"Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins
Book summary of "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins.
Goggins went from a living in poverty to joining the SEALs and becoming an ultra endurance athlete.
This book is one of my favorite books of 2019 and I highly, highly recommend reading it.
Book Summary:
“Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins is unlike any book I’ve ever read. The story of David Goggins is something out of a Hollywood movie. A young boy with a horrible childhood and a myriad of problems overcomes it all to become part of an elite military team and a world famous ultra endurance athlete.
As a child, Goggins had a learning disability, was often ill, and was raised by a single mother. As a young adult, Goggins’ future seemed bleak. He was depressed, overweight and worked as a bug exterminator.
And yet, he would go on to join an elite military team–the Navy SEALS– break the world record for pull-ups and become one of the world’s top endurance athletes, often running races of 100+ miles.
How did Goggins turn his life around and transform from a literal zero to American hero?
He did it through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work.
However, his transformation didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it took him several decades to change his life around.
Let’s start by looking at Goggins’ childhood.
Goggins’ Early Years
David Goggins was born in New York in 1975 and although he lived on Paradise Road, his childhood was anything but that.
Goggins’ father, Trunnis, ran a roller-disco rink during the day, but was also involved in shady activities such as moving prostitutes across the border. When Goggin’s mother disobeyed or argued with Trunnis, such as taking Goggins to the doctor because he had an ear infection, he would beat her for disobeying him. When Goggins tried to stop his father, he would end up catching a beating himself.
““I was covered in welts from my neck to the crease at the knees. I didn’t go to school for several days.””
When Goggins was 8 years old, his mother put together a plan to escape from her abusive partner. Despite his cruelty, Goggins’ older brother decided to stay with Trunnis, and so, only Goggins and his mother managed to escape.
Although Goggins was able to get away his abusive father, his life didn’t get much better. He and his mother were free from Trunnis, but they now had no financial support. The two found shelter in a public housing block and paid $7 a month in rent.
Not only was Goggins experiencing poverty, but he was also diagnosed with ADHD and developed a nervous stutter. His traumatic childhood and toxic environment made it difficult to learn, and so he started cheating in school to pass classes.
““I knew that if I didn’t show some improvement I would eventually be shipped out to that special black hole for good, so I found a solution. I started cheating my ass off.” ”
When Goggins was in the 4th grade, his mother met Wilmoth, a man who was the polar opposite of Trunnis. Wilmoth was kind and laid-back. He treated Goggins’ mother well and even played basketball with Goggins.
However, a happy family was not in Goggin’s future. One night, Wilmouth was shot five times as he tried to enter his home. The cops never found the killers and once again, Goggins and his mother found themselves on their own.
Goggins’ Young Adult Years
As a teenager, David continued to struggle with school. To force himself to learn, Goggins had to read the same text multiple times and rewrite his notes over and over again. His work eventually paid off and he finished high school and was he accepted into Air Force training.
David’s dream was to become an Air Force pararescue, a special group of soldiers who specialize in parachuting into war zones and rescuing their brothers-in-arms. However, to complete his training, David would have to face one of his biggest weaknesses, swimming.
However, as a child, David rarely spent time in a pool. When it came time to the water portion of his military training, Goggins found himself overwhelmed with fear and quit the program. He knew he should have fought through his fear and completed his training, but instead he took the easy way out.
Quitting training would become one of Goggins’ biggest regrets, he started to feel sorry for himself and things began to spiral downhill. After leaving the military, Goggins was 24-years-old and working a dead-end job as a night-shift pest exterminator. He used food as a way to numb the pain of failure and weighed nearly 300 pounds.
After quitting the Air Force, Goggins ballooned up to nearly 300 pounds.
Goggins was nearing a dead-end. He hated his job, ate junk food multiple times a day and had trouble looking at himself in the mirror. Fortunately, his life would soon change.
One day, Goggins flipped on the television and happened to stumble upon a documentary about Navy SEALS. He watched as the narrator talked about the SEALs as the most elite fighting force in the world and that only the best of the best made it through training.
Goggins was stunned and amazed by the mental toughness and determination of the men on the screen. They had to carry boats for miles, lift logs, do countless pushups, swim for hours and perform many more difficult tasks.
Goggins wanted to become one of these incredible human beings and set out on a mission to become a Navy SEAL.
Becoming A SEAL
Before Goggins could even enter training, he first had to lose over 100 pounds of weight in less than three months because of the Navy’s maximum weight limit. Many people would have quit at this point, but Goggins decided to double down and commit 110% percent to becoming a SEAL.
Goggins woke up at 4:30 A.M. every day and exercised for two hours on a stationary bike. He then spent two hours in the pool and hit the weight room afterwards. He would also bike for another two hours after dinner. Working out practically became a full-time job for Goggins.
Remarkably, Goggins’ hard work paid off and he was accepted into the SEAL training program.
However, he would still have to endure his hardest training yet. Goggins participated in three Hell Weeks–where he experienced 5 ½ days of grueling exercise, soaked in water and covered in sand, all while getting barely any sleep during the program. In his third Hell Week, a man actually died during training.
Fortunately, Goggins made it through training and became a SEAL.
David Goggins (left) before Navy SEAL training and Goggins during Hell Week in BUD/S.
Becoming An Endurance Athlete
Goggins spent several years as a SEAL, but soon found himself craving new challenges. He searched for the toughest challenges known to man and found the Badwater 135, a 135-miles race through California’s Death Valley–one of the hottest places on Earth.
To even qualify for the Badwater race, the race organizers required Goggins to run in a 100-mile race. Although he had never run more than 26.2 miles before, Goggins accepted the challenge and signed up.
Through sheer motivation, willpower and incredible driver, Goggins finished the race in 19 hours, he even ran an extra mile to make sure the judges counted his laps correctly.
Goggins would later describe the race as the most pain he had ever experienced in his life–he was urinating brown piss from experiencing kidney failure and lost his bowel movement while running and defecated on himself. And yet, he would also remember that race as the moment his life changed forever–if he could run a 100-mile race with no training, he could do anything.
Goggins would go on to compete in the Badwater 135 and finish in 5th place, completing the race in 30 hours. He continued to look for the most difficult challenges he could find–he competed in Ironman triathlons, ultra marathons, and even broke the world record for pull-up attempts.
“Talent wasn’t required for this sport. It was all about heart and hard work, and it delivered relentless challenge after relentless challenge, always demanding more.”
Be Like Goggins
Several times throughout the book Goggins admits to readers that he wasn’t born strong, smart or with a hard work ethic. Early on in his life, he took the easy way out by cheating in school, running away from his fears and taking the easy way out as much as possible.
And where did that get him? Nowhere.
Goggins shares that it is only when changed his mindset and realized that the key to success was working harder than anyone else, did his life change for the better.
The secret to Goggins’ accomplishments is his willingess to work and suffer. By punishing himself physically, Goggins was also able to push himself mentally and vice-versa.
Goggins says that too many people get comfortable in their lives, they start to make excuses for working hard, such as not having time to exercise, or even worse, they simply decide not to. But Goggins doesn’t accept excuses.
Goggins didn’t make the excuse of not having time to train when he had a full-time job as a SEAL, he made time to train.
Goggins would get up at 4 A.M. and go for a 6-10 mile run. He would be home by 5:15 A.M., shower and eat breakfast. He would then bike 25 miles to work and arrive at his desk by 7:30 A.M. He would work till lunch time, and lift weights during his break. Once he was done with his day job, he would bike another 25 miles and arrive home at 7 P.M.
