Book Reviews Archives - Page 5 of 6

Life Is In The Transitions: Mastering Change At Any Age Review: Turning Self-Transformation Into Your Superpower

Transitions are a natural part of life. They are transformative moments that make us reevaluate the path we’re walking and move in a new direction for better or worse. Transitions connect people from across the world, young, old, poor, rich, and 2020 has been a year where many of us have had to adapt to changing circumstances.

Bruce Feiler’s Life Is In The Transitions: Mastering Change At Any Age is a timely book that delves into the process of reframing your life story and coming out stronger. From sharing the personal tales of 225 people from across America, to explaining transition superpowers and kryptonite, this book reveals some great insight into personal development.

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The Stoic Guide To A Happy Live Review: Reinterpreting Epictetus And The Introduction Of Stoicism 2.0

In the arena of philosophy, practices are always evolving and being updated. Stoicism is no different and through the centuries, the original ideas laid out by Zeno of Citium were adapted and changed by later Stoics like Cleanthes, Chrysippus and Epictetus.

Epictetus in particular is of note for his focus on the dichotomy of control and his teachings in The Enchiridion have influenced countless generations.

A modern Stoic who’s been influenced by Epitectetus is Massimo Pigliucci and in his book The Stoic Guide To A Happy Life: 53 Brief Lessons For Living, Pigliucci reinterprets The Enchiridion for a modern audience and introduces his own take on how Stoicism should be updated.

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How To Think Like A Roman Emperor Review: Showcasing The Power Of Stoicism In A Modern Context

The philosophy of Stoicism has changed the lives of many people, from ancient practitioners like Epictetus, to modern day Stoics like Ryan Holiday, who have shared it with new generations.

Another modern Stoic who’s made a name for himself is psychotherapist Donald Robertson and one of his most well-known books is How To Think Like A Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy Of Marcus Aurelius.

In the book, Robertson dives deep into the practices that Marcus Aurelius embodied in his everyday life and brings it into a modern context. The end result is a book that will surely continue to inspire readers for decades to come.

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Ego Is The Enemy Review: A Book For Challenging Expectations And Shifting Mindsets

“Here we are at the top of a mountain we worked hard to climb – or at least the summit is in sight. Now we face new temptations and problems. We breathe thinner air in an unforgiving environment. Why is success so ephemeral? Ego shortens it.

Whether a collapse is dramatic or a slow erosion, it’s always possible and often unnecessary. We stop learning, we stop listening, and we lose our grasp on what matters. We become victims of ourselves and the competition. Sobriety, open-mindedness, organisation, and purpose – these are the great stabilisers. They balance out the ego and pride that comes with achievement and recognition.”

This is one such passage from Ryan Holiday’s Ego Is The Enemy, a book that details all the pitfalls and dangers of believing in our own bullshit and thinking we have everything figured out. Packed full of real-world examples of people who fought against their ego and who let it consume them, Ego Is The Enemy is a fantastic book to read.

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