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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

00:09:42

Uncovering Stoic Learnigs | Lives of the stoics (Ryan...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/06/20

As I revisited "Lives of the Stoics" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, I discovered a wealth of insights and practical philosophies that deeply resonated with me. From understanding the importance of being a willing participant in life to the power of endurance and self-restraint, the book offers timeless wisdom for personal growth. Each philosopher's life story and teachings provided valuable lessons on how to navigate challenges and live a virtuous life. Join me as I share the key learnings

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00:13:50

Uncovering Stoic Wisdom: Zeno to Marcus Aurelius |...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/06/13

As I delved into "Lives of the Stoics" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, I was taken on a journey through the lives of Stoicism's greatest philosophers. From the foundational teachings of Zeno to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, this book offers a practical guide to applying Stoic philosophy in everyday life. The chronological structure, detailed biographies, and insightful reflections made it a compelling read that not only provided historical context but also offered valuable lessons on

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00:24:05

A Study In Semantics | The Tyranny Of Words (Stuart...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/05/30

We must blah blah the blah in order to blah the blah from blah.'The Tyranny Of Words' by Stuart Chase is his attempt at furthering the field of semantics to the general public. He takes us through the general theory, how language is used compared to cats or primitive people, areas of human conversation that contain more precise meaning and plenty of examples of unclear language. It's split into 19 chapters and worth noting he was writing this in a time of great confusion. Communism, capitalism,

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00:25:47

Life, Liberty & Property | The Law (Frédéric Bastiat)...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/05/23

To quote the great philosopher Judge Dredd .... "I am the law".'The Law' by Frédéric Bastiat is a philosophical treatise that might get confused as political writing due to the subtitle. Bastiat argues that the law should be limited to a narrow subset of protection of natural rights, not to be philanthropic & interfere in people's lives. Mini sections are all throughout with plenty of quotes from the French Revolution and other French notables. I found it to be useful in thinking about how

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00:20:06

Let's Break The Bank | More Money Than God (Sebastian...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/05/16

Who is to blame for all the financial turmoil?'More Money Than God' by Sebastian Mallaby is a history of US hedge funds. It details how they were created, notable people who worked in them and some of the legendary trades that occurred. It also goes over some of the larger financial bubbles (and subsequent crashes) that happened and contributions that hedge funds played in them.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:08) -

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00:09:42

Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger | Mere Mortals...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/05/09

Be Useful extends beyond mere autobiography to offer a blueprint for practical action and personal success. "Be Useful" is structured around pivotal themes like having a clear vision, the power of persistence, and the importance of community and support networks. Join us as we take a look at the memorable, key takeaways from the book tody!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(1:05) - Clear vision(3:06) - Winners circle(5:30) - Work hard(6:32) - Follow through(9:18) - SummaryValue 4 Value

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00:13:56

Be Useful, Goddammit | Be Useful (Arnold...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/05/02

Be Useful extends beyond mere autobiography to offer a blueprint for practical action and personal success. "Be Useful" is structured around pivotal themes like having a clear vision, the power of persistence, and the importance of community and support networks. At 260 pages, the book is an engaging read filled with actionable advice, personal anecdotes from Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life as a bodybuilder, actor, and governor, and reflections on setbacks and strategic successes. While it

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00:09:42

Unlocking Life's Lessons from 'Endure' by Cameron...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/04/24

Dive into the core lessons extracted from Cameron Hanes's "Endure" in this special edition of Mere Mortals. From embracing the grind to finding strength in suffering, we explore six pivotal takeaways that resonate beyond the realms of ultra-running and bow hunting. Whether it's the power of action over words, the unforeseen teachings of life's dark moments, or the essence of unwavering commitment, these insights challenge us to reflect on our personal journeys. Join us as we dissect the nuances of

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00:13:56

Beyond Bow Hunting and Ultra-Running | Endure...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/04/17

Join us in this episode of Mere Mortals Book Reviews as we dive into "Endure" by Cameron Haines, with a foreword by Joe Rogan. Discover the unique blend of memoir, motivational manifesto, and a deep dive into the world of bow hunting and ultra-running. Despite its motivational peaks and intriguing insights into Cameron Hanes's life, the book's structure might leave you wanting more coherence. We explore the highs and lows, the repetitive nature, and the book's occasional disconnect with its imagery

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00:13:12

The Spirit Of The Japanese Poem | Japanese Death...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/04/11

I explore the themes and insights from the book 'Japanese Death Poems' by Yoel Hoffman. I discussed the spirit of the Japanese people, their ability to embrace opposing ideas, and the complexity and simplicity of reality. I share selected death poems and provides analysis on their meaning. Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing each moment. Finally, the delusion of death poems and emphasizing the value of embracing imperfection and taking action in

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00:08:54

Unravel The Soul's Final Whisper | Japanese Death...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/04/04