“My work ethic is the single most important factor in all of my accomplishments. Everything else is secondary.””
As Goggins says, most people program themselves to seek comfort, carve out safe spaces and spend as little time possible doing things that are hard or straight up suck. Although these things may feel good temporary, in the long-term it makes people weak.
Towards the end of the book, Goggins tells readers to ask themselves one question, “What if?”
Just as Goggins asked himself,
What if I lost 100 pounds in 3 months?
What if a kid afraid of water became a Navy SEAL?
What if I ran 100 miles without any training?
What if you set out to do a so-called impossible goal and actually completed it.
So ask yourself, “What if?”
Book Review:
“Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins might be my favorite book of 2019 and the year isn’t even halfway over. David’s story is beyond amazing, if one were to simply look at his achievements, you would took the guy isn’t human. But after reading his book, you realize he is just as human as everyone of us–except he simply chooses to strive for excellence and challenge himself over and over again.
Words cannot convey of important and inspiring this book is–I read the book, listened to the audiobook (which I recommend because Goggins shares bonus stories on the audio version) and watched dozens of podcasts about Goggins, and yet I’m still blown away him.
Just from reading his book, I’ve been motivated to run 5 miles every week–I’ve ran in 20 degree weather, in the snow and in the rain, and have been doing so for almost 4 months now. I’ve even signed up for several races.
This book will motivate you to push yourself to a new level and will make you a better person because of it. Get it, read it and learn from it!
Rating: 5/5
If you’re interested in getting the book, click here or on the image below.
After reading 100+ books, which ones do I recommend? Find out here.
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5 Book Bloggers Share Their 10 Favorite Books
Are you looking for book recommendations?
In this article, 5 awesome book bloggers share their 10 favorite books.
This is a must-read article!
One of the best things about the internet is that you get to find and connect with people who share similar passions.
When I first started blogging about books, I thought almost no one else was doing the same, but I soon found several awesome book bloggers that all had the same mission–to encourage people to read books and never stop learning.
So I thought, why not have book bloggers come together and share their favorite books so that readers can get a wide range of recommendations from trusted bloggers whom collectively, have reads hundreds or perhaps even thousands of books.
Now without further ado, here are 5 book bloggers and their 10 favorite books (no specific order):
1) BookMattic
Matt Hutson helps people find meaning through reading nonfiction books. He started doing Personal Development English Lessons with several clients throughout Indonesia and plans on taking on more clients around the world. He believes that the more people develop themselves the better our world will become.
Instagram: @bookmattic & website: bookmattic.com
10 Favorite Books:
“Think & Grow Rich” - Napoleon Hill
“This essential book works on your subconscious mind and mindset so you can become successful at anything you do.”
“The Four Agreements” - Don Miguel Ruiz
“Be impeccable with your word, don’t take things personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best are the four agreements that will help you to get out of your own head so you can live how you want, when you want and where you want.”
“The Power of Now” - Eckhart Tolle
“Live in the now, be one with yourself and everything else.”
“The Power of Habit” - Charles Duhigg
“Want to know how to change any bad habit to become a good one? This book tells you exactly how habits make up most of your life and that if you have the right habits you can become extremely successful.”
“Man’s Search For Meaning” - Viktor Frankl
“A WWII holocaust survivor of four death camps explains what kept him alive and how we can overcome any pains in our life no matter how hard.”
“The Alchemist” - Paulo Coelho
“This is a mystical fiction book filled with truths on how to find your purpose in life. It’s short, sweet and inspiring.”
“Start With Why” - Simon Sinek
“You have a purpose driving you even if you don’t know what it is yet. This book helped me to find mine.”
“The Storyteller’s Secret” - Sejal Badani
“Communication skills will only get more important as AI takes over many jobs. Why not learn how to communicate like the masters do by learning how to tell stories just like Malala or Steve Jobs?”
“Building a StoryBrand” - Donald Miller
“Hands down the best marketing book for businesses who want to solve a major problem in their customer’s life”
“If you have a business online or a storefront you need to know how to sell your product or services. Cadence explains simply how to create a sales funnel that will work.”
2) Books of Titans
Erik Rostad started the Books of Titans reading project because he needed help finding the best books. He found out what some of the world's top performers were reading and then started reading those 52 of those books each year. He now helps others find great books and create their own reading plans so they can experience the joy of reading.
Instagram: @booksoftitans & website: booksoftitans.com
10 Favorite Books:
“Crime and Punishment” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
“This was the first classic novel I read by choice (as opposed to be assigned to read in school) and it opened my eyes to the power of literature.”
“I read it nearly every morning. This book has had the most impact on the direction of my life.”
“Man’s Search For Meaning” - Viktor Frankl
“I've read 100+ books since 2017 for the Books of Titans reading project and this is my favorite book so far.”
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” - Daniel Kahneman
“This is a foundational book and many of the newer non-fiction books relate back to this. Some books take what they learn from this book and apply it to a particular field.”
“Guns, Germs, and Steel” - Jared Diamond
“Another foundational book that provides a framework for considering major historical movements.”
“Start With Why” - Simon Sinek
“People don't care about what you do - they care about why you do it. This transformed how I run my business and help my customers.”
“Born to Run” - Christopher McDougall
“As a runner, this book opened my eyes to new possibilities I never thought possible. I am a better runner today because of this book.”
“The Sacred Romance” - John Eldredge
“I call this my hinge book. My entire library "hinges" upon reading this book. I read it in 1998. It talks about grand story narratives found in novels, movies, and other art, and how they relate to the Christian story. This made me want to begin reading more to see examples in the major works of literature.”
“Les Miserables” - Victor Hugo
“An unbelievable novel of love, war, pain, redemption.”
“The World is Flat” - Thomas Friedman
“I include this book because of its impact in my life. This book convinced me that I needed more education. I went to graduate school as a direct result of reading this book in 2004.”
3) Get Better With Books
Get Better With Books is an online resource dedicated to personal development book readers. Jim (founder) is 31, works in software sales and lives outside Boston with his wife and baby daughter.
Instagram: @getbetterwithbooks
10 Favorite Books:
“How To Win Friends & Influence People” - Dale Carnegie
“Common sense approach for positive personal interactions with others.”
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" - Robert Kiyosaki
“The holy grail of personal finance. While the topics are simple, the concepts are life changing.”
“Arguably the best memoir on entrepreneurship. Beautifully written, packed with lessons for anyone building something from scratch.”
“The Road to Character” - David Brooks
“Thoughtful read that emphasizes the importance of virtues like courage, kindness and empathy.”
“Flow” - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
“Brilliant book that describes how happiness works and how we can cultivate it within.”
“Where Men Win Glory” - Jon Krakauer
“Tragic story of Pat Tillman, former NFL star turned US Army hero post 9/11. Vibrant detail and emotion.”
“Watership Down” - Richard Adams
“Classic story about courage, camaraderie, and a journey against all odds.”
“Gripping story of the first trans-Antarctic voyage in 1914. Amazing feat of courage and leadership.”
“Awaken The Giant Within” - Tony Robbins
“Personal development powerhouse.”
“As A Man Thinketh” - James Allen
“Simple and profound process for positivity changing your thoughts.”
