Two Dudes Review Books: Recent Episodes
dentremontdm
Two Dudes Review Books is here for people who wish to improve their productivity, well-being, and relationships through reading and reflective practice. Dylan, a teacher and veteran of the US Navy, joins forces with Jason, a manager in the manufacturing industry and ICF-certified coach. Together, they break down the major lessons of high-, medium-, and even low-profile books about self-improvement. They hope that they can improve the world just a bit by improving themselves just a bit, and invite you to join in the discussion.
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker digs deep into why we sleep and what we are missing when our sleep suffers. 30-50% of Americans suffer from some sort of problem with sleep! Whether it is sleep apnea, insomnia, or just plain not getting enough sleep, many people do not have good sleep health. Walker unpacks the problematic and often hidden effects of poor sleep and shows us a better way.
Solving problems can often feel like a game of Whack-a-Mole. You fix an issue here, and another problem happens over there. Think in Systems by Zoe McKey encourages us to think of all problems as the effect (intended or not) of a system. By thinking in systems, we can more effectively solve actual problems instead of treating symptoms (aka Whack-a-Mole). Jason and Dylan break down Think in Systems and consider some practical applications for systems thinking, from complex manufacturing to just driving to work. Join us!
Jason and Dylan discuss parenting with Love and Logic by Cline and Fay. Are there lessons here that can apply outside of parenting? Do the techniques described in the book make sense for all age levels? Jason and Dylan talk things over in this episode of Two Dudes Review Books.
Jason and Dylan review Sahil Bloom's examination of what makes a good life in the book The 5 Types of Wealth. This book will form the backbone of the season, and future books of the season will be reviewed with a mind towards how they support (or don't!) the 5 types of wealth described in this book. For those reading at home, the next three books of the season are below:
Parenting with Love and Logic by Fay and Cline
Why We Sleep by Walker
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by McKeown
Happy reading!
Simultaneously down-to-earth and life-changing, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a legendary book and a pioneer in the genre itself. This book has tidbits and lessons that can help everyone, wherever you are in your life, to achieve your goals and also to be a happier person. To some it may seem surprising how closely the two are linked, and not always in expected ways! Jason and Dylan both read this book in their youth but are proud to revisit the 30th Anniversary Edition together in the final episode of Season 4.
Jason and Dylan review Haim Shapira's funny and fascinating book about "how game theory, strategy, and probability rule our lives." The book is an interesting look at a series of scenarios, games, and humorous real-life examples that shed light on our decisions from the mundane humdrum of daily life to huge decisions and strategies that can (and have) changed the course of a person's life, and even human history. Join Jason and Dylan as they discuss Gladiators, Pirates, and Games of Trust.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin is unlike any of the other books our hosts have reviewed on the podcast. The focus on creativity, and the structure of the book as a series of meditations, set it apart from most of the books in the personal growth genre. But music producer Rick Rubin has a unique perspective when it comes to creativity and decades creating and working with creators to produce epic works. This book has surprisingly broad application when it comes to creating anything, from music to sales pitches. Join Jason and Dylan as they discuss this unique read.
Systems. They are all around us and often taken for granted. Your household, your family, your neighborhood, your workplace and grocery store are all systems. When systems break down, become inefficient, or fail in some way, they need a reset, and that is what this book is all about. Reset by Dan Heath is a step-by-step guide for identifying problems in a system, finding leverage points that will achieve big results, and deploying resources properly to support change. Many of the ideas in the book are as applicable to businesses as they are to a family or even your own personal growth. Join Jason and Dylan as we discuss Reset by Dan Heath.
Jason and Dylan review Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Dr. Michael Norton. This book contains many science-backed insights about how to spend your money to maximize happiness. Some of the results are very counter-intuitive! Many people think they want more choices or that they will be happier if they get to enjoy something right after they pay for it, but that is not what the science tells us. Join our hosts Jason and Dylan as they talk through the tips in the book and find out what success or failures our hosts have when it comes to their own Happy Money.
The Author of The Next Conversation, Lawyer Jefferson Fisher, does not use all the latest in research psychology to analyze and perfect his conversational technique and advice. Instead, he uses his years of experience as a litigator and presents his lessons from the school of hard knocks in a heartfelt and interesting way. He presents plenty of personal examples and stories to go along with excellent tips and techniques you can use in your next conversation. Join us a we check it out!
This book has some surprising ways of linking Stoic Philosophy back to how we can live the good life in the modern era. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins is a great take on an ancient idea: people will sometimes do things you do not like. Why not just let them? Most of the things that happen around us, including the actions of other people, are outside our control. The Let Them Theory helps us identify those things and put them in the proper perspective so we can let them make their mistakes while we let ourselves be the best we can be. Join us!