Japanese Death Poems by Yoel Hoffmann is a compelling anthology that explores the Japanese tradition of Jisei, or death poems. The book provides a deep dive into the cultural and historical significance of these poems, reflecting on the life, death, and impermanence of existence through the lens of Zen Buddhism. It is divided into three main sections: an introduction, death poems by Zen monks, and death poems by haiku poets. While the book may not offer practical takeaways, it offers a somber and

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00:29:47

Chivalry At It's Finest | Sir Gawain And The Green...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/03/28

Would you have the fortitude to stick to your principles, even in the face of certain death?'Sir Gawain And The Green Knight' by an unknown poet is a story from a 14th/15th century manuscript. It tells of Sir Gawain, a knight at Arthur's round table who accepts a challenge from a mysterious & magical being. This requires him to willingly offer up his life whilst first being tempted by the most beautiful lady in the land. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this little ditty and is a great

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00:26:54

A Different Type Of Travel | The Innocents Abroad...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/03/21

Let's travel back to the days when people didn't take offense so easily ...... or did they?'The Innocents Abroad' by Mark Twain is a compendium of his adventures whilst travelling for 5 months across Europe & The Middle East. It is told in his usual humorous style of witty anecdotes and droll sarcastic one-liners. The bulk of it relates to visiting historic landmarks & places of cultural significance, with some parts on the actual travel journey itself. During his life it became his best

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00:27:03

Classic Feminist Literature | A Room Of One's Own...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/03/14

Righteous anger can be useful .... if applied to the right people.'A Room Of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf is an essay critiquing woman's literature and female authors. Her core argument is that the lack of financial means, privacy and strict social norms has resulted in the inability for females to write great books. And that it is not due inherent feminine weakness or lack of genius. She also emphasises that women need to write in their own voice and spends a fair bit of time criticising authors

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00:18:39

Overthinking Love, Death & Sex | Confessions Of A...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/03/07

Can you think yourself to death?'Confessions Of A Mask' by Yukio Mishima follows a young rather frail boy called Kochan in the 1920-40's period in Tokyo set against the backdrop of WW2. We see his homosexual desires for another boy Omi emerge as well as a morbid fascination with blood, death and love. He tries to force himself to fall in love with a girl called Sonoko but struggles to combine this with his true feelings. Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give

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00:28:46

Tiresome Edwardian Etiquette | A Room With A View (E....

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/02/29

Manners, decorum, morals, tact, niceties, propriety. Doesn't this all sound fun!'A Room With A View' by E. M. Forster is the tale of a young woman who is constrained by the conventions of her time. Lucy Honeychurch lives in 1900's England and meets the strange George Emerson whilst travelling to Italy. After a brief but intense contact she returns home and becomes engaged to the uptight Cecil Vyse. However coincidence throws the two back together and she has to decide whether to be a proper lady or

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00:17:40

Crazy Is As Crazy Does | Death Of A Salesman (Arthur...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/02/22

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.'Death Of A Salesman' by Arthur Miller is a play that showcases the tragic life of a simple man with delusions of grandeur. Willy Loman is nearing the end of his days as a travelling salesman and the return of his son Biff pushes his instability into overdrive. Through a series of flashbacks we see how the whole family is suffering from their excessive pride before reaching an ultimate breaking point.Would love to hear your feedback

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00:17:49

When Real Life Gets Real Weird | Picnic In The Storm...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/02/15

Drop the dishes and let's get JACKED!!!'Picnic In The Storm' by Yukiko Motoya is a series of 11 short stories of everyday life in Japan, but with a twist. So inside you'll find stories about a housewife getting jacked, a cat that won't stop peeing everywhere and couples that keep merging into one entity. They were kind of fun although I found them more random than anything else.Hope you appreciate the new shorter format and want to thank Cole for all his fabulous voice acting!Timeline:(0:00) -

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00:27:06

A Kind Man Becomes Ruthless | The Winter Of Our...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/02/08

Fret your silly head not, you won't leave this book discontented.'The Winter Of Our Discontent' by John Steinbeck takes place in the fictional New Baytown where Ethan Hawley has become dissatisfied with his life. The lingering legacy of his family is in stark contrast to the life of grocery store clerk trying to support his family. He decides to change his circumstances but must act ruthlessly to gain what he wants. He spends a lot of time in his head moralising, giving a great insight into the

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00:32:49

Propaganda I Can Get Behind | The Moon Is Down (John...

Mere Mortals Book Reviews ·

2024/02/01

A hidden gem of war time literature!'The Moon Is Down' by John Steinbeck is a short simple tale written to encourage passive resistance. A small town in an unnamed country is taken over by an invading force. The townsfolk unhappy with this situation turn the tables by creating a hostile atmosphere that makes it a living hell for the aggressors. The backstory behind the impact of this book is actually quite fascinating!No boostagrams this week, you are actually making a sad puppy :'( But I do

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