Category: Insights

Categories
Books Humor Insights Mystery

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman | Book Review

READ THIS IF…

  • You don’t want to miss out on a really really amazing, brilliant story
  • Kung gusto mong magkaron ng madaming feelings (mostly matawa)

QUICK AND TAMAD SUMMARY

A bank robber has taken hostage a group of strangers. Bank robber sya pero sa apartment viewing naganap yung hostage situation. From an outsider point of view, kakabahan ka kasi baka kung anong mangyari, but what happens inside that apartment is something else.

Funny and heartfelt. Memorable and quirky characters.

Our April BOTM

Akala ko, Big Magic na ang top book ko for 2021. Pero after ko ‘to basahin, wala na. Sobrang nalito na ko. Sobrang ganda!!! Book of the month namin ‘tong Anxious People and ang dami rin nila na na-inlove sa story, sa writing, sa cleverness, sa characters at kung ano pa mang namiss ko. Ang galing talaga.

Continue reading “Anxious People by Fredrik Backman | Book Review”
Categories
Insights Life Ramblings

What You Really Want

As much as ayokong i-label ang sarili ko na procrastinator kasi hindi sya nakakatulong, madalas talaga ganun ang nangyayari. Or gagawin ko yung isang bagay ng full force for the first 3 days up to a week tapos biglang bababa yung enthusiasm. Alam ko na we have it in us to edit these traits (referencing Atomic Habits) and it’s up to us if we will continue to be like this or have enough willpower to change.

Kaya naman natutuwa ako dito sa binabasa ko ngayon. The title is The Willpower Instinct. Ang dami kong natutunan on how the human mind works in terms of giving in to temptations and gaining self control.

Walnut while I’m writing this blog post

May isang pinaka tumatak sakin which is to utilize our ability to remember what we really want. I always find myself craving sweets. All day everyday. Pero try to question daw if it’s what I really want. Gusto ko ba talaga ng ice cream ngayon or mas gusto kong mag-lose ng weight? Gusto ko ba talagang magspend ng time sa social media or matapos yung librong binabasa ko para mareach ko yung reading goal ko this year?

So siguro try to see the bigger picture and ask myself kung ano ba talaga yung gusto ko. Cookies or abs? 😅 Kasi kung ganun yung line of questioning, nagiging unappealing na yung mga temptations and short term wants. So isa siguro ‘tong magandang tool na gamitin pag naliligaw ako ng landas papunta sa ice cream at cookies at chichirya at kung ano ano pang tukso.

Categories
Books Classic Horror Insights

The Picture of Dorian Gray | Book Review

READ THIS IF…

  • You’re curious why this became a famous classic
  • You’re interested in themes revolving around beauty vs morality
  • You want to read about a despicable lead character

QUICK AND TAMAD SUMMARY

Yung libro ay patungkol sa isang napaka-poging bachelor (si Dorian) na sobrang na-obsess sa kagwapuhan nya. Pumapasok din sa horror genre yung book kasi meron syang painting ng muka nya tapos imbis na sya yung tumatanda, yung painting yung nagiging matanda at pumapangit while he remains youthful and pogi.

Continue reading “The Picture of Dorian Gray | Book Review”
Categories
Books Insights Non-Fiction

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman | Book Report

READ THIS IF…

  • Curious ka kung bakit sikat ‘tong book na ‘to sa mga productivity gurus sa YouTube
  • You appreciate endless explanations detailing countless studies and experiments from decades of research by a Nobel Prize winner author

Sa personal reading journey ko, yung non-fiction book na pinaka nag-cause ng mental strain sakin ay yung book ni Neil Postman na Amusing Ourselves to Death. Pero grabe ‘tong book na ‘to. Sobrang dense. Hindi ko kinakaya. Ang daming studies, experiments, statistics at word problems. Grabe talaga.

Nevertheless, eto yung mga natutunan ko sa librong ‘to:

Continue reading “Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman | Book Report”
Categories
Books Insights Personal Development

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey | Book Report [Habit #1]

THE 7 HABITS

  1. Be proactive
  2. Begin with the end in mind (soon)
  3. Put first things first (soon)
  4. Think win-win (soon)
  5. Seek first to understand, then be understood (soon)
  6. Synergize (soon)
  7. Sharpen the saw (soon)

There’s no shortcut in self improvement. Most of the time we do things just because we know it’s the right thing to do or because we think that it’s the appropriate response (like saying sorry just to shut someone up). Hindi bukal sa loob kumbaga. Naalala ko tuloy yung isang tao na kilala ko na mukang religious pero may mga ginagawa syang mga bagay na hindi naaayon sa mga pinagsasabi nya. Sabi dito sa book, you can get by and make people believe that you are a good person; but sooner or later, what’s really inside you will eventually present itself.

Our level of development is fairly obvious with tennis or piano playing, where it is impossible to pretend. But it is not so obvious in the areas of character and emotional development. We can “pose” and “put on” for a stranger or an associate. We can pretend. And for a while we can get by with it—at least in public. We might even deceive ourselves. Yet I believe that most of us know the truth of what we really are inside; and I think many of those we live with and work with do as well.

Continue reading “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey | Book Report [Habit #1]”
Categories
Books Insights Memoir Non-Fiction

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert | Book Review

READ THIS IF…

  • You feel like you’re the only person who haven’t read it and you’re curious
  • You want to read about a woman who travelled across Italy, India and Indonesia to eat, pray and love 😅
  • You want to read about a person who you may fall in love with or totally hate (or both, like me)

Already convinced? Click to buy on Amazon.

