Best Areias Podcasts (2024)

1
Dreamlike Childhoods Must Come To An End | Capitães Da Areia (Jorge Amado) BOOK REVIEW 26:43

20d ago26:43

26:43

A Bahian trance reflecting the best & worse of Brazilian childhood. 'Capitães Da Areia' by Jorge Amado ('Captains Of The Sands' in English) is a coming of age story set in a 1930's Brazilian beach town. We follow a group orphaned adolescents who live without care under a pier. They know the streets better than anyone and are a menace to the city au…

1
Making Tech Mainstream | Crossing The Chasm (Geoffrey A. Moore) BOOK REVIEW 22:43

2h ago22:43

22:43

What does it take to market & sell new technology? 'Crossing The Chasm' by Geoffrey A. Moore is a how-to book for entrepreneurs & small businesses to get their product to a larger market. He defines & addresses this problem of the chasm and his suggestions for solving it. Inside you'll find lots of jargon, tech speak and industry specific framing s…

1
Tragedy Without Consequences | Mao's Great Famine (Frank Dikötter) BOOK REVIEW 39:39

27d ago39:39

39:39

Who is to blame if the leader can never be wrong? 'Tragedy Without Consequences' by Frank Dikötter is a historical book looking at the famine that was caused during China's 'Great Leap Forward'. It showcases the period from 1958-62 and why a series of decisions stemming from Chairman Mao resulted in the death of 30-45 million people. A reoccurring …

1
Is It Helpful To Question Everything? | The Problems Of Philosophy (Bertrand Russell) BOOK REVIEW 25:12

1M ago25:12

25:12

Praise be to the philosophers for the hard sciences! 'The Problems Of Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell is his attempt at explaining basic philosophy as well as giving a brief history of philosophical thought. He starts with questions about reality before expanding out with more and more questions. He covers the writings of some famous philosophers (…

1
A Weird & Sexy Kidnapping | The Woman In The Dunes (Kobo Abe) BOOK REVIEW 23:04

1M ago23:04

23:04

Mr. Sandman, bring me some freedom. 'The Woman In The Dunes' by Kobo Abe is a rather simple story of a Japanese man who becomes trapped in the sand dunes. He is led into a large hole where a woman lives and is forced to help her keep sand from encroaching onto the nearby village. We witness his escape attempts and gradual process of getting accusto…

1
Learnings from the Stoic King | Meditations (Marcus Aurelius) BOOK REVIEW 9:42

2M ago9:42

9:42

Welcome back to Mere Mortals book reviews! Today, we dive into the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." I'll share key learnings from the Penguin Classics edition. Join me as we explore profound Stoic insights that are just as relevant today as they were in ancient Rome. Don't miss out on these gems! (00:00) - Introduction and Overvie…

1
Stoicism from the Top | Meditations (Marcus Aurelius) BOOK REVIEW 13:56

2M ago13:56

13:56

Welcome back to Mere Mortals book reviews! Today, we're diving into Stoicism from the top with Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." I'll share my thoughts and some interesting insights from the Penguin Classics edition. If you're new to Stoicism or curious about the Roman Emperor's personal reflections, this one's for you! (00:00) - Introduction and Ove…

1
What can we learn from a kids book? | The Little Prince (Anotine de Saint-Exupery) BOOK LEARNINGS 6:25

2M ago6:25

6:25

In this learnings episode, I delve deeper into the lessons and philosophical insights from 'The Little Prince,' sharing my experience of reading it in French. Join me for a thoughtful exploration of this timeless classic. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Reading Experience 02:00 - Key Learnings 03:00 - Reflections and Advice Value 4 Value Sup…

1
Whimsical Wisdom | The Little Prince (Anotine de Saint-Exupery) BOOK REVIEW 7:14

3M ago7:14

7:14

In this review, I delve into the enchanting world of 'The Little Prince,' uncovering its profound lessons wrapped in a whimsical, childlike narrative. Join me as I explore its timeless themes and delightful illustrations. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Plot Summary 02:00 - Themes and Insights 03:00 - Personal Reflections Value 4 Value Suppo…

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Metaphysics On A Boat | Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals (Robert M. Pirsig) BOOK REVIEW 30:02

3M ago30:02

30:02

Philosophy that is actually fun to read & contemplate! 'Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals' by Robert M. Pirsig is a sequel to his very popular 'Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance'. We follow Phaedrus this time sailing to New York and Florida. He meets an interesting lady called Lila who joins him on his adventure but causes him trouble. He's an int…