4) Timos Notes
My name is Timo, I'm 20 years old and from Germany. I'm currently studying E-Commerce. Ever since I was a little child I loved books. About three years ago I fell in love with personal development and other non-fiction books. One of my favorite genres is biographies.
Instagram: @timosnotes & website: timosnotes.com
10 Favorite Books:
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" - Robert Kiyosaki
“It’s the perfect book to learn the basics of personal finance and start your financial education.”
"Sleep Smarter" - Shawn Stevenson
“This book opened my eyes to the importance of sleep and that we should´nt sacrifice it.”
“Cadence teaches a simple strategy to make your business more profitable, packed in a catchy story.”
“The Alchemist” - Paulo Coelho
“A classic book and a great story, encouraging the reader to chase his or her dreams.”
“Think & Grow Rich” - Napoleon Hill
“One of the best personal development books of all time, teaching you what it takes to be successful.”
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" - Dale Carnegie
“Dale Carnegie teaches you the basics of communication and how to make others feel good about themselves.”
“It blew my mind how George Orwell kind of saw the direction in which our world is heading, back in 1949.”
"Long Walk to Freedom" - Nelson Mandela
“Mandela’s autobiography shows how much he sacrificed for his beliefs and goals, without ever giving in.”
"Can't Hurt Me" - David Goggins
“Probably the most inspiring story I have ever read. Goggins doesn’t just tell you, he shows you, that we are capable of achieving more than we could ever imagine.”
5) Alex & Books
I started Alex and Books because I discovered the incredible value of books, but saw that almost no one I knew read them or took advantage of the treasure trove of important information inside them. So I set out on a mission to read the best books, find key lessons from each one and share them with as much people as possible. On my site, you can find book summaries, lessons, reviews and more great content.
Instagram: @AlexandBooks & website: alexandbooks.com
10 Favorite Books:
“Discipline Equals Freedom” - Jocko Willink
“The more discipline you have in life, the more freedom you’ll have. Wise lessons from a retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant commander.”
“Probably the best book I have ever read on productivity and creating good habits.”
“Extreme Ownership” - Jocko Willink
“Stop blaming the world, by taking extreme ownership of your life you will be able to fix it–no one is doing to do it for you.”
“The Emperor’s Handbook” - Marcus Aurelius
“Aurelius was a wealthy and incredibly powerful Roman emperor that lived a good and just life without corrupting himself and teaches others how to do the same.”
“By changing your mindset, you can quite literally change your life.”
“This book completely changed the way I look at businesses and startups.”
“How To Win Friends & Influence People” - Dale Carnegie
“A must-read book for people who want to improve their social relationships and understand people.”
“Man’s Search for Meaning” - Viktor Frankl
“Viktor Frankl was able to survive and find meaning in Auschwitz, he teaches readers how he endured the camps and how people can find meaning in life.”
“Can’t Hurt Me” - David Goggins
“Probably the most inspiring autobiography I’ve ever read, Goggins pushes his body to incredible limits such as breaking the world pull-up record and running 120+ mile races.”
“12 Rules for Life” - Jordan Peterson
“Perhaps my all-time favorite book, it combines religion, philosophy, psychology and other sciences that teach you if you want to improve the world, the best way to start is by improving yourself.”
Thank you everyone for reading this article. I hope it inspires you to find a fantastic book and to keep learning. Just as the books above have changed the lives of myself and fellow book bloggers, perhaps it will do the same for you.
Read on!
After reading 100+ books, here are my favorite books by genre:
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"Write Your Book In A Flash" by Dan Janal
Book summary and lessons from "Write Your Book In A Flash" by Dan Janal
Learn how to outline your book, overcome imposter syndrome and more.
Dan Janal has written more than a dozen book and is an award-winning reporter and editor.
Book Summary:
“Write Your Book in a Flash: A Paint-by-Numbers System to Write the Book of Your Dreams—FAST!” by Dan Janal provides readers with an easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to write a non-fiction business book.
Janal gives readers a clear system for writing a book and provides several examples along the way. Whether you are a business executive, thought leader or entrepreneur, this book will act as your personal Virgil and show you the path to finishing that book you’ve always wanted to share with the world.
Here are a few lessons the book teaches readers:
How to write a simple outline that makes the writing process faster and easier
How to research interesting ideas, stories, and facts so you never run out of ideas or information
How to overcome “The Imposter Syndrome” and other limiting beliefs that stifle nearly every would be author
And much, much more.
Author Dan Janal (source).
Dan Janal has written more than a dozen books. He is an award-winning daily newspaper reporter and business newspaper editor. He holds a master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University’s famed Medill School of Journalism.
Book Lessons:
1) How to overcome imposter syndrome
“It’s not unusual for an author to suffer from a horrible condition known as Imposter Syndrome. Even highly successful people in business and education think they are not worthy of success because there is someone better out there.”
It is not uncommon for first-time writers to feel like imposters. They might think that there are better writers or smarter people in the world which is true, but that doesn’t mean you yourself aren’t smart or can’t write.
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the world or write like Hemingway to be an author, if that were true almost no one would write books.
Author Dan Janal says that even Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the hit show “Hamilton” dealt with Imposter Syndrome. He said: “Anytime you write something, you go through so many phases. You go through the ‘I’m a fraud’ phase. You go through the ‘I’ll never finish’ phase.”
And if you truly are a rotten writer, you can always hire a writing coach to guide you through the process, work with a ghostwriter or have a professional editor look over your drafts.
2) How to overcome limiting beliefs
“Here’s a wonderful exercise to overcome limiting beliefs...Think of a limiting belief, and write it in the space below. Think of five reasons why this belief is not true, and write them in the spaces below.”
Another obstacle writers will face on their journey to create a book is the self-doubt and limits they put on themselves.
A writer might have the belief that they don’t have anything to say. If this or another limiting belief pops into your mind, Janal recommends that you come up with 5 reasons that prove the opposite.
“I write a blog every week, so I must have something to say.”
“People respond to my blogs, so they must like what I say.”
“My blog readers ask if I’m writing a book.”
And so on.
Another limiting belief is “I don’t have time to write a book.”
Here is what Janal says:
“I can wake up an hour earlier to write.”
“Instead of watching TV, I can write.”
“I can go to sleep an hour later and use that time to write.”
“I can write while I’m waiting for my kids to finish their soccer practice.”
“I can hire a ghostwriter or work with a book coach.”
If you ever find yourself in a situation where self-doubt or limiting belief start taking over your head, remember to list 5 things you can do to overcome that limiting belief.
3) How to finish and edit your first draft
“The research is the easiest. The outline is the most fun. The first draft is the hardest because every word of the outline has to be fleshed out. -Ken Follett
”
When it comes to finishing your first draft, the most important part is getting it done.
As Janal writes, “It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to look pretty. It doesn’t even need to have all your facts and stories. It just has to get done.”
Janal says that writers shouldn’t expect their first draft to be a masterpiece. In fact, many of his first drafts are disorganized and filled with holes, but that is okay.
Like Anne Lamott, the author of “Bird by Bird” the classic book about writing, said, all first drafts are “shitty first drafts.”
However, it is only once you’ve completed the first draft that you can begin cleaning and polishing it.
That is where editing comes in.
But remember that writing and editing are two separate activities.
