Mere Mortals Book Reviews

What is the strange attraction and repulsion that we have towards violence? 'In Evil Hour' by Gabriel García Márquez is a fictional story set in the same universe as his most famous work of '100 Years of Solitude' but without the magic realism he is famous for. The story starts and ends with a killing, depicting the start of the oppression and the escalation that is to follow. Violence (both overt and subtle) lingers throughout the interactions of the tyrannical mayor as he re-institutes a curfew and control over his town.I summarised the book as follows. "This is one of the first works from García Márquez and for me, not one of his finest. He captures the environment and ambience of the setting but the story and characters lacked a bit of bite. It felt like it needed a more dominant, driving antagonist as the mayor was responding to everything that happened, instead of instigating it like a 'proper' villain would do. That being said it still does contain the unique style of the great Colombian and is worth reading if you want to see his progression as a writer."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:22) - La Violencia: The political battle of Colombia(3:36) - Los Pasquines: The dark side of human nature(6:33) - Personal Observations(9:23) - Summary(11:05) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Keep up the out loud readingConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Looking for a book full of truth that is actually full of shameless lies? 'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut is a satirical novel of black humour that treats of a dangerous situation similar to the Cold War. It follows the writer John as he researches Felix Hoenikker; one of the fathers of the atomic bomb & the inventor of the insanely dangerous Ice-Nine. Along his journey he meets an enigmatic midget, the most beautiful girl in the world and the mysterious Bokonon. The underlying themes of the book centre around the possibility of Armageddon due to rampant technological increase and the absurd religion designed to give purpose and meaning.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun easy read that will have you laughing. Totally ridiculous with biting dark humour on actually serious issues. Some of the finest satire I have read. The book has a unique style of extremely short chapters, there being 127 in only 206 pages. I would recommend it to those who enjoy the series of Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy or The Diceman."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:07) - Armageddon: The price of technology and development(5:19) - Bokonism: The religion of the absurd(8:36) - Personal Observations(10:58) - Summary(12:18) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Have some absurdityConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is it better to generalise or specialise? 'Range' by David Epstein argues that generalists actually manage to do better in a specialised world. He previously wrote a book called 'The Sports Gene' and he himself said he put around 150% more effort into producing this book. Some arguments he makes are that hyper specialisation can be detrimental due to becoming cognitively entrenched in a field and that a thinker can become worse not better by the additional information they are provided.Juan summarised the book as follows. "While a lot of what he says is true, I don't think hyper-specialisation is a bad thing and it is just when you actually decide to hyper-specialise seems to be the problem in the matter. Some of the best ways of learning for me personally is through engaging stories and this book has them. However it has 60-70 stories and probably has 10 too many."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(3:58) - Cognitively Entrenched(5:52) - Learning Is Hard(8:02) - Information Overload(11:49) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Do you believe the global warming debate is full of hyperbole and needs calmer arguments? 'Cool It' by Bjørn Lomborg (a Danish statistician/political scientist) is the sequel to his wildly successful book 'The Skeptical Environmentalist'. In it he argues against dramatic climate change response due to the overhype & poor ROI of the proposed solutions. The book is also largely a rebuttal against Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' and focuses upon unemotional realism and deciding upon our priorities to make the proper trade-offs.I summarised the book as follows. "It is a book of solid rational sense from start to finish. Bjørn argues against the hyperbole of global warming and is supported by a large amount of data showing why it is not an existential threat. He firmly acknowledges that global warming is real and man-made, but states that we can make better use of our resources to fix the problems that we all acknowledge."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:00) - Unemotional Realism(3:58) - Tradeoffs: Smarter solutions & deciding our priorities(8:49) - Personal Observations(11:32) - Summary(12:40) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Bring the data/factsConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have you got your shit sorted? 'Sort Your Sh!t Out' by Gary Waldon is a guide to confronting your own mind and the self-talk that goes within. The book is a mix of mini-activities, deeply personal stories and an introduction to Bob (the negative persona inside your own head). The book is split into 4 sections: knowing, owning, dealing and maintaining your shit. Gary essentially induces the reader to take responsibility for their own problems and their own life.I summarised the book as follows. "This is a self-help book that will have you questioning whether your shit is actually sorted. I believe it would be useful for those unused to self-reflection/introspection and who need some help along that journey. I personally had come to many of the same conclusions as Gary has through my own experiences so didn't find it as engaging as I would have whilst younger. Nevertheless it is a solid book and Gary is a top notch bloke, as seen by the discussion I had with him on a Mere Mortals Conversation #36."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:25) - Layout(5:03) - What Sets It Apart: The onus is on you!