Atomic Habits by James Clear

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Atomic Habits by James Clear, which was nicely narrated by the author. Atomic Habits was my last read for the month of September.

I've been meaning to read Atomic Habits for quite awhile, but I had been putting it off for other reads instead. 

Then, about six weeks ago, a Ukrainian woman living in Kyiv, Ukraine that I am an English buddy with, asked me to read Atomic Habits with her. We will be discussing this book via video chat this upcoming week.

I really enjoyed reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. This work of nonfiction about how to change ones habits was very engaging and straightforward. There are four laws to follow to enact changing ones habits. The laws themselves are broken down into easy to follow steps that seem very doable. I also like the fact that there are several pdf downloadable worksheets to help facilitate changing ones own habits. 

Below is the publisher's summary for Atomic Habits by James Clear from the Goodreads website:

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
- Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
- Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
- Design your environment to make success easier;
- Get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

I am giving Atomic Habits by James Clear a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Stoicism by Tony Bennis

I originally download the unabridged audio version of Stoicism by Tony Bennis from Chirp Books around 3 to 4 years ago. However, Chirp Books no longer seems to carry this audiobook title for whatever reason!

I meant to initially listen to Stoicism by Tony Bennis when I first purchased it 3 to 4 years ago, but I kept putting it off and reading other books instead. I am into philosophy and also self-help books that will hopefully inspire change within. Since stoicism is an ancient philosophy, I figured learning more about stoicism may help give me a new perspective on how to inspire change within vs. a more current psychologically based self-help based book.

Stoicism by Tony Bennis is a quick read... Or in my case, a quick listen as the audio edition is less than four hours in length. Stoicism by Tony Bennis is a beginner's overview of stoicism for the uninitiated who desires to to gain basic knowledge about stoicism to hel facilitate practical change. I found this book to be a nice introduction to stoicism that I may refer back to repeatedly as needed. There are also exercises to complete at the end of each chapter to solidify the points made within each chapter. I look forward to exploring more in depth books about stoicism in the future.

Below is the summary for Stoicism by Tony Bennis from Bookshop.org:

Are the troubles of modern life getting to you?

The solution to your troubles is contained in the wisdom of the ancients.

Stoicism is a philosophy that was started in Ancient Greece, but this two-thousand-year-old worldview is enjoying a modern rebirth. All across the globe, people are coming to appreciate the timeless wisdom of Stoicism.

You don't have to suffer. You may not be able to control the path your life will take, but Stoicism teaches that you can control the way you see life. By shifting your way of thinking you can eliminate unnecessary suffering, reshape your thought patterns, and achieve that sense of calm you've always wanted.

In this book, you will find all of the information you need to understand Stoic thought and put it into action in your life.

• Start by understanding what Stoicism is and isn't. Once you understand the basic concepts you'll learn the history of this storied Philosophy. From there you will build up your understanding while learning how to put each new concept into practice.

• Gain insight into the emotions that can keep you from living the life that you want to lead. Find out how to master your heart by feeding positive emotions while starving the negative.

• Learn a strategy for success that has helped some of history's greatest heroes to triumph in the face of tragedy. When you learn to see obstacles as opportunities you can rise to the top while others fall behind.

• Find out how to prepare yourself for any challenge life may hand you. Don't wait for tragedy to strike before you learn how to handle it. Start building the skills that will allow you to weather any storm.

• Take steps today to change your life. This isn't a self-help book for you to read and forget, it calls for real action that will create real results.

All throughout the book, you will find a treasure trove of Stoic wisdom in the form of quotes from history's greatest Stoic thinkers. Learn the lessons taught by history's greatest teachers, passed onto you in plain English.

You don't have to live a life ruled by stress and worry. No matter who you are, you can learn how to master your own mind and retake control of your life.

The power to change is inside of you, the ancient secrets of Stoicism will show you how to unlock your full potential.

I am giving giving Stoicism by Tony Bennis a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill

 

Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill is my 80th read for 2025 and the 2nd book I've read by Napoleon Hill. I actually listened to the unabridged, annotated audio version of this book, which is really well read by several narrators.