Jean Feingold, the author of “The Benefits of Concrete Block Homes” said:
““Don’t edit while you write. Writing and editing are two different activities. Just keep writing as long as ideas come to you. When you reach a stopping point, go back, run spell-check, correct any grammatical errors, and repair any holes in your thinking. This first edit is only designed to fix the rough edges. You will do many more edits before your book is ready for people to read.” ”
During the editing process, your aim should be to cut useless words that dilute your message.
It may be hard to cut words after putting in the time and sweat to write them, but Janal assures writers that it will make their book better.
Janal says that for “Write Your Book In A Flash” he cut more than a thousand words from the first draft.
Here are a few editing tips:
“That” can usually be removed. If it sounds good without it, cut it.
The same goes for the word “the” and “of.”
You can usually cut words like very, just, and only.
Janal writes that a typical editor can cut 2-3% of your draft. However, it is important to remember that editing occurs multiple times on the road to publishing. As Feingold wrote above, “You will do many more edits before your book is ready for people to read.”
So finish your first draft and get to editing!
Conclusion:
“Write Your Book in a Flash” does an excellent job of providing readers with a proven system for writing a business book. It doesn’t debate the pros and cons of self-publishing and traditional publishing, but instead, it shows people how to write the book that always wanted to share with the world.
The book answers many questions first-time authors will have, such as how to outline their book and overcome imposter syndrome. Janal provides exercises to empower novice authors and examples to help readers who may be stuck in a rut.
Overall, if you’re someone who would like to write a non-fiction business book, this book is worth picking up.
Rating: 4/5
If you’re interested in getting the book, click here or on the images below.
Learn more about Dan Janal here:
Here are a few similar books:
After reading 100+ books, here are the books I recommend reading.
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"Tribe" by Sebastian Junger
Book summary and lessons from "Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging” by Sebastian Junger.
Learn why being richer doesn’t equal being happier, why war boosts mental health and why soldiers miss war.
A fantastic book about tribes, PTSD, war and more.
Book Summary:
The book “Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging” by Sebastian Junger combines history, psychology, and anthropology, to explore what people can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning.
“Tribe” explains the irony that-for many veterans as well as civilians–war feels better than peace, adversity can turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. It also explains why people are stronger when they come together, and how that can be achieved even in today's divided world.
Sebastian Junger is a New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, The Perfect Storm, Fire, and A Death in Belmont.
Book Lessons:
1) Richer doesn’t often equal happier
“People in countries with large income disparities–like the United States–run a much higher lifelong risk of developing severe mood disorders. ”
Most people assume that as a country gets richer, it’s citizens get happier.
While there is some truth in that belief, it’s also true that “people in wealthy countries suffer depression at as much as eight times the rate they do in poor countries, and people in countries with large income disparities–like the United States–run a much higher lifelong risk of developing severe mood disorders” (20).
And it gets worse, “urban North American women–the most affluent demographic of the study–were the most likely to experience depression.”
Why is this the case?
Poor people tend to share their time and resources with one another more often while wealthy people often isolate themselves which can lead to a “greatly increaded risk of depression and suicide” (21).
The same effect can be seen in the legal profession.
More than 6,000 lawyers were surveyed in 2015 and the study found that successful lawyers (those with the most billable hours) had zero correlation with levels of happiness and well-being reported by the lawyers themselves. “In fact, public defenders, who have far lower status than corporate lawyers, seem to lead significantly happier lives.”
Another interesting fact is that “Mexicans born in the United States are wealthier than Mexicans born in Mexico but far more likely to suffer from depression” (22).
However, the deeper one dives into the subject, it becomes clear that it’s not the war military members miss, but the feeling of being in an incredibly tight-knit tribe.
Why do wealthier countries and people tend to be less happy?
It’s because modern society seems to emphasize extrinsic values (money, status, beauty) over intrinsic ones (family, relationships, well-being).
Instead of chasing wealth, people should aim for the three basic needs described by self-determination theory:
The need to feel competent at what they do
The need to feel authentic in their lives
The need to feel connected to others
2) How war boosts mental health
“Communities that have been devastated by natural or man-made disasters almost never lapse into chaos and disorder; if anything, they become more just, more egalitarian, and more deliberately fair to individuals. ”
During World War II, English authorities predicted that German attacks would produce 35,000 casualties a day in London alone.
During the war, waves of German bombers flew over London for 57 consecutive days and dropped thousands of tons of explosives, killing hundreds of people at a time.
London residents would see the dead lying in ruble or watch as a bomb vanquished dozens of people in seconds.
And yet, there was no mass hysteria or widespread mental illnesses. “Psychiatric hospitals around the country saw admissions go down...admissions to psychiatric wards noticeably declined, and even epileptics reported having fewer seizures.” (47-48).
These positive effects of war on mental health weren’t just in England, “when European countries went to war, suicide rates dropped. Psychiatric wards in Paris were strangely empty during both world wars, and that remained true even as the German army rolled into the city in 1940” (48).
One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that “When people are actively engaged in a cause their lives have more purpose...with a resulting improvement in mental health” (49).
Interestingly, just a bombing London didn’t slow down its citizens when the Allies bombed the Germans, they found that “Industrial production actually rose in Germany during the war. And the cities with the highest morale were the ones...that were bombed the hardest” (51).
This doesn’t mean violence is the answer to improving mental health, but it does show that people feel better when they have more involvement with their community and a clear purpose.
3) Why soldiers often miss war
“In combat, soldiers all but ignore differences of race, religion, and politics within their platoon. It’s no wonder many of them get so depressed when they come home.”
War is a paradox. It is a complex operation, but it also simple to understand.
There are the “good guys” and “bad guys.” As Junger notes, in combat, it doesn’t matter what skin color or political views a soldier holds, as long as he’s on your side, he’s part of the team.
However back in the United States, people divide themselves among political parties, religion, and other ideologies.
In the war, there is also a strong sense of a tribe. Soldiers are constantly with one another, they eat together, they work together, they sleep near several other soldiers, rarely is one alone.
The tribal bond is so strong that in times of extreme combat, a soldier may risk his life or sacrifice himself to save his brothers. But when these men return from war and enter the civilian world, that tribal bond is no longer there.
Junger brilliantly explains this feeling by saying, “Soldiers experience this tribal way of thinking at war, but when they come home they realize that the tribe they were actually fighting for wasn’t their country, it was their unit” (110).
Conclusion:
“Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging” by Sebastian Junger finally explains the many paradoxes about war and soldiers.
By combining history, psychology and personal experiences, Junger teaches readers the many lessons of why people seek belonging and crave the chance to be part of a strong and connected tribe.
The book shines light and the positive effects of war, why PTSD develops and how to best combat it, and how people can come together in today’s divided world.
This book is a must read for anyone who has served in the military, knows someone with PTSD or is looking to learn more about war and soldiers.
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re interested in getting the book, click here or on the images below.
After reading 100+ books, find my most recommended books here.
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Books Bought in 2018 (and total cost)
In 2018 I read 38 books, but I actually bought 66 books.
Find out how much each book cost and how much I spent on books last year.
In 2018 I read a total of 38 books, but I actually bought 66 books. Almost all of the books I bought were used (to save money) and very rarely do I buy new books (with the exception of author events). However, even by buying second hand books, the total cost of books can add up.
My ever growing library.
Similarly to what I did last year, I decided to review all of my book purchases to find out exactly how much I've spent on books in 2018.
In 2017, I bought 52 books which totaled $414.61 or $7.97 per book. Let’s check out the stats for 2018.
