March 2021-Reading

 


The Flexible Body by Roger Frampton

Overview

I learned about Roger Frampton from his TED X talk. I loved the idea of movement based fitness. This book is more of a flexibility plan that a book about fitness.

What we can Learn

How to be healthy people with a decent range of motion.

Rating

I enjoyed the book and found the perspective refreshing. However, without actually committing to the process, it was tough to find any benefit. I just borrowed the book and would need to buy it to gin the benefits, but it wasn’t that good.


Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull

Overview

Part self-help and part leadership, this book is a winner. There are tons of lessons on fostering culture, organization and leadership.

What we can Learn

Hearing other’s win and losses is always helpful. To hear that even despite the success, others feel like failures makes my imposter syndrome less scary. I enjoyed the leadership lessons and story of the rise of Pixar.  

Rating

I’d read it again. I’d for sure read it and probably take notes or engage in others ways on the book to make it stick more, though maybe not enough to actually buy it.

 

The Good Fight by Les Parrott

Overview

This book by well known phycologist and relationship expert explains how to navigate conflict. Conflict will happen, but it doesn’t have to hinder relationship. In fact when conflict is done right it can not only bring people closer, but make them both better. This book had a lot of strategies and science to help readers understand conflict more.  

What we can Learn

I was deep in the planning phase for a busy season at work, so I thought of working with my boss. I was able to see healthy conflict can apply to many groups and pairs of people, not just marriages.

Rating

While I’d read it again, I found it strangely shallow and repetitive.

 

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben

Overview

This book is about designing your life to be happier. The author chose one goal every month and takes the reader on a journey of the success, failure and discovery along the way. Ruben is witty and relatable, so the book was a joy to read. Full of humour and interesting ideas, this book makes self work practical.

What we can Learn

Ironically, in 2020 I did something similar to the author. I had a yearly goal and then set one goal every month to contribute to that goal. Except my goal wasn’t happiness, it was health. I appreciated the ideas Ruben had and was able to use some of her revelations myself.

Rating

As I’ve said before, I am realizing how powerful story is. Having this “self-help” book as a personal story was way more impactful than if Ruben had just told me what to do. It was a fun read; one I’d do again and take a few notes on. But once I have the principals, I doubt I‘d read it again.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Worth Every Penny: A Luxury Experience

Image
Have you ever gotten home and then wondered why you bought something? I am sure everyone in North America has experienced a little bit of buyer’s guilt at some time. Maybe you thought you needed the item, but then realized you didn’t, or maybe you thought the product would help you in some way, but it didn’t fit into your lifestyle, or maybe you really did need and use the item, but the high cost made you regret it a little bit. Marketing is the process of convincing people that a product will enhance their life in some way. Each industry approaches this in different ways. Most industries are happy to maintain a portion of the market share, as long as they are not losing ground. In fast food, it’s so competitive that if they have even one quarter without market share growth, they consider that a loss. Honestly, though, everyone has to eat. Fast food marketing is just a matter of convincing customers to fill their need at a specific chain. It’s not like convincing them to buy so
Read more

The Art of Productivity

Image
Productivity is rare. Those who do manage to accomplish impressive tasks appear to be superhuman! Do productive people hold some ancient secret? The secret to productivity isn’t locked in a vault or hidden in the mind of a monk, but it is shrouded by misinformation and hampered by human nature.  Most people realize that food fuels our ability to do work. Our physical energy is a finite resource: there’s only so much of it. Likewise, the mental energy which powers our ability to focus and be creative will run out. Because there are many draws on our mental fuel, it is wise to be deliberate about maintaining enough brainpower for the pursuits we care about.  Why You Need Mental Energy When pursuing productivity, it can be confusing why sometimes we are able to be effective and other times we aren’t. It is hard to track because our motivation, focus and creativity are powered by an intangible force. Have you ever wanted to work on a project, but instead you procrastinated a
Read more

February 2021-Reading

Image
  Every Deadly Kiss by Seven James Overview This book is in a prequel series to Steven James’ fantastic Bowers file series. This might be my favorite of his spin offs from his main series. This series felt complete on its own, while still adding depth to his other work. The book explores Agent Patrick Bower's growth as an agent as he develops ideas on criminal intent and hunts down a bioweapon.  What We Can Learn I love how Steven James plays with big topics throughout his stories. Keep your eyes open, it’s fun. Rating Read it.   Every Wicked Man by Steven James Overview Another book in Steven James’ prequel series. This one is a little more mystery than a thriller. Because of James’ writing style, the reader is able to try to figure things out along with the agents. I really enjoyed learning more about the main character’s (Agent Patrick Bowers) story. What We Can Learn Steven James is really good at getting inside of my head. One of the characters wonders if he’s going crazy. I c
Read more