Category: books

This book was in my to-read list after all the “conflicts” about people rejecting vaccines during the pandemic. As far as I remember from school, this book was important in the French Revolution and used on most European democracies and constitutions . So I was curious about how the situation would have been managed under the rules of the social contract.

I am was quite surprised that book was quite thin but it was sometimes quite dense (like a good old tiny-letter contract…) and difficult to follow. There are many comments about Sparta, Venice, Jewish law and mainly Rome. And comments from other authors mainly Montesquieu and Maquiavelo.

In general, I consider JJ Rousseau a pure romantic. It seems man is good by nature and the common will makes things fall into its place… As the goal of this contract is to maintain the human freedom in the society. As well, this contract proves that the right of the strongest doesnt work. And political parties are not good!! As well, only in the social contract you can have real (private) property. I struggles to understand the difference between Sovereign and state. A good point expressed is legislation needs to been understood by the people. So it is very important how the language is used to express ideas. So I was quite surprised by that, looks like a genuine interest to reach the masses and he was aware of that difference. Too, the proportion of inhabitants per land benefits different political systems. And the legislator looks a like a special human being that is going to the best for Society. That’s for me one the “most” romantic things in the book. It reminds me a bit to the dictatorship of the proletariat. That is not going to work because Man is not good by nature.

There is a division of power between legislation and executive. Legislation is based on Equality and Liberty (and you add Fraternite’ = France 🙂

It is important of the number of magistrates in a government. It is curious because I think this happens nowadays with parliaments and civil servants.

I expected the book to be mainly focus in “democracy” but when reading about the classification of governments: democracy, aristocracy and monarchy. The best gov is mainly based on the size of the country. So democracy works best in small countries because leaving in a demo”crazy” requires “you” to be a very active part of the government. And looks like it is not very well suited for me… There are three types of aristocracy: natural, elective and hereditary, considering the “elective” the best. That for me, it is kind of the current democracies. We vote for somekind of elite and the govern for us….

And in any kind of government, the challenge is to put the good people in the correct post.

It is interesting that as well, based on the economy and weather!, different types of government are most suitable! And a government is not forever. It needs to change, that is a good thing we do, as power corrupts (man is not good by nature…) And it is very important to have periodic reunions to check on the status (like in Rome) and there shouldnt be a fix capital city so that keeps everybody on their toes regarding the government matters as it is something you can ignore.

Money is showed as a chain, so nothing really positive from an active member of society as it distracts you from the main goal: group will. As well, wealth can make you ignore your responsibilities in the social contract and with too much wealth, you have poverty. Another thing that doesnt work well as you can buy votes, etc etc.

One interesting point is that dictatorships sometimes are needed but must have a fix short term. This is mainly when there is agreements.

A nice quote: “It is easier to conquer than to rule” – true story

Interesting things I found is the death penalty is accepted. I am not sure if I understood well but considers God as the source of Justice.

There is a section about “censorship” that is mainly to keep morality… I wasn’t very sure about this.

And the last part talks about religion. And the conclusion is clear, religion is not compatible with politics! 🙂 It puts as example mainly the Catholicism with Rome.

It is a very dense book of ideas and likely I have left many ideas out and not sure If I am understood all. But it is worth it. At the end, based on this book and my interpretation, people should have follow the government advice about vaccination. But I feel biased anyway because that was what I was trying to verify.

So, insert coin => keep playing => keep learning.

I finished this book last week. I wasnt sure what was about but I liked it. It was a good refresh for keeping back the “peace” of mind. Its focus is Buddhism and mentions often the benefits of meditation while navigating a conflicting world/life. It reminds you to live the present, don’t hope, be groundless. There are a lot stories of main Buddhist figures dealing with different problems like when Buddha reached the illumination when the Maras attacked him, but he welcome them and didnt fight them. Something, as well, very important is to realize the path is the goal. In a so materialistic world, reading parts of the books is like cleaning your face with cold water. So refreshing, and wakes you up!

In general, it is a small book, quick to read and as I tell myself sometimes, I need to re-read some books. It is not the philosophical stone that is going to solve all problems but helps you to focus. This book or similar to be honest.

Finished today the third book of the Foundation series. It was short but really engaging. I liked again all the twists, meta-histories, etc around the “mystery” of the Second Foundation from the First Foundation members and others. The planning, the plots, the thrills, move your opinion to every direction but it is nice to follow the flow and hit the end wanting more.

My goal is to read all books of the series(and Dune) without much gap between of them as at the beginning of this one I was a bit lost remembering the earlier book. So I have homework!

I finished this ebook yesterday. Somehow I had some ebooks to read and they are kind of connected. This one is related to mindsets and relates to this book a read some time ago.

The goal is to have a “scout” mindset that a “soldier” mindset. A scout mindset is the one that see the world as it is, learns from mistakes, it is not biased (something quite difficult) and is flexible. The soldier one doesnt accept what it sees and try to rationalize its believe and mistakes. It relates to the concept of think fast, slow, where your take most of the decisions quickly and without much digging, something critical some thousands years ago . This doesnt really work nowadays for us. In general, we want a quick benefit although long-term is not the best.

