Mindful Reading

A discussion on the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is more a journal of notes, quotes and sayings than a book. Written around 170 to 180 AD, as far as we know, it was not intended for publication, but rather it’s his own personal Stoic reflections on life - the somewhat raw thoughts of a Roman emperor, one of the most admired emperors of the ancient world, not because of his feats, but because of his character. In it we see him reflecting on the cardinal virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance; on how we were made as social beings, and how we were made to work and to work with one another; and on perception, from how we perceive fame and fortune to joy and pain, life and death.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson.Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson is a fable that teaches us, the subtitle suggests, “An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life”. The story is about four characters in a maze, and how they navigate the maze to find their cheese. There are two mice, Sniff and Scurry, who act instinctively without overanalyzing the situation, and then there are the two littlepeople, Hem and Haw, who are slow to act and overanalyze situations. We see how the different characters handle changing circumstances, and along with the main character Haw, we learn the lessons of how to better handle change.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle explains that much of human suffering comes from how we relate to our own thoughts and identify with them. Most people spend a large part of their time thinking about the past and future. Over time, this creates a constant mental “story” about who we are, what is wrong, and what needs to change. Tolle calls this mental identity the ego.The ego is not a separate thing inside us, but the sense of self that arises through identification with thoughts, memories, opinions, and personal history. When we believe this mental story is who we are, we become emotionally affected by it and often experience stress, fear, or dissatisfaction.Tolle contrasts this with what he calls “Being”, a deeper sense of awareness that is present when we are not lost in thought. This awareness is realized in the Now - the present moment that is always already here.The book presents the Now not as an idea to believe in, but as the only place where life is actually experienced, and the doorway to what Tolle calls inner peace or enlightenment.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book The Enchiridion by Epictetus.The Enchiridion, often translated as The Handbook, is a collection of teachings by Epictetus recorded and compiled by Arrian, one of Epictetus’s students. Epictetus was born a slave, his Greek name roughly meaning “acquired one.” After gaining his freedom, he became a well-known Stoic philosopher and teacher. One of the main themes of the Handbook is the distinction between what is “up to us” and what is not - often called the dichotomy of control. Epictetus teaches that understanding this difference, acting accordingly, and not being ruled by things outside our control are essential to a good life.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday.The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday explores how adversity can be transformed into opportunity. Structured around three disciplines - perception, action, and will - it draws on Stoic philosophy and historical examples to illustrate how great figures have faced challenges and turned them into a path forward.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book The Practice by Seth Godin.The Practice by Seth Godin is a book about shipping creative work. It argues that creativity is not something you’re born with but rather it’s something that comes from having a consistent disciplined practice, with a focus on generously shipping the work rather than keeping it to ones self. Elements of a healthy practice include trusting yourself, embracing constraints, creating for someone rather than everyone, and contributing rather than competing - all while accepting that certainty is a trap, creativity is a choice, and the outcome is merely a by-product of a practice that is, in itself, the reward.As Seth says, “The magic of the creative process is that there is no magic.”Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book The Lessons of History by Ariel Durant and Will Durant.The Lessons of History by the historians Ariel Durant and Will Durant. These lessons of history range from morals and character to religion and economics, put together by reflecting on their larger work, a series of books called “The Story of Civilization”. Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson.Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson is written in the style where each chapter is made up of a handful of mini articles, with the articles being about one and a half pages on average. There are about 90 of these mini articles, with each being a nugget of wisdom on how to rework work and run a business.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book Start With Why by Simon Sinek.Start With Why by Simon Sinek introduces The Golden Circle, an idea he developed while trying to understand why some marketing worked better than others. Over time, he realized the concept explained not just effective marketing, but how great leaders and organizations inspire action. The Golden Circle consists of three layers - Why, How, and What - with “why” at the center representing purpose or belief. Sinek illustrates the idea with examples from companies like Apple and Harley-Davidson, showing how those that “start with why” inspire loyalty and success. The book’s central message, reflected in its subtitle, is that great leaders inspire everyone to take action by starting with why.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book All About Love by bell hooks.All About Love by bell hooks is a call to return to love in a culture of lovelessness. It digs in to the difficulties of life and love through the lens of feminism. Touching on the importance of defining love clearly, on the importance of a love ethic, and how love is found in community and communion with others. She urges readers to forgo the alure of materialism, and rather to live simply, and by doing so, take a step forward in art of loving.