This was interesting but sometimes hard to follow. Well, not exactly hard to follow more that it got progressively more difficult to understand as it went on, but I guess that's fiction for you.

Initially I thought it was a fictional story but with a believable story-line. Then it got to this conceptual shark thing where this shark comes out of the ground and tries to kill him. It reminded me of the big snake-shark thing in beetlejuice. Then towards the end, the final battle if you will, they set out some props in the shape of a boat and pretend they're at sea, and he has to summon water through dreaming or something. Then all of a sudden they're at sea, but is it all a dream? A hallucination? Again, maybe that's just fiction for you.

Just finished reading The Evolution of Desire - Strategies of Human Mating

The way it's written is heavily based on studies and statistics, with various in-depth theories and explanations following the results, many of which are quite intriguing.

The most memorable thing I take from the book though, is that up until 1974 in Texas, if you caught your wife having sex with another man, you could murder them both without repercussion. A judge would consider it a reasonable response to a powerful provocation, and you'd be let off scot-free.

Gunna start reading 1984 next.

Just finished reading this.

It was good but I think I would need to read it again to fully appreciate it. It took me while to get into and understand what the fuck was going on, because it jumps right into a day in the life of Winston and goes from there. Although in hindsight it was quite in-your-face from page one that there was major control going on, especially with the phrase BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU on the very first page.

I can't imagine a totalitarian society ever truly becoming a thing for us, but it did make me think of North Korea, and that video game Oddworld: Abe's Odyssee. Could it ever happen? I don't know enough about world politics to try and call it. However, the microphones and TV screens everywhere that can observe and listen in to everyone is a funny aspect of the story, because that's pretty much came true.


Looking forward to the next one... Mark Manson - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

I know I've passively read a lot of self-development books but this is one I'm going to really pay attention to.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

It was ok, but not as great as I wanted it to be. I maybe would have taken more from it if I wasn't already a go-getter in life, but it was alright and I may give it another shot some time as it's a pretty quick and easy read. Basically it contains advice and anecdotes that will merely resonate with an already strong, self-aware and well-rounded person.

The most poignant chapter was the final one called "And Then You Die" which is about accepting one's own mortality. This is something that's been on my mind a lot for the last year, and it's certainly my biggest motivation in life. I've seen a lot of death in my time from relatives to friends to associates to people I just know, to the point I'd become almost immune to it. I'm talking hundreds of individuals. And within the last year after suffering another young relative and friend, both 30, die from drug misadventure, the realisation of my own mortality has been the most profound it's ever been.

Ultimately the most significant out of the 5 or 6 points during the book that had me pausing in contemplation, was the quote "You can't win if you don't play" which is a great quote and one I'm going to tell myself every time I feel hesitation to take an action, whether that's approaching a girl or otherwise.

Yesterday I read, The Richest Man in Babylon.

It's a classic fictional story based in ancient times, that gives principles of wealth creation, in story form, obviously.

Basically, a young man asks a rich man - a man who went to the same school etc but managed to appear "lucky" - to mentor him. And this is the plot the story follows.

It's just a nicely written short enough book (120 pages) that sets out the steps required to accumulate wealth. Spend less than you need to; save at least 10% of your incoming cash; invest money wisely; take advice and mentorship from people skilled in your desired field; invest in your ability to earn more/learning, were the most prevalent principles to me.

All things most of us are already aware that we SHOULD do, but sometimes struggle to or procrastinate etc. And for me this was a better story than Rich Dad Poor Dad.


For the readers among you, download an app called PDFDRIVE. It's an awesome app you get free books on. You just type name of the book in and hey presto, books for free. It's my new favourite app. Wish I'd found it sooner.

This app is fucking amazing.

I was in a couple of book stores on the way from the gym to work this morning, and I downloaded the few books I was interested in on this app. Probably 50 quids worth of books, but if I wanted I could have stood there downloading book after book all day if I wanted.

I only wish there was more hours in the day to read a lot more.

Gunna begin dabbling in a bit of Russian literature next. Been recommended a few stories to introduce me to it...

One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich..

..and..

The Kreutzer Sonata


I'm going to read the Ivan Denisovich story first.

Hold tight Dan

Just completed Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life.

Great book, I took a bunch of applicable stuff from it. Although I do think it contains content that goes a lot, lot deeper than the current depth of my comprehension and understanding. So a further read of this book at another point will happily be done.

In any case, having read it certainly compliments all the other material of his that I'm consuming daily. I decided to really engage with the things this man has to say and I'm looking upon him like a mentor.

Looking forward to his upcoming book - 12 More Rules for Life.

Clever guy. Super depressed. Doesn't take his own advice. Currently in rehab.


Peace,

kowalski

Yeah, hope he gets himself sorted, and I'm pretty sure he will. He's too smart not to. Just like Joe Rogan commented, "He's wise enough to know his bodys limitations". Which is why he's checked into rehab in the first place.

Just read that 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich'. It paints a pretty grim picture of daily life in one of the soviet forced labour camps. Although it's probably going to be like the Hilton hotel compared to holocaust stories.

Rather than go straight into another labour camp themed Solzhenitsyn book, The Gulag Archipelago (which I'm excited about) I think I'm going to read "Ordinary Men" which is about how ordinary police officers willingly turned into cold, Nazi killers.

I have so many incredible books on my reading list that it's like being a kid in a candy store it's difficult to decide which I want first.