Psychology – Page 9 – Ryan's Book Blog

What Makes a Marriage Last

November 5, 2020 by Ryan

Background

This compilation of marriage advice was published in May of 2020 just as we were settling into our pandemic lockdowns. Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue interview the famous who somehow managed to avoid divorce throughout their storied careers.

My Thoughts

It took me a few days to get through it. Not because it was hard to read or wasn’t interesting but rather, it caused me to stop and think about things in my own marriage and circumstances for a bit. My poor wife had to endure me giving her bits of advice I had picked up from the book.

This book wasn’t really a deep dive into marital psychology. It was sort of like your great aunt giving you advice on your wedding day. You realize it is likely good to know but until you’ve had some experience, it doesn’t really seem to apply. I’ve spent over 20 years being married so I was listening a bit better this time around.

Recommendation

I liked the book and it was worth the time to read. However, I’d imagine those of you who can name more YouTubers than celebrities likely won’t have any idea who most of the people are (including the authors).

The Leadership Challenge

October 25, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2017, this book helps the aspiring leader along in their journey. Can leadership be taught or are you born with it? For this book, the answer is it is something you can learn.

My Thoughts

This was a good book that put some science into what I thought of as common sense. It was a good reminder on several fronts and a wake up call on several others. I believe I am a better leader due to reading this book.

Recommendation

It was a good book on the subject of leadership.

Countdown to 1945

October 23, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published October of 2020, Chris Wallace writes about the development and the use of the atom bomb. He takes us through the process of the arms race and tells the story from multiple people and their points of view.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed the book. Chris Wallace didn’t spend a lot of time giving his opinion, rather he told the story from what others had written about their personal thoughts and insights. I also thought the addition of the survivors from Hiroshima gave good depth to the story.

Recommendation

I think this story is an important one to get our collective minds around. It was worth the read.

China’s Great Wall of Debt

October 1, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2018, this book talks about how China has backed themselves into a corner and how the author really didn’t see a good way forward for them.

China's Great Wall of Debt — China’s Great Wall of Debt

My Thoughts

If true, this was a very disturbing book. The notion that China was on the edge as much as it seemed could have huge ramifications in the near future. This is particularly true with the COVID-19 pandemic going on now.

Recommendation

I’m on the fence with this one

Brave New World

June 25, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Originally published in 1932, Brave New World is one of the first dystopian novels and has been the subject of discussion for almost 90 years. Set in some distant future, people are encouraged to forgo their family ties and live only for the good of the whole. They are conditioned to be obedient to authority and are encouraged to pursue cheap pleasures to distract them from anything uncomfortable. They use drugs whenever they feel any need to question or just want to escape. They are repeatedly told, “Everyone is happy” and everyone acts that way or they might have to see the psychologists…

A “savage” from the Indian reservation in Arizona is brought to this world. He was raised by the “old” beliefs of family, religion, and individuality. He finds their world strange but they find him even more so.

My Thoughts

This book effectively makes the argument of there being no real happiness simply by pursuing pleasure and suppressing pain. One can’t know the good from the evil if there is no concept of either. It is particularly interesting to put this work in the context of history as “the war to end all wars” had concluded, the Bolshevik Revolution had occurred and Stalin ran unchecked. The discussions on what constituted an ideal society were being had everywhere and nations were starting to become entrenched in their doctrine.

The book was ahead of its time in many ways. There are some dated references but it could have easily been passed off as something written 50 years later or more. As American society is trending more populist, it is very interesting to read the words of those who went before. Can we learn from the past or do we even bother to listen since so many people give their “revisionist histories” these days.

Recommendation

An important book. It’s worth the time to read it but you may have to plow through sections.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

May 30, 2020 by Ryan

Background

7 Habits of Highly Effective People is likely the best-known book in personal development in the world. Originally published in 1989, it hit all the top seller’s lists and spawned a whole market of spinoffs. The book is meant to be a reference material to be accessed repeatedly rather than a book that is read from cover to cover.

My Thoughts

This is a great book and I have gotten a lot out of it. I get more out of it the more I really sit down and try to apply what it says. This time around, I moved my planning to a weekly basis. I think it is help.

Recommendation

Always a great read and I highly recommend it.

The 5 Love Languages

May 20, 2020 by Ryan

Background

First published in 1992, this book became a best-seller both in English and in several other languages. You’ve likely heard of this book because everyone has heard of this book. The author explains how we all give and accept love differently and it is worth the time and effort to learn your partner’s “love language” if you want them to feel loved.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed the book and put it to instant use. My sweet wife knew something was up as soon as I started but she seemed happy regardless.

Recommendation

Everyone who is in a long term relationship should read this book!

Sapiens

March 15, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2014, “Sapiens” is written by historian Yuval Noah Harari that offers a sweeping overview of the history of humankind. Harari traces the evolution of our species from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to the present day, exploring how we became the dominant species on the planet, how our ability to create myths and shared beliefs allowed us to build complex societies and cooperate on a massive scale, and how our technological advancements have fundamentally altered the course of human history. The book challenges readers to think deeply about what it means to be human and offers insights into the ways in which our species has both succeeded and failed in the pursuit of happiness, meaning, and progress.

My Thoughts

What I enjoyed most about the book was that the author would present different sides of each point. For example, he started talking about the utopian concept of the prehistoric hunter gather life being better and fuller than life today. When he started down that path I remember thinking, “here we go”. However, he then balanced the comments with the perspectives of utilitarianism, stoicism, and the concepts of suffering as the Buddhists understand it.

I found some of it to be over generalized but I felt it was a good overview of the main topic.

Recommendation

This work would be a good primer for sociology or psychology classes.

Digital Minimalism

February 23, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2019, Digital Minimalism is a call to remember what life is about and is an attempt to help people live their lives with more intention.

My Thoughts

Really, I think a lot of his ideas were pretty good and a lot was overblown. I arranged around my apps on my phone so I wouldn’t be as tempted to grab it and look all the time. I also got rid of my games. Surprisingly, I found myself looking for them a couple of times already…

Still, the goal is a good one. How to live our lives with some idea of what we are trying to accomplish is a good thing. Folks not just wasting time is a good thing too. However, I enjoy the distractions as well.

Recommendation

A good book, particularly if you are trying to justify not giving your teen a smart phone.

The Reader

January 30, 2020 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 1995, “The Reader” captured enough attention to be made into a movie in 2008. It is the story of an ex-Nasi prison guard the life she tried to live after the war and the young man who fell for her.

My Thoughts

My thoughts are all over the place on this one. It was suggested to me by a helpdesk lady when I was asking about books to read. When I started the book, I was so racy I thought, “Was she coming on to me?” (Easy now Mrs. Robinson!) However, then I got further into the book… Fortunately there was no come on.

This was a pretty dark book which explores the inner psyche of someone who was forced to do something terrible, didn’t know what to do and was forced to live with it. We studied several studies in college which seem to show that most of us are capable of some pretty terrible stuff if we are put in certain circumstances.

Recommendation

I’m mixed on this. This was one of those books that we should probably read because it forces us to think. However, it will be very disturbing to some.