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion on the book The Courage to be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro KishimiThe Courage to be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, is written as a Greek style dialog between a young man and a philosopher. The young man, dissatisfied with life, went to the philosopher to learn how, or even if, he could ever be happy. Over the course of five nights the philosopher walks the young man through the philosophy of Alfred Adler, a present-future goal oriented philosophy, referred to as teleology, and contrasts it with Sigmund Freud's philosophy, which he says is past oriented, referred to as aetiology.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy.The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy is a classic type of self-help book, being a mixture of motivational stories and a collection of Darren's techniques for achieving consistent success in work and life. The focus of the book is on how, if you apply his tips and techniques, you can achieve consistent progress, which will compound and end up in orders of magnitude better results. As he writes, "Nothing works like the power of the Compound Effect of simple actions done right over time. That is it."Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm.The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm argues that one of the core problems we face as humans is that of separateness. The solution, he suggests, is unity, achieved through love - not merely a feeling, but an art, the result of the active, productive orientation of one’s whole character. Fromm suggests that, as with any art, learning to love begins with understanding the theory, followed by mastering the practice. The book starts with the theory of love and concludes with steps toward mastering its practice.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book As a Man Thinketh by James Allen.As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is a book about how our thoughts shape our reality. To quote from the book, "This little volume...its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that - *They themselves are makers of themselves* by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance"Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman challenges the conventional approach to productivity and time management, arguing that the modern obsession with "getting everything done" is an attempt to control the uncontrollable. Instead, the book encourages readers to embrace their finitude. Burkeman suggests that much of our anxiety and feeling of being overwhelmed comes from our resistance to the fact that we can't do it all - we are limited by our finitude. Drawing on philosophical insights, the book advocates for a shift in perspective, urging us to prioritize what truly matters, accept that we cannot do everything, and find meaning in the present moment and in activities themselves, rather than solely in their outcomes. It's a call to move beyond the efficiency trap and build a more meaningful life by consciously choosing how to spend our limited time.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma.The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a fictional story about a man named Julian Mantle, a successful lawyer who faces death, from that, he realizes he needs to change his ways. Through a discussion with a friend John, Julian passes on the wisdom he gained on his personal odyssey. Along his journey, he encountered a wise sage in the Himalayas who tells him a fable. The fable has seven memorable moments, each moment a reminder of how to live a meaningful life.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a story about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago. It follows his mystical journey from being a shepherd with a dream, to traveling the world and encountering many people along the way, from bakers to thieves, gypsies to alchemists. It's a story about following your dreams and allowing your heart to guide you as you pursue an unknown treasure in a foreign land; only through that journey can you find the treasure that has been with you the entire time.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.Man's Search for Meaning is a book by Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist Viktor Frankl. The book looks at the suffering experienced in the concentration camps, and how finding meaning allows one to survive even the harshest of conditions. For Frankl, there are three sources of meaning: work (creating a work or doing a deed), love (experiencing something or encountering someone), and courage (the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering).He also looks at the three phases of camp life and the symptoms that accompany them: the period following admission (shock and denial), the period when one is well entrenched in camp routine (apathy and emotional death), and the period following ones release and liberation (reintegration and emotional disorientation). Frankl analyses each of these phases, discussing the stories he experienced in various camps, and how in those situations, some lose the will to meaning, while others hold on.In the closing third of the book, he discusses the school of psychotherapy that he founded - logotherapy. From the rich Greek word "logos", translated "word", "reason", or "meaning". It describes a therapeutic technique whose main focus is to help the patient regain their unique life's meaning, their "logos".Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Lessons in Stoicism by John Sellars.In the book Lessons in Stoicism, John Sellars takes one through some of the core teachings of Stoicism. He focuses on the works of the well known Stoics: Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Covering topics such as:* What is the philosopher’s role in life?* What is within our control?* How do we live in community?Ultimately, as with the Stoics, Sellars provides practical insights to help us cultivate virtue and lead more meaningful lives.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Do the Work by Steven Pressfield.Do the Work by Steven Pressfield, as with many of Steven's non-fiction books, is about battling Resistance. It's about how to do the work, and the the challenges Resistance will throw your way for any meaningful project. The book is broken into a beginning, middle, and an end - as Steven would recommend you do for your project.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday.Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday is a book about ego and all its dangers. It looks at how ego is the enemy throughout different stages in our lives such as when we aspire, when we succeed, and even when we fail. Through various stories and quotes these ideas are explored, and we see how ego leads to demise, with humility being the better option.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Range by David Epstein.Range explores the debate between generalists and specialists, examining why, as the subtitle suggests, “Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.” The book contrasts “kind” learning environments - where patterns are repetitive and predictable - with “wicked” environments, which mirror our everyday experience, filled with unpredictability and constant variation. Epstein connects these learning environments to how we approach achieving extraordinary outcomes. Contrary to the common belief that specialization is the key to success, Epstein repeatedly demonstrates that generalization often proves more valuable in the modern world.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