1
A Violent Socialist Dystopia | The Iron Heel (Jack London) BOOK REVIEW 23:57

3M ago23:57

23:57

Future predictions that have NOT come true ..... kind of. 'The Iron Heel' by Jack London is a dystopian novel with a heavy political undertone (maybe even overtone) that wrongly might be called science fiction. Starts in 1900 America and told from the point of view of Avis who is seduced from her privileged upper class world by Ernest Everhard and …

1
The Network Is Supreme | New Rules For The New Economy (Kevin Kelly) BOOK REVIEW 16:23

3M ago16:23

16:23

Future predictions that have come true ..... kind of. 'New Rules For The New Economy' by Kevin Kelly are 10 rules that he predicted would change the world just as the internet was coming of age. Most of these are related to networks, increasing adoption of technology and the ability for information to spread cheaply. He makes a lot of generalities …

1
Let Software Run Free | The Cathedral & The Bazaar (Eric S. Raymond) BOOK REVIEW 27:56

3M ago27:56

27:56

What is Open Source and why is it changing the world? 'The Cathedral & The Bazaar' by Eric S. Raymond is a collection of essays describing the ethics, philosophy, history and implementation of the Open Source movement. As computer hardware became available to larger groups many wanted to play & tinker with their devices. Closed Source software (own…

1
Uncovering Stoic Learnigs | Lives of the stoics (Ryan Holiday) BOOK REVIEW 12:50

4M ago12:50

12:50

As I revisited "Lives of the Stoics" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, I discovered a wealth of insights and practical philosophies that deeply resonated with me. From understanding the importance of being a willing participant in life to the power of endurance and self-restraint, the book offers timeless wisdom for personal growth. Each philo…

1
Uncovering Stoic Wisdom: Zeno to Marcus Aurelius | Lives of the stoics (Ryan Holiday) BOOK REVIEW 8:54

4M ago8:54

8:54

As I delved into "Lives of the Stoics" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, I was taken on a journey through the lives of Stoicism's greatest philosophers. From the foundational teachings of Zeno to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, this book offers a practical guide to applying Stoic philosophy in everyday life. The chronological structure, de…

1
A Study In Semantics | The Tyranny Of Words (Stuart Chase) BOOK REVIEW 24:05

4M ago24:05

24:05

We must blah blah the blah in order to blah the blah from blah. 'The Tyranny Of Words' by Stuart Chase is his attempt at furthering the field of semantics to the general public. He takes us through the general theory, how language is used compared to cats or primitive people, areas of human conversation that contain more precise meaning and plenty …

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Life, Liberty & Property | The Law (Frédéric Bastiat) BOOK REVIEW 25:47

5M ago25:47

25:47

To quote the great philosopher Judge Dredd .... "I am the law". 'The Law' by Frédéric Bastiat is a philosophical treatise that might get confused as political writing due to the subtitle. Bastiat argues that the law should be limited to a narrow subset of protection of natural rights, not to be philanthropic & interfere in people's lives. Mini sect…

1
Let's Break The Bank | More Money Than God (Sebastian Mallaby) BOOK REVIEW 20:06

5M ago20:06

20:06

Who is to blame for all the financial turmoil? 'More Money Than God' by Sebastian Mallaby is a history of US hedge funds. It details how they were created, notable people who worked in them and some of the legendary trades that occurred. It also goes over some of the larger financial bubbles (and subsequent crashes) that happened and contributions …

1
Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger | Mere Mortals Learnings 9:56

5M ago9:56

9:56

Be Useful extends beyond mere autobiography to offer a blueprint for practical action and personal success. "Be Useful" is structured around pivotal themes like having a clear vision, the power of persistence, and the importance of community and support networks. Join us as we take a look at the memorable, key takeaways from the book tody! Timeline…

1
Be Useful, Goddammit | Be Useful (Arnold Schwarzenegger) BOOK REVIEW 11:36

5M ago11:36

11:36

Be Useful extends beyond mere autobiography to offer a blueprint for practical action and personal success. "Be Useful" is structured around pivotal themes like having a clear vision, the power of persistence, and the importance of community and support networks. At 260 pages, the book is an engaging read filled with actionable advice, personal ane…

