Category: books

This book is about the value of rethinking (mental flexibility). This is a path to learning more and living with fewer regrets. This can be hard because it means abandom parts of oneself. The process is based always in the scientific method, formulating a theory and trying to find counterexamples.

The process of learning is not to affirm our beliefs, it is to evolve them. And being (too) smart can be counterproducent because narrows our mind to what we dont know. I liked the example from the iphone, when Steve jobs was adamant of the product because would kill the ipod money making, or stubbornness from Blackberry to evolve. So in this case, you need a balance between confidence and competence.

These are the mental models that need to rethink

• Cult leader: I am always right!
• Politician: We are right, they are wrong!
• Preacher: I am right
• Prosecutor: You are wrong.

I like the references to the “impostor syndrome”. It always keeps you on your toes and push you to grow because you never know it all.

Who you are should be about your values and not your believes. That way we can be flexible. For example, when making a forecast, make a list of conditions that should hold true and other list of conditions that should change it. This makes you honest and detached from an opinion/believe.

This can produces discussions. But need to see it in the positive way, intellectual chemistry is enjoying disagreements. We learn more from people who challenge our thought process than those who affirm it (focus is in your thought process and not in you as a persona, that is a totally different matter). These conversation are focused in the “how” instead of “why”. Giving too many facts about are reasoning make the other part defensive (coming too strong). As well, we need to be open to change ours, find common ground. This is from the debate between IBM computer and Harish. As well you dont change people’s opinions, they do themselves, and based on “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” So if the other person says there is nothing that would change its mind, then…. So it is around asking questions, be invested, like a dance and not a war (it is called motivational interviewing: examples like vaccines ) To be honest, I struggle to ask questions to people, like I am not curious (or it is a way to hide… but when people ask me, I talk….)

There is a part about applying to a jobs and using an example where the person didnt hide its shortcomings, just ack-ed in the paper and then went with the reason why it should be hired. I need to apply that to myself.

Some topics are difficult. Just acknowledge the complexity, show the range of perspectives: gun control, inmigration

Regarding learning, the best way is to teach it. And the active learning (more than the lecture type). Repeating is good = “jack of rough drafts, master of crafts”. So education should be more than gathering information, but develop the habits to revise our drafts and keep learning. I think this matches the IT culture of continues intergration/delivery, error soon and often, etc This creates the culture of growth and rethinking instead of sticking to “tradition/best practices” (examples from the NASA accidents) This takes too humility (improve better than proving oneself)

Another good one: Sunk cost (difficult to turn around when you are deep in something, and you can’t stop carry on with it) / Grit. Gritty mountaineers are more likely to die on expeditions. “There is a fine line between heroic persistence and foolish stubbornness. Sometimes the best kind of grit is gritting your teeth and turning around” I think the whole book goes around to when to do exactly that.

In general, explore (action) and then dig. And save time for a couple of times a year to do check-ups and rethink what you are doing.

The book finishes with the “take action” speech from Roosevelt in 1932. Accepts uncertainty, ack errors, learns from others and rethink plans

The book gives a different view from other sources, where they tell you to get grit, no plan B, etc etc. This proves there is no solution for all. So I take it as another tool.

This was another summer reading. Quite interesting because the author takes ageing as an illness and not as the last part of life.

I have come to realise that yes, we live longer, but not healthier… and I think there is an interest for that so you are hook to some medicines (always business). Personally, I dont see the point to be old and not being able to do anything for myself. Even worse, when your brain starts to fail… you dont even notice.

The first part is mainly the research and why the author says ageing is an illness. If shows how organism have evolved based on reproduction and repair. He explains it as “The Information theory of ageing” The DNA is digital but then the building process are analogical and that is where the information leaks and the problems starts. I can’t really explain all the biological details but it is an interesting theory.

How to live longer? He recommends many things, from fasting, eating less meat, exercise, cold/hot endeavours, avoid toxic materials and obviously there are pills you can take. To be honest all the recommendations look nothing special, I think they are sane, and is something good because everybody can do it.

