Reading is one of my favorite activities and with cutting down on social media I've been getting a lot more done. I'll be posting about books I've read, summaries, and notes on my main page I want to also maintain a list of favorites. Some of the books I'm currently reading are on my now page.
Last updated September 28, 2023. Just getting it started, a lot more coming soon.
Aphorisms & Maxims
The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracián
This collection of aphorisms from a 17th century monk will show you how humans haven't changed in centuries. The short lessons here will show you how to live life and interact with others. You can find it online at Sacred Texts. This is a book to continuously re-read as you will continue to gain new insights. If I could only have one book on how to best interact with other humans it would be this one.
Essays & Articles
A Letter to Lord Ellenborough by Percy Bysshe Shelley freely available on the internet.
Influence & Persuasion
Rape of the Mind by Joost A.M. Merloo available to read online here and here
An important book that is worth reading several times to understand the forces at work trying to turn us into mindless robots. It's important for us all to be educated on brainwashing and thought control because none of us our immune. We like to think that we're smarter than it but every one of us could fall victim.
Dr. Meerloo based this and his other works on his time in Nazi-occupied Holland. I first read it in 2017 and was shocked by how much connected to current events. Many of the quotes on articles on here come from the book.
I haven't read it to the same level but his Delusion and Mass Delusion is quite informative and can also be found online here
The Process of Persuasion by Clyde R. Miller
Influencing Human Behavior by H.A. Overstreet available on archive.org
How to Argue and Win Every Time by Garry Spence
Gerry Spence is an attorney who has never lost a criminal case and hasn't lost a civil case since 1969. He is in the American Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame. This book provides critical lessons for how we can communicate better with our fellow humans. If you can get your hands on the audiobook version, which is abridged unfortunately, but Mr. Spence's voice is a pleasure to listen to.