Essentialism by Greg McKeown presents a philosophy centered on the "disciplined pursuit of less." The book explores the mindset of an essentialist, then outlines a systematic approach for achieving this disciplined pursuit. The core components of this approach are to "explore," "eliminate," and "execute." As McKeown delves into each of these, he contrasts how a non-essentialist and an essentialist might approach the same situations, offering concrete examples to highlight their differences.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

Letters from a Stoic by Lucius Seneca is a collection of letters addressed to Lucilius, but intended for a public audience. The letters use different aspects of daily life to reflect on philosophical ideas - reflecting on those ideas through a Stoic lens.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

The Enchiridion was likely compiled by one of Epictetus's students and attributed to Epictetus himself - a prominent Stoic Philosopher in the Roman Empire.It is a famous book in the world of Stoic philosophy, a philosophy that focuses on self-control, particularly, controlling ones emotions in the face of adversity. The Stoics also emphasize living a life aligned with nature, which loosely equates to living a virtuous life characterized by the four virtues: wisdom, temperance, justice, courage.The Enchiridion, translated "The Handbook" or "Manual", is a collection of 53 short Stoic lessons meant to be referenced. An example is the opening line, "Some things are within our control, while others are not," commonly referred to as the dichotomy of control, which teaches that we should only let the things within our control affect us.*Side Note: Epictetus started off as a slave, and went on to become a prominent Stoic philosopher*Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

*Apologies for any rain noise that came through or distorted the audio.Slow Productivity by Cal Newport is about the philosophy of Slow Productivity, which in turn is about, as the subtitle suggests, "The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout". It looks at the structure of work over time, from hunter gatherers to modern knowledge workers, focusing on the foundations of how we came to a point where we're working frantically, on the edge on burnout. A point brought across in these early chapters is the idea that even though we both look and are busier throughout each day, we aren't actually achieving more - it's what he calls Pseudo-Productivity. The book then goes on to discuss three principles that encompass the philosophy of Slow Productivity: Do Fewer Things, Work at a Natural Pace, and Obsess Over Quality.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant looks at the many ways in which we can perform at a level higher than we thought possible. The book is broken into three main sections, skills of character, structures for motivation, and systems of opportunity. It looks at various scenarios and ties many of them to scientific studies to expand on how we can achieve greater things.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield has the subtitle, "break through the blocks and win your inner creative battles." It's about the war against what Pressfield calls resistance, a term that Pressfield pears at from many different angles, and exposes as the ultimate enemy. Beat resistance, and you win the war.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

Same as Ever was written by Morgan Housel, the author of The Psychology of Money. The book is a series of 23 short and timeless lessons on, as the subtitle says, "Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life". It looks at the natural cycles of history, and the lessons we can learn, while also focusing on the psychology of how humans act in the world.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

"How Emotions Are Made" is a book by Lisa Feldman Barrett, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and a neuroscience researcher. This book delves into Barrett's Theory of Constructed Emotions, offering a fresh perspective on how emotions are formed. Initially, the book presents the classical view of emotions, which suggests that emotions are simply reactions to external events. Something happens, and as a result, we feel a certain way. In the classical view, these emotions are thought to have distinct markers in the brain, akin to a "fingerprint". For example, it is often said that the amygdala is the center of fear.The book then goes on to discuss recent research that challenges this classical view, advocating for the Theory of Constructed Emotions. This theory proposes that emotions aren't mere reactions. Instead, they are complex predictions shaped by our past experiences and current context. According to this theory, we perceive and experience these predictions as reality, rather than experiencing the raw sensory input as reality. This theory suggests that our emotions, and even our perception of reality, are essentially a continuous flow of these constructed predictions.In the concluding chapters, Barrett explores the broad implications of this theory on various aspects of life, including health, law, and our general understanding of the world around us.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink.Jocko is a US Navy officer who served in the Navy SEALs. Through the SEALs training he learnt various fundamental principles of leadership, writing them down, codifying them, and putting them to the test in SEALs training and mission scenarios. Leadership Strategy and Tactics draws on this experience, teaching one how to deal with a wide variety of situations as a leader and as a subordinate, using examples from his SEALs experience.As the title suggests, it covers both strategies and tactics in leadership. Strategy is about the long term objectives, and tactics are for dealing with the immediate situation at hand.  