Mere Mortals Book Reviews

In this episode, I explore the concrete takeaways from The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett. These aren’t abstract ideals—they're raw, lived-in lessons. From why your mind and body are your first foundation, to how meaningful questions shape behaviour, this reflection dives deep into the book’s most impactful ideas and challenges conventional wisdom around leadership, communication, and culture.

(00:00) - Introduction to Learnings
(...

In this Mere Mortals book review, we dive into The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett—an energetic, story-driven guide to business and life. This isn’t your typical theory-heavy read; it’s a tactical, quote-filled journey through 33 digestible laws forged from real experience. From mastering your skill set to navigating reputation and network, this book distils lessons from one of the most influential digital entrepreneurs of our ti...

The best example of human madness is found across the ages.

'Extraordinary Popular Delusions & The Madness Of Crowds' by Charles Mackay is a mammoth examination of the most ridiculous crazes across history, whether they be funny, bad or horrendous. Charles details some of the more well known financial bubbles (South Sea, Mississippi, Tulip Mania) but also catalogues well known alchemists/magnetisers & mob activities (The Cru...

Why don't I read recently published books?

Today is a special episode where I am going over how I find new books, ways I actively try to avoid wasting my time & some little tricks & tips to get the most out of your reading.

Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:11) Finding New Books
(00:14:05) Pre-Filtering
(00:23:20) Tips/Tricks
(00:34:09) Value 4 Value
(00...

What was I reviewing again?

'A Primer For Forgetting' by Lewis Hyde is a collection of intimate thoughts, stories, poems, mythological tales & quips. The primary theme is around forgetting & how this can be beneficial for an individual or groups, particularly when it relates to trauma. It's split into 4 parts (that he calls notebooks) about myth, self, nation & creation.

If you got value from the podcast please provide su...

Boy are cockroaches gross!

'Metamorphosis & Other Stories' by Franz Kafka is a collection of prose poems, short stories, sketches, allegories, and novelettes.  The longest is of Gregor Samsa, the travelling salesman who wakes up in his bed as a cockroach. You'll find others about conflict on a ship, dealing with annoying people on the street, etc. All are told in the surreal style he is known for, along with his dry humour.

...

I'm jacking into cyberspace for some pain and pleasure.

'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is a sci-fi classic that was right at the beginning of the cyberpunk genre. We follow Case in a futuristic techno world where he is hired to hack into a wealthy family's lair. He is part of a motley crew each with their own specialty, hired by an AI to free itself from it's restrictions. Think of Japan, robots, drugs, implants, space, fashion, te...

We've got it all wrong, there's no good guys & bad guys .... they're all bad!

'Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie is a classic story of a child who never grows up. Peter lives in Neverland, a mystical island where pirates, Indians and wild beasts roam. He commands a gang of Lost Boys and takes them on adventures along with Wendy, Tinkerbell, John & Michael.

If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you b...

Strategies to accept your suffering & heal yourself with compassion.

'Radical Acceptance' by Tara Brach is a guide of various meditation & framing practices to recognise the root cause of emotional distress. These are derived from Buddhist principles and serve to help accept the current pain & suffering. There are 13 chapters that begin with a story followed by an explanation of the intent before a final guided meditatio...

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

'The Tao Of Pooh & The Te Of Piglet' by Benjamin Hoff is a light read interpreting Taoism through the lens of A. A. Milne's 'Winnie The Pooh' characters. Core concepts such as The Way & Wu Wei are explored and why certain characters embody various aspects of the religion. It's told via the author interacting with the characters & recount...

What happens inside the head when you learn a 2nd language?

'The Bilingual Brain' by Albert Costa is a quick summary of academic research on bilingual vs monolingual speakers. He looks at effects that knowing a 2nd language can have on the physical wiring as well as behavioural differences. So things like response times, vocab limits, gray matter density, etc. In the 5 chapters he goes over studies and you'll see some graphs & b...

In this episode, we delve into key insights from Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power, highlighting powerful lessons on navigating relationships, mastering influence, and understanding human psychology. From the importance of knowing the rules—even if you choose not to follow them—to mastering strategic silence and spotting concealed intentions, these learnings reveal profound truths about influence, communication, and power dynami...

Isn't it common sense to go wild & fight!!!

'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine is a small pamphlet distributed just before the start of the American Revolution. In it he makes arguments for why they should break away from English governance to become their own independent country and not a colony. These focus on religious views of kings, the illegitimacy of hereditary rule & why England does not have America's best interests at ...

Power is an elusive force, but Robert Greene distills it into 48 strategic laws that have stood the test of time. In this review, I break down the core themes, structure, and key takeaways from The 48 Laws of Power—a book that is equally revered and feared.

This isn't just another self-help book; it's a deep dive into historical power dynamics, manipulation, and strategy. From Machiavelli to Napoleon, Greene extracts lessons from hi...

Out of interest, what price do you put on your time?

'The Price Of Time' by Edward Chancellor is a look at interest rates across history and what effects they have had on human behaviour & therefore economic activity. His central argument is that the current rates of interest seen in modern times are too low and have led to distorted & unproductive outcomes. It consists of 3 parts split into 18 chapters with a small series o...

Everybody is out for money ... politicians just want yours as well.

'The Gilded Age' by Mark Twain & Charles Dudley Warner is a fictional tale of the money, speculation & intrigue of American politics. It has two main branches of the story that intersect. The first is about a cast of small town people who seek out the riches of Washington (Laura, Washington & Col. Eschol Sellers). The second is of two well off young gent...

Unjustified negativity has funny ways of rebounding right back at you.

'The Lucky Country' by Donald Horne is a a subjective snapshot of Australian life in the 1960's. Donald creates a depiction of the average person, our way of life, relation to other countries (especially Asia) and the political landscape. He is rather scathing when taken as a whole but seems relatively balanced when talking about minutiae topics.

If you got value ...

Surprisingly, if you appeal to tired & worn out people it might just reflect in your own work.

'Blue Ocean Strategy' by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne is a business strategy book promoting the idea of moving away from a contested core business to less competitive greener pastures. Highlights several companies that have done this and why they were successful. Plenty of graphs, charts & lists contained within 11 chapters &a...

To save the world you must be first willing to burn it.

'The Man Who Was Thursday' by G.K. Chesterton is a short fictional novel of a policeman who joins a 7 person high ranking cabal of anarchists to stop their evil ideology. He begins to learn that their are allies amongst the enemies & enlists their help to take down the behemoth ringleader Sunday. It's set in 1900's England and has a rather bizarre 'absurdist' style but with...