โ โ โ โ โ | Philosophy | Print | Own | StoryGraph | Goodreads
A quirky book full of dense wisdom. Thinking in such extremes is interesting. The ending was anti-climactic (and weird).
Highlights
We overestimate what we can do in one year. We underestimate what we can do in ten years.
One of the best feelings in life is to meet someone who grew up in an opposite culture but has your same humor, thoughts, or taste.
…โ โ โ โ โ | History | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Goodreads
I read this before undertaking the epic 11-volume Story of Civilization that Durant wrote over the course of forty years. He boils down the critical themes of history that he learned over the course of his lifetime of study. If you don’t have the time or inclination to read his opus, this is a good primer.
Highlights
Biology and History
Freedom and equality are sworn and everlasting enemies, and when one prevails the other dies. Leave men free, and their natural inequalities will multiply almost geometrically, … only the man who is below the average in economic ability desires equality; those who are conscious of superior ability desire freedom; and in the end superior ability has its way.
…โ โ โ โ โ | Literary Fiction | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Goodreads
My third book by Amor Towles who is an inspiration to me. He published his first novel, The Rules of Civility, at 47 after spending a career in investment banking in New York. Imagine that!
This one has some dear characters: Emmett, Duchess, Billy, Wooley, Sally, and a few other incidentals thrown in. Duchess is a borderline psychopath that I came to adore by looking at his situation through his own perspective.
…โ โ โ โ โ | Philosophy | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Goodreads
Favorite Highlights
โThe obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.โ
Where one loses control of emotions, another can remain calm. Desperation, despair, fear, powerlessnessโthese reactions are functions of our perceptions. You must realize: Nothing makes us feel this way; we choose to give in to such feelings.
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โ โ โ โ โ | Writing | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Goodreads
Reading Notes
A quick, lively read. Take aways:
โ โ โ โ โ | Psychology | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Goodreads
Reading Notes
Six Stages of Grief
The Three Steps of Taking in the Good
โ โ โ โโ | Writing | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Guardian Book Review
What a strange little book about essay writing coupled with the author’s lifelong suffering of loss and depression. There were some insights about essay structure and composition that I highlighted (see below), and, reeling from Connor’s death, I was somehow comforted by the author’s repeated declarations of woe. He used writing as a method to stave off his depression, which apparently worked until it didn’t.
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โ โ โ โโ | Fantasy | Digital | Own | StoryGraph | Goodreadsย
A formulaic Hero’s Journey as only Stephen King could write.ย Connor passed away in the middle of my reading this.ย I had to put it down while his death was still so fresh.ย I couldn’t fathom reading about a young man putting his life on the line in a fantasy story – or any story.ย I picked it back up a few weeks later as a distraction, but never really got into it. The characters weren’t fully developed and I never really connected with the protagonist.ย Might be the time.
Highlights
Whiskey doesnโt smell the same as ginโฆ yet it does. All alcohol smells the same to me, of sadness and loss.
good people shine brighter in dark times.
tempus est umbra in mente is a better one. Roughly translated, it means time is a shadow in the mind.
Thereโs a dark well in everyone, I think, and it never goes dry. But you drink from it at your peril. That water is poison.
โ โ โ โ โ | Nautical Fiction | Digital | Own | StoryGraph | Goodreads
The week after Connor passed, I could not distract myself with reading. But, I desperately needed the distraction, so I turned to the healing salve of Aubrey and Maturin. I picked up where I left off with Treason’s Harbour, which is either my third or fourth time through these books. Transporting myself to another known world outside my suffering and despair seemed to help.
As with most of these books, the story line seemed only vaguely familiar, despite multiple readings. Why is that? I believe I read O’Brian in such a comfortable state, letting the words roll over me, that I don’t pay too close attention to the plot.
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โ โ โ โโ | Health and Well-Being | Digital | Borrow | StoryGraph | Goodreads
Like Successful Aging by Daniel Levitin, the author’s message here is to never retire. Work for as long as you can to stay healthy and happy. If you do retire, make sure to find as much purpose in retirement as you possibly can.
The author used Thrive as his title for a reason. Thrive has a Scandinavian heritage that comes from Old Norse, thrฤซfask, which translates โgrasp.โ You thrive when you grasp what you want from life. Keep grasping, keep thriving.
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