Mere Mortals Book Reviews

I'm begging you PLEASE, I'll be your very best friend.In this episode I review Dale Carnegie’s classic 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' nearly a century on from its publication. I walk through the book’s structure: principles on handling people, making people like you, winning others to your way of thinking and leading without resentment. Timeless advice still shines (smile, remember names, be genuinely interested, listen well) but some parts feels dated (the slow course‑shilling intro and lack of psychological depth on becoming “genuinely” interested). I also dig into the tension at the heart of the book: wanting friends and influence while being told to act without obvious self‑interest.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:52) Book structure overview: parts and principles(00:06:31) Key principles sampled: smile, names, listen, importance(00:11:17) Childhood lens on making friends and sorting people(00:13:41) Author background: Dale Carnegie’s path and motives(00:17:19) The hard part: becoming genuinely interested(00:20:34) Does it hold up? A dated yet durable self‑help classic(00:22:29) Wrap‑up, support links and what’s next  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Most people approach The Iliad expecting the Trojan Horse. Instead, they find something darker: a story about wounded pride, uncontrollable rage, brutal violence and the moment vengeance finally gives way to pity.In this review, I break down Samuel Butler’s translation of Homer’s epic, the feud between Achilles and Agamemnon, Hector’s terrifying presence, the petty interference of the gods, the oral tradition behind the poem, and whether a modern reader should actually tackle this ancient monster of a book.00:00 — An Ancient Epic in My Hands00:42 — The Samuel Butler Translation01:03 — Did Homer Actually Write The Iliad?02:23 — What Is an Epic Poem?03:05 — This Is Not the Trojan Horse Story03:40 — Achilles, Hector and the Gods04:53 — How This Edition Structures the Story06:15 — The Core of The Iliad: Rage07:33 — Achilles Loses Everything08:19 — The Gods Are Petty as Hell09:49 — Violence, Nature and Ancient Imagery11:41 — The Sections I Fast-Read13:19 — The Power of Oral Storytelling15:00 — The Brutality of Battle15:43 — Hector Smashes Through the Gates17:29 — No Simple Villains, Only Human Beings18:13 — Honour, Glory and the Heroic Code19:03 — Should You Read The Iliad?19:22 — The Odyssey Review Is Coming Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

I was wrong and I admit it .... this is the real OG self help book.Today I dive into James Allen’s 'As a Man Thinketh' (paired in my edition with From Poverty to Power) and it still lands today. It's short, punchy and refreshingly non-woo-woo with clear calls to personal responsibility, character-building and right thought leading to right outcomes. I read standout quotes, reflect on how its agnostic tone (with light biblical echoes) keeps the focus on self-mastery and share how it inspired me to become better. I also highlight where From Poverty to Power lost me (preachier with some outlandish claims about illness and sin) while acknowledging Allen’s hard-earned optimism given his tough life story. Overall verdict: skip Poverty To Power, but As a Man Thinketh is a timeless, motivating read that influenced Hill, Peale and Carnegie. If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:02:16) Core premise: thoughts shape character and outcomes(00:05:40) From Poverty to Power: preachiness and sermon feel(00:13:22) Author profile: James Allen’s hard‑earned optimism(00:16:12) Overall take: the real OG of self‑help(00:18:39) Value for Value, feedback and support(00:19:27) What’s next: upcoming reviews and schedule  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

What happens if the game really is better than real life?In this episode I dive into 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline and explore whether a virtual paradise can outshine the messy real world. I outline the OASIS, the 80s-saturated Easter egg hunt and the Gunter vs corporate showdown then share why the novel’s early gritty realism hooked me but later lost its footing as coincidences piled up and the real world became improbably rosy. While the tech flourishes feel contemporary and the ride is undeniably fun (especially for gaming and 80s pop-culture tragics) the lack of deeper philosophical bite kept it from being more than entertaining sci‑fi for me. I touch on Cline’s screenwriter sensibilities and how the book’s cinematic qualities likely helped its rapid path to film. If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:04:19) Big theme: Choosing virtual worlds over a broken reality(00:09:06) From gritty realism to full fantasy stakes(00:11:49) Why the ending undercuts the books premise(00:14:17) Author focus: Ernest Cline, screenwriting vibes(00:16:55) Verdict: a fun 6/10 for gamers and 80s fans(00:17:20) Closing and ways to support the podcast(00:18:26) Live schedule and what is next  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Are you entering into the dungeon? In this episode of Mere Mortals Book Reviews, I dive into 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' by Matt Dinniman, a fast-paced RPG romp that mixes real-world apocalypse with game-show chaos. I share why this was the perfect palate cleanser after some drier reads, how the humour lands (crude, clever and consistently fun) and what makes Carl and his imperious feline companion Princess Donut so engaging as they descend through deadly, rule-laden dungeons watched by an intergalactic audience.I touch on the book’s setup: Earth flattened and repurposed into a subterranean dungeon, humans given a stark choice to enter or struggle topside and reflect on the “would you go in?” dilemma. Expect comparisons to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in premise vibe (but with very different humour), thoughts on the world-building quirks, and where I’m at with committing to a six-book series. Final verdict: a brisk, entertaining read that hit the spot for escapist fun 7.5/10 and I’m keen for book number two.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:41) Carl and Princess Donut(00:06:08) Gags, dry vs absurd humour and running jokes(00:08:43) Would you enter the dungeon? Personal reflection(00:13:15) Author notes, community and Reddit mentions(00:15:24) Summary, rating 7.5/10 and sign-off  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