Here is the cost of Every book I bought in 2018:
$7.98 Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet
$7.57 Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
$4.99 When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man
$11.98 A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the Internet Tells Us About Sexual Relationships
Book review: "A Billion Wicked Thoughts” by Ogas & Gaddam
$4.99 A Million Little Pieces
$9.48 The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, Revised Edition
$10.95 How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life
$18.89 The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win
$10.87 Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior
Book review: "Subliminal” by Leonard Mlodinow
$4.00 The Doctor and the Soul: From Psychotherapy to Logotherapy, Revised and Expanded
$16.63 Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World
$12.57 Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
Book review: "Discipline Equals Freedom" by Jocko Willink
$6.04 Tao Te Ching
$10.31 How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
$10.95 The Road to Wigan Pier
$10.19 The Alchemist
$7.96 The Undiscovered Self: With Symbols and the Interpretation of Dreams
$19.19 The Director's Manual: A Framework for Board Governance
$5.99 The Truth about Leadership: The No-fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need to Know
$8.79 The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny
Book review "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by Robin Sharma
$9.56 The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag
A great book about life in North Korea: "The Aquariums of Pyongyang"
$11.75 This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen (Penguin Modern Classics)
$10.71 The Compound Effect
An excellent book, learn more here: "The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy
$12.09 Unit 731 Testimony
A horrifying book but necessary to remember: UNIT 731: A Book About Evil and War Crimes
$3.00 The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
$4.99 The Fault in Our Stars
$8.94 Man and His Symbols
$3.00 Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers (Pimlico)
$4.44 Modern Man in Search of a Soul
One of my all time favorites, read more here: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl
$10.47 The Book of Five Rings
$4.99 Rogue Warrior
$8.71 Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business
Book review: "Smarter Faster Better” by Charles Duhigg
$6.07 On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft
Book review: "On Writing" by Stephen King
Find Stephen King’s favorite books here.
$9.37 Writing To Learn
$7.44 The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century
$10.39 The Power of Myth
Book review: "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell
$7.70 The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
Book review: "The Dragons of Eden" by Carl Sagan
$7.49 Wild at Heart: Discovering The Secret of a Man's Soul
Book review: "Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge
$10.80 Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World
Book review: "Make Your Bed" by William McRaven
$6.97 Lolita
$9.75 The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
An excellent book about productivity and time management, read my takeaways here.
$4.33 The Forgotten Highlander: An Incredible WWII Story of Survival in the Pacific
A great book about POWs in WWII, read more here.
$16.67 Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win (New Edition)
Highly recommend this book, read my takeaways here.
$15.57 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
Highly recommend this book, read my takeaways here.
Bonus: 6 Profound Quotes from "12 Rules for Life" by Jordon Peterson
Total Cost: $ 493. 22
Interesting Figures:
Number of books purchased: 66
Average book price: $7.47
Most expensive book: $19.19 The Director's Manual: A Framework for Board Governance
(Of course the most expensive book is a college textbook…)
Least expensive book: $3.00 Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers (Pimlico)
Well there you have it, I spent a little over $493 on books last year.
Keep in mind that the cost listed does not include shipping. In total, I think it’s safe to say that I spent $500+ or so altogether.
It may silly to spend this much on books, but I consider books to be an investment, not an expense.
Instead of spending cash on cable, beer, drugs or other hobbies, I spend my money on books. All hobbies cost money, but very few will give you a positive return and improve your life.
That’s why I recommend more people should start reading books, you won’t regret it!
Before you go:
As you can see the cost of books adds up, throw in the cost of maintaining a website and it comes out to several hundreds dollars a year. However, I truly enjoy reading and writing and want to continue sharing awesome lessons and knowledge with everyone. Thus, I ask viewers to consider donating to help keep this site up and running, every dollar counts!
If I’m able to turn this into a full-time career, I’d be able to read a lot more books and share many more important lessons learned from books. I also promise to keep the site ad-free and strive to provide interesting and educational content.
If you’re not able to donate but still want to support the cause, sign up for our newsletter here and follow AlexandBooks on social media (Twitter, Instagram).
Thanks everyone! -Alex
*PS: The links on my website are Amazon affiliate links, Amazon pays me a small fee for each item purchased. Important Fact: It doesn't affect the price of your purchase at all and it helps keep this website up and running ad-free.*
The 40+ Books Leo Tolstoy Recommends Reading
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, better known as Leo Tolstoy, is one of the greatest authors of all time.
He is best known for writing “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina.”
Here’s a list of books Tolstoy recommends reading!
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, better known as Leo Tolstoy, was a renowned Russian writer and perhaps one of the greatest authors of all time. Best known for his two novels “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina”, Tolstoy also wrote several short stories and a semi-autobiographical trilogy.
Author Virginia Woolf once called Tolstoy “the greatest of all novelists.” Even today, over a hundred years after his death, Tolstoy’s thousand long page books are still in print and continue to sell well.
Portrait of Leo Tolstoy (source).
A few of Tolstoy’s bestselling books.
“Rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.”
Being one of the greats is no easy feat so I began to research which books Tolstoy loved most during his life in an attempt to gain insight into what influenced this genius writer.
According to an article by Russia Beyond, Tolstoy decided to compile a list of his own 100 must-read books after reading and being dissatisfied with author John Lubbock’s list which was published in 1891.
However, Tolstoy found that creating a list of the 100 greatest books to be difficult, so instead, he sent a letter to his publisher Mikhail Lederle with 45 books that impressed him the most. Tolstoy’s list contains a wide range of books from religious texts to Chinese philosophy, and is divided into five ages of man with their actual degree of influence ("enormous," "v. great," or merely "great").
Tolstoy’s list of the 45 books he recommends reading:
Childhood to the age of 14 or so:
Pushkin’s poems: Napoleon - Great
The Little Black Hen by Pogorelsky - V. great
The story of Joseph from the Bible - Enormous
Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich. Folk Tales - Enormous
Age 14 to 20:
History of the Conquest of Mexico by William Prescott - Great
The Overcoat, The Two Ivans, Nevsky Prospect by By Nikolai Gogol - Great
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol - V. great
Die Räuber by Friedrich Schiller - V. great
Polinka Sachs by Aleksandr Druzhinin - V. great
Yevgeny Onegin by Alexander Pushkin - V. great
A Sportsman’s Sketches by Ivan Turgenev - V. great
The Hapless Anton by Dmitry Grigorovich - V. great
A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne - V. great
A Hero for our Time by Mikhail Lermontov - V. great
Nouvelle Héloise by Jean-Jacques Rousseau - V. great
Viy by Nikolai Gogol - Enormous
Emile by Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Enormous
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - Enormous
Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Enormous
Age 20 to 35:
Afanasy Fet’s poems - Great
Aleksey Koltsov’s poems - Great
Fyodor Tyutchev’s poems - Great
The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer (read in Russian) - Great
Phaedo and Symposium by Plato (in Cousin’s translation) - Great
Victor Hugo. Notre Dame de Paris - V. great
Hermann and Dorothea by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - V. great
Age 35 to 50:
George Eliot. Novels - Great
Anthony Trollope, Novels - Great
Mrs. [Henry] Wood. Novels - Great
The byliny - V. great
Anabasis by Xenophon - V. great
The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer (in Greek) - V. great
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - Enormous
Age 50 to 63:
Book of Genesis (in Hebrew) - V. great
Progress and Poverty by Henry George - V. great
Epictetus - Enormous
Pensées by Blaise Pascal - Enormous
All the Gospels (in Greek) Enormous
Lao-Tzu. Julien [S. Julien, French translator] - Enormous
On the Buddha. Well-known Frenchman [“Lalita Vistara”] - Enormous
Portrait of Tolstoy, 1887 (source).
