Summer Break Readings

I took two weeks off to be with Tim before his
summer camp and managed to finish three books.

- Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand
  Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman

  I have borrowed and tried to read this book
  since two months ago after seeing it mentioned
  in a review of the book "The Art of Not Giving a
  F*ck" by Mark Manson, an amazingly young
  author with some funny and deep insights
  about the current states of human happiness.

  The "Antidote" is very well written. It goes
  deep to explain why positive thinking doesn't
  cut it, e.g., goal-setting doesn't work as well
  in the real world and ways to achieve true
  happiness, e.g., Stoic practices, Buddha's
  teachings and meditation, etc. I have learnt a
  few things from Burkeman including the daily
  trick of "memento mori" to keep death in mind.
  He also explains and debunks "I think and
  therefore I am." I think I will buy this book.

- Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

  I love Tim's podcasts and have benefited mostly
  from listening to his guests Pavel and Jacko. I
  have read his 4-hr series of books. Each makes
  many good points and I have referred to the 4-hr
  Body a few times.

  This new book consists of summaries of his
  podcasts. One chapter per guest, I believe.
  Those interesting to me are a good reminder of
  what I once decided to do. I have jotted down
  yet another todo list after leafing through the
  700-page tome, including pullups, dead-lifts,
  cossack squats, meditation, sauna, less fruits, etc., 
  and a to-read list, including "Hardcore History"
  by Carlin, "Siddhartha" by Hesse, "Natrual Born
  Heros" by McDougal, etc.

  It's interesting that the "Tao Te Ching" ranked
  the most recommended by guests but not a single
  Chinese came on Tim's podcast.

- Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by
  Nassim Taleb

  This is a re-read and re-listening. It's well
  worth the effort. The book has introduced many
  new concepts to me. One is the "Lindy's Effect"
  where for the perishable, e.g., a human, every
  additional day in its life translates into a
  shorter additional life expectancy. For the
  nonperishable every additional day may imply a
  longer life expectancy, e.g., books or
  technologies 2000 years old can be expected to
  last another 2000 years. Another is "iatrogenics"
  meaning harm done by the healer.

  His fictional character, Fat Tony, is hilarious.
  The imagined dialog between Tony and Socrates
  gives an idea why the ancient Athenian was
  sentenced to death.

  Taleb shared some dietetic and weight-lifting
  experiences with me and seemed to have the same
  taste in shoes. I'd recommend the Xeros to him.

  The author is very well-read and in his word,
  erudite. I learned so much from his books. Taleb
  is one of Pavel's favorite authors, too.

[7grizzly]

Thank you, 暖冬, for liking, and Happy Father's Day to you!
Good to have you back from the trip.

Reading books is such a treat and, for some, even profitable ;-)

[暖冬cool夏]

As provocative as it is inspiring, your reading is so extensive and fast (you finished 3 books in two weeks). It may take me 3 months to finish one book. That is the difference. : -( After two weeks' in China without reading English, my brain got rusted... Reading is just that important..
Happy Father's Day!