I had reservations about reading Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill after reading Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters last year in July. Napoleon Hill appears to be a popular self-help/personal growth writer from last century and his book, Think And Grow Rich, seems to be a classic... So, I had decided to acquire two of his books I'd found on sale via the Chirp Audiobook website. 

After reading, Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters, I wasn't sure that it completely resonated with me. Plus, after doing some research online about Napoleon Hill's life online, I discovered on Wikipedia that:

"Hill is a controversial figure. Accused of fraud, modern historians also doubt many of his claims, such as that he met Andrew Carnegie and that he was an attorney."

Needless to say, the above quote from Wikipedia has somewhat soured my views regarding Napoleon Hill, himself, and what he has shared inside his books. It left me wondering if Hill was just a huckster.

This month, I did decide to listen to Outwitting The Devil mainly due to the fact that I paid money to obtain this audiobook before I learned about Hill's past. Also, Outwitting The Devil is a relatively short at roughly six hours in listening length. Also, the subject matter of this book had me curious about its content. 

Outwitting The Devil is definitely better than the first book I read by Napoleon Hill last year. I enjoyed the two main narrators and the third narrator who came in periodically to read the annotated segments written by the editor of this book.

Essentially, Napoleon Hill presents his seven principles of good to help us reach our personal goals and achieve success. He does this by having an imaginary conversation with the Devil himself. We learn how the Devil uses the forces of fear, anger, lust, jealousy, procrastination, and so on to keep us from succeeding in life. 

Indoctrination from schools and churches seems to be big talking points in Hill's book. This indoctrination keeps us from succeeding in life. Thinking freely, defining are own path, and strictly adhering to our life's purpose seems to be the goal in overcoming obstacles in life.

This is just a few of the highlights of Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill. There's more to this book. Interesting presentation of ideas for sure are provided with Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill. Overall it's a middle of the road read for me. I do think it has some ideas that are still applicable for our life and times today.

Below is the publisher's summary for Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill on Amazon's website:

Bestselling author Napoleon Hill reveals the seven principles of good that allow us to triumph over obstacles . . . and find success.

Using his legendary ability to get to the root of human potential, Napoleon Hill digs deep to reveal how fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy prevent us from realizing our personal goals. This long-suppressed parable, once considered too controversial to publish, was written by Hill in 1938 following the publication of his classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. Annotated and edited for a contemporary audience by Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Three Feet from Gold coauthor Sharon Lechter, this book--now available in paper--is profound, powerful, resonant, and rich with insight.

I am giving Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Trust Your Intuition by Jill Sylvester LMHC

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Trust Your Intuition by Jill Sylvester LMHC, which is narrated by the author. 

Trust Your Intuition by Jill Sylvester LMHC is a quick read at 3 hours, 24 minutes!

I love that the author, Jill Sylvester, presented 100 ways to transform ones life with bitesized chunks of information to help instill daily, actionable changes in relatable, realistic ways. I dislike it when self-help authors make things way too complicated in order to make beneficial changes in ones life... Or they write long winded and sometimes complicated ways to make changes in ones life in their books. Keep it simple, please!

Trust Your Intuition by Jill Sylvester LMHC is a down to earth read, which provides practical solutions. I'm not a licensed mental health counselor. But, it seems to me that the transformative ways to change ones life provided within this book would be beneficial in numerous ways beyond dealing with anxiety and/or depression. Building stronger mental health before one encounters major issues seems like a worthy goal to attain/achieve.

Below is the publisher's summary for Trust Your Intuition by Jill Sylvester LMHC from the Goodreads website:

Are you struggling with anxiety or feeling depressed?

Do you wish there was a better way to deal with your emotions than perhaps taking too many pills or remaining stuck in the past? What if there was a better way to deal with your negative emotions?

There is--and Trust your 100 Ways to Transform Anxiety and Depression for Stronger Mental Health will show you how.

Written by licensed mental health counselor and wellness expert, Jill Sylvester, Trust Your Intuition provides 100 simple tips and techniques designed to teach you how to harness the power of your intuition, find the hidden meaning in your suffering, transform depressed feelings and emerge stronger and more powerful than ever.