During the course of reading the book, I think I experienced equal parts of annoyance and admiration. There were a lot of comments about her being self-absorbed (and a ton other hateful adjectives) but in her defense, she didn’t travel the world to become a philanthropist (although did everyone forget about the fundraising she did?)

I think there’s nothing wrong with dedicating an entire year just for yourself if you’ve been through something that you feel is extremely painful. And whether people understand it or not (I know I didn’t), it’s none of their business.

Continue reading “Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert | Book Review”
Categories
Insights Life

Selfish?

Naalala ko nung college tapos nagdi-discuss yung CI (clinical instructor) namin (si Ms. U) about procreation. Na isa daw yun sa mga purpose natin kung bakit tayo nandito sa mundo. Tumaas ako ng kamay para itanong, “What if I choose not to participate in procreation?” Ang sagot nya (with kasamang gigil), “Then you’re selfish.” Tumatak yun sakin at naniwala ako sa kanya. Pero hindi pa rin masyadong nagbago yung pananaw ko sa pagkakaron ng anak. Tinanggap ko na lang na baka nga selfish nga ako.

Pero ngayon naisip ko, parang selfish din kung mag-baby ako. Kasi personally, eto yung mga reasons bakit minsan napapaisip akong mag-baby:

  • Pag tumanda kami parang ang lungkot, wala kaming kasama (This is selfish, it’s not their job to ease our existential worries)
  • Walang magaalaga samin pag nagkasakit kami (Self-serving. Again, it’s not their job.)
  • Sayang naman kasi baka maipasa ko yung artistic genes ko sa kanya at yung pagkagaling sa Math ni Kenneth (Self-serving)
  • Curious ako sa magiging itsura nya (Self-serving)
  • Baka pagsisihan namin (Fear based. Self-serving.)

Siguro magbabago yung isip namin kung wala na ‘tong mga ‘to. Thankful din ako kasi on the same page kami ni Kenneth. Pero hindi pa naman sarado yung isip namin. Ayoko lang syang gawin for the wrong reasons or dahil lang sa social pressures.

Nakagawa na ko ng post about dito pero napaisip nanaman ako kasi may nag-trigger. May chismosang tita nanaman na nagbigay ng unsolicited advice. Na minsan kelangan kong isulat para ma-process ko ng maayos. I-block ko na lang sya pag nag-message ulit haha.

Categories
Books Insights Money Diaries Non-Fiction

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel | Book Report

READ THIS IF…

  • You want to find out how humility plays an important role in financial independence
  • You hope to have a healthy (-ier) relationship with money
  • You want some powerful insights if you’re looking to invest or already investing in the stock market

I discovered this book through a YouTuber. Interested ako sa money matters kasi ayaw namin na maging problema ang pera pag retired na kami. Gusto kong maging prepared sa mga pwedeng mangyari. When it comes to budgeting, lahat ng expenses namin up to the very last cent naka-track. Pero lumalagpas pa din kami sa budget. Dumating yung point na na-frustrate ako. Parang wala naman effect yung expense tracking ko. So mas lalo akong naging interested sa book na ‘to kasi parang kulang pa yung alam ko pagdating sa pag-manage ng pera.

Lahat naman tayo gusto na pag nag-retire tayo, sapat yung pera natin. Pero feeling ko kasi hindi pa ko sobrang knowledgeable para ma-achieve yung financial independence. Ang hirap nung gusto mo lang pero hindi mo naman inaalam kung pano. Kaya curious ako kung anong matuturo ng book na ‘to. And gusto ko rin yung title kasi hindi sya yung tipong, “How to be a Millionaire in 90 Days” (whut) or “How to be Filthy Rich”. Gusto ko yung The Psychology of Money.

To rephrase an old saying: everyone talks about retirement, but apparently very few do anything about it.

Continue reading “The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel | Book Report”
Categories
Books Insights Non-Fiction Personal Development

Essentialism by Greg McKeown | Book Review

READ THIS IF…

  • If you’re a very busy leader or a person who’s really in demand
  • You want to learn to say “No.” without feeling guilty (but also, if you’re someone who won’t get fired if you say no to a task/meeting)
  • You want to value simplicity more (although I’m sure there’s a better book about simplicity out there somewhere)

Already convinced? Click to buy on Amazon.

Ang subtitle nya ay The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. I had high hopes dito sa book na ‘to. Kala ko more on about minimalism and simplicity sya. Well, tungkol naman sya dun pero akala ko holistic yung approach. Pero hindi pala.

📷: sloww.co
Continue reading “Essentialism by Greg McKeown | Book Review”
Categories
Books Insights Non-Fiction Personal Development

Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks | Book Report

READ THIS IF…

  • You want to learn how to craft and tell better stories
  • You want to read a super entertaining book filled with the author’s own stories
  • You want to know how storytelling can be a superpower

Naka-discover nanaman ako ng hidden gem sa book na ‘to. Lately, madami akong pinapanood na YouTubers na ang niche is self improvement. So na-recommend ‘tong book na ‘to. Ang subtitle nya is Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling. Lately ulit, mas trip kong magbasa ng mga non-fiction books. Halos hindi ako makausad sa mga binabasa kong fiction.

Continue reading “Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks | Book Report”