The last part is the ethical / philosophical part. This is the hardest because that changes may things in our world. There will be more people (we need to produce more food! consumption – capitalism), people will work longer so less opportunities for young generations, politically we will be in a much more conservative (politically – super-rich want to stay…) world, how religion will handle people leave longer?, how people will handle to live so long?, will people want to die? It is interesting.

The author wants goverments to fund research in ageing because that can have more benefits and will solve problems like cancer or brain illnesses.

Video Interview

This is the second part of the Expanse series.

Now I understand the name of Rocinante for the spaceship. The guys are like Don Quijote trying to beat giants (or space monsters)

The book is engaging and I devour it in a couple of days but I felt it was the same setup as the first one.

I will read the next one, it is in my to-read list.

I am not keen of hypes but I could find some truths in this book.

One of the first things is to question the Brules = Bullshit rules. Those are the rules passed on us by society, family, religion, etc. I tell myself that I need that certification, I need to save, I need to know X, then Y, Z. And I know some are excuses…

I struggle with the concept of working hard and enjoy life. The ideal is to enjoy your job, but I dont see myself enjoying my job working 12h a day. I tell myself I would like to work in a bakery for 1 year, like a sabatical. No balls yet to do that. I am waiting for the moment…

The book recommends to take this Lifebook Assessement:

• Your love relationship
• Your friendship
• Your finances
• Your quality of life (materialistic things)
• Your health and fitness
• Your intellectual life
• Your emotional life
• Your spiritual life
• Your career
• Your character
• Your family and parenting life
• Your life vision

I find it useful, because I can see the positive things of my life and where to improve. And most of the book is around those 12 points.

Related to the b-rules, we have models of reality embedded deep within that we are not really aware of (what you don’t know you believe!) Example: you are enough and you have nothing to prove. This means you need to rewrite your models of reality (ie: you are attractive, you are good enough, etc). Two questions then:

• Is my model of reality absolute or relative truth?
• Does this really mean what I think it means?

Regarding setting a vision:

• We confuse b-rules with goals: having a certain job, appearance, etc is b-rule.
• We are notoriously bad at predicting just what we can do in a given time frame: a) we tend to overestimate what we can do in short term (1/2-1y) and underestimate what we can do in long-term (3y)

Goals are part of a vision: but some goals are part of b-rules so how to identify:

means goals (not good):

• means goals usually have a “so” in the them: Get this job so I will be happy
• means goals are often about meeting or conforming to b-rules: have a degree

end goals (good)

• end goals are about following your heart
• end goals are often feelings

Something I do every night is to gave grace/gratitude. I can’t really explain but it calms you down, it put things in perspective, and you sleep better. I trully believe that I am the luckiest person, whatever happens, period.

The next thing, it is forgiveness. I found it difficult, but makes sense, it is a way to liberate yourself. I need to do that with the gratitude.

Last thing, is “to give”: To be happy, make others happy. Who can you help if you are unhappy?

Be unfuckwithable: Extraordinary minds do not need to seek validation from outside opinion or through the attainment of goals. Instead, they are truly at peace with themselves and the world around them. They live fearlessly, immune to criticism or praise and fueled by their own inner happiness and self-love.

exercises:

• The person in the mirror (self-love)
• Self-gratitude (for appreciating yourself)
• Become present (to remove sudden fear and anxiety)

The authors meditation six pack, daily, no max of 15 minutes.

• Compassion
• Gratitude
• Forgiveness

• Future dreams
• Perfect day
• The Blessing

In general, I can find things that resonate and I need to put in practice. I should re-read again at some point

I have been quite surprised by this book. It is based on the psychology work from Alfred Adler. And i take it more as philosophy than anything else.

It is based on teleology: the study of the purpose of a given phenomenon, instead of its cause (that is aetiology). We determine our own lives according to the meaning we give to those past experiences. So it negates the influence of the past and traumas. The important thing is not what one is born with, but what use one makes of that equipment. We need the courage to be happy, because that needs change (the lifestyle), and it is scary. As well, this makes you to focus in the present.