Why your intuition can be your most powerful ally in overcoming depression. How to feel more energy - starting today! How to transform sadness and despair into positive feelings by understanding the true meaning of your depression or anxiety. The secrets for bringing more joy and happiness in your life. How to eliminate self-doubt and worry as you supercharge your self-confidence. A book packed with tools the author has successfully used personally for over thirty years and for over thirteen years in working with thousands of clients including adults, adolescents, and children, Trust Your Intuition will show you how to truly feel better by tapping into the wisdom that exists inside of you.

I am giving Trust Your Intuition by Jill Sylvester LMHC a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters by Napoleon Hill

 

Up until this week, I'd never read a book by Napoleon Hill before. Sure, I'd heard of Napoleon Hill before and the title of his famous book, Think and Grow Rich, decades ago. However, I was never interested in reading Think and Grow Rich. Nor, did I know much Napoleon Hill's life or background either, until this week. 

It wasn't until I was browsing Chirp Audiobook's website and noticed that quite a few of Napoleon Hill's books were on sale through their website. I became interested in a couple of Napoleon Hill's books on Chirp Audiobook's website. I also grew curious about what made Napoleon Hill's legacy so enduring that people were still buying/reading his books all these years later.

So, I purchased two audiobooks on sale from Chirp's website written by Napoleon Hill. I chose to read Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters first. 

Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters by Napoleon Hill is a work of nonfiction and falls into the personal growth and self-help genres. It is a short listen at 1 hour, 32 minutes and decently narrated by Rich Germaine.

I am often skeptical regarding personal growth and self-help books. I'm all about self-improvement and doing what one can to better one's own life, but are self-help books the best solution for bettering one's life? I'm not sure. I am sure self-help and personal growth books have their merits, but to what end?

As far as, Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters by Napoleon Hill goes, it's an interesting read. Short and concise. There's some interesting information held within it's pages. Some of the information seems valuable enough, but other ideas presented, I'm not sure about at all. I question whether following the seven steps to living a life that matters, will bring the desired results implied in the book.

The other thing is this... I read up about Napoleon Hill via Wikipedia. On Wikipedia's Napoleon Hill page, it states the following:

"Hill is a controversial figure. Accused of fraud, modern historians also doubt many of his claims, such as that he met Andrew Carnegie and that he was an attorney."

Well, the above quote from Wikipedia leaves a sour note in my mind. Now I am not so sure I want to try applying the seven steps to living a life that matters to my own life to see what results I am able to personally achieve. I am also not so sure I want to listen to the second Napoleon Hill audiobook I purchased now either.

Below is the publisher's summary for Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters by Napoleon Hill from Chirp's website:

What do you want out of life?

The vast majority of people avoid answering this daunting question. As a result, they spend their days aimlessly drifting or scrambling from one task to the next, never deciding upon a larger goal or plan for their future. However, studying the lives of the world’s highest-achieving individuals quickly reveals an essential truth that success—along with meaning and fulfillment—are found in the pursuit of a Definite Major Purpose, a goal so compelling that it inspires you to take action every day toward its attainment.

Drawing from never-before-published lectures from Napoleon Hill, author of the worldwide bestsellers Think and Grow Rich and Outwitting the Devil, this book provides a step-by-step guide to identifying your unique purpose in life, creating a plan for its attainment, and cultivating the habits necessary to make your actions and ideas more impactful. The exercises, tips, and techniques included will help you to:

Identify and refine your Definite Major Purpose Craft short-term and long-term goals related to your major purpose. Strengthen your focus and creativity to achieve greater performance. Establish rhythms of thought and action to accelerate your results

Napoleon Hill’s Path to Purpose not only helps you fix a clear North Star for your life—it secures your path by giving you a simple formula for living out your purpose day after day, even when life’s difficulties and distractions threaten to throw you off course. Do not settle for anything less than what you want out of life.

Read this book and empower yourself to move forward confidently with the peace and mental freedom that come from a deep, abiding belief in the significance of your contributions.

I am giving Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters by Napoleon Hill a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein

I listened to the unabridged audio version of You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein and narrated by the author. 

Listening time for You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein is 3 hours, 32 minutes.

