3 Things I Learned from this little yet inspiring book (Book Review)

Hello readers,

Happy New Year! Wishing you tons of happiness and success in 2024.

Last week I came across this short yet beautiful book “Life is Short And So Is This Book.” by Peter Atkins.

This is my first book of 2024 and I purposefully chose it just because it’s super short and helps me give a strong reading start to this year.

As you can get it from the book title, It’s super short, just 10 chapters, but it’s a great reminder of some things we tend to forget.

Thinking of keeping it brief, here are three things I learned from this tiny yet powerful book.

Let’s dive straight into it.

#1 - Slow down & create space in your life

Our time on this planet is finite, but that doesn’t mean we should rush through life, attempting to tackle everything imaginable.

Operating at such a frenetic pace only leads to burnout and health issues.

The constant ping, buzz, and email chime have entered our mental space to such an extent that we’ve lost control over our lives.

The best ideas often elude us when we are under this spell of never ending pursuit.

The big questions is — How to break free from this cycle?

Try these simple steps to add some space into your life:

• Take a leisurely walk after work (Morning walks are powerful)
• Concentrate on a few tasks at hand. Avoid multi-tasking at all cost.
• Avoid unnecessary meetings at work. If a simple email can do, avoid meetings.
• Enjoy a solo bike ride. I do this on weekends, such a great way to let thoughts run over you in the motion.
• Disconnect from technology for a few hours daily. Needless to say, we know how important this is.
• Journal down your thoughts. Start keeping a journal before bed or in the morning.
• Meditate. Meditation is fasting for mind, I use an app called headspace for 10 mins meditation. Give it a try.

#2 - Avoid doing dumb things in life.

Ever seen people taking reckless actions, risking their lives for seemingly foolish reasons? How do we label such people — dumb, stupid, or just plain crazy?

The wise is the one who learns from other people’s mistakes, steer clear of actions that can’t be undone.

It’s not about being risk averse, but more about thinking carefully about what might happen before making that decision.

I’ve seen many people, especially in the area of finance make not-so-smart choices — spending too much, piling up a ton of debt, and ending up in trouble really quickly.

Another lesson I learnt from this book is that we often resist facing reality. Many of us remain in denial, refusing to acknowledge what lies ahead.

Think about AI, such as ChatGPT. Even though it’s definitely becoming a big part of our lives, some people are hesitant to accept it.

A wiser person would see the reality coming and prepare accordingly.

TL;DR, here are the key lessons i learned from this chapter:

• Stay away from doing dumb and stupid things. Always ask to yourself — “What can be the consequences of this action/decision in my life?”
• Don’t make big decisions on the fly. Take your time to think things through. You will thank yourself later.
• Skip irreversible actions. Always weigh the possible downsides and upsides before deciding. I prefer writing them down on paper for greater sense of clarity.
• Lastly, face the truth & embrace reality. The earlier the better.

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently - Warren Buffett

#3 - You first, people second.

Since we were kids, we’ve always heard that we should put others before ourselves. It makes sense if you work in the hospitality or healthcare space, but in everyday life, it should be the opposite.

Loads of folks I know try to find happiness from outside — expecting others to care about them, counting likes on their newly published IG posts, and spending too much to impress others.

No matter, if you keep seeking outside validation, you can be happy in longer run.

The truth is — what we chase for is inside us.

We look for finding the happiness from external sources be it in the form of social media or status purchases.

Love yourself first. Be your own cheerleader, take care of yourself. You’ll notice that when you put yourself first, others start looking up to you.

OK, so what can you do from tomorrow to start keeping yourself first.

Here are some personal recommendations that has worked for me

• Take care of your body and mind. Join a gym and start getting in shape
• Start saying no to people often.
• Get involved in a hobby. Spend time on something you love
• Practice creating clear boundaries in your life.
• Have a self care day once a month. Book a massage, get some facial, get a spa (It’s funny but it improves your self image)
• Avoid toxic, negative people in your life at all cost.

Remember, your happiness is not defined by others’ expectations or external displays.

Prioritize joy and fulfillment over superficial status symbols.

That’s a wrap on this book. I would recommend it to someone who needs a daily burst of motivation or to someone who wants to start reading a book but gets bogged down after purchasing a 300-pager

What insight from this book you loved the most?

Tell me in the comment below.

If you like this review and want me to keep sharing such book insights through out this year, give me a cheer below :)