1
Unlocking Life's Lessons from 'Endure' by Cameron Hanes | Mere Mortals Key Takeaways 18:06

6M ago18:06

18:06

Dive into the core lessons extracted from Cameron Hanes's "Endure" in this special edition of Mere Mortals. From embracing the grind to finding strength in suffering, we explore six pivotal takeaways that resonate beyond the realms of ultra-running and bow hunting. Whether it's the power of action over words, the unforeseen teachings of life's dark…

1
Beyond Bow Hunting and Ultra-Running | Endure (Cameron Hanes) BOOK REVIEW 13:48

6M ago13:48

13:48

Join us in this episode of Mere Mortals Book Reviews as we dive into "Endure" by Cameron Haines, with a foreword by Joe Rogan. Discover the unique blend of memoir, motivational manifesto, and a deep dive into the world of bow hunting and ultra-running. Despite its motivational peaks and intriguing insights into Cameron Hanes's life, the book's stru…

1
The Spirit Of The Japanese Poem | Japanese Death Poems (Yoel Hoffmann) LEARNINGS 13:12

6M ago13:12

13:12

I explore the themes and insights from the book 'Japanese Death Poems' by Yoel Hoffman. I discussed the spirit of the Japanese people, their ability to embrace opposing ideas, and the complexity and simplicity of reality. I share selected death poems and provides analysis on their meaning. Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the importanc…

1
Unravel The Soul's Final Whisper | Japanese Death Poems (Yoel Hoffmann) BOOK REVIEW 8:54

6M ago8:54

8:54

Japanese Death Poems by Yoel Hoffmann is a compelling anthology that explores the Japanese tradition of Jisei, or death poems. The book provides a deep dive into the cultural and historical significance of these poems, reflecting on the life, death, and impermanence of existence through the lens of Zen Buddhism. It is divided into three main sectio…

1
Chivalry At It's Finest | Sir Gawain And The Green Knight (Unknown Poet) BOOK REVIEW 29:47

7M ago29:47

29:47

Would you have the fortitude to stick to your principles, even in the face of certain death? 'Sir Gawain And The Green Knight' by an unknown poet is a story from a 14th/15th century manuscript. It tells of Sir Gawain, a knight at Arthur's round table who accepts a challenge from a mysterious & magical being. This requires him to willingly offer up …

1
A Different Type Of Travel | The Innocents Abroad (Mark Twain) BOOK REVIEW 26:54

7M ago26:54

26:54

Let's travel back to the days when people didn't take offense so easily ...... or did they? 'The Innocents Abroad' by Mark Twain is a compendium of his adventures whilst travelling for 5 months across Europe & The Middle East. It is told in his usual humorous style of witty anecdotes and droll sarcastic one-liners. The bulk of it relates to visitin…

1
Classic Feminist Literature | A Room Of One's Own (Virginia Woolf) BOOK REVIEW 27:03

7M ago27:03

27:03

Righteous anger can be useful .... if applied to the right people. 'A Room Of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf is an essay critiquing woman's literature and female authors. Her core argument is that the lack of financial means, privacy and strict social norms has resulted in the inability for females to write great books. And that it is not due inheren…

1
Overthinking Love, Death & Sex | Confessions Of A Mask (Yukio Mishima) BOOK REVIEW 18:39

7M ago18:39

18:39

Can you think yourself to death? 'Confessions Of A Mask' by Yukio Mishima follows a young rather frail boy called Kochan in the 1920-40's period in Tokyo set against the backdrop of WW2. We see his homosexual desires for another boy Omi emerge as well as a morbid fascination with blood, death and love. He tries to force himself to fall in love with…

1
Tiresome Edwardian Etiquette | A Room With A View (E. M. Forster) BOOK REVIEW 28:46

7M ago28:46

28:46

Manners, decorum, morals, tact, niceties, propriety. Doesn't this all sound fun! 'A Room With A View' by E. M. Forster is the tale of a young woman who is constrained by the conventions of her time. Lucy Honeychurch lives in 1900's England and meets the strange George Emerson whilst travelling to Italy. After a brief but intense contact she returns…

1
Crazy Is As Crazy Does | Death Of A Salesman (Arthur Miller) BOOK REVIEW 17:40

8M ago17:40

17:40

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 'Death Of A Salesman' by Arthur Miller is a play that showcases the tragic life of a simple man with delusions of grandeur. Willy Loman is nearing the end of his days as a travelling salesman and the return of his son Biff pushes his instability into overdrive. Through a series of …

