Mere Mortals Book Reviews

 Mastery is not a gift handed to the “talented", it’s a ruthless process: time, patience, humility, apprenticeship, and the emotional control to not quit when it gets boring. In this review, I break down Greene’s core ideas, why social intelligence matters as much as skill, and how intuition gets forged through long exposure to the craft.(00:00) — Go against the tide: develop mastery(00:11) — Why this book, why now(00:38) — Context: comparing to 48 Laws of Power(00:57) — Reading experience: chunky, dense, “Greene” style(02:42) — Power vs Mastery: maturity and intent(03:24) — Who this book is (and isn’t) for(04:32) — The myth of talent: process beats “genius”(06:16) — Core point: mastery is a process(07:31) — Time, patience, humility IQ (and people quit early)(08:17) — Freddie Roach: mastery through endurance(09:52) — The book’s structure: life task → apprenticeship → mastery(10:37) — “Life task”: curiosity vs passion(12:18) — Apprenticeship: long, boring, necessary(13:50) — Mental dynamic: emotional regulation(14:24) — Social intelligence: skill alone won’t save you(15:48) — Dimensional mind: intuition + rational(18:18) — AI analogy + building a “bigger matrix” of insight(20:44) — Closing: the six steps and the seduction of masteryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

 Ever looked at the art world and thought: how does any of this actually work?I read How to Collect Art (2024) by Magnus Resch to figure out whether a normal person can buy a single great piece… and whether art is actually a good investment.Resch approaches the art market like an economist: data, power structures, and the brutal reality of gatekeepers. The big theme? The art world isn’t a free market, it’s a pyramid. A tiny number of fairs, galleries, curators, and institutions sit at the top… and they decide what becomes valuable.In this review, I cover:Why the “mysterious” art market feels so closed-offThe alpha / beta / gamma / delta pyramid Resch uses to explain status and accessWhy “art as an investment” is mostly a trap (unless you’re playing at the top end)Why the book made me want to buy art for meaning, not resale00:00 – Intro: why I picked this book00:21 – The empty wall problem (why I want art)00:58 – What I hoped the book would solve02:12 – The book’s style: blue quotes + companion “artist” book03:22 – Resch’s economist approach to art04:09 – The real driver of value: representation & institutions05:11 – The “35-year-old” cliff edge for artists06:12 – The harsh truth: most art has near-zero resale value06:52 – Art index vs S&P 500 (and what happens with broader data)09:11 – When art can be an investment (and the price floor)10:24 – The better frame: be a patron, not an investor10:52 – The parts I skipped: emails, CVs, auction house logistics12:22 – “Networking and Instagram” (useful but irritating)13:26 – The collector mantra: buy what you love14:13 – The pyramid: alpha / beta / gamma / delta18:35 – NFTs + digital art gets a mention19:11 – Did it help me buy art? What I’m taking away21:11 – Final verdict + what I’ll do insteadConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

 A short snippet on the way we do things behind the scenes as the new year approaches and a concerted effort in our book reviews rises.Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

 In this Mere Mortals book review, I dive into Secret Weapon, the 12th entry in the Alex Rider series, but not a traditional one. Instead of a full-scale mission, Horowitz delivers seven short, fast-paced stories set early in Alex’s spy career. It’s action-packed, easy to consume, and offers small bursts of worldbuilding without fundamentally shifting the universe.(00:00) - Welcome & Book Intro  (01:17) - What Makes Secret Weapon Different  (02:39) - Horowitz’s Intentions Behind The Stories  (02:53) - High-Paced Nature of the Book  (05:27) - Will I Re-read It? Probably Not  (05:55) - Worldbuilding at the Margins   (07:16) - Overall Enjoyment & Final Take  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