How many books on Tolstoy’s list have you read?
I’ve read only a couple books on this list (the English versions), but it looks like I have a lot more reading to do. If there’s a book on here that you think is a must-read, let me know in the comments below!
You may also want to check out these book recommendations from:
If you want to check out my list of recommended books, you can find that here.
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This article was based on several articles. The sources can be found here, here and here.
*The links throughout this site are Amazon affiliate links. Amazon pays me a small fee from each purchase which helps keep this website up and running ad-free. It does not affect the price of your purchase in any way.*
The Best Quotes from "The Alchemist" by Paul Coelho
Book summary and my favorite quotes from “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
At 197 pages, this book can be read quickly in as little as two or three days.
However, the passages you read from this book will likely stick with you for years or decades to come.
Book Summary:
The book tells the magical story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who longs to travel in search of a worldly treasure. Santiago experiences a recurring dream of a great treasure hidden thousands of miles away at the base of the Egyptian Pyramids.
Along the way, he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows exactly what the treasure is or if Santiago will be able to overcome the obstacles on his path.
Early into his journey, Santiago finds himself in a town where he doesn’t speak the language, is robbed and left completely alone. He contemplates giving up and turning around, but decides to carry on. He finds a job in a crystal shop and saves up money to return home, but then decides to risk it and continue his quest for the treasure.
Santiago meets a girl named Fatima who he falls in love with but must leave her to continue his journey. On his way to the pyramids, Santiago is taken prisoner by a local tribe. Santiago’s friend on this journey, tells the tribesmen that Santiago is a powerful magician and then tribe offers to set them free if he can prove it.
Santiago then asks the elements (stick with me here) to help him turn himself into the wind (yes, the wind) and somehow does it. This scares the tribesmen so they free Santiago and his friend.
Santiago finally makes his way to the Pyramid and finds some gold when he is attacked by robbers. When asked what he is doing there, Santiago replies that he had a dream of a treasure buried at the base of the Pyramids. One of the robbers laughs at him, and mentions that he has had the exact same dream, except that in his dream, the treasure was buried in an abandoned church in Spain (which is where Santiago first started his journey).
The story then jumps forward in time and finds Santiago digging a hole at the base of the tree where he had had his first dream. Sure enough, he finds a trunk full of gold–enough for him and Fatima to live happily for a long time.
The book is essentially a tale of the journey being equally important as the end goal, because of all the experiences and lessons one learns throughout their quest. Just like Santiago, the book encourages readers to find and pursue their life purpose, no matter how discouraged they may at times feel.
Santiago shows readers how to earn to trust their hearts, read the seemingly inconspicuous signs, and understand that as we look to fulfill a dream, the universe works with us to do the same.
Author Paulo Coelho.
Book Quotes:
The “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho was published over 25 years ago and has sold over 65 million copies to date. Although every reader will have their own opinion of what they enjoyed about the book, here are my personal favorite quotes from it:
“The problem is that they don’t even realize that they’re walking a new road every day. They don’t see that the fields are new and the seasons change. All they think about is food and water. Maybe we’re all that way, the boy mused.”
““What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked, completely surprised. “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.” ”
“People say strange things, the boy thought. Sometimes it’s better to be with the sheep, who don’t say anything. And better still to be alone with one’s books. They tell their incredible stories at the time when you want to hear them. But when you’re talking to people, they say some things that are so strange that you don’t know how to continue the conversation.”
““When you want something, all of the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,” he had said.”
““I don’t want to change anything, because I don’t know how to deal with change. I’m used to the way I am.””
““When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.” ”
““In pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage.” ”
““People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them.” ”
““The world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that’s where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are.”
”
Conclusion:
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho is an enjoyable fiction book that anyone can understand. At first, the story may seem too simple: a boy leaves home on a quest to find treasure, encounters foes and friends, gets his treasure stolen by thieves, but then realizes the real treasure was right where he started.
And it is true, the story is simple. But perhaps that is what makes this book loved by millions of readers. A simple story with simple lessons that can be applied to anyone’s life.
Lessons such as: Life is about the journey, follow your dreams, it may not be easy but it will be worth it, what you’re seeking is also seeking you, and many more.
At 197 pages, this book can be read quickly in as little as two or three days. However, the passages you read from this book will likely stick with you for years or decades to come.
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re interested in getting the book, click here or on the image below.
For just a few dollars, a book can give you an enormous amount of valuable information that can help you improve your life. It’s practically highway-robbery. So take advantage of this and read as much as you can.
If you want to check out my list of recommended books, you can find that here.
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What Dr. Peterson Got Right & Wrong About "A Billion Wicked Thoughts"
Jordan Peterson talks about the book “A Billion Wicked Thoughts” in his YouTube lecture.
The book covers male and female desire, attraction and more.
Here is what he got right and wrong about the book.
Let me begin by saying this is not a hit piece on Jordan Peterson–if you’re familiar with my site, you’ll notice I’ve written about Peterson’s book “12 Rules for Life” and am a fan of his work–with that said, no one is perfect (myself included) and we all make mistakes, even Dr. Peterson.
“Rule 11: Be Precise In Your Speech.”
In one of his YouTube lecture videos (clip below), Peterson talks about the book, “A Billion Wicked Thoughts” by Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam (summary of the book here).
The book is by two scientists who analyzed about a billion internet searches to investigate what genre of porn men and women search for and combined that information with research from evolutionary biology, sexual psychology and other sciences to get a clear picture of what men and women desire.
However, not everything that Peterson said in the video is true. Let’s look at the lessons he shares in clip:
Men search for visuals of pornography
True!
In “A Billion Wicked Thoughts” the authors explain the real reason men are attracted to visual cues such as breasts or butts.
Usually, the larger these parts are, the more gynoid fat they have.
Why is that important? Levels of gynoid fat in breast positively predict all aspects of female lifetime reproductive capacity, including conception probability, probability of successful pregnancy and offspring quality.
Since these body parts are the best indicators of a woman’s long-term reproduction value, it’s no surprise that these ornaments have evolved to become the most potent visual cues for men.
In simple terms: Large boobs = healthy woman who will produce healthy kids.
In fact, men love visual cues so much they are willing to pay for them. About 98% of all porn subscriptions are made by men and only 2% are made by women.
Women search for literary representations of pornography
Also true!
As a general rule, women prefer to “read porn” instead of watching it.
Why? It’s because women need more information about a partner since women have to consider the long term consequences of sexual intercourse.
Sex for a woman can result in pregnancy, nursing and more than a decade of child raising. These commitments require enormous amounts of time, resources and energy. Sex with the wrong guy can lead to single motherhood, an abusive spouse or a weak father that can’t protect his offspring.
Men, meanwhile, can always have sex and (hypothetically) run away without any consequences.
Since intercourse is more risk than reward for women, they want to find the right mate, not just an attractive one.
If you were going to be with someone for the long term, wouldn’t you want to know more about them? That is why women look for clues regarding the man’s personality, commitment, confidence, social status, wealth and many more traits.
