learned and the inner, innate beautiful bliss that resides in all of us. She had a great TED talk that I among many people saw years ago.
Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss
Actually, I just got this book yesterday. It’s sort of a journalist anthology with interviews of celebrities and musicians. However, it’s suppose to follow certain themes and teach a lesson from the success and tragic failures of these mega celebrities. In usual Strauss fashion though, I’m already enthralled. Buying diapers with Snoop Dog? Talking to Johnny Cash about his dear-death experience!
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
Foer trained for one year and became US memory champion. The argument is that anyone can train their memory to mastery.
I once tried to train my memory in a similar fashion to this guy. However the teaching method and entire system seemed arcane and underground. Most people didn’t take me seriously. Memory training was also the most exhaustive activity I’ve ever done short of sprinting or weight training. I felt physically drained after each session. I’m happy to see Foer has made memory training mainstream. I have the book and read numerous interviews but haven’t read the book yet.
Documentary: Inside Job
Covers the financial crisis and how it was setup by financial institutions .
Hope I’m not missing anything. I want to cover each individually sometime in the future.