In this Mere Mortals book review, I tackle Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday, the fourth and final entry in his Stoic Virtue series. It’s a slower, deeper, more reflective book centred on justice, the virtue that’s hardest to sell and hardest to live by. I share why this wasn’t my favourite read, but why it might be the most meaningful one for the long game of life. 00:00 – Intro & Context on the Stoic Virtue Series 00:30 – Book Stats: Length, Release Date, Structure 01:13 – Theme of Ju...
Jul 10, 2025•11 min
A 14-year-old is thrust into the shadow world of espionage, where every move is a fight to survive—and grow up fast. My book review on an oldie but a goodie, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horrowitz (00:00) – You're Never Too Young to Die (00:47) – First Encounter at 14 (02:15) – Spy Fantasy Meets Realism (03:38) – Plot Recap & Absurd Action (05:41) – Philosophy: Adapt to Survive (07:18) – Final Reflections Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://di...
Jun 03, 2025•8 min
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 (00:35) - Core Values from the Introduction (01:18) - Less is Mo...
May 27, 2025•13 min
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 time. Plus, a cheeky twist at Law 33 that'll make you rethink moder...
May 20, 2025•10 min
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 Crusades, Witch Hunts, etc). The book is split into 15 chapters and...
May 14, 2025•41 min
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 (00:34:39) Join Live! Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: h...
May 07, 2025•36 min
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 support back in any way you best see fit! Timeline: (00:00:00) In...
Apr 30, 2025•23 min
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. If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any ...
Apr 23, 2025•27 min
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, tech, culture, violence and sex to get a good idea of the new worl...
Apr 16, 2025•27 min
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 best see fit! Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:58) Themes/Quest...
Apr 09, 2025•24 min
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 meditation. If you got value from the podcast please provide support back...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min
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 & recounting passages both from the original Pooh stories but also the 3 ...
Mar 26, 2025•30 min
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 & brain cross sections. If you got value from the podcast please pr...
Mar 19, 2025•29 min
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 dynamics. (00:00) - Introduction to the 48 Laws of Power (01:08) - Know...
Mar 13, 2025•28 min
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 heart. If you got value from the podcast please provide support ...
Mar 12, 2025•26 min
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 history’s most cunning figures. But is this a manual for dominatio...
Mar 06, 2025•17 min
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 of charts and photographic plates. If you got value from the podc...
Mar 05, 2025•29 min
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 gentlemen who initially seek their fortune in the country before ret...
Feb 26, 2025•39 min
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 from the podcast please provide support back in any way you bes...
Feb 19, 2025•27 min
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 & 3 appendices. Huge thanks to Lyceum for the support this wee...
Feb 12, 2025•27 min
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 a levity you wouldn't find in other similar books. If you got v...
Feb 05, 2025•30 min
How much meaning is lost when you are reading a translation? Today is a special episode where I am going over my findings from reading 'O Alquimista' in the original Portuguese and it's English translation side by side. I found that although the grammar prompt some differences the biggest effect was stylistic choices by the translator. This includes minor things like cutting out words/sentences to larger alterations such as removing potentially 'racist' remarks. Would love to hear your feedback ...
Jan 29, 2025•33 min
No easy wins and only tough decisions. 'The Emperor Of All Maladies' by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a dense history of cancer throughout the centuries but particularly the 20th. Details breakthroughs in prevention, cure, chemotherapy, surgery, genetics and knowledge/understanding. Told from an American POV so largely uses stats from there whilst also showing how it is a global problem. Has a personal touch of his interactions with patients, scientists who discovered the next step forward and notable...
Jan 22, 2025•37 min
We're hitting the streets and looking for pet shops! 'Day Bang' by Roosh V is a how to guide on meeting girls during the day. In particular he advocates for starting casual chats (where the girl doesn't initially realise you're hitting on her) in cafe's, book stores, retail outlets and on the street. He lays out his strategy for the elderly opener, dropping interesting bait about yourself before moving into establishing a deeper connection and finally getting a number. Within you'll learn about ...
Jan 15, 2025•47 min
I explore insights from "The Obstacle is the Way" by Ryan Holiday, highlighting key lessons on persistence, action, and overcoming challenges. The discussion delves into Stoic philosophy, personal growth strategies, and actionable advice for navigating obstacles with a positive mindset. (00:00) - Introduction: Persistence Defined (00:33) - Book Learnings: "The Obstacle is the Way" Overview (02:55) - Key Insights from Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism (05:16) - The Origin of "The Obstacle is the Way" ...
Jan 10, 2025•33 min
What's a rather poor therapeutic strategy to heal trauma/abuse ..... become a global superstar! 'Unlovable' by Darren Hayes is an autobiography of the solo musical artist and former front man of Savage Garden. It details his childhood growing up in Brisbane, turbulent home/school life due to an alcoholic/violent father, musical ups & downs, struggles with his sexuality & road to healing. It consists of a fair few chapters (20-30ish), inset plate of photographs and told mostly in a chrono...
Jan 08, 2025•38 min
All of the fun of gambling without any of the boring math! 'Devil Take The Hindmost' by Edward Chancellor is a series of snapshots across history of financial speculation (so called bubbles). Presents not only the instances of craziness but also the feeling of the time (notable periods being The Tulip Mania, South Sea Bubble and The Gilded Age amongst others). Not super heavy on statistics; more so newspaper articles, quotes from notable people and behavioural reactions of the people. Chapters a...
Jan 01, 2025•33 min
If you're already melancholic, try dying first and then see how you feel! 'The Posthumous Memoirs Of Brás Cubas' by Machado De Assis is a reflection of memories from a man who has died but lived in Rio de Janeiro during the 19th century. Bras Cubas narrates his life in a melancholic style, jumping back in time after we learn of his demise. We see his struggles, his loves, his passions and his affairs. It's composed of 159 chapters of varying lengths and style. If you got value from the podcast p...
Dec 25, 2024•27 min
I dive into Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk, highlighting eight powerful learnings about Elon’s work ethic, team structure, reality distortion, and the maniacal sense of urgency that shaped his ventures. From OpenAI’s origins to "X" continuity, the insights offer an inspiring yet extreme look into innovation and grit. (00:00) - Welcome & Intro: Learnings from Elon Musk (00:53) - Steve Jobs Comparison: Creating Reality Distortion (02:26) - Elon’s Childhood: Mixed Realities & Infl...
Dec 20, 2024•19 min
Is it moral to trick a willing participant in a deadly game? 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card is a sci-fi war scenario between humanity and hive mind insect aliens. Humanity survived two space battles but must prepare for the all important third. They recruit gifted children & train them mercilessly to be strategic commanders in the International Fleet. Ender Wiggin is the most talented of the bunch and must do brutal things to save those he loves. It consists of 15 chapters mostly titled ...
Dec 18, 2024•24 min