(7:42) - Personal Observations(9:51) - Summary(11:13) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Use the bibliographyConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Did you know that the world is running out of antibiotics? 'Superbugs' by Matt McCarthy explains how antimicrobial resistance is rising against our current batch of antibiotics, thus creating superbugs. The book is a mix of the author's clinical trial of Dalbavancin, the history of antibiotics (think Alexander Fleming), the relationship he has with his mentor Tom Walsh, the science of antibiotics and exactly how these superbugs are developing.I summarised the book as follows. "The book follows a smooth narrative that will scare you shitless of germs and hospitals. It contains heart-rending stories from dying patients and the personal trials of Matt as their doctor. Questions are raised about the incentives of the healthcare industry and showcases the real world ethics that doctors face. Personally the book didn't leave a lasting impression on me as I found it a bit to abstract from my everyday life."As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:03) - Healthcare Incentives(7:24) - Real World Ethics(11:40) - Personal Observations(14:09) - Summary(15:15) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Stop Shaking HandsConnect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Deep in, deep out. Breathe Mother Fuckers!!!!! 'The Wim Hof Method' is the layman's guide to the daily practice created by Wim Hof. The book teaches you the direct instructions but also contains a biography of the Iceman, testimonials of advocates and ends with his spiritual philosophy. The book explains how he came about his 3 Pillars (Breath/Mind/Cold) and the benefits to your health and performance that can be gained.I summarised the book as follows. "It's an overview of Wim Hof's method that translates his message in a purely textual format. It starts on firm scientific ground but gets shakier towards the end as he introduces his own spiritual beliefs. Personally I find the use of testimonials unconvincing and the message doesn't come across as strongly without the charismatic personality of Wim in person. That being said the WHM is probably something to at least try for those people with health problems that conventional science has not been able to alleviate."I hope you're having a fantastic day wherever you are in the world, Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:12) - The 3 Pillars: Breath, Mind & Cold(4:34) - Benefits: Health, Performance & Beyond(6:55) - Personal Observations(9:56) - Summary(12:27) - Pragmatic Takeaway: I'm stopping the breathingConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Have you ever tried running barefoot? In Christopher McDougall's best-selling book titled 'Born To Run' we dive into the world of ultramarathon running with a race that combines the modern with the old. The book is a mixture of biography, history, science and adventure; all wrapped up in a story of an ultramarathon held deep in the Mexican Copper Canyon. The principal themes of the book explore the lost art of endurance running and why a barefoot/minimalist shoe style might actually be beneficial to prevent running injuries.I had this to say after not being able to put down the book. "It's a very engaging tale of people pushing their limits that will make you want to run! It's engaging probably because it is a little bit exaggerated but as long as you keep that in mind it's a fascinating book about ultramarathoners, running long distances and crazy people in general."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(1:14) - The lost art of endurance running(6:40) - Foot health and running injuries(9:12) - Personal observations(12:29) - Summary: an engaging tale of people pushing their limits(13:12) - Pragmatic takeaway: running barefoot and without pressureConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"In the face of pain there are no heroes." This is a small quote from the book 1984 (usually fully spelt out but I'm lazy today) by George Orwell. In this bonus episode I philosophise about some of the intriguing concepts raised by the book, which include: the structural and grammatical components of Newspeak and how the language was aimed to diminish consciousness, why living in the present was discouraged and how negative emotions were used as an energy outlet, the psychological burden of torture/meaninglessness/pain, doublethink and why it is a useful concept to use in real life and the genius of the book as a whole.As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(0:50) - Language modification and newspeak(6:05) - The past, present and future(10:41) - The need for an emotional pressure valve(12:40) - Psychological hell: knowing the how but not the why(18:54) - The value of consciousness(22:25) - Cultural mainstays: doublethink, control and sanity(28:41) - Why 1984 is so good!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Will the censorship enabled through technology be our downfall? 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is an already classic fiction book published in 1949 by the author Eric Blair (under the pseudonym of George Orwell). We are treated to a small snippet from the life of Winston Smith as he battles a futile fight against a totalitarian regime. The core themes of the book revolve around control through censorship and the addiction of pure, raw power.Kyrin had this say about the book. "A book that keeps on giving. Nineteen Eighty-Four contains a memorable yet harrowing world that we have attempted to create in real life (the USSR and gulag camp system for example). The book is a true classic and has introduced cultural mainstays such as: Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime and newspeak. It has powerful insights and sublime writing that is unique to George Orwell, truly one of the best books ever!"As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Timeline:(0:00) - Synopsis(2:30) - Control through censorship(6:06) - Totalitarianism & power(8:49) - Personal observations(9:41) - Summary(12:10) - Pragmatic takeaway: use more colourful language!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show