Psychology – Page 9 – Ryan's Book Blog

What it is Like to Go to War

May 12, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in Sep of 2011, What it is Like to Go to War is a book about the psychological impacts of war and becoming a warrior. The author (a Vietnam veteran) makes the argument that we should do a much better job preparing our warfighters for what they will encounter in theater.

My Thoughts

Certainly, a thought-provoking book and one set in its day. It had been 10 years after the 911 era and the author draws a number of parallels to his time in Vietnam. The more I learn about that war and how our warfighters were treated, the sadder it becomes. It is interesting that the trend of remote war is becoming more and more prevalent as the Marines are deactivating their tanks and towed artillery batteries. There have been so many changes that it is only natural we won’t be able to adjust. Particularly, as we’ve all had a year of being sequestered from others. The term I hear most often these days is “resilience.” We say it is important but I’m not sure we know how to get there…

Recommendation

It is an important topic but the content is dated.

How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

May 4, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in April of 2020, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor is a study on the meditations of Marcus Aurelius and stoicism in general. The book guides you through the history of stoicism and through some of it’s main tenets.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book and it was a compelling read. I felt the author did a great job of going through the histories and linking them to the present day. I also enjoyed that the author had come to my University and one of my employees had filmed him talking about the book. So I got a little bonus.

Recommendation

Great read and worth the time

Embrace the Suck

May 3, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in December of 2020, Embrace the Suck is a book about taking on and overcoming the obstacles in life from the perspective of a former Navy SEAL.

My Thoughts

This was a decent read and pretty motivating. I felt he was a little over the top with some of his descriptions and language but I guess that’s par for the course. He had some practical applications which, had I followed them, would have made the read more impactful.

Recommendation

It was Ok

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates

April 6, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in November of 2015, Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates gives the story of one of America’s first conflict overseas. It details how we went from paying ransoms to fighting in our own self-defense putting us on to the world stage.

My Thoughts

This was a very interesting book. Given that I work with Marines, you would think I would have been more familiar with this story but there was a lot that surprised me. I knew we paid off the pirates to leave our ships alone until we were ready to defend ourselves but I didn’t know how close that struggle was or the real story. This was a pivotal moment in our history and could have gone very differently.

Recommendation

Great read. I highly recommend it.

The Iliad

April 2, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Tales as old as time… The Iliad, also known as the “Song of Ilium”, is an epic poem traditionally attributed to Homer in the 8th century BC. However, all of it is debatable. What isn’t debatable is it tells the story of the Trojan War, the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, the climatic fight between Achilles and Hector, and all the Greed gods causing issues.

My Thoughts

My first thought was the translation I had was hilarious in terms of the wording. “Bite the dust,” “hurly- burly,” and other such gems were fun to come across in the Trojan setting. There were several Roman crossovers as well, “Juno” rather than “Hera” and so on. The biggest stars of this book was really Zeus and the rest of the gods. Everything was blamed on them and they were in every detail. They were constantly fighting and picked sides in the conflict.

Recommendation

It was pretty underwhelming to read but so important to Western culture that it is worth the time.

Left of Bang

March 10, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2014, Left of Bang is the book outlining the ideas of the Combat Hunter program in the Marine Corps.

My Thoughts

A very interesting book but I believe the author is correct when he mentions how most people have already learned how to do this. I’ve had many conversations over the years with people who understand and who do not. When you’ve really been to a dangerous place, you tend to continue to be on alert. You continue to watch and observe. The Marines call this “situational awareness” and if they want extra attention put on it they say, “Put your head on a swivel!”

It is a hard concept to teach but a harder one two learn. To quote my old Sensai, “pain makes believers.” It has been interesting to see this program come and go in the Marine Corps.

Recommendation

I’m glad I read it but I’m not sure how much I got out of it. The biggest benefit was the jargon they used for the concepts they were illustrating.

A World in Disarray

March 6, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in January of 2017, A World in Disarray is a sobering view of geopolitics from Richard Haass who is an American diplomat and has been president of the Council on Foreign Relations since July 2003. The book outlines the major struggles and players of the world at the time President Trump came into office.

My Thoughts

As the book started, I thought this was very dated material. It is amazing how much has changed since early 2017. I think few people have really been paying attention of how the United States has moved throughout the international community during the Trump administration. There was real fear with Russia, North Korea, and China before he took office. While there are still issues there, we aren’t anywhere close to what existed as he took office.

That said, it is vital we keep looking back to history to instruct our steps forward. In our hyper-connected world, we seem to be so swayed in the thoughts and trends of the moment that we forget these roads have been traveled before. We can watch how they play out and it isn’t pretty.

I’m very interested to see where we go under the Biden administration. Will the world powers took to the United States for guidance? Will they the respect us? Fear us? Perhaps they will simply disregard us as we squabble over the ridiculous and eat ourselves alive with a runaway debt.

Recommendation

A great book and a snapshot of the times

How to Lead

January 6, 2021 by Ryan

Background

Published in September 2020, “How to Lead” is written by David Rubenstein, a successful business leader and philanthropist. The book offers practical advice and insights on leadership, drawing on Rubenstein’s own experiences as well as interviews with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields such as business, politics, and entertainment. The book covers a wide range of topics, including communication, decision-making, managing teams, and developing a personal leadership style. It also explores the qualities that make for effective leadership, such as vision, empathy, and resilience.

My Thoughts

The discussions were very interesting and I learned a lot. That said, there wasn’t much of a common thread in the interviews. The thoughts on success were as varied as the people that were interviewed. At least some had the courage to admit the role of luck in their success…

Recommendation

This was an interesting book but not a good one if you want to learn how to lead.

The Practice

December 31, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published in November of 2020, “The Practice” is a manual to get creative people building and doing the work. It outlines the difference between an amateur and a professional when it comes to their work.

My Thoughts

This book had my mind racing about what I could be doing and want to be more intentional with my time and talents. I really do believe that anyone can be good at something if they put the time in. However, to be really great… The book would have you believe it is all about the hours and I believe that is partially true. I agree with Tony Robbins that if you, “have a big enough why you will figure out the how.” That “why” gives you the passion to keep putting in the practice. Of course, a little talent wouldn’t hurt either…

Recommendation

Great book and worth the time.

Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets

December 30, 2020 by Ryan

Background

Published in October of 2020, “Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets” is a self-help book written by Andy Stanley, a renowned author and pastor. The book offers practical advice and guidance on decision-making, drawing on insights from psychology, neuroscience, and the author’s own experiences. Stanley argues that many people struggle with decision-making because they lack a clear framework for making choices and often base their decisions on emotion rather than reason. He offers a simple but powerful approach to decision-making that involves clarifying one’s core values, gathering relevant information, and considering the potential consequences of different options. The book also provides tips on overcoming common obstacles to good decision-making, such as indecision, fear, and a reluctance to admit mistakes.

My Thoughts

I liked the style of writing as he was self deprecating and approachable. There was a lot of wisdom packed in there and a lot of experience as he works with people as a pastor. One of the things that stuck out to me was the advise on waiting a year before any kind of dating after a divorce. I wonder where I would be now if I had followed that advice…

Recommendation

Great book to help you evaluate where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there.