In this Mere Mortals book review, I tackle Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday, the third in his Stoic Virtue series. It’s a slower, deeper, more reflective book centred on justice, the virtue that’s hardest to sell and hardest to live by. I share why this wasn’t my favourite read, but why it might be the most meaningful one for the long game of life.

00:00 – Intro & Context on the Stoic Virtue Series
00:30 – Book Stats: Length, Release Date, Structure
01:13 – Theme of Justice & Ryan’s Intentions
02:00 – Why Justice Isn’t a Popular Topic
02:56 – How This Book Differs from Others in the Series
04:04 – Tone, Chapter Layout & Personal Reflections
04:39 – Breakdown of the 3 Sections: Me, We, All
05:18 – A Slower, More Reflective Reading Experience
06:24 – Ryan’s Personal Notes & Writing it for His Kids
07:12 – Why Justice Becomes More Important with Age
07:55 – Final Thoughts & Rating (7.5/10)
08:13 – Who This Book is For (and Not For)
09:01 – Recommendations & Legacy Focus
09:19 – Political Themes & Why Some Might Not Enjoy It
10:00 – Closing Comments & Call to Action

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A 14-year-old is thrust into the shadow world of espionage, where every move is a fight to survive—and grow up fast.

My book review on an oldie but a goodie, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horrowitz

(00:00) – You're Never Too Young to Die
(00:47) – First Encounter at 14
(02:15) – Spy Fantasy Meets Realism
(03:38) – Plot Recap & Absurd Action
(05:41) – Philosophy: Adapt to Survive
(07:18) – Final Reflections

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In this episode, I explore the concrete takeaways from The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett. These aren’t abstract ideals—they're raw, lived-in lessons. From why your mind and body are your first foundation, to how meaningful questions shape behaviour, this reflection dives deep into the book’s most impactful ideas and challenges conventional wisdom around leadership, communication, and culture.

(00:00) - Introduction to Learnings
(00:35) - Core Values from the Introduction
(01:18) - Less is More: Precision in Conversation
(02:02) - Law 1: Fill Your Buckets in the Right Order
(03:00) - Behavioural Psychology: The Power of the Right Question
(04:33) - Law 9: Warren Buffett’s “Last Car” Analogy
(06:05) - Law 10: Normality is Ignored, Absurdity Sells
(07:22) - Law 11: Semantic Satiation Explained
(08:23) - Law 14: Friction Creates Value
(09:47) - Law 29: Building Company Culture with Intention
(11:29) - Law 32: Treat People Differently, Not Equally
(12:40) - Final Reflections & Send-Off

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In this Mere Mortals book review, we dive into The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett—an energetic, story-driven guide to business and life. This isn’t your typical theory-heavy read; it’s a tactical, quote-filled journey through 33 digestible laws forged from real experience. From mastering your skill set to navigating reputation and network, this book distils lessons from one of the most influential digital entrepreneurs of our time. Plus, a cheeky twist at Law 33 that'll make you rethink modern marketing.

(00:00) - Intro & First Impressions
(00:16) - The 5 Buckets: A Framework for Personal Growth
(00:42) - Who is Steven Bartlett?
(01:14) - The Book's Origins & Tone
(01:41) - Structure of the 33 Laws
(02:04) - Practical Design & Reading Flow
(02:48) - A Look Inside: Quotes, Stories & Strategies
(03:30) - Law 33: The Marketing Twist
(04:45) - Comparing with Robert Greene's 48 Laws
(05:53) - Tactical Takeaways & Effective Philosophies
(07:08) - Which Laws Are Actually Useful?
(07:45) - Who Should Read This Book?
(08:21) - Honest Critiques & Closing Reflections
(09:00) - Final Score & Send-Off

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The best example of human madness is found across the ages.

'Extraordinary Popular Delusions & The Madness Of Crowds' by Charles Mackay is a mammoth examination of the most ridiculous crazes across history, whether they be funny, bad or horrendous. Charles details some of the more well known financial bubbles (South Sea, Mississippi, Tulip Mania) but also catalogues well known alchemists/magnetisers & mob activities (The Crusades, Witch Hunts, etc). The book is split into 15 chapters and I consider it a historical document of sorts.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:32) Themes/Questions
(00:28:09) Author & Extras
(00:35:36) Summary
(00:38:31) Value 4 Value
(00:39:26) What's Coming Up

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Why don't I read recently published books?

Today is a special episode where I am going over how I find new books, ways I actively try to avoid wasting my time & some little tricks & tips to get the most out of your reading.

Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:11) Finding New Books
(00:14:05) Pre-Filtering
(00:23:20) Tips/Tricks
(00:34:09) Value 4 Value
(00:34:39) Join Live!

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What was I reviewing again?

'A Primer For Forgetting' by Lewis Hyde is a collection of intimate thoughts, stories, poems, mythological tales & quips. The primary theme is around forgetting & how this can be beneficial for an individual or groups, particularly when it relates to trauma. It's split into 4 parts (that he calls notebooks) about myth, self, nation & creation.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:40) Themes/Questions
(00:14:04) Author & Extras
(00:17:08) Summary
(00:20:11) Value 4 Value
(00:21:21) Join Live!

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Boy are cockroaches gross!

'Metamorphosis & Other Stories' by Franz Kafka is a collection of prose poems, short stories, sketches, allegories, and novelettes. The longest is of Gregor Samsa, the travelling salesman who wakes up in his bed as a cockroach. You'll find others about conflict on a ship, dealing with annoying people on the street, etc. All are told in the surreal style he is known for, along with his dry humour.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:51) Themes/Questions
(00:15:30) Author & Extras
(00:21:49) Summary
(00:24:34) Value 4 Value
(00:26:01) Join Live!

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