Mere Mortals Book Reviews

What does one of the most successful writers of all time have to say about perfecting the craft? 'On Writing' by Stephen King is part memoir/part advice of what he has learned from 52 years of living. The memoir focuses mostly upon his early childhood leading up to the publication of his first book 'Carrie', as well as his near death experience in the writing of this book. His advice reflects his humorous personality and contains some very direct tips (keep it short/minimise adverbs/read & write lots!) and indirect musings (tell the truth/story above all else/care about the language).I summarised the book as follows. "This book didn't bore me, and that is not an insult at all. I am not particularly interested in the writing process or King's style of books but found myself fully engaged with his reflections and ashamed that I have only read one of his books. Reading this book makes you want to be a writer. Would recommend for aspiring writers (obviously) but also for anyone who has a love for language."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(1:37) - Memoir & Accident(3:48) - On Writing(6:45) - Personal Observations(8:35) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

This time around, I got to indulge myself by reading 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson. Treasure Island, originally named The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys, is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "buccaneers, buried gold, pirates and mutiny."If you would like to support our channel and grab the book as well, find our amazon link below:https://amzn.to/3w3utjBAs always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(1:25) - Robert Louis Stevenson(2:00) - What is Treasure Island(5:30) - Themes of the book(11:00) - Personal Observations(12:30) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Did you know that the seeds of 'Brave New World' were coming through in the authors head at least a decade before it was published? 'Crome Yellow' by Aldous Huxley is a satirical novel poking fun of the English 'gentry' and their associates. It is set in Crome Manor in the green heart of England and is told from a 3rd person omniscient narrator. The book is silly in its presentation of the eccentric characters but ironically contains some deep themes despite the comical façade.I summarised the book as follows. "There is absolutely no plot to speak of so the book relies on its wonderful characters to act as the driving force. They are totally outlandish but also entirely believable at the same time. It's mildly thought provoking in places but is definitely a light short read. Worth checking out if you want to see the origins of Huxley's more famous book 'Brave New World'."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:45) - Satire: Not necessarily always mean-spirited(4:27) - Irony: Not always humorous(7:49) - Personal Observations(8:09) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Explore the haunting depths of mental health in a semi-autobiographical tale that reveals the darkness of depression. Delve into how societal expectations can crush personal identities and lead to a downward spiral. Discover the tragic parallels between the protagonist's struggles and the author’s life, offering a poignant reflection on the treatment of mental illness in the past. It's an emotional journey through despair, but also a call to understand and empathize with those battling similar demons.

