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PODCAST

Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Kyrin Down & Juan Granados

Hey we are the Mere Mortals and we review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (the "classics" if you will). Join us on Weekly live episode on Thurs 11am AEST (Thurs 1am UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan.

education self-improvement

All Episodes

00:30:00

Are We Seeing An Encroachment Upon Creativity & Art?...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/02/09

Should these book reviews be viewed as a cultural commons?'Common As Air' by Lewis Hyde is an argument against the enclosure of ideas in the modern age and a call to return to how cultural commons were treated back in the early days of the United States. Within are definitions of words, examples of recent IP/patent/copyright abuse and the principles exhibited by Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers.I summarised the book as follows. "It's not light reading but it was fascinating. A great book

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00:15:21

Who Is The Real Self-Absorbed Phony? | The Catcher In...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/02/02

This is a classic that I just don't get?'The Catcher In The Rye' by J.D. Salinger is a fictional coming of age story about a rebellious teen in New York City. Holden Caulfield is expelled from an elite school and fills a couple of days with activities (illegal and otherwise) before returning home to confront his parents with the news.I summarised the book as follows. "If you want a whiny self-absorbed kid, you've got the right book. Maybe this resonated with the time but I feel no connection to

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00:37:57

It's My Fault I Read Substandard Books | January 2023...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/01/30

Sometimes you just need to read something to reconfirm that you don't like it.In January 2023 we reviewed 5 books on this channel. We had some Japanese self-help, a classic adventure novel, a Buddhist text that is hard to appreciate without all the background knowledge and two Stoic explanations by Ryan Holiday. Plus a bonus bit of a controversy regarding a certain thumbnail.Huge thanks to Petar, Cole McCormick and Joel W for supporting the show. Absolute legends!I hope you have a fantastic day

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00:17:22

What Kind Of Journey Excites You? | Around The World...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/01/26

Is there still adventure to be found in this world?'Around The World In 80 Days' by Jules Verne is an adventure novel of a gentleman trying to win a bet. Phileas Fogg along with his manservant Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world by train, boat and any transport available in order to collect a £20,000 wager. Along the way they encounter mishaps & danger caused by self inflicted decisions and external circumstances.I summarised the book as follows. "Sometimes a book can just enthrall

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00:27:41

Japanese Self-Help/Psychology | The Courage To Be...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/01/19

Do you have the courage to break your life-lie?'The Courage To Be Disliked' by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga is a Japanese version of a self-help/psychology book. It showcases Adlerian psychology through means of a Socratic dialogue between a philosopher and youth. It is primarily about how to change mental thought patterns by taking individual responsibility and not playing the victim card.I summarised the book as follows. "It's ultimately a useful tool for improvement. I believe much of life

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00:23:34

Understanding the Bardo Thodol | The Tibetan Book Of...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/01/12

What happens when we die? Maybe this book has the answers!'The Tibetan Book Of The Dead' by Padmasambhava is a hidden Tibetan text that explains the 'bardo', the intermediate zone between death & rebirth. It is a companion to be used as a guide for those transitions from life into the next process. There are clear instructions for loved ones/care givers to follow and what to expect in the days following cessation of life.I summarised the book as follows. "A large part of religion is finding

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00:15:08

Get Courageous | Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2023/01/05

Welcome back Mere Mortalites to another book review, this time on Courage is Calling by Ryan HolidayI enjoyed the new series by Ryan on the four virtues, and even with a few Ryan Holiday books under my belt this really shined.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:20) - New Series(2:00) - Synopsis(6:08) - Themes(10:00) - TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord:

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00:13:53

How Stoicism Can Give You Inner Peace | Stillness Is...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/12/29

Stillness is the Key is a self-help book written by Ryan Holiday that explores the concept of stillness and how it can be used to improve one's life. The book argues that stillness, or the ability to be calm and focused in the face of chaos and distractions, is a key ingredient to success and happiness.Holiday also examines the ways in which stillness can be cultivated, including through meditation, exercise, and other mindfulness practices. He also offers practical advice on how to incorporate

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00:28:30

New Books Are Useful But Old Books Are Better |...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/12/26

I like recently published books for their utility, but for pure enjoyment and beauty it's hard for me to go past the classics.In December 2022 we upped the ante and reviewed 5 books on this channel. As usual I was all over the shop with Russian poetry, coding for kids, biographies from 2 millennia ago and Victorian England drama. I chose not to include Juan's upcoming review (didn't want to spoil it) so that will be recapped next month.Huge thanks to Petar the Slav for supporting the show, so

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00:24:11

Misfortune & Injustice Can Strike Down The Best Of Us...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/12/22

At the of it all, there is not much to do other than pity the heroine of this tale.'Tess Of The d'Urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy is a realistic story of a continually unfortunate country girl set in Victorian England. Tess Durbeyfield (a poor milkmaid) is wronged by Alec d'Urberville and finds love with the gentleman Angel Clare, but is still haunted by her past. It explores a set of weaving themes related to poverty, religion, morality and class divides.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a