I loved this self-help audiobook!! I love the 6 different messages and exercises to use to help one through difficult times. It would have been extremely helpful to have access to this audiobook at the start of 2020 when the Covid-19 global pandemic first took off, along with the social isolation/shelter at home orders in place, and the social distancing began. 

I personally found 2020 to be an extremely stressful year with the all the uncertainty surrounding the novel Coronavirus, the lack of information, and the onslaught of Covid-19 cases, rising death toll and hospital emergency rooms and ICUs on overload due to Covid-19 outbreak.

Nonetheless, I am glad I discovered You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein last month. I look forward to putting the strategies set forth by the author into action to help overcome any anxiety, worry, doubt, fear, etc. in the future. The messages Gabrielle Bernstein has given is all about empowerment.

Below is a summary for You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein from Amazon:

You Are the Guru: 6 Messages to Move You Through Difficult Times with Certainty and Faith

Whether you’re having a moment of minor overwhelm or find yourself in a state of panic, you can turn to this Audible Original for solutions and support.

These six messages are simple, reliable, spiritual solutions that will free you from fear and inner turmoil. In order to show up for life and all its challenges, we must be able to regulate our nervous system, calm our mind, and trust our inner wisdom to give us clear direction. This Audible Original will teach you how to guide yourself back to peace at any moment.

Let the number one New York Times best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein show you how to be your own guide, tapping in to a deeply unifying awareness and empathy you may not realize you possess.

Gabrielle will impart the six simple, memorable messages that will illuminate the spiritual solution inside each of us and guide us through tumultuous times:

See through the lens of love.
Surrender to creative solutions.
Inspired action clears the path.
In stillness, we receive.
Compassion creates connection.
You are the guru.

Filled with personal, illustrative examples and warm, practical encouragement, You Are the Guru is the guide for finding your compass in challenging times.

I am giving You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell, PhD

I recently listened to the unabridged audio version of The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell, PhD and narrated by Stephen Paul Aulridge Jr.

Listening time for The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell, PhD is 6 hours, 7 minutes.

I found that The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell, PhD made for interesting reading. Especially if one is prone to excessive worry. My only major complaint about this book is that I feel like the author takes too long to make his points and give the techniques/advice on how to reduce worry in one's life. Otherwise I feel like this book is a good read. 

I have yet to fully apply/incorporate the techniques suggested in this book to see if they work. But I look forward to employing the techniques soon.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell, PhD from Audible:

Are you truly in danger or has your brain simply "tricked" you into thinking you are? In The Worry Trick, psychologist and anxiety expert David Carbonell shows how anxiety hijacks the brain and offers effective techniques to help you break the cycle of worry, once and for all.

Anxiety is a powerful force. It makes us question ourselves and our decisions, causes us to worry about the future, and fills our days with dread and emotional turbulence. Based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this audiobook is designed to help you break the cycle of worry. 

Worry convinces us there's danger, and then tricks us into getting into fight, flight, or freeze mode - even when there is no danger. The techniques in this audiobook, rather than encouraging you to avoid or try to resist anxiety, show you how to see the trick that underlies your anxious thoughts, and how avoidance can backfire and make anxiety worse.
If you're ready to start observing your anxious feelings with distance and clarity - rather than getting tricked once again - this audiobook will show you how.

I am giving The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell, PhD a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen

I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen was an unexpected read for me as I came across this unabridged audiobook purely by accident on Audible... It was one of their daily deals for members! 

I couldn't resist the subject matter for I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen. Who wouldn't want to learn "the surprisingly simple skill behind extraordinary relationships"? 

Besides the listening time for I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen is 2 hours, 45 minutes, which makes learning this simple skill much more appealing to me... The message is simply stated by the author and easy to understand. Now it's time to put the four steps I learned into action!!

The following is the publisher's summary for I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen from Audible:

What if making one tweak to your day-to-day conversations could immediately improve every relationship in your life?

In this three-hour, conversational listen, you'll discover the whats, whys, and hows of one of the most valuable (yet surprisingly little-known) communication skills - validation.

