Mere Mortals Book Reviews

In this bonus episode Juan goes through some of his favourite quotes and learnings from Steven Pressfield's 'The War of Art'. This is supplementary to his main book review, which can be found in the link below. Although it is a relatively short book, there is a bounty of quotes and beautiful language contained within. Juan found that many of these were great for keeping him motivated and on track with his goals related to business and fitness. That's it for today, Mere Mortals out!
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:45) - Homer's 'Odyssey' and invoking of 'The Muse'(2:57) - Resistance is the enemy within(5:30) - It is one thing to study war, quite another to live the warrior life(8:27) - The supreme virtue is the contempt for death
'The War of Art' book review - https://youtu.be/y_ZJY_yuIRw
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Do you find yourself procrastinating and unable to overcome the negative self-talk of why you can't do something great? 'The War Of Art' is a fabulous kick in the pants by Steven Pressfield. In this book he explains his concept of 'Resistance', which is essentially the force that stops one from achieving the internal desire of creating and accomplishing something. It is similar to procrastination but he talks about it in a way that makes it easier to understand and overcome. The book is split into 3 sections on this topic and explains Pressfield's own methods of 'invoking the muse' and the mindset required to constantly combat 'Resistance'.
Juan had this to say about the book. "It did prove to me that as I read on and on (as Kyrin suggested), by the tail end of the book I was consuming it as fast as possible in a way that I just wanted to get stuck into it. By the end I really really enjoyed it. So for me it was an 8/10."
If you'd like to support us and grab the book - make sure you use this link! https://amzn.to/3hTbmoQ
Timeline:(0:00) - Intro and background(1:46) - Themes: defining 'Resistance'(4:18) - Combating 'Resistance' & turning pro(5:20) - Beyond 'Resistance' & the higher realm(7:56) - Key takeaway: difference between the hierarchical vs territorial mindset
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
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How much can one man endure while fulfilling his personal obligations to family/society?

'The Age of Innocence' was published in 1920 and one year later Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. Her book is set in the 1870's and follows the personal dramas of high society New York, centring around the love triangle between Newland Archer, his fiancée May Welland and her captivating, enigmatic cousin Ellen Olenska.

I summarised the book as follows. "I was somewhat surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book. Drama and interpersonal relations don't tend to draw me in but I actually resonated quite a lot with Newland and his predicament. The book explores themes of social class, breaking taboo's and where an individual's happiness is acceptable in light of the obligations/duties owed to his society and family."

I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!

Timeline:
(0:00) - Background & synopsis
(2:43) - Social class: doesn't make someone 'better'
(8:13) - Mixing duty/obligation with love
(13:24) - Is intense, fiery love sustainable?
(16:16) - Personal observations
(20:02) - Summary & pragmatic takeaway