A 5-minute porn video can’t provide women with all this information, but a book that takes several hours or days to read and builds a relationship with the reader can.
“The goal of a romance novel’s heroine is never for sex own its own sake, much less impersonal sex with strangers. The core of a romance novel’s plot is a love story in the course of which the heroine overcomes obstacles to identify, win the heart of, and ultimately marry the one man who is right for her” (pg 19).
There are 5 types of classic male monsters:
Vampire, Werewolf, Billionaire, Pirate, Surgeon
False!
The book actually lists ten of the most common professions of the hero. After looking at over 15,000 Harlequin romance novels, here are the most common male heroes they found:
Doctor
Cowboy
Boss
Prince
Rancher
Knight
Surgeon
King
Bodyguard
Sheriff
Ten most common professions of the hero from the book “A Billion Wicked Thoughts.”
Surgeon made the list, we can substitute billionaire for boss or king, but no sign of pirate, werewolf or vampire on the top ten (Peterson made the same mistake here).
However, I do know why Peterson said werewolves and vampires were part of the list.
Later in the book, the authors talk about why women love paranormal romance books and films (think Twilight). Are women attracted to men that drink blood or can turn into a wolf? Not exactly.
Women are attracted to paranormal heroes because they are alphas among alphas. Being a doctor or a king is cool and all, but a vampire or werewolf is even better.
Vampires, for instance, are exceptionally strong, often immortal, know how to fight and protect people, usually live in a mansion or castle (meaning they have money) and are usually very physically attractive. Much of the same goes for werewolves.
These paranormal heroes basically have all the alpha male traits women desire, but cranked to the max.
Women want men who are aggressive yet civilized
Surprise, it’s true!
The authors have a section in the book that talks about this called, “The Taming of the Wild Coconut.” Most guys in high school probably remember that the kind, nice and quiet kids didn’t get that many girls while the guys who were often tough, mean or sometimes even bullies, almost always had a girlfriend.
Why is that?
“Women want their romance heroes to be like coconuts: hard and tough on the outside, but soft and sweet on the inside. But the hero’s sweet interior can’t be available to just anyone. Only the heroine gets to crack him open. The hero is granted free reign to be a badass with everyone else, as long as he’s tender and attentive with the heroine” (99).
The authors continue by writing that once a woman finds a guy she likes, “the female brain then sets out on a mission to tame, heal, or soften the alpha hero’s wild heart.”
As Peterson says, for more evidence look no further than the classic Disney film, “Beauty and the Beast.”
As mentioned earlier, this article was not intended to be a hit piece on Dr. Peterson, but rather simply clarifying the lessons Peterson shares about the book “A Billion Wicked Thoughts.”
P.S. I highly recommend reading the book. The combination of evolutionary biology, sexual psychology and modern-day online searches leads to a wide range of fascinating discoveries. Plus, you’ll finally figure out why men are attracted to certain cues while women aren’t and vice-versa.
Here is my review and summary of “A Billion Wicked Thoughts” if you’d like to learn more. Or if you can get the book here.
Please share this post so JBP sees it! Thank you for reading.
Jordan Peterson 2018 (Credit: Wikicommons).
Other books Jordan Peterson recommends reading:
If you want to check out my list of recommended books, you can find that here.
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The 20+ Books George R. R. Martin Recommends Reading
George R. R. Martin is the creator of the bestselling series: “A Game of Thrones.”
His book series was adapted into an HBO show and has been watched by millions of viewers.
Here’s a list of books GRRM recommends reading!
George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948), also known as GRRM, is an American novelist and short story writer in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres, screenwriter, and television producer.
Martin is the bestselling author of several novels, including the acclaimed series “A Game of Thrones” which in 2013 alone sold 1 million copies. His book series was adapted into a TV series on HBO and the first episode aired in 2011. Millions of people tune in to watch the hit show and some episodes have even been viewed by over 18 million people.
Author George R.R. Martin.
A few of Martin’s bestselling books.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.
”
I was curious to learn which books Martin enjoyed throughout his life, so I did some research to find out which books the famous author recommends. Here is the list of the 20+ books George R.R. Martin recommends reading.
Martin's favorite books (regardless of genre) in order:
If you love Game of Thrones, Martin suggests Reading:
More Books Martin Recommends Reading:
Martin’s review:
If you haven’t yet grabbed a copy of Joe Hill’s The Fireman, you need to. Original and gripping, a page-turner.
“The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins
Martin’s review:
“It’s a strong story, with a great sense of time and place, and one that had me from start to finish.”
Martin’s review:
Outlander is one of the best shows on television, a wonderful blend of historical drama, science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
“Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania” by Erik Larson
Martin’s review:
Larson is a journalist who writes non-fiction books that read like novels, real page-turners. This one is no exception.
Martin’s review:
A Song of Ice and Fire draws as much on the traditions of historical fiction as it does on those of fantasy, and there are many great historical novelists, past and present, whose work helped inspire my own. Sir Walter Scott is hard going for many modern readers, I realize, but there’s still great stuff to be found in Ivanhoe and his other novels.
Martin’s review:
Armada, like Ready Player One, is a paean to the video games of a bygone era, and like Ready Player One, it is a tremendous amount of fun for anyone who remembers that time and played those games.
“Angles of Attack (Frontlines Book 3)” by Marko Kloos
Martin’s review:
Since I know there are a lot of fans of military [science fiction] out there, I’d say that Angles of Attack might actually have an outside chance at earning a genuine Hugo nod solely on its merits… In any case, Kloos is a writer to watch.
“The White Company” by Arthur Conan Doyle
Martin’s review:
Fantasies are not the only books I recommend to my readers, however. It has always been my belief that epic fantasy and historical fiction are sisters under the skin, as I have said in many an interview… there’s still great stuff to be found… in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The White Company (he [wrote] more than just Sherlock Holmes).
“The Beautiful Cigar Girl” by Daniel Stashower
Martin’s review:
I’ve also really enjoyed a nonfiction title from a couple of years ago called The Beautiful Cigar Girl by Daniel Stashower, which is simultaneously a bio of Edgar Allan Poe and a ‘true crime’ account of a sensational NYC murder case that inspired him to write The Mystery of Marie Rogêt. Call this one history or biography if you must, but it reads like a novel… and I especially loved the stuff about the New York City press, one of my obsessions.
“The Iron King” by Maurice Druon
Martin’s review:
Whether you want something else to occupy your time while waiting for The Winds of Winter, or you’re just looking for a good read… you won’t go wrong with Maurice Druon, France’s best historical novelist since Dumas Pere.
Martin’s review:
Stephen King was big for me in 2013. I really liked Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining... but I actually liked Joyland even more. Set in a dying amusement park in the south, Joyland features a ghost and a serial killer, but the real heart of the novel is a coming of age story, one that took me vividly back to my own youth, working the rides at Uncle Milty's in Bayonne.
“The Cuckoo's Calling” by Robert Galbraith
Martin’s review:
I also enjoyed the hell out of The Cuckoo's Calling, by "Robert Galbraith".
Martin’s review:
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn... which I came to late, but liked so much I went out and read all of her other books at once.
“Rin Tin Tin: the Life and the Legend” by Susan Orlean
Martin’s review:
Less hard-boiled, but equally engrossing, was Susan Orlean's biography of the famous film dog Rin Tin Tin, Rin Tin Tin: the Life and the Legend Woof!