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00:27:23

The Core Concepts Of Code | Coding For Beginners...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/12/15

Am I simpler than a computer? I might just be!'Coding For Beginners Using Python' by Louie Stowell is an instructions guide to learn the basics. It's a combination of simple exercises for loops/dictionaries/drawing and more complex games that mimic Minesweeper or Pong. The target audience is kids and so is set out in an easy to understand manner with plenty of colour and fun graphics.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a nice, practical and easy to use first step. I liked the emphasis on quickly

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00:29:48

Developing Character & Virtue In A Barbaric World |...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/12/08

What can the lives of the Ancient Greeks teach us about how to live well?'The Age Of Alexander' by Plutarch is a selection of 9 Greek lives from his work called 'Parallel Lives'. It covers prominent people from various locations and various professions, but all from around ~400 BC to 300 BC. It focuses mostly on their achievements with quotes, battle statistics, 1st hand sources, moments from their life and overall actions/behaviours.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a glimpse into the lives

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00:23:57

Fighting For Honour In A Beautiful Style | Eugene...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/12/01

Would you have the honour to behave like a coward?'Eugene Onegin' by Alexander Pushkin is a novel in verse of an unhappy Russian dandy. Onegin lacks meaning from a city life and struggles to find it in the countryside, with the same superficial gossip, flirtatious women and rash young men. The poetry is renowned for it's unique rhyme scheme known as the 'Pushkin Sonnet' or 'Onegin Stanza'.I summarised the book as follows. "It's easily my most favourite poetry that I've read. Not only does the style

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00:26:09

Why Am I Barely Reading New Books? | November 2022 Recap

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/11/28

Do you want to know how to change your mind or how innovation works?In November 2022 we sadly only covered 2 books on this channel. Both Juan and I have been rather busy as of late and so didn't put in the time like we normally do. Strangely both books I read started with 'How' and were published within the last 4 years. Definitely an off the rails month.Huge thanks to Petar the Slav for supporting the show. I'll do better for next month!I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world

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00:28:16

Move Aside Regulation Bullshit, Progress Is Coming...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/11/24

Don't stand in the way of this or you might get railroaded .... literally!'How Innovation Works' by Matt Ridley is a how-to book that somewhat becomes an argument for change. It uses primarily stories from history to illustrate the key thesis, from food to communication to primitive technology amongst others. The difference between innovation and invention is also distinguished with an explanation of the role of the individual thrown in as well.I summarised the book as follows. "It captures the

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00:34:26

Taking A Trip Into Your Brain & The World Of...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/11/10

Are you willing to change your mind on a controversial topic?'How To Change Your Mind' by Michael Pollan is a dive into the North American history of psychedelics & their use in emerging scientific studies. It focuses primarily on 3 types: LSD, psilocybin and DMT. The book is not overly scientific as it contains many trip reports from the author himself as well as subjective ponderings on the mystical experiences that can arise. I summarised the book as follows. "It's a compelling read that

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00:29:47

Pretty Phrases & Poetic Passages Predominate |...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/10/31

Do you have a favourite book for poetical sentences that catch your eye?In October 2022 we covered 4 books on this channel. Whilst I didn't fall in love with this month's reading, I did notice I was drawn into small portions from each book that sounded nice in my inner reading voice. I even took a stab at live translating from Spanish to English, which ended horribly lol.Huge thanks to Dave Jones, Petar the Slav and Unitofacc for supporting the show. Literary giants the lot of them!I hope you have a

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00:22:34

A Book That Reflects The Lost Hope Of It's Characters...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/10/27

Like the Argentine personality, I started off with hope but was left disappointed and cynical.'On Heroes And Tombs' by Ernesto Sabato is a novel of tortured love, self loathing and madness. There are 4 main section that follow the interweaving timelines of Martín, Alejandra, Fernando & Bruno. It starts with a strict plotline that becomes looser with multiple narrators, a fictional yet semi-historical running commentary and seemingly random ramblings.I summarised the book as follows. "Overall

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00:17:50

Who's going to carry the boats? | Can't Hurt Me...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/10/19

'Can't Hurt Me' by David Goggins is a tale of his life, the triumphs and tribulations that made him who he is today.I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Juan out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:58) - Synopsis(7:03) - Themes(10:50) - TakeawaysConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

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00:35:12

Why Do Some People Chose Self-Destruction? | Voss...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2022/10/12

Is there greater isolation in the Australian desert, or being unable to fit in with society?'Voss' by Patrick White is a story of adventure into the Australian wilderness. It is set in 1845 and revolves around 2 principal characters: Johann Ulrich Voss and Laura Trevelyan. There are complex weavings of love, passion, inner turmoil and religious symbolism as Voss follows his path of self-destruction and Laura struggles to communicate with others.I summarised the book as follows. "Much like the

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