The book gives many example of biases / soldier mindset, like Dreyfus affair, political views, feminism view, breast feeding, etc. And how the “experts” predictions are so bad.

Part of developing a scout mindset starts with the self-awareness, that is noticing your (many types) of bias that may change depending of the situation. Other steps are motivating without self-deception, influencing without overconfidence and be able to change your mind.

The last part of the book relates to identities that can make as “soldiers” and so missing opportunities so see other opinions more clearly.

In general, interesting book. And as usual, the goal is to take things and put them in practice.

One thing that I struggle with ebooks is the highlights and notes. In a normal book, I can highlight something and make a small note at the end of the book so I can get a “quick summary” of what I find interesting.

Somehow, just by chance, I feel the last three books I have read are connected. And this last one, has been a real slap in my face. And deserved.

In the last years, I have complained about stress at work, dissatisfaction, etc. And questions about what’s my goal in life. What I am really doing apart from working (and climbing and reading and cooking). As well, this is connected to my breakup.

I have changed job twice, and still in the same situation to be honest. I knew the problems wasn’t the job. It was me. It was my expectations. But still stuck.

I have read a lot about Stoicism, Buddhism, meditation, etc. And I really believe on those philosophies as the ground stones of my moral.

But I didn’t lead by example. That is the best piece of advice that my first manager in UK (and the person who gave me the chance to work here) told me and have always try to live by.

The book reminded me the worse experiences of my life: dead, heartbreaks, letdowns, etc. But then reminded me of the growth I experimented after that. I forgot those futsal games that were so intense, those kumites with people much more stronger than me, those difficult exams, competitions, races. I forgot the satisfaction of giving all, the learning, the challenge, the growth from defeat and failures. Growth.

And I know, without that stress, I wouldn’t have improved. So, I have been making things worse trying to escape it.

As the book says, pain is part of life, one way or the other, so you’r better off to deal with it face on because there are too many things out of our control. But we are in control of the most important one, ourselves.

So at the end, it is all about your mindset. The worse moments can bring the best of you. Because you are not alone there.

And this is a new habit I want back to the core of my moral. And think it is already working. For the last weeks I have been struggling with an injure and I knew my feelings about work were not helping. This week, I was nearly alone most of the week dealing with the major projects. Normally I would be very stressed. But I tried to think as challenges. Maybe the week was quieter than normal but I felt better at work and in my body.

I want to see if these are just words or a real shift. More challenging times will come (for sure).

I finished this ebook last week. It has been interesting to read about some techniques that I have used without really noticing like adding/removing things from my visual radar.

I believe that the key is to create your mindset and grow little by little (atomic). This in an investment in the long run, on you.

The big picture for building habits:

• Obvious, Attractive, Easy and Satisfying:

The big picture for removing habits:

• Invisible, Unattractive, Hard and Unsatisfying.

And this book makes references to “Man’s search for meaning”.

Some other notes from the summary:

• Happiness is simple the absence of desire (The richest is not the one who has more things but the one with less needs – my grandmother told me that once)

• Being curious is better than being smart.

• Emotions drives behaviour. Your response tends to follow your emotions.

• Suffering drives progress.

• Satisfaction = Craving – Reward

• Feelings come both before and after behaviour: Cue -> Craving (feeling) -> Response -> Reward (feeling)

I finished this book a bit more than a week ago. It is quite short but very dense in meaning. I didnt know it was from a Holocaust survivor and he was a psychiatrist. The first parts is mainly about his experience in the concentration camps. It is not gory in details. It is detailed in his mindset and psychology of the prisioners. It is amazing how in the most extreme circumstances (this is real stress), human beings can survive (by a thin line though). And as well, luck. He mentions the three phases of a prisoner: admission (shock), camp routine (brutality, gave up, apathy) and release (another shock, as your reason for meaning can be non-existing… family gone, society gone, etc)

It is a book I need to read again.

I have some notes:

logotherapy

Existentialism: To live is to suffer, to survive is to find meaning in the suffering. That is for me, it is Buddhism. And each man/woman needs to find its own.

The last human of human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances. It is like stoicism.

Nietzsche: He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how.

It is hope, it is meaning.

It is not what we expect from life but rather what life expects from us. Our answer must consist in right action and right conduct. Again, like stoicism.

And sometimes, you just have to accept fate and bear your cross.

Man needs tension, can’t thrive in tensionless state and find meaning in life.

“Sunday neurosis” – kind of depression happens at the end of a (busy) week and during the free time you notice the lack of meaning that you can’t ignore – existential vacuum. This happened to me for many years, mainly during my first job. Then in UK, studying for certifications the first years and afterwards, climbing on Sunday cleared that feeling. It was the first time I felt at peace before starting a new week.