Whether you're looking to improve your relationship with your spouse, navigate difficult conversations at work, or connect on a deeper level with friends and family, this book delivers simple, practical, proven techniques for improving any relationship in your life.

Mastery of this simple skill will enable you to:

Calm (and sometimes even eliminate) the concerns, fears, and uncertainties of others. 

Increase feelings of love, respect, and appreciation in your romantic relationships. 

Quickly resolve, or even prevent, arguments. 

Help others become open to your point of view. 

Give advice and feedback that sticks. 

Provide support and encouragement to others, even when you don't know how to "fix" the problem. 

And much more.

In short: this skill is powerful. Give the principles and practices in this book a chance and you'll be amazed at the difference they can make.

I am giving I Hear You by Michael S. Sorensen a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Positive Options for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Self-Help and Treatment by Elena Juris

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a topic near and dear to my heart, but a difficult topic for me to discuss with those outside of very close family members and friends.

10 years ago, I went in for a routine blood draw and during my drive home afterward, I began feeling a plethora of disturbing symptoms: numbness, tingling, swelling, and pain at the blood draw site that radiated/spread into my forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers. 

The symptoms steadily grew worse on my drive home to the point that I could no longer close my hand and make a fist shortly after arriving home. My fingers looked like fat, red sausages and my hand and wrist were swollen beyond belief. 

New symptoms kept appearing: sweaty palm, intense burning sensations, waxy/shiny skin that made my fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm look like they belonged on a mannequin, and several other forms of pain. I was in constant pain 24/7 and in a lot of distress over what was going on.

After seeing my primary care physician, having an ultrasound, a MRI, and seeing 2 to 3 different specialists, I was finally diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) 2 to 3 months after the blood draw that caused it. 

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is not curable, but can go into remission. There is loads of information about it online and not all of the information is positive.

Long story short, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) has been a difficult journey with various highs and lows. I've recently had a pretty bad flare up (which is still ongoing) beginning in early August 2019 that has kept me from doing much blogging and other basic daily activities without some assistance. I've given up on knitting and several other activities for the time being as well. 

So if you don't see me posting much on my blog or responding to comments you leave for me... or don't find me commenting on your blog posts... please don't take it personally. I'm currently on a healing journey.

I've recently read Positive Options for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Self-Help and Treatment by Elena Juris and have come away with a renewed outlook regarding CRPS. I am armed with new information and look forward to trying some new protocols. Onward I MUST go!!

Here's a summary for Positive Options for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Self-Help and Treatment by Elena Juris from Amazon:

Imagine if the mere breeze of an air conditioner on your skin were to cause excruciating pain. For those suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), previously called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), this crippling neuropathic pain poses an unrelenting reality. With symptoms such as swelling, hypersensitivity, stiffness, burning pain, and temperature abnormalities, CRPS can develop at any time and quickly leaves its victims disabled and isolated.

This book explains CRPS in an accessible style for all readers, providing the latest medical treatments, complementary therapies, and holistic coping strategies for maximizing the potential for healing. Readers will find a wealth of tips on life modifications to help better manage their condition. They'll find two interviews with practitioners who offer insights every patient should know, with the help of pain specialist Edward Carden, MD, and occupational therapist and neurological acupuncturist Sheri Barnes. They'll find a discussion of complementary therapies to tailor to their needs. They'll find a list of "dynamite distractions" that can refresh the pain-wracked mind and help readers rediscover their imagination and humor, when they just need to take their mind off the illness. They'll draw hope from real patient testimonies on techniques for transforming the pain and discomfort of CRPS. They'll find a chapter addressed to loved ones, providing advice and support in their difficult roles as encouragers and caregivers. Finally, readers will find information on how everyone can help to increase CRPS awareness, and an extensive list of resources to help patients and caregivers begin to connect with the support available.

CRPS remains a mysterious, poorly understood condition and few books about it exist, as knowledge of the syndrome continues to evolve. Previously, the condition was called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). This second, retitled edition to the original Positive Options for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD): Self-help and Treatment (2004) is chock-full of new information, reflecting a decade's worth of advancements following the popular debut of the book's first edition.

I am giving Positive Options for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Self-Help and Treatment by Elena Juris 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!