1
When Real Life Gets Real Weird | Picnic In The Storm (Yukiko Motoya) BOOK REVIEW 17:49

8M ago17:49

17:49

Drop the dishes and let's get JACKED!!! 'Picnic In The Storm' by Yukiko Motoya is a series of 11 short stories of everyday life in Japan, but with a twist. So inside you'll find stories about a housewife getting jacked, a cat that won't stop peeing everywhere and couples that keep merging into one entity. They were kind of fun although I found them…

1
A Kind Man Becomes Ruthless | The Winter Of Our Discontent (John Steinbeck) BOOK REVIEW 27:06

8M ago27:06

27:06

Fret your silly head not, you won't leave this book discontented. 'The Winter Of Our Discontent' by John Steinbeck takes place in the fictional New Baytown where Ethan Hawley has become dissatisfied with his life. The lingering legacy of his family is in stark contrast to the life of grocery store clerk trying to support his family. He decides to c…

1
Propaganda I Can Get Behind | The Moon Is Down (John Steinbeck) BOOK REVIEW 32:49

8M ago32:49

32:49

A hidden gem of war time literature! 'The Moon Is Down' by John Steinbeck is a short simple tale written to encourage passive resistance. A small town in an unnamed country is taken over by an invading force. The townsfolk unhappy with this situation turn the tables by creating a hostile atmosphere that makes it a living hell for the aggressors. Th…

1
The Digital Revolution Vs Printed Text | Book Wars (John B. Thompson) BOOK REVIEW 39:01

9M ago39:01

39:01

How much has the digital revolution changed the publishing industry? 'Book Wars' by John B. Thompson is an overview of how the internet and digitisation of books changed the publishing industry. It mostly covers the 2005-2018 period when Ebooks started gain popularity and momentum. It goes into extreme depth so be prepared to read through a lot of …

1
These Kinda Sucked | Why I Rarely Read New Books 27:07

9M ago27:07

27:07

Forgive me please, I'm about to turn into a hater. In today's episode I'm going over a couple of books that I disliked. The main point of this is to showcase my thinking on the types of things I won't read or dislike to read. Not going to lie, this wasn't my greatest episode ever. I was tired, sick and all my normal settings got disturbed before th…

1
Mass Media Disgusts Me | Manufacturing Consent (Edward S. Herman & Noam Chomsky) BOOK REVIEW 35:51

9M ago35:51

35:51

Politics, violence & propaganda; what an awful mix. 'Manufacturing Consent' by Edward S. Herman & Noam Chomsky explains the propaganda model of communications, which explains why mass media shows an overall biased view. They describe the 5 mechanisms that lead to heavy filtering of information before going over examples from the Vietnam War to Lati…

1
What If? | Can't Hurt Me (David Goggins) BOOK REVIEW 21:39

9M ago21:39

21:39

Juan's back for a review. Join us on Mere Mortals for a renewed and deeper exploration of David Goggins' renowned book, 'Can't Hurt Me.' This revisit uncovers fresh insights and perspectives on Goggins' journey of mental toughness and self-transformation. Dive into our discussion about overcoming life's toughest challenges and the power of pushing …

1
Punished For The Greater Good | Darkness At Noon (Arthur Koestler) BOOK REVIEW 34:55

9M ago34:55

34:55

Sometimes punishments just can't make up for the crime. 'Darkness At Noon' by Arthur Koestler is a taste of a political prisoner's experience during the Moscow Trials. Rubashov is a high ranking party member that has been thrown in jail and accused of crimes against the Revolution. It follows his detention over a several week period as he is tortur…

1
Who Is The Real Savage? | The Last Of The Mohicans (James Fenimore Cooper) BOOK REVIEW 35:35

10M ago35:35

35:35

Aiiiiiiii aiaiaiaia aiiiyayayaiaaia! 'The Last Of The Mohicans' by James Fenimore Cooper is a work of historical fiction set during the colonisation of the United States Of America. It follows the dangerous adventures of a mixed group of native Indians and English settlers as they are plagued by adversaries. The dialogue can be a bit hard to interp…

1
The New Economy Of Zero | Free (Chris Anderson) BOOK REVIEW 36:19

10M ago36:19

36:19

You wouldn't steal a car .... but I would download one! 'Free ' by Chris Anderson is an argument for why online abundance has changed the way businesses run and that this trend is only going to continue. He looks at various types of companies/products and shows how zero marginal costs result in 4 outcomes: direct cross-subsidies, the three-party ma…

