 |
 |
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
|
|
|
You'd think that a 500 year old book wouldn't have much to say about life in our modern times. But some things don't really change all that much ... and this book is one example. Niccolo Machiavelli was appointed to the chancellery of the Flornetine republic in late 15th century Italy. He was involved in many issues related to the interests of state, including diplomacy. He had lived in a time when power, conquest, war, and all that surrounds it was common in life. 'The Prince' is a like a guidebook for those who seek power, already have power, or just want to keep the power. Principles and ideals that are as true today as they were then. A timeless classic ... highly recomended.
|
|
|
| |
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greeen
|
|
|
The 48 Laws of Power is a collection of 'power' aphorisms that have proven themselves throughout history to be fundamental truths. Upon first review, this looks like an operators guide for 'how to be a scumbag' ... with most of the laws based in the core principle of selfishness. As is often the case, judging something by first view can be misleading. These laws provide a unique picture of the nature of human behaviour and tendency. The laws are described in the context of history ... with each law outlined as either an 'observance' of the law ... or a 'trangression' of the law. It shows how history truly repeats itself.
|
|
|
| |
|
Don't Think of an Elephant
|
|
|
At first glance this book appears to be a political title ... and it is. But what's more signifigant is that it's really a book about linguistics ... language ... simply put it's really about words.
What's important here is to understand the power of words ... the power of language. It has the power to persuade ... to influence ... to make you do things that you may not natually be inclined to do. It's proven ... it's used every day ... and you should know how they're doing it to best position yourself in this game of words.
The context here is clearly politics ... but every day you're bombarded w/ hidden messages and influences in the things you hear and see.
|
|
|
| |
Galileo's Daughter
|
|
|
When you read a story like this it's hard to imagine living this life ... in this time ... mid 15th century Italy. This book is about this famous man (galileo galilei) and the relationship he had w/ his oldest daughter ... who lived her whole adult life as a nun in a convent not far from where he lived in Florence.
An amazing time in history ... in an equally amazing part of the world ... with an unbelievably courageous and intelligent man. The world ... and all that follows him ... changes forever as a result of his efforts and courage. What a story!
|
|
|
| |
|
The Madness of Crowds by Charles McKay
|
|
|
This collection of 'the crazy things people will do and believe' was published in 1841. It's full title is Extrodinary Popular Delusions & The Madness of Crowds. It contains a broad range of stories about things that masses of people 'fell for' during this time. I have one of these stories summarized in the Stange Stuff section (The Alchemists).
What I find most interesting about reading stories like this is that the old addage 'history repeats itself' is an old addage for a reason ... like it's true! It's really amazing to read about how 'the masses' move w/ one idea or another ... as if once it reaches some critical mass, w/ enough people 'believing' ... at some magic tipping point ... it all become real in the mind of all of it's followers. Some of the other great delusions outlined include Tulip Mania .... The Magnetizers .... and Duels and Ordeals.
|
|
|
| |
Introducing NLP
|
|
|
Of all that I've read to date on this subject ... and there's been a lot ... this is what I would suggest for someone who wants to really know what NLP is and how it works (a serious inquiry). It's a bit technical at times and can be what I might describe as a little 'clinical' since the tools and techniques of NLP are often used in these types of settings (psycho-analysis, hypno-therapy, counseling, etc)
This is a huge subject that defies a simple explanation so reading one title is not likely to make you an expert on this subject ... but this title sets the foundation well. I have a more verbose outline of NLP including it's history and possible applications in the Strange Stuff section of the site. I ended up at the NLP subject via my travels in the study of sleight of hand, persuasion, and influence as related to the study of (you guessed it) magic.
|
|
|
| |
|
1984 by George Orwell
|
|
|
You got to go back and read this one again ... and if you've never read it ... shame on you! This is now ... more than ever ... a biting critique of our modern technology laden world ... showing clearly the importance of truth, transparency, and a commitment to democratic ideals ... which are becoming 'endangered species'. Skip a few episodes of Dancing With The Stars and experience this true classic again.
|
|
|
| |
Art Of Astonishment by Paul Harris
|
|
|
What can be said about this? First off ... this is a magic book ... for magicians ... and it's off limits to all you 'civlians' out there who would be our 'subjects'. This is a three volume set ... a cornicopia of creativity from one of the most prolific and creative minds in magic.
This set sits on the shelf in front of me as I write these words ... and I know that still within those books are other 'kernels' of magic that I will discover sometime in the future ... and wonder why I didn't see it before. Thanks Paul!
|
|
|
| |
|
My Voice Will Go with You
|
|
|
A collection of stories and other successes of Milton Erickson ... the father of modern hyno-therapy. This guy was legendary in the late 50's, 60's, and 70's in his successes w/ patients w/ difficult psychological issues. The book outlines many of Mr. Erickson's renound techniques in bringing relief to his patients symptoms. His unique and easy going story telling style has influenced generations of therapists worldwide. His work ... along with that of Virgina Satir and Fritz Perls created the groundwork for what later became known as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).
|
|
|
| |
The Omnivore's Dilema (aka: The Corn Book)
|
|
|
You like corn? What kind? Corn on the cob ... creamed ... chips? How much corn do you think you're consuming? Take a guess. Got a number ... think you have a good idea? Ok ... now read this book ... and get ready for a big surprise. If it's true when they say 'you are what you eat' ... then you are actually a walking & talking ear of corn!
|
|
|
| |
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvonne Chouniard
|
|
|
The guy who wrote this is the founder and chairman of Patagonia ... the outdoors apparel and gear company. They had modest starts making climbing hardware (Yvonne Chouniard, the founder, is a mountain climber). Successes selling the hardware led them into the clothing business.
