Anything other than “self-help” books would be better. They tend to reduce complicated things into one catch phrase and make it as shallow as it gets and then propose equally one dimensional cure. If you are really interested in expanding self-knowledge and self-awarness try explore the non-academic psychology books, like Thinking Fast, and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and the like. They tend to show how our brain and psyche works and deepen self-awarness and understanding why and how we act and react. As for ratio – just read what you find interesting…
Aspasia21 on
Friend, those aren’t even in the same universe. I’m sure someone, somewhere reads both with equal abandon. But I’ll wager they are few and far between.
IMHO, self-help books are generally cash grabs. There are a few outliers that can be truly beneficial, but for the most part they are just a bunch of platitudes and rhetorical questions strung together to make you feel like you are both optimistic and thoughtful. That lasts for a bit. But then it stops. Hence, the cottage industry. TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. I obviously have problems with these things. YMMV.
Tolstoy is pretty much ..the opposite. It makes you do PAINFUL intellectual work in order to analyze the human condition. Nobody walks away from the Russian classics feeling optimistic and thoughtful. Hell, you hardly walk away. They drag you in and through. And the trip is fascinating, soulful, and breathtaking. But not pleasant. Be prepared for some mental and emotional gymnastics.
If both of those sound like, “you,” have at it. 😊
bluejays-and-blurays on
You will be infinitely better off if you just relax.
musicalnerd-1 on
I think there is no universal book that will make your life better. Life changing books are personal and about finding the right thing at the right time. I don’t think either of these would have helped 21yo me. 21yo me needed books about disability studies, but that doesn’t mean 21yo you can’t find these books helpful
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Anything other than “self-help” books would be better. They tend to reduce complicated things into one catch phrase and make it as shallow as it gets and then propose equally one dimensional cure. If you are really interested in expanding self-knowledge and self-awarness try explore the non-academic psychology books, like Thinking Fast, and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and the like. They tend to show how our brain and psyche works and deepen self-awarness and understanding why and how we act and react. As for ratio – just read what you find interesting…
Friend, those aren’t even in the same universe. I’m sure someone, somewhere reads both with equal abandon. But I’ll wager they are few and far between.
IMHO, self-help books are generally cash grabs. There are a few outliers that can be truly beneficial, but for the most part they are just a bunch of platitudes and rhetorical questions strung together to make you feel like you are both optimistic and thoughtful. That lasts for a bit. But then it stops. Hence, the cottage industry. TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. I obviously have problems with these things. YMMV.
Tolstoy is pretty much ..the opposite. It makes you do PAINFUL intellectual work in order to analyze the human condition. Nobody walks away from the Russian classics feeling optimistic and thoughtful. Hell, you hardly walk away. They drag you in and through. And the trip is fascinating, soulful, and breathtaking. But not pleasant. Be prepared for some mental and emotional gymnastics.
If both of those sound like, “you,” have at it. 😊
You will be infinitely better off if you just relax.
I think there is no universal book that will make your life better. Life changing books are personal and about finding the right thing at the right time. I don’t think either of these would have helped 21yo me. 21yo me needed books about disability studies, but that doesn’t mean 21yo you can’t find these books helpful
Read Shakespeare instead