The Road to Character by David Brooks

“wisdom isn’t a body of information. It’s the moral quality of knowing what you don’t know and figuring out a way to handle your ignorance, uncertainty, and limitation.” David Brooks

This books studies and shares insights into what builds solid character. As David suggests this book is less about creating resume virtues and more so about creating eulogy virtues. The legacy of one’s life will be praised and remembered not for their successes but more so for their character. This book is not written to inspire and highlight success strategies, it is written for the fundamental purpose to inspire and highlight why character is paramount.

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Brooks views on the modern age is that many of us are driven by individualistic pursuits characterised by a desire for success. This nature he refers to is the Adam 1 that exists within all of us, some more predominantly so than others. The other nature is that of Adam 2, driven with desire to obtain and embody greater moral qualities. (more…)

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Wilink and Leif Babin.

“Implementing Extreme Ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.” Jocko Willink

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We are all leaders in life and while some of us may have been trained more extensively than others we can all become effective leaders. It is a matter of learning leadership principles and then constantly putting them into practice. Day by day in every way you will get better. (more…)

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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

“none of these things exists outside the stories that people invent and tell one another. There are no gods in the universe, no nations, no money, no human rights, no laws and no justice outside the common imagination of human beings.” Yuval Noah Harari

This is perhaps the most inspiring, thought provoking read of my life. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian specialising in world history, military history and medieval history. In this book he combines biology and history to give interesting perspective as to who we are.

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He highlights where we’ve been using history, why as it relates to our biology and to where we are heading. The meaning of life and happiness. Thoughts that could be considered controversial, bold and on the edge but certainly will get you thinking in new ways. I loved it! (more…)

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Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Milburn

“Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.” Hosea Ballou.

I like these guys and I love the message they share. Creating a minimalist lifestyle. A life that removes the clutter and chaos and in doing so allowing us to act and exist more purposefully as we wish in life.

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The concept when understood will chip away the edges of complexity, remove the boundaries and limitations placed on us by overwhelm and clutter, and allow us to navigate a more beautiful journey in life – one of freedom, fulfilment and happiness. (more…)

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The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday & Hanselman

“The only thing that isn’t worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don’t.” Marcus Aurelius

Stoicism, an ancient Greek school of philosophy, a beautiful operating system for life. Philosophy is an attitude and a guiding principle of behaviour in life. In many ways philosophy is about asking questions, seeking truth so to live as best we can with greater ease. Principles that can improve wisdom, perseverance and the art of living.

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I believe that life is simple yet complex. I say this because there is not one formula nor is there one discipline of study that should be the basis of how we live our life. (more…)

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Make Peace with Your Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Your Inner Critic by Mark Coleman

“With mindfulness, we can be with the experience in more immediate way. When we find ourselves flooded with an emotion that’s come after the judgement, we’ve often missed the very judgment that triggered the emotion.” Mark Coleman

More mindfulness anyone? It plagues books these days and for that I am a big fan. I don’t think we can get enough. Either we control the mind or it controls us. The one place we have full control yet I wonder how well do we exercise that control. The mind becomes what it sees and believes. The mind sets our reality. An unobserved mind that runs wild and free may be less conducive to creating the reality we truly desire.

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Mark Coleman is a mindfulness teacher and wilderness guide. In an interview I did with him he shared a practice that he calls the meandering meditation. (more…)

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Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris

“The fact that one can lose one’s sense of self in an ocean of tranquility does not mean that one’s consciousness is immaterial or that it presided over the birth of the universe.” Sam Harris

Another fascinating and insightful read of the year. Sam Harris is the author of five New York Times best sellers including this one and writes on the topics of neuroscience, religion, meditation, politics and philosophy. He also has a kick-ass podcast that was introduced to me by a friend that has become a bit of a favourite.

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Sam Harris is deep and very knowledgeable. If I am honest much of what he talks about is over and beyond my simplistic mind but when I do manage to handle his language and thoughts I am inspired beyond which words can’t describe – speechless!

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Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

‘The desire to win and passion for what you’re doing. Nothing happens without passion and desire.” Malcolm Gladwell

An inspiring and insightful read about what makes success. Malcolm Gladwell wrote this book out of his own personal frustrations. He was tired of the overly simple explanation of what makes someone or something a success. In his words the successful are noted as being so because, “they’re really smart,” or “they’re really ambitious.” The desire was to search deeper for the real truth.

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An outlier is a person or thing that is detached from the main body or system. A movie that is incredibly successful despite a low budget and unknown director. (more…)

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Teach and Grow Rich: Share Your Knowledge to Create Global Impact, Freedom and Wealth by Danny Iny

“If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.” Richard Branson

This book is about the exciting opportunity of tapping into and profiting from the online educational space. For entrepreneurs or even existing educators that would like to take their courses offline and transform them into online courses you may find value within.

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The first half of the book is insightfully about education in general and the changing nature of this space. It views the pros and cons of traditional education versus online education. I found some of the perspectives and facts fascinating. While I am very pro education in general I feel there are vast improvements that can be made in both.

Here was one interesting insight Danny shared about college education.

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The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

“The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can’t extinguish bad a habit, you can only change it.” 

This is such a well-researched read. Insights that will be sure to inspire. Charles Duhigg is an award winning reporter for the New York Times and author of Smarter Faster Better, a book about productivity which now I must also read.

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Duhigg has helped me understand habits. Why they exist and how I can go about changing them. What’s more is that in understanding habits I not only get insight into my behaviours but also why others behave in certain way. This is good for leadership, influence, and business.

If you want to know why you are not getting the desired results in what you pursue understanding behaviours and habits may give you some great clues.

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