Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Can hierarchies exist in a world of networks? 'The Square & The Tower' by Niall Ferguson examines a selection of networks across history. In particular it focuses upon hierarchies & how they operate compared to decentralised/distributed collections of people. You'll learn about nodes & hubs, geopolitics of WW1/2, secret societies of Freemasons & Illuminati, the connectedness of Kis...

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Are they killing others or really killing themselves? 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' by Ernest Hemingway is a fictional account of an American dynamiter behind fascist lines during the 1936 Spanish Civil War. He must blow up a bridge and enlists the help of a Republican guerilla group living in the mountains. He falls in love with a girl, encounters difficulties with the leader & ultimately must ma...

Inspiring quotes can get rather tiresome. 'A Calendar Of Wisdom' by Leo Tolstoy is a compilation of modified quotes that follow the days of the year. Each day will have 4-6 snippets related to a subject he cares about. Common occurrences are on religion, love, good/evil, morals, vegetarianism & self-improvement. The quotes are sourced widely from notable individuals around the world and conden...

The ultimate male fantasy is rather flat & boring. 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood is told from the point of view of an unnamed narrator. It takes place in a USA where there has been an overthrown government and everything is now dystopian. Our girl is 33 yrs old & a handmaid, whose only purpose is to give birth. Life is very different: family structures changed, super totalitaria...

 This review delves into "The Little Book of Versace," evaluating its limited depth and focus on visuals over meaningful insights. While the book covers Versace’s designs and runway moments, it lacks a cohesive narrative, leaving the reader to seek additional context elsewhere. Overall, it's deemed more of a coffee table accessory than an informative resource on the iconic brand. (00:00) - In...

Are people more cruel or simply the passing of time itself? 'East Of Eden' by John Steinbeck is straight up one of the best books I've ever read. We follow various families across the generations as they live & die in 19/20th century America. It's uplifting in some sections and then will follow up with a brutality that brings you to your knees. Easily some of the best written characters and di...

I'm begging you, please don't make this mistake! Today is a special episode where I am diving into some of the reasons why I have stopped reading many books. I'm also giving a list of these books so that you don't have to waste your time on them (assuming you trust my judgement). Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :) Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:18) S...

In this podcast, I dive into Peter Attia's Outlive, discussing key lessons from the book on longevity and modern medicine. I highlight the surprising flaws in current medical guidelines, explore how centenarians' genetic traits can be mimicked through lifestyle changes, and busts myths about dietary habits like egg consumption. It’s an insightful conversation on optimizing health and balancing ext...

Why is everyone so mistaken about this book? 'The Kama Sutra' by Vātsyāyana is a how-to guide on courtship & sexual pleasure, as opposed to a graphic explanation of sexual positions. All of this comes from an Indian context from that era (so more addressed to the educated man/woman). Split into 7 parts and is about things like sexual union, class & social status differences, acquiring a wi...

In this episode, we dive into "Outlive: The Science of Longevity" by Dr. Peter Attia. The review explores key themes like emotional health, the importance of living better rather than just longer, and practical tips for increasing both lifespan and health span. The review highlights Attia's structured breakdown of science-based tactics to improve longevity and emotional well-being. (00:00) - Intro...

Do your prefer old Dutch horror stories or refined English gentry? 'The Sketchbook Of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent' by Washington Irving is a mix of short stories (mostly about English observations from an American). It alternates between nonfiction & fiction, mostly told from the POV of the author. It's most famous for the two Dutch inspired stories of Rip Van Winkle & The Legend Of Sleepy Hollo...

What does it take to market & sell new technology? 'Crossing The Chasm' by Geoffrey A. Moore is a how-to book for entrepreneurs & small businesses to get their product to a larger market. He defines & addresses this problem of the chasm and his suggestions for solving it. Inside you'll find lots of jargon, tech speak and industry specific framing such as the whole product, distribution...

