My reading list dropped substantially this month as I invested more time in courses to build new businesses.
Here's the roundup:
The Power of Vulnerability, by Brené Brown ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
I found this book most interesting because I gained insights into how differently others think. I had seen Brené's Ted talk and heard a couple of interviews. I thought she was genuinely passionate about her subject, but she covered things that seemed obvious to me. A good friend recommended it with a note about how it struck a fundamental chord for her. So, I listened, perhaps there would be something new or a concept I had previously missed. Again, I only saw the statement that the primary path to connection and growing beyond the fear of rejection, is to consciously and willingly be vulnerable. Why would this strike my friend so powerfully?
I guess, like all foundational concepts, it comes down to our earliest experiences, when we develop our sense of value and impact as we interpret our parent's responses. I was very fortunate in having a Dad who made a clear distinction between my behavior and me. My Dad was sometimes disappointed in decisions I made, but I never felt he disapproved of me. He also was a great scientist, which meant life was to be explored to be understood. You can't avoid mistakes when you are exploring. It's part of the learning process. I take it as a responsibility to experiment, learn and solve problems. I may worry about my solutions being ready to share or having value, but I don't think I fear people judging my value.
What happens when there is no distinction between you and what you do? I believe it may mean you continually try to change who you are, until you find something that meets your parent's approval. I think there are many instances in which you never find "the you" that wins your parental approval, because the parent hasn't even been focused on or responding to you. You wind up trying to be someone you are not, or forever searching for a new you that will gain approval. Both scenarios leave you not having a sense of "who you are" and very leery of exposing yourself, i.e., being vulnerable.
My takeaway? Children need to know you love them and you are actively "on their side". It's not their responsibility to do the right thing and make you proud. It's your responsibility to help them understand that exploration, expression, experimentation and communication are all necessary components of healthy people and relationships. Living requires genuine engagement. You simply cannot engage while hiding. One of my favorite quotes from Tony Robbins is "If you are not growing, you are dying". My variation is "If you are not engaging, you are not living."
Beyond Order, 12 More Rules for Life, by Jordan B. Peterson ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
This was my favorite of the month. Dr. Peterson always resonates with me. I was very surprised and glad he narrated his most recent book. Surprised, because it is seemingly implausible he could accomplish the tremendous effort required not only the finish the book for publication, but record it, after his tortuous and long battle to stay alive and regain physical and mental stability after nearly loosing both many times over the past 18 months.
I like to listen to Peterson perform is own work because I hear so much beyond the words. He has a some-what thin and high-ish voice, but his phrasing and emphasis is very impactful. He speaks very clearly (every syllable and consonant is pronounced) which makes it easier listen to, allowing you to pay attention to the meaning rather than decipher the words. But it is the emotion in his voice that brought me to tears repeatedly, while listening to Beyond Order.
This is every bit as amazing and insightful as it's predecessor, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. I highly recommend both.
The Energy Paradox, by Dr Gundry ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
Here again, a book I was just "checking off the list" because it's a current health book by an author I respect. I didn't expect to learn anything grown-breaking because I generally keep up on the scientific journals and conversations in this field. I was wrong. I had been studying minutia for so long, I had lost sight of some fundamental processes and connections among them. This book provides a simple framework of both and a nice way for those who want to learn about them in a technically-based but non-technical writing.
How Emotions Are Made, by Lisa Barrett ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
This is a highly-technical book with a very narrow scope. Since I love psychology and physiology, I was fascinated by the research and findings Barrett cited and analyzed that not only raise severe doubt about so much of what what we thought we knew about emotions, but, often, completely destroys it. If this field interests you, it is definitely a book you need to read.
Ignorance, by Stuart Firestien ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
This is a great, short book that does a great job of explaining what science really is. I found it to provide an interesting perspective that most non-scientific people have likely never considered. An eye-opening, easy and interesting book.
Breath, by James Nestor ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
Just when I thought I had my health bases covered - sleep, nutrition, exercise - I learn there is one I hadn't even considered - how I breathe. It turns out it is just as fundamental to our health, or lack thereof. It's a fascinating and completing introduction to the subject and easy to read.
Effortless, by Greg McKeown ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
I listened to this as I drove to Canon City to get my COVID booster shot. I am pretty sure it helped me have zero reaction to the second dose of the vaccine. I didn't find it as engaging as McKeown's first book Essentialism, but it's still interesting and was worth my time. It basically covers how to recognize when you loose your essentialist tack and how to get back on track.
Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic, by Sandra Kahn & Paul Erhlich ⌚︎⌚︎
Andrew Huberman mentioned this in one of his podcasts (The Huberman Lab). Since I had recently read "Breathe" by James Nestor, I thought it would be interesting to follow this topic a little deeper. While interesting, it was tedious. This book takes a deep dive into the study of hominid jaws from fossil records to modern orthodontia. If you have little kids and are considering braces or wisdom tooth removal - I recommend you read, or listen, to this book first.
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