The classic self-help book is a bit different than I remember. In Napoleon Hill’s 'Think And Grow Rich' I discover it’s not quite the book I remembered. I walk through what still shines—its optimism, self‑analysis prompts and the motivational push that helped me as a younger bloke to build self‑confidence, set goals and act with intention. I share the quotes and practices that I used to use as inspiration for growth.Then I dig into the doozies: dated claims, sciencey overreach, baldness-by-hat myths, telepathy talk, name-dropping and a tendency to state opinions as facts. I contrast Hill’s inspiration-first approach with more modern, evidence-based self-help and explain why I’d now recommend reading it with a strong filter. Take the useful 50% and discard the rest. I wrap with some context on Hill himself and why timing likely supercharged the book’s impact post-Depression.Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:55) Core promise: riches, goals, and optimism(00:04:25) Personal history: how the book helped in early 20s(00:09:16) Turning defeat into advantage: key quotes and reframes(00:12:35) Persistence, ambition, and study outside work(00:16:01) Where it falls apart: pseudoscience and bold claims(00:22:55) Name‑dropping, experts and borrowed authority(00:25:02) The Wallis Simpson example and selective narratives(00:28:25) Author profile: grift vibes, success without substance?(00:32:12) Final verdict and how to read it: keep half, discard half  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

 Just how reliant are we on fossil fuels ..... well it turns out a lot! 'How The World Really Works' by Vaclav Smil showed me just how much we still need petroleum and coal to make plastics, ammonia, concrete and steel. So they're not going away any time soon.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

After a short hiatus, I’m back with a paired review of The World According to Coco and The Little Book of Chanel. Truthfully, neither book is extraordinary on its own. But together, they open a far bigger question: what does it cost to reinvent yourself so completely that the myth becomes more powerful than the person?In this review, I explore Coco Chanel’s brutal beginnings, her obsession with uniqueness, the creation of Chanel No. 5 and the little black dress, the moral ambiguity of her wartime years, and the deeper tension beneath it all — greatness, ego, loneliness, and whether success is worth the price.Timestamps00:00 – Back After the Hiatus00:25 – The Two Chanel Books I Read01:05 – Why This Review Is About Perspective, Not Just Facts02:11 – Honest Verdict: Are These Books Actually Worth Reading?02:54 – Coco Chanel’s Harsh Origins04:09 – She Didn’t Just Build a Brand, She Built a Myth07:06 – Where the Name “Coco” Came From08:23 – Self-Creation, Status and the Modern Social Media Parallel10:30 – Chanel No. 5 and the Simplicity of Genius12:41 – The Little Black Dress and Designing for Movement13:57 – The Better Chanel Biographies to Read14:50 – Was Coco Chanel a Nazi?18:02 – The Quotes That Reveal Her Character23:19 – The Final Question: Was Greatness Worth the Solitude?25:16 – Closing ThoughtsConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

 In this episode of Mere Mortals, I review Solve Everything: Achieving Abundance by 2035 by Dr Peter H. Diamandis and Dr Alexander D. Wissner-Gross, a bold manifesto arguing that AI could give humanity the capability to solve nearly every major problem within a decade. I break down the article’s moonshot vision, the idea of directing intelligence with precision, and the hard truth that culture, government, and human inertia may still trap us in the muddle.00:00 Intro00:49 The promise of abundance by 203501:10 Who are Peter Diamandis and Alexander Wissner-Gross?01:53 Was this article written with AI?02:30 How the article is structured04:06 The core thesis: solving everything through intelligence05:15 The real world vs the dream world05:59 “Shape the charge” — directing AI where it matters07:20 The moonshots that could unlock abundance09:33 Why benchmarks should reward outcomes, not hours11:40 What abundance actually means12:19 The biggest weakness: culture, government, and the muddle14:33 Is this realistic or just optimism?15:15 Why the article is still worth reading16:49 Final reflections17:10 Subscribe and what’s nextConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

In this episode of Mere Mortals Book Reviews, I break down The Adolescence of Technology by Dario Amodei and why it reads less like a tech article and more like a civilisational warning memo. We explore AI safety, misuse, power, economic disruption, and the frightening speed at which these systems are advancing. The core tension is brutal: if this technology keeps accelerating without real guardrails, humanity may not get a second chance to correct the course.https://www.darioamodei.com/essay/the-adolescence-of-technology(00:00) – Welcome Back to Mere Mortals(00:39) – Why I’m Reviewing More Long-Form Articles(01:09) – Who Is Dario Amodei and Why He Matters(01:37) – What The Adolescence of Technology Is Really About(02:08) – The Five Big AI Risks in the Article(03:04) – The “Country of Geniuses” Thought Experiment(04:18) – The Two Extreme Narratives About AI(06:00) – Why Dario’s Position Makes This Different(07:21) – This Is Happening in Years, Not Decades(08:08) – Anthropic, Government Pressure and Ethical Boundaries(09:50) – Safety vs Speed in the AI Arms Race(10:21) – Why Governance and Guardrails Matter(11:31) – AI, Power Seizure and Geopolitical Risk(12:33) – The Meaning Behind “The Adolescence of Technology”(13:00) – Work, Meaning and the Coming Economic Upheaval(14:02) – What Happens If We Fail to Slow Down(15:16) – Who This Article Is For(15:58) – Final Reflections and Why It Hit So HardConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFqTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast