Self Help

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!

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.

Background

The power of habit was published in 2012 and outlines habits as consisting of three elements: a cue, a routine, and a reward. It gives some history as to when these principalities started being used by companies and gave some ideas as to how they are being used today.

The book also spends some time discussing how someone can change their own habits.

My thoughts

In general, I liked the book. I think some concepts were forced into the theory put forward but on the whole, It seemed like it was well written and gave some good ideas about how to go about change in life.

Recommendation

Not a bad book.

Background

This is a book about coping with Attention Deficit Disorder both as a child and as an adult.

My Thoughts

This book was a little hard to get through in that it assumes the reader to have A.D.D. I have not be diagnosed with it nor do I expect to be. However, it is interesting to see where the author took the book and what was important.

Recommendation

A good read if you have A.D.D.

Background

Wait, what? is a book about asking questions. It seeks to teach us there is always a little more to know and little deeper to probe. Above all, there is no “right” answer.

My Thoughts

This book was hilarious. It was a very fun read and a reminder that it is ok to question. In fact, it is a good idea to question so you know what is going on. This is something I will try to remember and implement going forward.

Recommendation

Thumbs up! A great read.

Background

Mark Manson remixes; Jung, Nietzsche, and others to bring some idea as to why the world seems as messed up as it is. Released in May of 2019, the book has met with great success.

My Thoughts

This book had me thinking again about what is important and why do I do the things I like to do. I feel like I am a centered person. I feel like I’m fair and do things for the “right” reason. Particularly inspiring was the comment in the book about how children, adolescents and adults see morality. Children do it because they are told to and fear being caught. Adolescents see things as more of a transaction. Adults do things because it is the right thing to do. These aren’t new thoughts but they are worth repeating. It is scary how often I find myself falling into the adolescent or even childlike patterns of behavior.

Recommendation

A worth while read. If you haven’t read much philosophy, some of the ideas expounded upon could be new and even challenging for a religious person.

Background

The writing duo of Sarah and Micheal Bennett teamed up to give F*ck Feelings in 2015 before writing F*ck Love in 2017.

This book details the world of therapy. How to get it, when to get it, and if you should even think about getting it.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book as well and it has helped me keep in perspective all the messed up crap going on in my life and everyone else’s life.

Recommendation

I highly recommended read for all the maladjusted broken humans we tend to be.