A Bahian trance reflecting the best & worse of Brazilian childhood. 'Capitães Da Areia' by Jorge Amado ('Captains Of The Sands' in English) is a coming of age story set in a 1930's Brazilian beach town. We follow a group orphaned adolescents who live without care under a pier. They know the streets better than anyone and are a menace to the city authorities. Under the leadership of their chief...

Who is to blame if the leader can never be wrong? 'Tragedy Without Consequences' by Frank Dikötter is a historical book looking at the famine that was caused during China's 'Great Leap Forward'. It showcases the period from 1958-62 and why a series of decisions stemming from Chairman Mao resulted in the death of 30-45 million people. A reoccurring theme was being out of touch with reality, whether...

Praise be to the philosophers for the hard sciences! 'The Problems Of Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell is his attempt at explaining basic philosophy as well as giving a brief history of philosophical thought. He starts with questions about reality before expanding out with more and more questions. He covers the writings of some famous philosophers (Descartes, Kant, Hume, etc.,) and gives his own th...

Mr. Sandman, bring me some freedom. 'The Woman In The Dunes' by Kobo Abe is a rather simple story of a Japanese man who becomes trapped in the sand dunes. He is led into a large hole where a woman lives and is forced to help her keep sand from encroaching onto the nearby village. We witness his escape attempts and gradual process of getting accustomed to his new environment. It's told from his POV...

Welcome back to Mere Mortals book reviews! Today, we dive into the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." I'll share key learnings from the Penguin Classics edition. Join me as we explore profound Stoic insights that are just as relevant today as they were in ancient Rome. Don't miss out on these gems! (00:00) - Introduction and Overview (00:24) - Highlighting Key Learnings (01:04) - T...

Welcome back to Mere Mortals book reviews! Today, we're diving into Stoicism from the top with Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." I'll share my thoughts and some interesting insights from the Penguin Classics edition. If you're new to Stoicism or curious about the Roman Emperor's personal reflections, this one's for you! (00:00) - Introduction and Overview (00:33) - Context and Historical Background...

In this learnings episode, I delve deeper into the lessons and philosophical insights from 'The Little Prince,' sharing my experience of reading it in French. Join me for a thoughtful exploration of this timeless classic. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Reading Experience 02:00 - Key Learnings 03:00 - Reflections and Advice Value 4 Value Support: Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.c...

In this review, I delve into the enchanting world of 'The Little Prince,' uncovering its profound lessons wrapped in a whimsical, childlike narrative. Join me as I explore its timeless themes and delightful illustrations. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Plot Summary 02:00 - Themes and Insights 03:00 - Personal Reflections Value 4 Value Support: Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com...

Philosophy that is actually fun to read & contemplate! 'Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals' by Robert M. Pirsig is a sequel to his very popular 'Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance'. We follow Phaedrus this time sailing to New York and Florida. He meets an interesting lady called Lila who joins him on his adventure but causes him trouble. He's an intellectual philosopher and she's an emotion...

Future predictions that have NOT come true ..... kind of. 'The Iron Heel' by Jack London is a dystopian novel with a heavy political undertone (maybe even overtone) that wrongly might be called science fiction. Starts in 1900 America and told from the point of view of Avis who is seduced from her privileged upper class world by Ernest Everhard and his socialist philosophy. Increasing tensions occu...

Future predictions that have come true ..... kind of. 'New Rules For The New Economy' by Kevin Kelly are 10 rules that he predicted would change the world just as the internet was coming of age. Most of these are related to networks, increasing adoption of technology and the ability for information to spread cheaply. He makes a lot of generalities that did indeed seem to predict massive trends lik...

What is Open Source and why is it changing the world? 'The Cathedral & The Bazaar' by Eric S. Raymond is a collection of essays describing the ethics, philosophy, history and implementation of the Open Source movement. As computer hardware became available to larger groups many wanted to play & tinker with their devices. Closed Source software (owned by companies) was restrictive so people...