Two Dudes Review Books

Jason and Dylan review Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Dr. Michael Norton. This book contains many science-backed insights about how to spend your money to maximize happiness. Some of the results are very counter-intuitive! Many people think they want more choices or that they will be happier if they get to enjoy something right after they pay for it, but that is not what the science tells us. Join our hosts Jason and Dylan as they talk through the tips in the book and find out what success or failures our hosts have when it comes to their own Happy Money.

The Author of The Next Conversation, Lawyer Jefferson Fisher, does not use all the latest in research psychology to analyze and perfect his conversational technique and advice.  Instead, he uses his years of experience as a litigator and presents his lessons from the school of hard knocks in a heartfelt and interesting way.  He presents plenty of personal examples and stories to go along with excellent tips and techniques you can use in your next conversation.  Join us a we check it out!

This book has some surprising ways of linking Stoic Philosophy back to how we can live the good life in the modern era.  The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins is a great take on an ancient idea: people will sometimes do things you do not like.  Why not just let them?  Most of the things that happen around us, including the actions of other people, are outside our control.  The Let Them Theory helps us identify those things and put them in the proper perspective so we can let them make their mistakes while we let ourselves be the best we can be.  Join us!

Jason and Dylan review a book from Ryan Holiday's Virtue Series: Right Thing Right Now: Justice in an Unjust World.  Among other things, this book examines how the blurring of the line between what is legal and what is right is contributing to the erosion of society.  But is also brings hope by highlighting what we can do ourselves to bring just a little justice to a world that sometimes seems to care so little about it.  Join us!

Jason and Dylan review a book with a surprisingly strong connection to education.  Culture By Design walk us through the process of establishing a culture in any organization, from our families to workplaces and beyond,  Join us as we discuss the process!

Jason and Dylan review the 2020 edition of Berne Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection.  The book examines how accepting ourselves and being authentic can lead us away from shame and into a more fulfilling life through a series of guideposts.  Join us!

Jason and Dylan take a bit of a break from self-help and Stoicism to review What If?  This book explores important questions about living a fulfilling life, such as can a steak be properly cooked by re-entering the atmosphere like a meteorite?  Could you make a functional jetpack from an AK-47?  If everyone has a single soulmate, what are the chances that you would find them?  These and many other critical questions await in What If? by Randall Munroe.  Join us!

What does "leaders eat last" even mean?  It's a concept in the military where military leaders put themselves at the end of the chow line to ensure those under their command get properly fed.  Leaders who do this embody the notion that leadership comes with responsibility to take care of those under their command.  Simon Sinek unpacks this and other leadership attitudes and practices which ensure members of an organization or group feel safe and able to be highly productive. Jason and Dylan review Simon Sinek's book, Leaders Eat Last.

Jason and Dylan review the grandaddy of the "self-help" genre, updated for a new generation of leaders.  It was the first in the genre, but is it worth your time?  Have books around personal growth really come so far as to leave it behind?  Jason and Dylan discuss Dale Carnegie's influential book and the changes in the new edition.

SMART goals have permeated our personal and professional lives.  But somehow, even if you do everything right, SMART goals often lack the motivational boost we hope they will provide.  How are HARD goals different than SMART goals?  How can we use the principles behind HARD goals to amplify our own goals or our processes for goal-setting we use as leaders?  Jason and Dylan break down HARD Goals by Mark Murphy.