Once having read through the book, one should have an idea of Jocko's core principles and tenets of leadership, as well as advice when dealing with specific situations as a leader - from a broad and a focused perspective. Finally, as the words "field manual" suggest, the book is intended to be used as reference material when dealing with various situations as a leader, and so while the chapters tie together nicely, it is also structured in short chapters dealing with specific advice, meaning, the chapters can be read individually when needing advice on a specific situation.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold BennettHow to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett was published in 1908. The book looks at the work day, and the time outside of that - what Bennett calls the day within a day. It claims that most view the day - especially during the work week - as simply the time from when you start work to when you end work. The time outside of that is often viewed as pointless time where one waits for the next day to begin. What makes this worse, Bennett says, is that the average person doesn't give their full effort to their work, so to miss out on the day within a day is even more tragic.Further than that, generally people don't know how to spend their spare time - and time, Bennett considers to be the most valuable of resources. There are lot's of books and articles on how to live on x dollars a day, but not how to live on 24 hours a day. This book aims to help people truly live on 24 hours a day - to spend your time wisely.The book goes on to discuss how people often have an underlying desire to do more with their life, but don't. People feel like they have things left undone that they will do when they have more time. It then goes on to give tips with how to approach ones day within a day, so as to fully live. Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake MastersZero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters is a book that looks at exactly that, going from zero to one. Specifically, going from something not existing to one existing."Doing what we already know how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But every time we create something new, we go from 0 to 1." pg. 1While most get lost in incremental improvement, Thiel focuses on creating the completely new. "Zero to One is about how to build companies that create new things." pg. 2The book looks at how monopolies and competition compare, and aims to show that monopolies are where the real value lies, both for companies and for end consumers. This is because while competition results in incremental improvement, creating something completely new is far more valuable. Competition leads to a war mentality, where monopolies lead to an abundance mentality. Monopolies - in the good sense - exist because they create something so good that others can't compete, and in doing so, monopolies are "powerful engines for making the world better." pg. 32Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book The Last Arrow by Erwin Raphael McManusThe Last Arrow by Erwin McManus book begins with the biblical story in 2 Kings 13, where Elisha tells King Jehoash to strike the ground with his arrows, so he strikes 3 times, and then, stops. As the story goes on we find out that he stopped striking the ground too early, had he continued to strike the ground till his arrows were done, he would've had victory over the Arameans, but instead they will now only wound them.This story is the reference for the book, as McManus looks at the different areas of life, motivating us to keep going until we have nothing left, until we've given it everything we have, until we've used up our last arrow."My intention for this book is that you would never surrender, that you would never settle, that you would save nothing for the next life." pg. xi"This book has one intention: that whether you win or lose, succeed or fail, live a life of celebrity or anonymity, that when you take your last breath, you will know without reservation that you have given everything you have, everything you are, to the life you have been entrusted with." pg. 28Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book How to Think by Alan JacobsHow to Think by Alan Jacobs is a book in which Alan thinks about thinking. What is thinking? How do we do it well? And where does it go wrong?The book looks at how we classify people and ideas, and how those classifications shape how we think; It looks at the words and metaphors we use, and how they too shape the way we think; It looks at the limitations of our thinking, and the hopes we have for improving our ability to think - hard as that might be. And finally, it looks at the pleasures and dangers of thinking.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Deep Work by Cal Newport.Deep Work by Cal Newport is divided into two parts, the first part is titled "The Idea", and goes on to explain the difference between deep work and shallow work:"Deep Work: Professional activity performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate." (pg. 3)As opposed to "Shallow Work: Noncognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. These efforts tend to not create much new value in the world and are easy to replicate." (pg. 6)Part 1 looks at convincing the reader that deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful. Through doing this, Cal is building a case for the Deep Work Hypothesis, the hypothesis is: "The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a result, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive." (pg. 14)The second part of the book titled "The Rules", shifts it's focus to a set of four rules aimed at helping one develop the ability, habits, and mental strength to do deep work, those rules are Work Deeply, Embrace Boredom, Quit Social Media, and Drain the Shallows. Then for each of these rules, he discusses a set of strategies to help you stick to the rule. By cultivating the ability to do deep work, one is able to take advantage of the Deep Work Hypothesis, that is, those who cultivate the skill of deep work will thrive in the information economy.The ultimate goal of this book is to develop ones ability to go deep. pg. 71Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed.Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed at it's core is about learning from failure. In aviation there is the idea of a black box, these are systems installed in planes that continually gather all kinds of information about the aircraft and its crew - from the altitude of the plane to the words spoken in the cockpit. In the event of failure, an abnormal landing or even a crash. The information gathered by the black box is analyzed to try and understand what went wrong. Rather than blaming this or that, the culture in aviation is one of learning from failure and improving based on what was learnt. In large part, it is this culture that is responsible for the incredible safety standards commercial aviation has today. This is where the book, Black Box Thinking, gets its name.It covers a diverse set of stories about various people, industries, companies, policy makers, and more, looking at the different ways they deal with failure. There are those that repeat mistakes because they fear failure or can't face the reality of failure due to some traumatic circumstance - these are generally people with a fixed mindset, stuck in a closed loop system, not allowing feedback from the outside world, especially not allowing feedback from failure, and so not learning from those failures, repeating the same mistakes over and over. Then there are those are willing to learn from failure, taking in feedback, and adapting over time - these are generally people with a growth mindset, they are in open loop systems, systems that accept that failure is a normal part of life, take the feedback from failure, then learn and improve.The books key insight is that success, even high performance, doesn't come from being a gifted genius, but from a willingness to repeatedly learn from failure, making marginal improvements that compound over time.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book The Psychology of Money by Morgan House.As the title suggests, the book is about the psychology of money, and as the subtitle suggests, it goes through timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness. The book looks at how people think about money, how they feel about money, how they spend it or don't, the idea of status and money, greed, the rational and irrational things people do with and for money, and much more related to the psychology of money.But mostly, it's about how we behave in relation to money, as it says on page 2, "The premise of this book is that doing well with money has a little to do with how smart you are and a lot to do with how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people."The author goes on to say, "...financial success is not a hard science. It's a soft skill, where how you behave is more important that what you know." (pg. 4) This soft skill, he calls "the psychology of money". And so, in 20 chapters, based on the original report he wrote of the same title (The Psychology of Money), the book gives a series of short stories and examples, in which the author is trying to convince you that soft skills are more important than the technical side when it comes to money.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Effortless by Greg McKeown.Effortless, as it says on the cover, is about making it easier to do what matters most. Put differently, making it easier to do the essential things, and hard to do the pointless. The book looks at various situations where people take the difficult path and various situations where people take the effortless path. In some sense, the books claim is that often, we equate success with working hard and working endless hours, but, it doesn't have to be that way. As the title of the introductory chapter says, "not everything has to be so hard", in other words, often, there is an effortless way. Whether that's solving a challenging problem, generating wealth, or dealing with the difficulties of being human; "not everything has to be so hard".The book is split into three parts:Part 1: Effortless State - "How can we make it easier to focus?"How can we get into that effortless state? Think along the lines of what many know as the flow state. Where we don't feel like we're continually fighting an uphill battle, but rather we feel we're in the flow state - "rested, at peace, and focused". pg. 15Part 2: Effortless Action - "How can we make essential work easier to do?"How can we make the work we do, the actions, effortless? Where it's easy to do what matters. It's "about simplifying the process to make the work itself easier to do." pg. 17Part 3: Effortless Results - "How can we get the highest return on the least effort?"How can we make it effortless to get results? That is, getting results without continued effort, these results are what Greg calls residual results - think along the lines of automation and compound interest. We should use leavers that give us leverage to get residual results. There are various levers, 5 of which are: learning, teaching, automating, trusting, and preventing. The effortless results section looks at those leavers.Those are the three main parts of the book, and lastly, to end the introduction, here is a sentence and a story that sum up the book well:The sentence goes: "Of course, you can't make everything in your life effortless, but you can make more of the right things less impossible - then easier, then easy, and ultimately effortless" pg. 19And the story goes, "Discovering the effortless way of living is like using special polarized sunglasses while fly-fishing. Without them, the glare on the water makes it difficult to see anything swimming below the surface. But as soon as you put them on, their angled surface filters out the horizontal light waves coming off the water, blocking the glare. Suddenly, you can see all the fish underneath. When we're accustomed to doing things the hard way, it's like being blinded by the glare coming off the water. But once you start putting these ideas into practice you will start to see that the easier way was there all along, just hidden from your view." pg. 17-18Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com

A discussion of the book Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller.Attached is about understanding the three different attachment styles - anxious, avoidant, and secure. With the anxious people usually being anxious about the state of the relationship, the avoidant people usually avoiding the relationship when things get too close, and the secure being those who are stably committed to the wellbeing of the other. The book covers a number of real world cases, examples, and studies to explore how people act when attached to a partner in a romantic relationship. It tries to help you understand your attachment style, as well as the attachment styles of others, with the note that often based on our attachment style, we act in remarkably predetermined ways. It also tries to help one understand the constructive and destructive patterns that play out in the various attachment styles, as well as when those attachment styles interact.Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulreading.substack.com