All problems are interpersonal relationship problems. Personally, I feel my goal is not to be hurt in relationships with other people. But it is impossible not to get hurt (or hurt somebody).

Feelings of inferiority are subjective assumptions (and excuses), and those we can change it. Boasting is an inverted feeling of inferiority. If one really has confidence, one doesnt need to boast.

Life is not a competition (winner vs looser) and this applies to Relationships too. This make you see people as comrades. Only compare with your ideal self. You are the only one worrying about your appearance. When there is competition, there is a power struggle. Avoid the conflict as soon as possible, dont answer the action with a reaction (this is not admitting defeat though), because this evolves to a revenge.

Our objectives are: self-reliant (I have the ability) and live in harmony with society (people are my comrades). Our life tasks are: tasks of work, frienship and love

Life lie = I am making up flaws in other people just so that I can avoid my life tasks, and more, I can avoid interpersonal relationships -> courage.

As we have our tasks, the other have their tasks. As we focus in our task, looking for recognition is debilitating, it creates a dependency, a vertical relationship (you want horizontal relationship). Do not live to satisfy the expectations of others. This means freedom. Freedom to be disliked by other people. The same way, you dont have to praise or debuke. Saying “Thank you” is good enough

This leads to the goal of interpersonal relationships, that is the feeling of community. This is acquired by your own efforts, active commitment.

Very interesting book. In Western Work we know a lot about Roman Empire, Alexander the Great, etc. But we dont look very often to Asia. And Gengish Khan and the following Mongol empires shaped much of the world society on the time and until know.

He was focused in meritocracy. As part of his war strategy, it was the elimination of the aristocracy of the conquered land. Very strong focus in integration. They never imposed their culture, they had full freedom for religious belief. They were brutal in war but never cruel. Torture was common in Europe and other empires, for them, it was against their belief.

They had a very clear war strategy: light travel, fast striking. They had few luggage and basic diet. They cleared the path for their horses for advancing and returning. So they destroyed and agriculture over their conquering paths.

It is interesting how Genghis Khan crumbled after his death because he didnt manage this family properly. But still, the new kingdoms kept a balance for a long time.

And something that reminded me to Rome, they had to keep expanding the empire just to keep happy the capital…. They introduced the paper money and women ruled when the men were fighting… and their campaigns lasted years!

Trade was critical for Mongols. They reached Hungary and the Balkans. They trade slaves with Venice and Genoa.

The climate was critical for their success, when the weather became warmer, their pastures were less productive in Mongolia, they had less horses, so the base of their strength was tilted.

They were master of propaganda, to spread fear so they conquering was easier. The empire was based on good army, good propaganda and good administration (just think of the sear size of the empire). They founded public education.

Mongols unified China. I didnt know that, they founded Beijing and started Forbidden City. They created the Chinese identity but they followed the mongol customes behind the curtines.

And the end of it was the Plague. The Plague stopped commerce and people. Without the fluid transit of people and goods, they couldnt keep it together.

And it is really shocking the bad reputation that has been written about Mongols after their incredible empire and success.

This is a tiny book I found in a toilet during holidays a couple of years ago. I bought a while ago and can’t find it anymore, this is one from the same author.

Fall in love (only when you can’t help it)

Dont forget that there are always consequences

When you get bucked off, get back on

Skin you own deer

If it breaks, fix it.

Never cut, what you can untie

If you make a mess, clean it up

Talk less and say more

Never betray a Trust

Make apologies, not excuses

Don’t get even, get over it

Dont waste good money on cheap boots

Help what you can; endure what you can’t

Do it Today, tomorrow is promised to no one.

Never miss a chance to Dance

Act right, behave yourself, do your job, and things will turn out all right

Take care of your knees; you are going to need them all your life

Do your best, that’s all.