So much of the book is about the history of Patagonia ... and it's continued awareness of it's responsibility to the environment ... since it's nature and the love of it that is the genesis of what Patagonia really is. So ... the one thing I walked away from this book was the generally assumed idea that things made of natural materials are always better for the environment than something that is synthesized or manufactured (they're not necessarily). You gotta read the book to understand this if it isn't already obvious to you now (it wasn't to me).
|
|
|
| |
Words That Change Minds by Shelle Rose Charvet
|
|
|
Words are the fundamental elements of our means of communication. They carry a tremendous amount of power and influence as a result. It's all about understanding that there are inherent preferences each of us has when it comes to what words we will use to express ourselves. There are also preferences for the words other use when speaking to express themselves. Not aligning these preferences in a given exchange can signifigantly influence the effectiveness of your message. This book describes a relatively simple profiling model known as the LAB Profile (Language and Behavior Profile) for identifying specific preference or tendencies within roughly a dozen categories. The context is primarily human resources, with many examples showing the application of the profile to the hiring and management of employees. Despite the heavy influence toward HR, it serves as an intesting example of a profiling method heavily based in linguistic influence.
|
|
|
| |
|
The Kite Runner by Kaleid Hussein
|
|
|
This was a great novel about a young boy and his friend. It's writer is now the most famous Afghan novelist due to the success of this book. The story is apparrently loosely based on his life and growing up in Afghanistan during the time of the Russian occupation of that country.
This would be what you'd call a 'page turner'. I'm not a big novel reader so I'm used to really dry and analytical subject matter ... so page turners are not what I'm used to. You won't put this book down ... and you'll want all those you know to read this story as well.
|
|
|
| |
Reefer Madness by Eric Schlosser
|
|
|
This is an in-depth investigative summary of three of the biggest black market economies in the United States today ... illegal drugs with a specific focus on marijuana, pornography, and illegal immigrant labor. Eric Schlosher writes a compelling story of life within these huge and expansive black market industries from the perspective of those who live their lives within. His focus on pornography tells the story of Reuben Sturman, the king of porn who started his world empire w/ a modest comic book distribution business in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Sturman finds himself setting legal precedent in a supreme court decision ... at a time when the fundamental rights of free speech and publishing were being challenged/threatened. The tales of controversial sentencing and penalties for involvement in the growing and distribution of marijuana (cannibas sativa). Trials of an immigrant worker's life in the California agriculture market ... supported by cheap labor and a migratory and seasonal lifestyle. The autor's in-depth coverage of these huge black markets shows the fundamental ... and sometimes unattractive side of human tendency.
|
|
|
| |
Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
|
|
|
This is an old classic ... a biographical novel of the life and times of Michelangelo Buonarroti ... the famous renaissance sculptor, painter, and architect. It chronicles his entire creative life from his earliest days as an apprentice working in the gardens of Lorenzo Medici ... to the last creative output of his life at the ripe old age of ninety. A solitary man completely committing himself to his passion for scupture ... but being forced to expend his creative enegies on projects that others wanted him to do instead. Most of his most famous creations are those he actaully had little interest in being involved in. His rivalries with Leonardo DaVinci and his dealings w/ a long list of papal leaders who force Michalangelo into creative endevours meant to immortalize their papal reign. A great story about a larger than life historical figure.
|
|
|
| |
A New Golden Age by Ravi Batra
|
|
|
This paints a picture of difficutly and despair ... a cataclysmic event that shakes the foundations of our economic system. Ravi Batra has developed what could be called a predictive model for the economic and power conditions around the world. With a model that accurately represents the real dynamics of a given system .... it can be used to pedict outcomes under specific conditions. He describes the model and it's origins ... with foundations in what he calls the social cycle. In validating the model by fitting it to major historical events and transitions ... it's predictive analysis of current events foretell a major failure of the captitalist economic system occuring sometime within the next couple of years. Publshed in 2007, this analysis of our past, and our likely future ... should be a must read for eveyone.
|
|
|
| |
The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav
|
|
|
The Dancing Wu Li Masters is a book about physics ... more specifically about quantum mechanics. Before you leave and go somewhere else let me first say that it's been written by a guy (Gary Zukav) who at the time he came to the subject to write this book had little to no knowledge of physics, quantum mechanics, or much awareness of the mathematics behind it all.
It begins with a coverage of the history of quantum theory ... which some might consider to be one of the most signifigant intellectual quests in the history of man. The author gets his first contact with any serious discussion of physics after being invited to an afternoon conference at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, CA.by a friend. This foreign subject becomes familiar when he realizes that he understands the entirety of their discussion ... and that they seem to be speaking more of theological issues rather than scientific ones.
This story represents what can be viewed as a crossroads between philosophy, science, religion, and psychology. A higher level message of the book is that intention is what actually creates reality. This is an interesting coverage of a subject that most would not be going out of their way to discover.
|
|
|
| |
Marley & Me by John Grogan
|
|
|
Marley & Me is a personal story about a young couple starting out in life together and begin to consider the choice to have children. WIth concern about their current parenting skills, and as a check of their ability to care for a creature that totally relies on others, they decide to get a dog. Sounds like a simple enough idea, but as they choose the dog that will be dependent on them for the next decade, they know little of the changes about to occur in their quiet life.
After some basic research concerning the breed ... they end up coming home w/ a male yellow lab pup that had shown the most energy and enthusium during their short visit. Their lives change forever once they pass this threshold, and the tale unwinds that defines a connection between this young couple and this retreiver. What follows are many years of compassion, commitment, love, and frustration. Their patience and understanding is tested as the new entry in their life pushes the limits to see how much destruction and havoc two people can put up with. A must read for dog lovers. A good idea if you're thinking of taking the responsibility for one of these canine creatures yourself.
|
|
|
|