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“The Fourth Age not only discusses what the rise of A.I. will mean for us, it also forces readers to challenge their preconceptions. And it manages to do all this in a way that is both entertaining and engaging.” —The New York Times
Juan tackles the book The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity by Byron Reese. This book proved to be a great read if you want to think about AI and machines from a primal basis, based on the way we might think of our universe at large.
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and overview(0:35) - How deep does the rabbit hole go in the book(2:20) - The Fourth Age(3:25) - The three key questions(5:45) - Trying to emulate a nematode's brain
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
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In today's bonus episode we have some additional notes taken by Kyrin while reading Plato's 'Republic'. These expand upon some of the deeper themes encountered in the book and there were not covered in the previously released episode of the actual book review. These include: Kyrin's personal opinions on 'justice' and the treatment it received in the dialogues, game theory and how modern knowledge and techniques can be applied to age old questions and the defects in Socrates' arguments as well as some of his faulty assumptions.
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:53) - Justice is the repayment of debts(4:28) - Justice is the interest of the stronger(12:38) - Game theory applied to justice(15:05) - Thoughts on Socrates(16:58) - Faulty assumptions & ethical qualms(23:23) - Summary of the chapters(26:25) - An intriguing book
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What is the experience of reading English literature in Spanish? 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' is the classic fictional account of carefree youth in the American antebellum south. We follow Tom and his faithful companions through adventures of piracy, playing hooky and finding buried treasure. The book evokes the childlike naivety/innocence that we all once experienced as well as the superstitions and simple mindedness of the people in the American south.
Kyrin had this to say of the tale. "I read the translated Spanish version of this book and the iconic Mark Twain style still resonates throughout. He is amazingly witty and the storytelling from scene to scene is superb. I highly enjoyed the adventures and also gained more respect of Samuel Clemens after learning about his own adventures through his life. A superb book written by a superb human being!"
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and overview(2:20) - Childlike naivety and innocence(5:24) - Superstitions and simple mindedness(11:22) - Reading Mark Twain in Spanish(13:58) - Amazing storytelling and an amazing person(16:39) - A superb book(17:02) - Pragmatic takeaway: become a doer
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
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How does one become a 'Philosopher King'? Plato's 'Republic' is one of the seminal works of philosophy and one that has had a tremendous impact on critical thought and culture. It follows Socrates as he converses with friends and interlocutors on the purpose of defining the nature of 'justice'. As part of his argument, Socrates develops the concept of a perfect 'Republic' led by his Philosopher Kings. Another famous cultural icon to emerge from the book was his allegory of the cave (Plato's Cave), a way to describe the effect of education and seeking higher knowledge.
Kyrin had this to say about 'Republic': "It was hugely influential and a pivotal book that requires attention and work. This isn't the sort of book that you can read flippantly and think that you've got it. For me it was largely not enjoyable but did provoke some insights. I feel this is one of those books you need to read a couple of times to really delve into all of its themes."
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction & synopsis(2:17) - The nature of 'justice'(5:07) - Philosopher Kings and finding the true reality(7:43) - The 5 types of regimes(10:25) - Personal observations(14:14) - Summary(15:18) - Pragmatic takeaway: compassion
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
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If you enjoy long, boring, tedious, conversation filled books, then look no further. 'Sons And Lovers' is the fictional story of a lower class English family living in the 19th century. It revolves largely around Gertrude Morel's two sons (William & Paul) and their unsatisfying relationships due to their overbearing mother. Her prolonged estrangement from her husband and vicarious living through her sons ultimately ends in a ruinous end for the whole family.

I summarised the book as follows. "I take full responsibility for my lack of enjoyment and even the harshness of this review. After reading 10% I pretty much knew that this book had very little to offer me, but I stuck through it for the sole purpose of achieving my arbitrary yearly goal of reading 50 books. I found the writing overly descriptive and honestly think the same result could have been achieved in half the pages. Not my favourite book and one of the worst reviews I have given out in the past year."

I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!

Timeline:
(0:00) - Intro & upcoming changes
(1:10) - Synopsis
(5:18) - Stifled ambition & vicarious living
(8:25) - Asexuality; divorcing the soul from the physical
(14:09) - Evocative and enchanting scenery
(14:47) - Interactions between the characters
(18:05) - A long, boring, tedious book
(18:50) - Pragmatic outcome; no book goals

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Is there a price for everlasting life? 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker is the origin story of the most famous vampire in literary and movie culture. We follow Dr Van Helsing and other intrepid heroes on their mission to destroy the undead creature after his relocation from Transylvania to London in the pursuit of fresh victims. The story evokes our fear of the unknown and the everyday qualities of normal people who transform into heroes.
Kyrin had this to say of his reading experience. "It was great to read the original source material of the infamous Count Dracula and see just how different he has become in the modern cultural scene. It really is a masterful story and the character development is wonderful to behold. Personally I don't enjoy the gothic/scary genre so much but I was able to appreciate where the legend came from."
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and overview(2:57) - That which we fear is the unknown(4:23) - A hero voluntarily faces their fears(6:04) - Natural laws and the desire for immortality(8:22) - Personal observations(10:36) - In summary; a masterful story(11:28) - Pragmatic takeaway: research origin stories
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
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How would your perspective change in the world of the giants or amongst the little people? 'Gulliver's Travels' is the classic 18th century travel adventure by Jonathan Swift. The book follows Lemuel Gulliver across his four adventures in strange lands amongst strange people. It deals with contrasting perspectives changed by viewpoint, the different types of government and the practicality of misanthropy.
Kyrin had this to say of the book. "I found the book to be more enjoyable and thought provoking in hindsight. Unfortunately the actual reading experience is dampened by the outdated satire and old English language. Nevertheless it contains some real gems, highlighting why it has become a enduring classic for nearly 300 years."
Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(2:08) - Synopsis of the four adventures(4:04) - Contrasting perspectives changed by viewpoint(7:51) - No form of government will be perfect(9:32) - Can misanthropy be useful?(11:55) - Personal observations(15:12) - Summary and pragmatic takeaway
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
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