book

book review: mud, sweat, and tears

So I had to stop buying physical books because I ran out of space for them and had to buy a kindle; therefore, no more pictures of the books I read. But heres a picture of some water!

So I had to stop buying physical books because I ran out of space for them and had to buy a kindle; therefore, no more pictures of the books I read. But heres a picture of some water!

While I don’t ever see myself drinking my own pee or eating a twinkie sized beetle larvae; I was intensely drawn into Bear Grylls’ hit show, Man vs Wild by the wild adventures he challenges himself in. If you don’t know, Man vs Wild is a show based on emergency survival techniques if you were stranded anywhere in the world and Bear, a former British Special Forces solider shows the viewers on techniques and strategies to maximize ones chance of survival. Of course, one of the main reasons I was drawn to this show is because I see Bear doing this crazy things and I think to myself, wow, I’d love to be about to do that! But then I figured, it’s probably best that I just watch him do these crazy things instead. 

His autobiography actually covers little about his shows or his life in the spotlight but instead it details into how the foundation of this man was built. Bear may have been bred to be an adventurer with his childhood treks around the woods of England, or how he pretty much ninja’d his way around his school in his youth. Above all though, this autobiography really shows the reader just how much of a normal guy he really is and how his successes were primarily earned through extremely hard work and determination. Throughout the book he is not shy to talk about any of his failures and setbacks like how he failed the training to make it into the special forces originally, and how he broke his back sky diving while he was working as a special forces soldier; only to come back to climb Everest at the age of 23!

This book has really stoked a fire in me for a call to adventure. While I will probably never do anything half as crazy as the things he’s done, it really makes me want to go out and explore the world more; to think about all the places that I could bring my photography work to. Reading on how triumphant Bear was in his life as a true inspiration and a nice reminder for me to work on being my best self in order to live what is the best life for me personally. I would recommend this book to anyone with even a hint of adventure in their hearts. It’s really a great read!

book review: the charisma myth

book review: the charisma myth

The myth is that charisma is something that you’re born with. The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane sets out to prove this wrong. Continuing in my journey in becoming a better conversationalist I read this book right after I read Just Listen; both of which are a good branch off from the classic, How to Win Friends and Influence Others. 

book review: just listen

book review: just listen

Having aspirations to one day be a great conversationalist, Just Listen by Mark Goulston was right up my ally. Mark is a psychiatrist by trade but has helped on things from hostage negotiations to turning around companies and even just getting through to children.