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How Would Aliens Wage War? | The Three-Body Problem (Cixin Liu) BOOK REVIEW 34:48

10M ago34:48

34:48

Who will end humanity first, the aliens or us?! 'The Three-Body Problem' by Cixin Liu is a sci-fi novel involving aliens, science, warfare and politics. Unexplainable events start to occur to scientists after contact has been made with the Trisolaris world. We gradually learn about their unique ecosystem and why humanity might be in danger not just…

1
Aussie Battlers Trying To Get By | The Harp In The South (Ruth Park) BOOK REVIEW 29:39

10M ago29:39

29:39

Prepare for your heartstrings to be plucked. 'The Harp In The South' by Ruth Park is a classic Australian book detailing the lives of the poverty stricken Darcy family. This fictional family lives in Surry Hills, which in the 1930's was an inner city slum of Sydney. There is no plot per se as it simply follow the lives of this small family, with pa…

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Technological Predictions Of The Future | The Inevitable (Kevin Kelly) BOOK REVIEW 32:25

11M ago32:25

32:25

Will the psychology of humans be compatible with the predicted tech future we face? 'The Inevitable' by Kevin Kelly is a series of technological trends that he believes will dictate the future. It is primarily based on what is already happening and his educated guess as to how this will manifest in a couple of decades time. It is broken down into 1…

1
Deep Or Nonsensical? | The Prophet (Kahlil Gibran) BOOK REVIEW 24:27

11M ago24:27

24:27

It's a fine line between conveying deep insights vs being overly mystical. 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran is a quick read that maybe shouldn't be quick. It has a simple plot setup of a prophet answering questions to townsfolk he is about to leave and never see again. They ask him to speak on 26 topics and he delivers a short poetic response in repl…

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One Breath at a Time | Breath (James Nestor) BOOK REVIEW 12:12

11M ago12:12

12:12

Today, I'm discussing "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor, one of my top book recommendations. This book brilliantly combines storytelling with scientific research, exploring the profound impact of breathing on our health and well-being. Nestor's personal journey to understand breathing is interwoven with just the right amount o…

1
When Wit Becomes Dull | The Happy Prince & Other Stories (Oscar Wilde) BOOK REVIEW 25:33

11M ago25:33

25:33

Sometimes you really can be too outlandish. 'The Happy Prince & Other Stories' by Oscar Wilde are a collection of short stories. They have a childlike feel and are almost like fairytales except the moral of the story seems to be missing or is rather bleak. I've also included my review of 'The Importance Of Being Earnest', a separate play that showc…

1
Hardship Meets Kinship | Cloudstreet (Tim Winton) BOOK REVIEW 31:00

11M ago31:00

31:00

The grittier Australian version of magic realism. 'Cloudstreet' by Tim Winton follows the merging lives of two families (the Lamb's & the Pickle's) as they move into a shared house in Perth. We see the hardships that individual characters go through and how family and kinship is what saves them. It incorporates real life events with absurd fictiona…

1
Fun Classy Paisanos | Tortilla Flat (John Steinbeck) BOOK REVIEW 32:10

12M ago32:10

32:10

Never have I ever more wanted to be a homeless peasant! 'Tortilla Flat' by John Steinbeck is the tale of how an eclectic bunch of friends live together in Monterey. Danny becomes a house owner and experiences the highs and lows of a raised social status. To help Danny his friends begin living with him and hijinks ensue. They rotate between fights, …

1
Boring Oratory | On Government (Cicero) BOOK REVIEW 30:18

12M ago30:18

30:18

Hopefully I'm not as boring as Cicero is ..... but don't count on it! 'On Government' by Cicero is a collection of his writings set out in a chronological format. The large bulk are orations he delivered in front of the senate (or law court) and some smaller sections on his ideals for what a government should look like. I found it pretty boring to …

1
More Than Words on a Page | The Daily Dad (Ryan Holiday) BOOK REVIEW 9:11

12M ago9:11

9:11

Join me as I dive into the heartwarming and insightful pages of "The Daily Dad" by Ryan Holiday, exploring 366 meditations on fatherhood, love, and raising great kids. This book, structured to be read daily, offers a unique blend of historical context, stoic principles, and practical advice, all condensed into one-page chapters. I share my personal…

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