An unusual episode for Book Club; the latest book was "Surrounded By Idiots" by Thomas Erikson. Some controversy was discovered around the book and the author upon further reading and this episode is a wild conversation regarding what we found.

Moral of the story: if something helps you be a better person, stick with it, even if it is kind of nonsense. 

We hold ourselves to extraordinarily high standards in this day and age. We set a high bar for ourselves with work, hobbies, health, and more. If you're someone like me, you may be unkind to yourself when you fall short of your goals. Madeleine Dore tackles the productivity guilt struggle in her book "I Didn't Do The Thing Today" and shares rich insight to help navigate the bumps we all face in life that get in the way of our goals. 

One of the most notable Stoic Philosophers was a Roman Emperor named Marcus Aurelius. His life and decision making  exemplified Stoic Values and is dissected by Donald Robertson in "How To Think Like A Roman Emperor." Learn what values Stoic Philosophers teach and practice and how the most powerful man in the world at the time used them himself.

Follow J.L. Collins' practical wisdom in his book "The Simple Path to Wealth." Whether you prioritize having "F-You Money" or more time on your hands to do what is most important to you, Collins shares practical steps you can take today to get there.

True belonging is something you carry with you, not something you achieve. It is being your authentic self whether everyone around you is with you or not. Discover how to feel true belonging and gain courage to stand along in Brene Brown's book, "Braving The Wilderness." 

Robert Greene breaks down the complexity that is Power in his book, "The 48 Laws of Power." Power is amoral and is explicated as such in this book. Follow along to learn how to gain, observe, and defend against Power. 

Jay Shetty shares what he learned from his time spent as a Monk in his book, "Think Like A Monk". After his dedicated time, he now works to spread the wisdom that monks develop; specifically, how to experience deep peace and purpose in every day life. 

For those of you seeking early financial freedom, Scott Trench breaks down the necessary steps in his book, "Set For Life." If you want to reclaim your time to focus on things that are most important to you, or to simply be more lazy (although I find it paradoxical that anyone who wants financial freedom will work for it just to be lazy), follow this discussion on how to get ahead.

Ever wonder why people can't get along? Why religion and politics are so divisive? "The Righteous Mind" by moral psychologist Jonathan Heidt takes us through a comprehensive understanding of where human morality originates, why it divides us, and what we can do to work better together.

"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle is a powerful elaboration on how to find peace in this life.