?? Wisdom Wednesdays 9: Pages from My Bookshelf

Welcome back to our weekly rendezvous with the written word. Let's dive into the insights and adventures from this week's literary companions.

I'm giving my insights and takeaways.

• Are there more?
• Yes, there likely are, and if you have read the book, please share!

? I Recently Savoured

1.???? "Sleep Smarter" by Shawn Stevenson

Revolutionize your life one night at a time with strategic sleep optimization techniques.

• Take care of your body, and your body will take care of you.
• Caffeine does not give you energy. It stimulates the nervous system, resulting in more tiredness once it wears off.
• The most effective time for producing the right amount of hormones is from 10 pm to 2 am.
• The three Ss (Satisfaction, Sex, Sleep) make each other better
• Sex, sleep and satisfaction complement each other perfectly.
• One of the most essential minerals for good sleep is Magnesium.

2.???? "My Age of Anxiety" by Scott Stossel

An intimate journey through the personal and universal challenges of anxiety.

• The 21st century is incredibly anxious.
• Anxiety disorder is the most widespread mental health issue on the planet, greater than depression.
• The choice paradox. As the freedom to choose increases, so does our anxiety.
• Today, there are four primary and theoretical views and treatment approaches.
• Secure, ambivalent and avoidance styles significantly increase our adult relationships and anxiety levels.
• The root of anxiety is an existential crisis each human experiences when facing inevitable problems: loss, ageing, and death.

3.???? "Happy Sexy Millionaire" by Steven Bartlett

Debunking success myths to reveal the actual elements of joy and wealth.

• You are enough.
• Two stoic exercises can help you decide on your priorities:

o?? Imagine your life without the things and people you take for granted.

o?? Prepare yourself for a short period of voluntary discomfort.

• Value your time and your "now". Don't postpone your happiness for a vague future.
• Choose your priorities based on internal desires and values, not external factors.
• The hedonic treadmill theory considers our ability to adapt to good and bad changes and make them part of our normal level of life satisfaction over time.

4.???? "The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi

Timeless strategies from a legendary samurai that transcend the battlefield.

• First published in 1645
• From his duelling experience, Musashi forged the Way of Strategy, a philosophy guiding martial arts and life.
• One life, one strategy.
• Victories are earned through the discomfort of discipline.
• Your life is your creation, so make it bright.
• Everything you see is emptiness, and you alone grant it qualities.
• Five aspects focus on improving the warriors' skills: ground, water, fire, wind, void
• Use Ground fundamentals to improve relationships and interpersonal communication.

?? Cherished Revisits

None this week

?? I'm still Between the Covers

I'm making slow progress on some books, but I am making progress and slowly savouring them.

1.???? "Course Creation Simplified" by Jimmy Naraine

Unravelling the art of impactful teaching.

2.???? "Unstoppable You" by Liene Uresina Public speaker, Bestselling author

The relentless pursuit of self-improvement.

3.???? "10 Things They Don't Teach You in Engineering School" by Kian Leong Phang

Unveiling the unwritten lessons of the engineering world.

4.???? "Cracking the Parenting Codes: How to Successfully Raise 21st Century Kids" by Kohila Sivas

Navigating the complexities of modern parenting with innovative strategies for raising well-rounded children.

5.???? "A day of fallen night" by Samantha Shannon.

Book 2 of the saga. 800+ pages of Dragons!

6.???? "The Earned Life" by Marshall Goldsmith

Aligning every action with our deepest values.

7.???? "Conversation Starters That Will Get You (and Others) Talking" by Diane Weston.

I'm re-engaging with the 'revised' edition to explore the depths of dialogue.

?? Freshly Planted, eager to read

1.???? "Tao Te Ching" by Lao-Tzu

The profound ancient wisdom of Taoism offers guidance for peace and simplicity.

2.???? "A Thousand Brains" by Jeff Hawkins

A new theory of intelligence that will transform our understanding of the brain.

3.???? "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt

Dispelling economic fallacies and advocating for clear, logical economic thinking.

4.???? "Behave" by Robert M. Sapolsky

A comprehensive look at the biology behind human behaviour.

5.???? "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman

How the power of positive thinking can be cultivated and harnessed.

?? Goodreads Reading Challenge 2024

Progress update: 44/52

• I'm way ahead of schedule.
• I need to increase my 2024 target, but to what, maybe 100?
• Join the challenge and share your progress https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/51960792

??? Engage & Gauge

• On Tuesday's #EngageAndGauge I do LinkedIn polls and typically a longer form survey.
• Take the Book Reading Habits survey here https://trginternational.typeform.com/Books1

?? Try This

1.???? Implement a "caffeine curfew" at least 6 hours before bedtime as recommended in "Sleep Smarter," and note any differences in your sleep quality.

2.???? Each day this week, when presented with a choice, take a moment to practice the Stoic exercise from "Happy Sexy Millionaire" by reflecting on what truly matters to you.

3.???? Take one teaching from "The Book of Five Rings" about discipline and apply it to a personal goal you're working towards, noting the progress and challenges you face.

This edition aligns with "Business As UnUsual: How to Thrive in the New Renaissance."

Get your copy for more on thriving in uncertainty here https://www.rickyvanovich.com/books/bauu-book-series/ ??

#WisdomWednesdays #ReadingChallenge #BookshelfDive #BookLovers #SleepHealth #Stoicism #Strategy #LifeLessons