“There was part of me that wanted to see the world and travel to distant places, but I could only do it in my imagination, so I read ferociously and imagined things. ”
If there’s a book on this list that you think is a must-read, let me know in the comments below! -Alex W.
You may also want to check out these book recommendations from:
This article was based on several articles. The sources can be found here, here and here.
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Unit 731: A book about evil and war crimes
“Unit 731 Testimony: Japan's Wartime Human Experimentation Program” by Hal Gold is a disturbing account of a top secret project named Unit 731.
The Unit conducted some of the most unethical and brutal human experiments during World War II.
Although this book is horrific, one must learn from the past in order to prevent it from happening again.
Book Summary:
“Unit 731 Testimony: Japan's Wartime Human Experimentation Program” by Hal Gold is a disturbing account of a top secret project named Unit 731, which conducted some of the most unethical and brutal human experiments during World War II.
Many people know about the battles and bombs dropped during the Second World War, but almost no one has heard of the cruel deeds performed by Japanese doctors and soldiers in Japan’s medical wards where prisoners were treated as human guinea pigs and underwent gruesome medical experiments.
The book is split up in two parts.
The first part retells the story of Japan’s history and involvement in WWII and how Japanese doctors went from fighting biowarfare to running experiments on humans in their own Unit 731 testing labs. The second half of the book involves interviews with actual former Unit 731 members themselves, who recount memories of cutting open pregnant women to injecting plague germs into healthy farmers.
Author Bio:
Hal Gold (1929 – 2009) was a writer, historian, critic, and long-time Kyoto resident. He lived in Kyoto for over 30 years, and was a well-known writer on Japan-related subjects.
Author Hal Gold (1929-2009).
Book Lessons:
1) The Start of an Evil Genius
“The middle makes and breaks you, and ending up on the right side of this line depends on how you manage everything in between. It requires immense perseverance, self-awareness, craftsmanship, and strategy.
”
Shiro Ishii was born on June 25, 1892 in a small village two hours from Tokyo.
He went on to study at the prestigious Kyoto Imperial University and earned awards from the United States and Europe for his work. He also received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1911.
Ishii studied bacteriology for his postgraduate work and married the school president’s daughter.
He also enlisted in the army and quickly rose to a lieutenant.
It was clear Ishii was a gifted and smart young man with a bright future.
Yet, about two years later, he responsible for running Unit 731, a “prison camp” that was used to develop biological and chemical weapons that were tested on prisoners.
When Ishii learned about the Geneva Convention of 1925, which prohibited biological and chemical warfare, he was encouraged by this notion since if something were “bad enough to be outlawed, then it must certainly be effective.”
However, just as it took years for Hitler to gain power and create the concentration camps, Ishii too played the long game.
By the 1930s, Japan was expanding its power on to the Asian mainland and the military needed to figure out ways to prevent diseases infecting their troops.
Ishii also worked on turning bacteria and gas into weapons, but animal research had serious limits in producing usable data.
Then in 1933, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations, which had judged it wrong for its aggression against China. This severance of ties would play a big role in the creation of Unit 731 since the country no longer had promises to keep.
During this time, Japan’s Emperor had created a special police force called like kenpeitai, much like the Nazi SS or the Soviet NKVD.
Groups or individuals responsible for anti-Japanese resistance, were quickly captured by the kenpeitai. They were given jobs such as catching spies and interrogating suspects, and were “authorized to use torture” (pg 30).
All of the pieces were slowly falling into place.
Ishii in 1932. (Photo: Wiki)
2) The start of unit 731
As Japanese troops moved into Manchuria, they were concerned about a clash with Soviet troops along the Soviet-Manchurian border.
Ishii planned to use his specialty to overcome his side’s disadvantage.
In the city of Harbin, he set up a facility to focus on vaccines and other proper medical research. It would serve as a facade of goodwork.
However, about 100 kilometers to the South, he and his troops cleared out a local village and had Chinese laborers build a military complex. It was officially known as the Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department of the Kwantung Army, but later adopted the name Unit 731.
The laborers were paid almost nothing for their work, and one man reported that all of the workers were killed after the project was finished.
Once completed, the complex kept around 500 to 600 prisoners. Many of whom were treated well and were given rice, meat and vegetables.
Why?
A normal state of health would provide the most accurate data for their experiments.
However, the life expectancy at the prison was a maximum of one month…
The Unit 731 complex: two prisons are hidden in the center of the main building. Photo: Wiki
3) Prisoners used into experiments (women & children too)
“In the process of building a business–and in life, generally–you should manage expenses carefully. But sometimes frugality backfires.
”
Some prisoners had large amounts of blood taken every two or three days. This went on and on, while scientists kept careful records, until the prisoner was literally drained to death. Others, were injected with poison to see how they would react.
Other experiments were also performed on prisoners, including vivisections, which involved infecting a prisoner with a disease and then cutting them open while they were alive and without anesthesia, to study the effects of the disease. Patients were kept alive because the scientists thought it would give more accurate results.
For more research, several new satellite facilities were built in Xinjing, Beijing, Singapore and other locations.
Outdoor tests of plague, cholera and other pathogens were dropped on subjects while they were tied to crosses. Rats and fleas were raised for experiments to spread diseases and released in local villages.
One satellite facility had a large refrigerator la where subjects had their flesh frozen over and over again. Others used prisoners as bayonet practice for young soldiers.
One of the worst experiments performed was forcing a healthy prisoner to have sex with one who had syphilis. Anyone resisting would be shot. Researchers would track the infection progress every week, and employed live dissection on the infect patient to investigate how their internal organs were affected by the disease.
Countless more horrible experiments were performed in Unit 731. As Japan began losing the second World War, a secret order was issued to perform more vivisections to gather as much research as possible.
It’s estimated that over 10,000 people were killed during the 10 years Unit 731 and its sister facilities were in operation.
Unit 731 studied anthrax, cholera, and other pathogens by forcibly infecting victims. They experimented with the bubonic plague and tried to weaponize it by using infected fleas and various delivery systems. (Photo: Pixnio)
4) No justice for victims
You might be wondering how the scientists and guards of Unit 731 were punished for their crimes after Japan lost the war.
After WWII, Nazi leaders were charged with crimes and sent to the Nuremberg trials. But for Ishii and his fellow researchers, they were given a get out of jail free card.
The researchers involved in Unit 731 were secretly given immunity by the U.S. in exchange for the data they gathered through human experimentation.
Why were the members of Unit 731 granted immunity?
The U.S. believed that the research data was valuable, and did not want other nations (particularly the Soviet Union) to acquire data on biological weapons.
Conclusion:
“Unit 731 Testimony: Japan's Wartime Human Experimentation Program” by Hal Gold is a disturbing book to say the least. But it also serves as an important reminder to the world that life isn’t perfect.
The world can be a very dark and cruel place is people allow it. History will repeat itself if individuals don’t learn from the past and keep an eye out on the emergence of new evils.
Even today, similar concentration still exist around the world. For instance, the book, “The Aquariums of Pyongyang” by Chol-hwan, reveals the truth about North Korea’s concentration camps.
Although the things that happened in this book are horrific, it is important to learn about evil so that people will become aware of its existence, instead of turning a blind eye and pleading ignorance to a problem that still plagues the modern world.
Rating: Unrated
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If you want to check out my list of recommended books, you can find that here.
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