Hey all,
I've finally created a proper email newsletter to share my book notes more broadly. If you know of anyone who might find them interesting, you can share the following subscribe link: https://booknotes.substack.com/
There's also one-click unsubscribe--so if these emails aren't doing it for you, feel free to drop off using the link in the footer. I won't be offended!
And now on to my latest reads...
1. The Upside of Stress, by Kelly McGonigal
"I wrote this book with a specific purpose in mind: to help you discover your own strength, courage, and compassion. Seeing the upside of stress is not about deciding whether stress is either all good or all bad. It’s about how choosing to see the good in stress can help you meet the challenges in your life.” (pg. xxiii)
Many people probably find their way to *The Upside of Stress* after seeing the compelling TED talk by author, Kelly McGonigal, How to Make Stress Your Friend. In under 15 minutes, she presents a very compelling story: the world portrays stress as something to be avoided, but in reality, it can be harnessed to help us overcome life’s challenges and can be used to provide meaning to our existence. Stress can be good.
Unlike some books based on TED-talks, I feel like this one really delivers. It adds a rich texture to the core idea, supported by extensive research, and most importantly, it provides tactical suggestions and exercises for the reader: a playbook for a stress mindset makeover.
To start, McGonigal presents three key concepts:
Stress: "what arises when something you care about is at stake.”
Mindsets: “beliefs that shape your reality, including physical reactions, and even long-term health, happiness and success.”
Interventions: strategies designed to produce behavior changes or improve health (learn new POV, exercise to adopt/apply new mindset, then teach to others)
The main idea of the book is that, through simple (often one-time) interventions, we can permanently shift our mindsets about stress. Research even shows that the effects of interventions persist, even if we don’t actual remember them occurring. Think receiving a vaccine—while you might not remember getting your measles shots, your body is still protected.
Overall, an inspiring read and if you believe the science, it could have a permanent impact on the way that I personally view stress.
Click here for full book notes
2. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
A beautiful read, that explores an interesting concept: what If the geographic limitations that enforce inequality were no longer there.
3. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
A straight-forward personal finance book that can be distilled down to a couple of key points.
The little things add up (The Latte Factor)
Automate your savings and investment plan
Pay yourself first—savings and investing should come from your gross salary
Click here for full book notes
Hope you enjoy and until next month...
Matt