March was a much more enjoyable reading month after I forced myself to finish the torturous "4-Hour Workweek" and decided to stress less about making sure finish books I start just because I "should", and allowed myself to follow my interests.
Here's the roundup:
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Farriss ⌚︎⌚︎
This book was the opposite of "it was so great, I couldn't put it down". I disliked it so much "I couldn't get myself to pick it up". I started this book in January and have been trying to finish it ever since. There are many (and I mean MANY) excellent concepts and solutions to work so efficiently and effectively that one can work from anywhere and take mini-vacations throughout life, instead of retiring in old age. The book makes plenty of sense, has wonderful solutions, ideas and detailed instructions on how to implement it all. I just really didn't enjoy the book; and probably only because Farriss turns my stomach. There is something in his tone and attitude that smacks of arrogance, and arrogance is probably at the pinnacle of characteristics I dislike. If that sounds silly to you, go ahead and read this book; you will likely be very glad you did. If arrogance urcks you, find your inspiration for efficiency in beautiful works like Essentialism, by Greg McKeown, you'll be glad you did.
Your Brain is Always Listening, by Dr. Daniel Amen ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
In this latest book by Dr. Amen, he sorts thoughts and thought-sequenses, into character groups he calls "dragons" - Negative Thought Dragons, Bad Habit Dragons, Dragons from the Past, etc. This is kind of a cute concept and may make it easier for some to identify thought habits that are hurting their lives. What I found more interesting is the perspective that your brain is "listening" and responding to your thoughts, and this is why what you think about, hugely-impacts your mental and physical health. This holds pace with the other Amen books I have read - a little slow-paced, but the science is solid and the stories interesting.
The 5-Hour School Week, by Kaleena Amuchastegui ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
I think the best thing to have come from reading The 4-Hour Workweek, was Audible's intelligent "if you liked" results showing The 5-Hour School Week. I love, love, loved this book! If you have had it with the our conventional school system and are ready to give up on or even question the status quo, this book is a must-read. I identified with every thought, fear and question. I am left with a few questions, like, "how exactly do you gain entry to an ivy-league college without a high-school diploma?", but I know I can and will find the answers.
Free to Learn, by Peter Gray ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
This book had been on my wishlist for a while, but a recommendation for it in The 5-Hour School Week, moved it next on my reading list. I thought it might not contain new concepts for me, as it spent the first couple of chapters covering human evolution and the history that lead to our current school system. That portion was a bit tedious for me, but it does lay an eloquent and complete foundation for the arguments and fundamental proposition the book makes, which is - children will learn all they need, and learn it in the most effective and complete manor, when they are free to pursue their interests - and that no element of this can be accomplished via the current "imprisonment-style" school system.
The Magic of Thinking Big, by David Schwartz ⌚︎⌚︎
A decent book of stories to support the idea that a perspective of unlimited expectations actually changes what is possible. If this is a new concept to you, this might be an enjoyable way to look at evidence that, uncapped openness, genuineness and big dreams will take you farther than you can imagine.
The Land Flipper: Turning Dirt Into Dollars, by E.B. Farmer ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
It has been a long-time dream of mine to buy, improve or make more affordable, and sell mountain land. I signed up for an online "mastermind" which was advertised to teach how to go about this, but it turned out to be a promotion for a hugely-expensive course given by people I don't respect. And while "land flipping" is not a popular or common practice, I know it is possible and is done on a regular basis. So, I started searching for books. This was the first one I found that didn't appear to be full of hype. I was was right. It is chock-full of excellent information from the experience and lessons learned by a nice family who has purchased, improved and sold land for over 30 years. No promotion, no hype, no arrogance. I like it so much, I signed up and took their online course, which I also loved.
Dirt Cheap Real Estate, by Beaux Blast ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
A logical follow up to The Land Flipper, this book is in the same vein, but focused more on buying and selling remotely, without feet on the ground or improving the land. This is not really what I want to do, but the book proved to be an excellent and interesting resource none-the-less. It is also short and concise, which I always appreciate.
Wild Power: Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power, by Alexandra Pope, Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
I recently decide to restructure my days around my natural mindset cycle...
morning: creative mindset - plan and problem-solving
mid-day: linear execution mindset - correspondence and to-do lists evening: social mindset - wind down, relaxing dinner and social time before bed: evaluate, meditate, sleep.
It is absolutely true that I cycle through very different energy levels and mindsets through the day. Why not match the category of task with the most appropriate mindset for that task rather than try to change my mindset to fit the task on my schedule?
I quickly ran into two problems as I attempted to implement my new theory. 1) I have a 28-day cycle running as well as a 24-hour cycle. It is equally important and influential. But unlike the 24-hour cycle - I am shamefully ignorant about the 28-day cycle beyond the basic biology. I have tried to trample, ignore, overcome and tough-out the effects of the cycle since I was 11 years old. If matching my tasks to my daily energy cycle is a no-brainer, shouldn't I do the same with my menstrual cycle?
This meant I needed a more complete understanding of the menstrual cycle, so I could match the right tasks to the right menstrual phases. This brought me to my second problem, 2) I could not find a clear and complete explanation of the menstrual cycle. Everything I read was either a medical-type definition of the cycle with hormone levels and their biological cause and effects, or a completely science-free "embrace the mysteries of menses", with essentially no connection to biology.
Wild Power, attempts to straddle the gap between the biology of the menstrual cycle and it's affects on our temper, moods and motivations. And while I found it very interesting and learned a lot, it was definitely more "go with the flow" rather than an explanation of how to use the changes to your advantage.
I think it is well-worth reading for women who may not appreciate, or like me, have even been fighting their cycles. It brings a perspective and history I think our culture has long-forgotten, and much to our detriment.
Unleash the Power of the Female Brain, by Dr. Daniel Amen ⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎⌚︎
I was hoping this would have the balance I was looking for in Wild Power. Unfortunately, I found it unbalanced in the opposite direction. It is fantastic in that Dr. Amen does make many more connections between the brain/hormone chemistries and their effects on mood, energy and thought patterns, but it seemed to say "hey, the hormone cocktail in this phase is going to make you crazy; it's not you fault, that hormonal combination is lethal". Instead, I would like it to say "this is the hormone combination during this phase... this causes these things to happen... also notable, you have 25% more communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain in this phase making it a great time to pursue creative endeavors and problem-solve. It also means you may feel more vulnerable and be more likely to interpret comments or behaviors as attacks. If you feel attacked, don't assume the feeling is accurate; question it. Make sure to get enough rest; take time to yourself when you need it; ask for hugs from loved ones... Oxytocin levels are likely to be low; these are things you can do to increase them and relieve stress..."
Despite it not being the book I hoped, it is still a very worthwhile read, and this one I think will be more enlightening and interesting for men.
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