Are we headed for imminent extinction due to climate change or is it all just a false alarm? 'False Alarm' by Bjorn Lomborg is a book designed to dampen the fear and hyperbole surrounding the methods of dealing with a changing environment. The book has 5 sections addressing why alarmism is wrong, what the full story says, how NOT to fix the problem, 3-4 simple workable solutions and a final conclusion with notes supporting his interpretation. I summarised the book as follows. "I'm a fan of the call to use more rationality and to proceed with moderate action in non-emergency situations. I found the book compelling and easy to understand, much more so than 'Cool It' by the same author. He was reasonable in his presentation of science/facts and wasn't focused on attacking the 'other side' of the debate, simply just trying to make the world a better place."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:56) - Alarmism: Fear makes us do stupid things(4:51) - Climate Change: Effective and ineffective solutions(10:14) - Personal Observations(12:23) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Why is John Keats regarded as one of the finest poets to ever live? 'Selected Poems' by John Keats is a collection of 50 poems written by the English poet. Keats had a pretty rough life as he was an orphan by the age of 15 and himself died at age 25. He is known as a Romanticism poet with the central themes of his poems being around art, beauty, youth, love, mythology and the opposite spectrum of death, sorrow, heartbreak and suffering.I summarised the book as follows. "I surprisingly quite enjoyed these poems as I always struggled with poetry during high school. It is everything one would imagine from a Romantic poet, high grandiose states of exaltation followed by abject misery and depression. I wasn't particularly swept away with emotion myself but did gain a greater appreciation for the art of poetry. Would definitely recommend others to read them poems out loud and to read them in multiple sittings to get the full ambience of the mood."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(1:21) - Style(3:07) - Personal Observations(4:44) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is it worth throwing away your good reputation to help those in need? 'Ruined City' by Nevil Shute is a fictional story of a rich banker (Henry Warren) who sets out to save the destitute town of Sharples. The book is set in 1930's England during the Great Depression and is a story of finding purpose when all meaning is lost. The themes of the book reflect upon what happens to people when they experience real hardship as well as how reputation can actually be used as a transactional tool.I summarised the book as follows. "It's an uplifting story about one man becoming a hero. The era it describes is dark, dreary and quite sad, but the narration of the main character is rather unemotional (fitting in with his general disposition). I felt the whole story was a bit bland and was sort of like the fantasy of an unimaginative banker. Overall, I probably won't remember this book in 10 years time as nothing really made it pop."As always, we hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:10) - Synopsis(2:16) - The Great Depression: Real hard times(4:33) - Reputation: Opinions that are context dependent(6:48) - Personal Observations(8:03) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What do Buddhists believe actually believe what happens when we are reincarnated? 'Meditations On Living, Dying And Loss' by an assorted collection of people including Graham Coleman, Gyurme Dorje, Thupten Jinpa (my man!!!) & the Dalai Lama. It is an examination of some select sections from the larger work of 'The Tibetan Book Of The Dead'. It begins with a bit of history & multiple intros from the editors & Dalai Lama. It's a short book with each section attempting to provide insight on the Buddhist philosophy of reincarnation and how to deal with the death of loved ones.I summarised the book as follows. "I found this eminently forgettable as a whole. Most of the prefaces were useful but on their own the passages of text are unclear and vague. There was a lot of repetition and I think it might require the whole framework of the religion (chants, clothing, incense, culture, buildings, etc.,) to really make sense."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(3:12) - The Big Picture: Why Buddhism is true(4:12) - The Small Details: Why Buddhism (probably) isn't true(7:24) - Personal Observations(8:28) - Summary(9:35) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Prepare myself for some potentially boring readingConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Looking for a non-serious book by a serious author? 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck is a fictional story set in Cannery Row, Monterey, California. It contains a humorous set of characters with the main plot to help the Doc from his listless depression. There are prostitutes with elegant table manners, a sneaky Mexican who is a natural lawbreaker, kind hearted buffoons and a skint millionaire. The themes of the book delve into the strange relationships that can be formed between people as well as manipulating someone in the attempt to help them.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun, zany tale of caring but foolish oddballs. It had me laughing throughout at the absolute mayhem of their schemes. The only downside is that I could have easily handled another 50 pages in the middle of the book. The ending as well was a bit 'meh', and only wish it could have been a bit more climactic. It is similar to the enjoyment I got while reading 'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:48) - Relationships: Improbable and shouldn't work, but they do(3:40) - Manipulation: Control/influence in a skilful manner(6:12) - Personal Observations(8:04) - Summary(9:13) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Life is too short not to read funny booksConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What is your purpose/cause/belief & are you starting with your WHY? 'Start With Why' by Simon Sinek is a book about leadership/business but it can be used by an individual to help better themselves and bring more clarity to their own life. He explains the difference between successful, long-standing, impactful companies/organisations in a qualitative way. The main themes of the book are his introduction to the Golden Circle of WHY/HOW/WHAT and ensuring that these are implemented in the correct order.I summarised the book as follows. "It initially comes across as the generic 'inspiring' self-help book, but I became more absorbed into his philosophy the longer I read on. It could be a fluke I felt this way or it could be a demonstration of Simon's own WHY in action. It can be a tad confusing with all the WHY's, HOW's & WHAT's but I found it tremendously insightful. I quite enjoyed it but am going to give it a while longer to sink in to see if I am still as impressed with it once the initial motivational kick has worn off."I hope you are having a fantastic day wherever you are in the world, Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:15) - The Golden Circle: WHY, HOW & WHAT(5:45) - Emphasis: Starting with what is important(8:07) - Personal Observations(9:43) - Summary(11:39) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Implement the Golden Circle into my lifeConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show