No More Mr. Nice Guy
I started reading this book again a few months back because my initial notes on it were not the best. Regardless, I just finished part of the book that emphasizes how Nice Guys (if this terminology confuses or upsets you, please pick up the book) often operate from a place of powerlessness and shame, refusing to do anything different. The big idea of this part of the book is to embrace life as it is, problems, chaos, conflict, and all. The book says that no matter how much we try to project, bottle up our emotions, act immorally, or refuse to set boundaries, we cannot stop life from being what it is. Life is worth fighting for, and not fighting for it is like trying to grab water.
I'd elaborate a little more on how those things can be done, but honestly, I'd prefer to just plug the book and allow y'all to dive deeper into those topics, if need be. This is a roundup, not a summary. (Editor's Note: the hell is the difference?)
You have to put your hands up and fight or life will kick the shit out of you. You may not always win, but the only way to lose for certain is to never fight.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Holy hell, this book espouses some essential knowledge. I've just dove into the second chapter, where Robert Kiyosaki talks about how as a child, his best friend's rich father took him under his wing and taught him about money. But he didn't teach them in the traditional way. He had young Robert work manual labor and pushed him to the brink of anger and fear to get him to learn.
Some insightful things I've picked up from this book (and from everything else I've been reading) is that making financial decisions out of fear of poverty or greed will cause you nothing but pain. Because money cannot solve those problems. I don't want to get too preachy but I've actually come to find out that making any kind of decisions out of fear will ultimately screw you over in the long run.
I cannot endorse this book more. Not because it's some well of hidden financial knowledge or because it's making me rich. I endorse this book because it's introducing me to a different way of thinking about money. And I think everyone can benefit from that.
The 6 Pillars of Self-Esteem
I've finally reached the second or third pillar of self-esteem in this book. And that pillar is to live with self-responsibility. And boy, this section of the book made me cry (yet again). This book really makes me want to go read the Chronicles of Narnia or Hop on Pop because it's a tough read.
In terms of self-responsibility, the book basically says that none of us has the right to use anyone else to get our needs met or (and this is the part that made me upset) to passively allow ourselves to be used to meet someone else's needs. There are five or six sections that break this idea down, but honestly, they're just further stating the same harsh truth over and over. No one is coming to save a single one of us, and if we want something out of life, we have to get up and go get it. It doesn't matter if we were born with a silver spoon or if people have handed things to us our whole lives. It doesn't matter if we're shamans or blessed pastors or making zillions of V-Bucks. In order to build self-esteem we have to take responsibility for our own lives, our own trajectories, and our own thoughts. There is no other way. No matter who we are.
The Book of Five Rings
I'd like to begin with a disclaimer that, despite this book emphasizing that the only way to properly understand it is to actively practice the principles it explains, I am not in any position whatsoever to be actively practicing military strategy.
The Book of Five Rings consists of five different scrolls that explain various aspects of the way of strategy as seen by the author. I have just finished reading the Fire Scroll, which outlines ideals and specific tactics that can be employed to achieve victory in combat.
Some of my favorite tactics from this scroll include:
1. Knowing Disintegration: This involves understanding when your enemy is weakened and seizing the opportunity to finish them off.
2. Knocking the Heart Out: This entails completely dismantling any notions your enemy may have of defeating you.
3. Small and Large Perspective: This requires comprehending both the bigger picture and the intricate details of your actions, and being able to shift focus between them when progress is not being made.
4. Letting Go Four Hands: This refers to completely changing tactics when faced with a stalemate.
The scroll concludes by stating that there are no other tactics, mindsets, or strategies to be employed in military strategy. As a noncombatant, I cannot speak to the validity of this claim, but interestingly, the next scroll opens with Musashi vehemently criticizing and dismissing every other school of combat, asserting that he will prove them to be foolish and wrong. The Wind Scroll serves as Musashi's definitive argument against any alternative approach to strategy apart from his own. I am genuinely excited to read it.
It could be the translation, but everything in this book possesses such matter-of-factness that it feels like some kind of dogmatic text. This is understandable because, at its core, the book deals with successfully navigating life-or-death scenarios, which are not to be taken lightly or joked about.
Unlimited Power
I intended to read this book before I read Atomic Habits, at the beginning of the year, but I couldn't find a copy of it, anywhere. So far, it's one of the most interesting things that I've read in a long while. I won't spill the beans (partially because I learned a lot of stuff that I need to reflect on) just yet about the big idea. But just know that unlimited power really means unlimited communication ability and knowledge.
The Power of Now
To be honest, I only read the introduction of this book, and for now, I'm going to set it aside and prioritize reading "Unlimited Power" instead. The author, Eckhart Tolle, is known as a spiritual teacher, and in this book, he shares his journey to becoming a teacher and provides answers to various questions asked during his seminars and lectures. It's like his own version of "Meditations" or "The Prince."
While I know that many people have found this book helpful, I'm not really eager to dive into the mystical ramblings of a German guru. Personally, I'd rather watch Sadhguru's videos for spiritual insights. I hope you understand that I say this with respect, but this particular book doesn't resonate with me at the moment.
Closing Thoughts
You know. Life is a big wave. It doesn't have a set shape or form. We just have to ride that motherfucker the best way we know how. No one can give you your surfboard or tell you what shape your wave is going to be or when it's going to come. But one thing I can say is that you have to ride that wave.
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