GAZAR

Principal Engineer | Mentor

Books I read 2018

Books I read 2018

Goodreads helps me to track books that I read, the challenge last year was 20 books that I could overcome it.

Books that I read last year were mostly about leadership and learning and of course psychology.

In this article, I am going to summarize or share my reviews about them to review them one more time and share them with others.

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.

Leadership is not about titles, status, and power over people. Leaders are people who hold themselves accountable for recognizing the potential in people and ideas and developing that potential. This is a book for everyone who is ready to choose courage over comfort, make a difference and lead.

The Story of Philosophy: A Concise Introduction to the World’s Greatest Thinkers and Their Ideas

It’s amazing to know how Philosophy has been changed over time,

Interesting that like thousands of years ago we were thinking completely something else of the world around us. Raising this question, would it be the same thing for those thousands of years from now?

An awesome introduction on the history of Philosophy and I wished that I could memorize them all, but just having an idea is enough for now.

The Consolations of Philosophy

Easy to read and so much to learn,

I think If I read it every year, I would learn and understand new things

The 4-Hour Workweek

This book helped me to think more about my work, the fact that I am spending almost 8 hours per day at work and how I can change it to be more automated and enjoyable.

The Social Sex: A History of Female Friendship

This book helps you to think more about female friendships and compare it with men, even though, the narrow of the book is hard to follow

The Artist’s Way at Work: Riding the Dragon

It’s a catalog of different techniques to free the mind, I’ve tried many and they do work

The Schopenhauer Cure

Suddenly confronted with his own mortality after a routine checkup, eminent psychotherapist Julius Hertzfeld is forced to reexamine his life and work — and seeks out Philip Slate, a sex addict whom he failed to help some twenty years earlier. Yet Philip claims to be cured — miraculously transformed by the pessimistic teachings of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer — and is, himself, a philosophical counselor in training. Philips dour, misanthropic stance compels Julius to invite Philip to join his intensive therapy group in exchange for tutoring on Schopenhauer. But with mere months left, life may be far too short to help Philip or to compete with him for the hearts and minds of the group members. And then again, it might be just long enough.

On Becoming a Leader

Warren Bennis clears the difference between managers and leaders, how someone can become a leader and the fact that they are not born as a leader.

Learn Better: Mastering the Skills for Success in Life, Business, and School, or, How to Become an Expert in Just About Anything

Everyone needs to understand how they can learn better instead of spending so much inefficient time

Always try to ask yourself why do you need to learn this? what is your motivation?

- Try to find more connection between the new subject and what you already know

- Recall regularly like every day

When Nietzsche Wept: A Novel of Obsession

I’ve never had experience of reading a book and feeling so connected to one of the characters, The doctor was describing my life for the past two years.

Where Good Ideas Come from: The Natural History of Innovation

The ideas are all taken from a variety of other sources, but Steven Johnson organizes them into a nice framework.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

An inspiring book which has answered lots of my questions about how to be a leader.

Rosling writes about the most important things in the world and does so in an accessible and entertaining style. He busts myths using facts. This is what non-fiction is supposed to be.

We Are All Weird — The Rise of Tribes and the End of Normal

Interesting insight into how the bell curve of normal is changing. What does it mean for my industry? Why do we market to the “normal” when everything about our products and services are about the unique customer needs and experiences? Interested to talk and think more about this.

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money — That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!

In Rich Dad Poor Dad, the #1 Personal Finance book of all time, Robert Kiyosaki shares the story of his two dad: his real father, whom he calls his ‘poor dad,’ and the father of his best friend, the man who became his mentor and his ‘rich dad.’

More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory

Can you love more than one person? Have multiple romantic partners, without jealousy or cheating? Absolutely! Polyamorous people have been paving the way, through trial and painful error.

Animal Farm

How people are thinking and how politic changes everything is like “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

As important this book, I have published a specific article for it here.

Man’s Search for Meaning

It was this book that influenced me to consciously live as meaningful a life as possible, to place a great value on the journey and not just the destination, while knowing that “meaningful” doesn’t always mean “enjoyable”. “Meaningful” should be equated with “fulfilling”.

I’m OK — You’re OK

t was very interesting and very insightful in dealing the 3 components of the Self: the Parent, Child and Adult, and how the interactions between these 3 determine many of our behaviors, reactions, and states.

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

The first half of the book talks about what is wrong with our western food culture. The second half of the books discussed some loose guidelines for improving your food intake, basically expounding on the ideas of “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”.

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” ― Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake

Enjoyed the article? Follow me!

Have an opinion or comment? Type it!