June 2022 Book Reviews

A brief review of each of the books I read in the last month.

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 unconventional laws to redefine your life and succeed on your own terms - Vishen Lakhiani 5/5

After listening to this audiobook I have already ordered the hard copy to re-read it more deeply.

This book is worth a read to update your beliefs and systems for life. 

Get your hands on it and read it.

Physics of the Impossible: a scientific exploration into the world of phasers, force fields, teleportation and time travel - Michio Kaku 4.5/5

In this book, Kaku discusses phenomena which were previously considered impossible but have come into fruition, phenomena which are currently considered impossible but do not violate the laws of physics, and phenomena which are currently considered impossible and do violate the laws of physics.

Kaku speculates on technologies which we now perceive as science fiction but may be developed in future years, whether that be 10 years, 1,000 years, or 1,000,000 years!

TED Talks: the official TED guide to public speaking - Chris Anderson 4.5/5

A guide by the head of TED walks us through common themes across popular talks and gives us some helpful guidelines which should be adhered to when presenting to a crowd.

Anderson illustrated the importance of a through line - a core message in a talk and warns of potential pitfalls to avoid.

If you are in a position where you are required to present ideas to a group of people, read this book.

DO EPIC SHIT. - Ankur Warikoo 4.5/5

I very much like the way this book is written.

Frequent nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout this short book make it an easy and valuable read.

Einstein: his life and universe - Walter Isaacson 4/5

If you pick up a biography written by Isaacson, you are typically in for a thorough and high quality read.

This was no exception.

If you would like to know more about Einstein, this is the book for you.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship: practice and principles - Peter Drucker 4/5

Despite the muffled audio on my copy of the book, it was an enjoyable listen.

I have heard and seen Drucker quoted in many other books, but it was nice to hear the way the principles were laid out by the author himself.

Expect change and uncertainty.

Innovative opportunity can be found in:

• Exploiting the unexpected
• Finding incongruities
• Identifying a missing link
• A change in market structure (demographics, new knowledge, perception, meaning, and mood)

To innovate, you should:

• Analyse the source of innovative opportunities
• Listen to what the market is saying
• Practice simplicity
• Innovate for the present

And, you should not:

• Try to be too clever
• Try to appeal to everyone

Feed innovation no matter what:

• Be opportunity oriented 
• Be analysis oriented
• Have a well defined organisational structure in place
• Seek outside advice

4 Entrepreneurial strategies:

• Be all in
• Hitting them where they ain't
• Identify ecological niches
• Be customer oriented

Always remember to learn and adapt.

The Tipping Point: how little things can make a big difference - Malcolm Gladwell 4/5

Gladwell is always an enjoyable read with fascinating anecdotes.

I like the principle of small factors building up until they reach a critical threshold (the tipping point) to create drastic change, and this book did not disappoint.

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho 3.5/5

After my experience with The Monk who Sold his Ferrari, The 5am Club, and Siddhartha, I was unsure of whether I should read this book.

I have a bias against unrealistic fictions which illustrate powerful messages, but I read this book to glimpse these messages nonetheless.

My key takeaway for this book was to follow your "omens" and live your "personal legend" in full, as if you do this, the universe will help you conspire to succeed.

I am not one who believes that people have a fate from when they were born, rather I believe our fate changes constantly as we make decisions to redirect our life.

The book carries the important message to do what you love, which I believe is a sufficient message to justify reading.