A raw, no-fluff review of The Two Towers — the darker, tighter middle act of LOTR. I cover the split structure, why Book III feels punchier (Helm’s Deep, Ents), why Book IV slows to a crawl before the Shelob crescendo, and how pain trains the will through Frodo’s burden and Sam’s rise. I read this over a couple of months and felt the weight, the world-building, and the payoff.Spoilers ahead: Gandalf’s return, the march to war, Frodo/Sam/Gollum through the marshes, and that spider. If you value integrity, patience and quiet courage, this one hits deep. If you’ve read it, tell me your favourite moment (Helm’s Deep or Shelob?). If you haven’t: persevere — the last hundred pages cook.Chapters00:00 – Intro & why this book now00:26 – Edition & context (movies vs book)00:56 – Darker tone; two storylines01:23 – Reading over 2–3 months; dense lore02:34 – Detail overload: when it works/doesn’t04:35 – Book split: company/Helm’s Deep vs Frodo/Sam05:56 – Helm’s Deep: thrill + I wanted more06:29 – Frodo/Sam/Gollum: the slow march07:35 – The drag before the payoff08:16 – “Shelob’s Lair”: can’t-put-down stretch09:40 – Sam takes the Ring; cliffhanger10:00 – “Pain is a teacher” & Frodo’s burden11:44 – Sam’s unsung heroism12:40 – Who should read; how to read it13:37 – Verdict: “savage, beautiful middle movement”Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Alex Rider returns in Never Say Die — a fast, zany, throwback instalment that swaps grit for velocity. I break down what works (pace, scale, that classic Rider ingenuity), what doesn’t (the Jack twist), and the one big philosophy that matters: leadership is action, not announcement.What you’ll hear:How the plot kicks off post-Egypt and why Alex goes rogue to follow a single clue.Why the “Jack is alive” reveal felt forced compared to the darker mid-series tone.The pivotal switch: when Alex stops following orders and starts leading.The core lesson: people follow what you do, not what you say.Chapters(00:00) – Welcome & series context(01:18) – Setup: Jack presumed dead, mysterious email, post-Egypt timeline(02:19) – Solo hunt: Egypt → Cromwell brothers → bigger operation revealed(03:20) – Verdict: not as strong as the darker mid-series books(04:16) – The Jack twist: why it doesn’t land(05:21) – Throwback energy: action, travel, excitement(06:05) – Adults feel clumsy; impact drops(06:45) – Real stakes: not gold — kidnapped kids; Alex steps up(07:27) – “Shoot me out”: the ejector plan & leadership in motion(08:20) – Leadership by doing, not telling(09:39) – Older, more capable Alex (with restraint)(10:17) – Final thoughts & recommendationIf you’re new to Alex Rider: read earlier books first; this one assumes you know the history.Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Horowitz turns the camera away from Alex and into the fire that forged Yassen. Set around the Stormbreaker timeline, this darker companion novel binds the series together with grit, symmetry and consequence. It’s not for first-timers, it’s a reward for the faithful.00:00 “Assassins aren’t born; they’re forged.”00:25 What this book is (context + where it fits)01:40 Non-spoiler thoughts, tone, pacing, payoff03:20 Themes, the 14-year-old crucible, mirror principle04:45 Accessibility, fans vs newcomers05:20 Spoilers start, key backstory beats that matter07:10 Series connections you’ll actually feel08:15 Who should read this (and in what order)08:55 Final verdict & rating09:20 What I’m reviewing next + CTAConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Alex Rider stops being bulletproof. In Scorpia Rising, Anthony Horowitz cashes in every IOU the series has dodged: real stakes, identity games, and a gut-punch that actually lands. Today I break down why this is the first truly adult entry in the YA spy saga and what it teaches about cost, courage, and growing up without permission.00:00 Cold Open — “The end begins here”00:38 Why Scorpia Rising Matters02:02 Spoiler-Safe Synopsis04:05 What Horowitz Does Differently06:11 Villains That Bite: Razim08:03 Identity Warfare: Julius Grief10:02 The Cost of Winning12:09 Major Spoiler: The Blow That Lands14:05 Who Should / Shouldn’t Read15:18 Best Lines & Takeaways16:40 Final Rating + Next Read17:35 CTAConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

A new villain and a new frontier. Crocodile Tears throws Alex Rider into the jaws—literally. We open in Scotland, meet philanthropist-on-paper Desmond McCain of the First Aid charity, and quickly discover a disaster-profit scheme that weaponises tragedy for donations. From GM-food labs and biodomes to fake cops, forced travel and a crocodile interrogation in Kenya, this one moves.Highlights we cover:The McCain playbook: create chaos, cash in on sympathyThe school sequence & realism check (fun, if implausible)Nuclear-plant scare, dam finale, and why the collateral “cost” is part of the messageBig idea: Urgency is non-negotiable—how to build it into your day without burning out00:00 – Cold Open: “New villain, new frontier” hook00:25 – Meet Desmond McCain & the First Aid façade01:00 – Scotland opener: party, near-drowning, immediate stakes01:42 – GM lab & biodome chase (the white-line injury)02:20 – School sequence & “could that really happen?”02:55 – Kidnapped by fake police → drugged transit → Kenya03:35 – Crocodile pit interrogation: the plan revealed04:20 – Indian intel ally, nuclear-plant scare, jets & fields05:05 – The dam decision & collateral damage question05:40 – The philosophy: Urgency is non-negotiable (applied)07:00 – Verdict: who should read Crocodile Tears (and why)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

“The enemy isn’t out there. It is within.” That line sets the tone for Snakehead, the seventh Alex Rider novel: darker, sharper, and closer to the bone. We open in Australia (very on-brand for me), surge into Bangkok, and tangle with human-trafficking rings and a bomb plot on the water. Along the way, we meet Ash and face the kind of betrayal that doesn’t fit neatly into “good guy / bad guy.”Big idea: Reality is messy. Moral clarity often arrives after the decision. I’ll show you how to act decisively when you can’t see the full board, then learn fast and adjust.What you’ll get:A spoiler-lite overview of the plot beats that matterThe Ash dilemma and why “the enemy within” cuts deepA practical framework to make better choices under uncertainty(00:00) Cold Open(00:24) Series context & why this entry hits different(00:56) Crash-landing in Australia & the SAS test vibe(01:39) Snakehead & Scorpia: the Southeast Asia operation(02:02) The bomb at sea & Bangkok detour(02:36) Pacing & world-hopping done right(03:09) Enter Ash: darker threads & moral fog(03:32) Godfather angle & the “enemy within” theme(03:53) Big philosophy: “Reality is messy”(05:20) Personal reflections: choices, service, and uncertainty(06:39) You only get the options you create(07:28) Final verdict & who should read thisConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast