Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Have you ever wondered why you have heard of the mythical place of Shangri-La?'Lost Horizon' by James Hilton is a utopian (although arguably dystopian) fictional adventure of 4 Westerners captured and held against their will. They remain in limbo in the Lamasery of Shangri-La high up in the unexplored mountaintops of Tibet. Although on the surface it seems to be an almost ideal existence there is a suspicious secret that adds a dark side to the tale. There are many themes to explore in the book including (but not limited to): the ideal man/character, disillusionment, East vs West mentality and what happens as we grow old.I summarised the book as follows. "This is easily the best book I have read in a while! Immersed is not a word strong enough to articulate just how deeply I enjoyed this, it really ticked off all my interest boxes. This is highly subjective as it's not a standout for it's prose or style, it's just my type of book. Wisdom & philosophy in the shell of a fun story."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here! https://amzn.to/3zsoqryTimeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(3:57) - The Ideal Man: Unflappable, stoic and English!(7:36) - Disillusionment: The loss of the utopic(11:50) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(13:32) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Hey yo Mere Mortalites! I'm creating a new series that's an overview of all the books I published a book review of in the previous month. I'm also including some dishonourable mentions (books I started reading but subsequently dropped) and extra notes that I didn't include in the actual book reviews. A list of the books I read can be found in the timestamps below.As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro to the new recap(3:14) - Lost Horizon by James Hilton(6:28) - The Essential Chuang Tzu by Chuang Tzu(8:37) - The Old Man & The Sea by Ernest Hemingway(12:32) - The Story Of A Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel García Márquez(14:08) - River Out Of Eden by Richard Dawkins(14:22) - Bringing Home The Dharma by Jack Kornfield(15:42) - Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki(17:21) - A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway(20:08) - Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu(21:39) - Dishonourable mentions(29:49) - What's coming in JulyConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

How much difference can there be from two translations of the same work?'Tao Te Ching' by Lao Tzu is the most influential and well known of the Taoist texts. Traditionally it was thought to be written by a single man named Lao Tzu, although modern day scholars believe it was more likely an amalgamation from multiple sources. It contains 81 verses of varying length and is primarily musings/sayings for contemplation and philosophical purposes. There are multiple translations of this work and your reading of it will depend on if you choose one that is more artistic or more scholarly.I summarised the book as follows. "The Tao Te Ching is a philosophy for a certain person at a certain stage in their life. I think it's good for adding to your own personal philosophy or maxims, as it's definitely not something to find practical/actionable advice. It basically advocates a calm, humble mindset and I found Wu Wei to be a useful concept. I also would recommend reading it with two translations (particularly if one is more scholarly and the other more artistic) as this will give you an enhanced perspective of Taoism."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(4:00) - Wu Wei: Effortless action(7:16) - The Translations: Scholarly vs artistic(11:18) - Takeaways & Favourite Verses(15:16) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"If a man was ever capable of making sweet love to the sea, this is the romantic story he would write."'The Old Man And The Sea' by Ernest Hemingway is a quite short novella of an old man (Santiago) and his relationship to the sea. Set in the Gulf of Mexico, it tells of his pitched battle with the biggest catch of his life and his eventual tainted victory. The book explores the way that humans connect with nature and why respect plays an important part in wisdom and old age.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a wonderful story deserving of praise. Just because something is simple or short doesn't mean that it lacks in depth. I'm not particularly partial to the sea or fishing but I can appreciate the ability of a great author to be succinct and make uninteresting topics fascinating. Well worth a read!"As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(3:32) - The Sea: Loving femininity or combative masculinity?(5:47) - Old Age: The giving & receiving of respect(8:42) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(11:11) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"Never were so many facts explained by so few assumptions."'River Out Of Eden' by Richard Dawkins is a simplified explanation of Darwinian evolutionary theory. It contains 5 sections, all of which provide arguments for why natural selection is true and debunking those of creationists. These arguments are based on the science of DNA (ATCG base pairs), experiments/studies on animals (why bees dance for example), theories about replication/mutation and the utility function that results in a 50/50 gender split across most animal species.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a Richard Dawkins book so you know what to expect, evolution evolution and more evolution! He goes over the basic principles of evolution as well as some common pitfalls of its explanatory powers. It's not too difficult to understand, but I wouldn't say it is particularly easy either. Personally I prefer 'The Selfish Gene' but found this a nice short summary as well."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(3:34) - Evolution: To answer why why why(6:20) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(8:02) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

What goes through your head when you experience the deepest isolation possible?'The Story Of A Shipwrecked Sailor' by Gabriel García Márquez is a small book and really the title says it all. It's a true story that occurred when Gabo was a journalist in Bogotá and got the chance to interview Luis Alejandro Velasco. He was the sole survivor of a shipwreck and endured 10 days adrift at sea without having any food to eat or water to drink. Some of the themes from the book are about isolation from all human contact and the crushing impact of boredom.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a simple tale of endurance. It reminds me of 'Life of Pi' but without the philosophy and magical hallucinations of Pi. It's not dramatic (which is probably quite accurate) but I wonder what thoughts & feelings were left out of the story. I would recommend this for those who want a linear dispassionate account of a shipwreck and the extra historical backstory of the author, survivor and Columbian government."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(5:17) - Isolation: An introverts holiday(7:37) - Boredom: The desire for something else(9:24) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(12:02) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is it worse to die an ignoble death at the hands of your enemy, or those of your 'supposed' friends?'A Farewell To Arms' by Ernest Hemingway is one of the novels that emerged from WWI. It is the main American book as they joined the war relatively late in comparison to many of the other countries. It is a fictional story that tells of the ambulance driver Frederic Henry as he helps on the front line in Italy. He falls in love with a nurse named Catherine Barkley and eventually becomes disillusioned by the whole premise of the war. Stylistically it is notable for the hollow and somewhat clipped narration of events and conversations.I summarised the book as follows. "I found this story to be detached, anti-war and ultimately uneventful. After reading it I came out as apathetic as the Tenente. Stylistically it might have merit for being new but I found the conversations quite off-putting, although the actual story was ok. I feel the were better books from people who spent more time in the war, such as 'All Quiet On The Western Front' or 'Storm of Steel'."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(3:00) - A Noble Death: Possible or not?(5:34) - Apathy: Where does it come from?(7:02) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(8:48) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

There's a right way and a wrong way to create a compilation book ..... this is the right way. 'Bringing Home The Dharma' by Jack Kornfield is a basic introduction to Buddhism and it's core tenets. It is constructed from Jack's writing taken from essays, publications and other books. Within you'll find Zen quotes, personal anecdotes, stories involving his students and practical advice. There is a strong theoretical component focusing on the teachings/truth of the Dharma and a practical component focusing on the many types of meditation.I summarised the book as follows. "This is probably my favourite of the Buddhism books I have read up to now due to it's depth and profundity. There are many concepts so I wouldn't call it a completely beginner book but is still basic enough to grasp. It highlights the core aspects of concentration, awareness and mindfulness while not being dogmatic or one-sided. Most likely I will come back to give this a re-read at some point in the future."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:57) - Dharma: Teachings and truth(6:38) - Meditation: The tool of many purposes(9:22) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(10:50) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind' by Shunryu Suzuki is a musing on Zen Buddhism, enlightenment and meditation practice. Suzuki Roshi was a populariser of Zen in America and many regard this as one of the finest books on the topic. The core themes centre on the spiritual attainment of Buddha nature and the philosophy behind the practice of Zazen.I summarised the book as follows. "It's a succinct, simple & simultaneously confusing read. It explains the central essence of Zen without all the tradition or religiosity. There are some practical tips for meditation (Zazen) but is more heavy on the spirituality and grand concept of embodied enlightenment that Zen tries to convey. Personally I felt it became a bit repetitive at times and would also say that this book is NOT for everyone, better to have read it with some grounding in Buddhism or the other eastern religions."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(2:24) - Buddha Nature: The already attained enlightenment within all(4:43) - Zazen: The practice of non-practice(7:29) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(10:34) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know. 'The Essential Chuang Tzu' by Chuang Tzu is a 3rd century BCE collection of fables, teachings and stories predominantly about Tao & Taoism. It is a mix of fiction, fact and mythology that includes historical figures such as Confucius and Lao Tzu. It is known as one of the great works of eastern philosophy that contains the seeds of Zen/Buddhism and explains how enlightenment is actually just 'the way'. I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun work of philosophy but still requires concentration to find the wisdom. It touches upon a serious topic of spiritual importance but does it through humorous anecdotes and with a playful nature. Of all the spiritual books I've read so far this would be my favourite. I'd recommend it for someone wanting eastern philosophy with less paradox then Zen and less religiosity then Buddhism."As always, I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & Synopsis(3:28) - Tao: Accepting what simply 'is'(7:46) - Personal Observations/Takeaways(13:17) - SummaryConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show