Mere Mortals Book Reviews

What was I reviewing again?'A Primer For Forgetting' by Lewis Hyde is a collection of intimate thoughts, stories, poems, mythological tales & quips. The primary theme is around forgetting & how this can be beneficial for an individual or groups, particularly when it relates to trauma. It's split into 4 parts (that he calls notebooks) about myth, self, nation & creation.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:40) Themes/Questions(00:14:04) Author & Extras(00:17:08) Summary(00:20:11) Value 4 Value(00:21:21) Join Live! 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

Boy are cockroaches gross!'Metamorphosis & Other Stories' by Franz Kafka is a collection of prose poems, short stories, sketches, allegories, and novelettes.  The longest is of Gregor Samsa, the travelling salesman who wakes up in his bed as a cockroach. You'll find others about conflict on a ship, dealing with annoying people on the street, etc. All are told in the surreal style he is known for, along with his dry humour.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:51) Themes/Questions(00:15:30) Author & Extras(00:21:49) Summary(00:24:34) Value 4 Value(00:26:01) Join Live! 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

I'm jacking into cyberspace for some pain and pleasure.'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is a sci-fi classic that was right at the beginning of the cyberpunk genre. We follow Case in a futuristic techno world where he is hired to hack into a wealthy family's lair. He is part of a motley crew each with their own specialty, hired by an AI to free itself from it's restrictions. Think of Japan, robots, drugs, implants, space, fashion, tech, culture, violence and sex to get a good idea of the new world.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:02) Themes/Questions(00:17:30) Author & Extras(00:23:05) Summary(00:25:42) Value 4 Value(00:26:07) Join Live! 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

We've got it all wrong, there's no good guys & bad guys .... they're all bad!'Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie is a classic story of a child who never grows up. Peter lives in Neverland, a mystical island where pirates, Indians and wild beasts roam. He commands a gang of Lost Boys and takes them on adventures along with Wendy, Tinkerbell, John & Michael.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:58) Themes/Questions(00:12:44) Author & Extras(00:18:50) Summary(00:21:51) Value 4 Value(00:22:43) Join Live! 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

Strategies to accept your suffering & heal yourself with compassion.'Radical Acceptance' by Tara Brach is a guide of various meditation & framing practices to recognise the root cause of emotional distress. These are derived from Buddhist principles and serve to help accept the current pain & suffering. There are 13 chapters that begin with a story followed by an explanation of the intent before a final guided meditation.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:35) Themes/Questions(00:15:33) Author & Extras(00:24:26) Summary(00:27:20) Value 4 Value(00:28:40) Join Live! 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

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.'The Tao Of Pooh & The Te Of Piglet' by Benjamin Hoff is a light read interpreting Taoism through the lens of A. A. Milne's 'Winnie The Pooh' characters. Core concepts such as The Way & Wu Wei are explored and why certain characters embody various aspects of the religion. It's told via the author interacting with the characters & recounting passages both from the original Pooh stories but also the 3 main Taoist teachers.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:35) Themes/Questions(00:18:56) Author & Extras(00:25:06) Summary(00:27:20) Value 4 Value(00:29:00) Join Live! 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

What happens inside the head when you learn a 2nd language?'The Bilingual Brain' by Albert Costa is a quick summary of academic research on bilingual vs monolingual speakers. He looks at effects that knowing a 2nd language can have on the physical wiring as well as behavioural differences. So things like response times, vocab limits, gray matter density, etc. In the 5 chapters he goes over studies and you'll see some graphs & brain cross sections.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:12) Themes/Questions(00:20:56) Author & Extras(00:23:10) Summary(00:25:51) Value 4 Value(00:27:14) Join Live! 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 episode, we delve into key insights from Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power, highlighting powerful lessons on navigating relationships, mastering influence, and understanding human psychology. From the importance of knowing the rules—even if you choose not to follow them—to mastering strategic silence and spotting concealed intentions, these learnings reveal profound truths about influence, communication, and power dynamics.(00:00) - Introduction to the 48 Laws of Power(01:08) - Know the Game: Be an Artist, Not a Bungler(02:31) - Law 1: Avoid Outshining the Master(04:17) - Law 3: Conceal Your True Intentions(06:08) - Law 4: Say Less Than Necessary(08:09) - Law 5: Master One Quality, Not Many(10:01) - Law 9: Actions Speak Louder Than Arguments(10:22) - Law 11: Make Yourself Indispensable(12:13) - Law 13: See Beyond Your Own Wants(14:07) - Law 14: Extract Secrets through Connection(15:16) - Law 15 vs Law 2: Crush vs Use Your Enemies(15:58) - Law 16: Use Absence Strategically(17:41) - Law 18: Isolation is Dangerous(18:50) - Law 22: Pride Can Be Your Downfall(20:07) - Concentrate Your Forces for Impact(20:48) - Stay Focused Amid Modern Distractions(21:30) - Adapt Style, Maintain Respect(22:06) - Law 12: Avoid Delivering Bad News Yourself(22:40) - Law 28: Act with Boldness, Not Hesitation(23:00) - Law 31: Control Choices to Influence Decisions(24:27) - Law 34: Never Lose Self-Respect(24:54) - Law 35: Mastering Perfect Timing(26:15) - Beware Ego’s Deadly Power(27:16) - Envy: The Hidden Emotion(28:07) - Law 48: Flexibility is the Ultimate Power👑 Support Mere Mortals:Value 4 Value Support:Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastBoostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportConnect 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

Isn't it common sense to go wild & fight!!!'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine is a small pamphlet distributed just before the start of the American Revolution. In it he makes arguments for why they should break away from English governance to become their own independent country and not a colony. These focus on religious views of kings, the illegitimacy of hereditary rule & why England does not have America's best interests at heart.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:23) Themes/Questions(00:13:02) Author & Extras(00:19:51) Summary(00:22:44) Value 4 Value(00:23:53) Join Live! 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

Power is an elusive force, but Robert Greene distills it into 48 strategic laws that have stood the test of time. In this review, I break down the core themes, structure, and key takeaways from The 48 Laws of Power—a book that is equally revered and feared.This isn't just another self-help book; it's a deep dive into historical power dynamics, manipulation, and strategy. From Machiavelli to Napoleon, Greene extracts lessons from history’s most cunning figures. But is this a manual for domination or a cautionary tale? And should you read it?00:00 - Introduction  00:45 - Book Overview  03:15 - Structure & Writing Style  06:40 - Controversial Aspects  10:20 - Key Lessons & Takeaways  14:00 - Should You Read This?  16:30 - Final Thoughts & Rating  17:00 - Call to Action (Subscribe, Support, Comment)  ⚡ Key Takeaways:The book's unique structure, including its historical parables and red-highlighted maximsThe balance between strategy and ethics—how some laws feel Machiavellian while others are practical life lessonsHow The 48 Laws of Power can be used as a tool for self-awareness rather than manipulationSimilar reads: The Prince by Machiavelli, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieIf you've read this book, let me know your thoughts in the comments. Do you think it’s a dangerous text or an essential one?👑 Support Mere Mortals:Value 4 Value Support:Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastBoostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportConnect 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