Jason and Dylan review a book from Ryan Holiday's Virtue Series: Right Thing Right Now: Justice in an Unjust World. Among other things, this book examines how the blurring of the line between what is legal and what is right is contributing to the erosion of society. But is also brings hope by highlighting what we can do ourselves to bring just a little justice to a world that sometimes seems to care so little about it. Join us!
Jason and Dylan review a book with a surprisingly strong connection to education. Culture By Design walk us through the process of establishing a culture in any organization, from our families to workplaces and beyond, Join us as we discuss the process!
Jason and Dylan review the 2020 edition of Berne Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection. The book examines how accepting ourselves and being authentic can lead us away from shame and into a more fulfilling life through a series of guideposts. Join us!
Jason and Dylan take a bit of a break from self-help and Stoicism to review What If? This book explores important questions about living a fulfilling life, such as can a steak be properly cooked by re-entering the atmosphere like a meteorite? Could you make a functional jetpack from an AK-47? If everyone has a single soulmate, what are the chances that you would find them? These and many other critical questions await in What If? by Randall Munroe. Join us!
What does "leaders eat last" even mean? It's a concept in the military where military leaders put themselves at the end of the chow line to ensure those under their command get properly fed. Leaders who do this embody the notion that leadership comes with responsibility to take care of those under their command. Simon Sinek unpacks this and other leadership attitudes and practices which ensure members of an organization or group feel safe and able to be highly productive. Jason and Dylan review Simon Sinek's book, Leaders Eat Last.
Jason and Dylan review the grandaddy of the "self-help" genre, updated for a new generation of leaders. It was the first in the genre, but is it worth your time? Have books around personal growth really come so far as to leave it behind? Jason and Dylan discuss Dale Carnegie's influential book and the changes in the new edition.
SMART goals have permeated our personal and professional lives. But somehow, even if you do everything right, SMART goals often lack the motivational boost we hope they will provide. How are HARD goals different than SMART goals? How can we use the principles behind HARD goals to amplify our own goals or our processes for goal-setting we use as leaders? Jason and Dylan break down HARD Goals by Mark Murphy.
Jason and Dylan review When Things Fall Apart, a book by prolific author and Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron. Our hosts examine parallels between Stoic philosophy and Buddhism and the book's idea of "leaning into the pointy bits" of life as a way to grow our strength of spirit and character.
Do we even need small talk? What are the skills of conversation? Some people just seem to be good at chatting with strangers, some of us struggle to maintain conversational flow even with those who know us well. Jason and Dylan delve into Better Small Talk by Communication Coach Patrick King. The book is an excellent guide for improving conversation for all of us.
Mike Pettigrew has developed what may be the greatest goal achievement system in the world, but is it for you? Jason and Dylan discuss this epic book about goal-setting; what it brings to everyone, and what might be harder for readers to try.
How does power effect the way we see the world? Why do powerful and successful people make seemingly greedy, impulsive, or nonsensical decisions that jeopardize all they have earned? Can gossip and rumor be used for good? Jason and Dylan review The Power Paradox by Dacher Keltner, which addresses this and other questions about our relationship with power.
Jason and Dylan review Extreme Ownership, a book about leadership by former Navy SEALS, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. How can taking more ownership benefit you as a leader and human being? In the book, Jocko and Leif share stories about their experiences in Ramadi. Jason and Dylan share stories from more mundane battlefields, but the lessons from Extreme Ownership still apply, and the book gives a great framework to think about applying concepts of military leadership to civilian life. Let's get after it!
Part novel and part handbook for getting the most out of each day, the 5am Club by Robin Sharma has a lot of great information for transforming your life. But is it for everyone? Jason and Dylan break it down in this month's episode.
In this episode, Jason and Dylan Discuss The Mountain is You by Brianna Waist, author of 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think and other titles. This book is all about self-sabotage; what it is, why we do it, and the secret needs that it fills in our emotional lives.
Have you wondered why some people seem just full of enthralling stories and maybe you can't seem to engage an audience? Have you noticed some storytellers seem to drone on and on and others can have you thinking or laughing (or both!) with just a few sentences? Storytelling is a critical skill for engaging audiences for many purposes. If you are trying to train a group of new employees or show customers your humble beginnings, being able to tell a story is a great tool for many jobs. Jason and Dylan analyze Unleash the Power of Storytelling by Rob Biesenbach, an excellent read if you want to hone your storytelling skills!
For most of us, 4000 weeks is the number of weeks you have to live. That's it! Jason and Dylan unpack some of the concepts in 4000 Weeks; Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman . This book is not actually about wringing the most productivity out of those 4000 weeks. This book aims to help you understand the history of time as a way of measuring things, unpack some assumptions we have about time in western culture, gain perspective about time, and hopefully gain some mastery over it. Time management for mortals means just that: humans are mortal, therefore we must die...so how should we spend our 4000 weeks?
An ego is one's sense of self-esteem and self-importance. On the surface, the definition may even sound positive. Shouldn't we all have self-esteem? Doesn't everyone like to feel important? Jason and Dylan review one of Ryan Holiday's most important works: Ego is the Enemy. What does that even mean? What are the habits and actions of a person who has conquered his or her ego? How can you live a life free of the downsides of ego (which are numerous!) and live a more fulfilling life focused on others instead? A must-read in the age of social media. Join us!
Jason and Dylan discuss the categories and book list for Two Dudes Review Books Season 3.
In their final? episode of season 2, Jason and Dylan review Amy Jacobson's densely-packed and informative treatise about what makes a person emotionally intelligence and how to build the skill. The book is tuned toward young professionals, but Jason and Dylan pick apart how those same skills are useful in the rest of our lives as well.
Empowered Parenting by Ana Rodriguez is a short read about how the traumas of your past affect your parenting style and provides some tips for becoming a better parent. Jason and Dylan break down this some important takeaways from Ana's book and reflect on their own parenting.
Jason and Dylan break down the top ten rules of ikigai in this episode of Two Dudes Review Books. Ikigai is the Japanese term for the reason you get up in the morning. Having a strong ikigai is linked to longevity and life satisfaction into your 80's 90's and beyond. Authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles combine interviews with supercentenarians (people over 100 years old) with a trove of other observational and survey data from villages in Okinawa to learns the secrets to a long and happy life.
Jason and Dylan review a fun and crass book...about philosophy! Rather than teaching us how to give zero fks at all, author Mark Manson helps us think about what we should give a fk about. From considering good and bad values to remembering you are mortal, Mark gives Jason and Dylan a lot to discuss: How to give fewer f**ks and live a more fulfilling life.
Jason and Dylan review Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields. This book accidentally fits perfectly with our previous episode You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh. Hunter has created an outstanding handbook for leveraging the power of mindfulness to become the best parent you can be. By mastering your own emotions through mindfulness, you can work through the difficult issues of your own past to first know thyself, then deploy the proper listening, emotional, and problem-solving tools to be the parent your kiddo deserves.
Jason and Dylan review Thich That Hanh's powerful treatise on mindfulness and the power of being here, in the now. The book discusses how living in the present moment, instead of the past or future, can strengthen relationships, increase your enjoyment of the world and improve your life. Listen in for Dylan and Jason's take on "Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment."
Jason and Dylan discuss Emotional Agility by Dr. Susan David. Our modern age presents some unique emotional challenges to us, and this is compounded by harmful emotional habits. Emotional agility is the ability to "be flexible with your thoughts and feelings so you can respond optimally to everyday situations." Give us a listen to fin out more about how you can become more emotionally agile and ready for the emotional challenges of your day.
Jason and Dylan discuss The Whole Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Doctors Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. This book lays out 12 excellent and actionable strategies for helping your child with emotional regulation, communication, and family relationships regardless of their age. It includes strategies from making family time more fun to helping your child process traumatic memories and many more. A great read for parents and anyone who is around children, or just wants to better understand how the brain processes emotion.
Anxiety is an emotion that many of us experience in our day-to-day lives. When it gets out of control and those anxious thoughts become all-consuming, we become victims of overthinking. But don't despair! You can manage those ruinous ruminations. Jason and Dylan break down Stop Over Thinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present by Nick Trenton.
Dylan and Jason review Discipline is Destiny, the latest installment of Ryan Holiday's Four Virtues Series. While it may be obvious that discipline can help you achieve your life's goals, how have others through history leveraged self-discipline to achieve greatness? Ryan Holiday's book explores three facets of self-discipline: the body, the temperament, and the soul to illuminate how the best of us use discipline to make our lives and the lives of those around us better and more fulfilling.
The overwhelming majority of parents just want kids who are kind. But how can we do that? How can we raise kids who are empathetic without being pushovers? Melinda Winner Moyer breaks down parenting myths and builds us a solid playbook of science-backed strategies for raising the kind of kids you would want your own children to hang out with. Jason and Dylan discuss some great takeaways that will benefit everyone, whether you have kids or not!
Jason and Dylan break down Dan Buettner's book about creating happier people and communities; Blue Zones of Happiness. Is this the right book for individuals seeking a happier life? Listen in to hear what Jason and Dylan think in this first installment of their second season.
Jason and Dylan get together to decide which books they will read for season 2 of Two Dudes Review Books.
Last episode of season 1! Simon Sinek's book Start With Why delves into why and how great companies like Apple and others maintain their success by earning the loyalty of customers and the dedication of employees. Jason and Dylan reflect on how these principles have guided their own lives (at times) and reflect on reaching their goal of 12 books through the first season of the Two Dudes Review Books Podcast. Enjoy!
In our Father's Day episode, Jason and Dylan discuss Angela Duckworth's book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. What is grit? How can we cultivate it in our children, students, and colleagues? What practices and habits can we use to encourage grit in ourselves? What is the relationship between effort, grit, and growth? Jason and Dylan explore how the lessons from Angela Duckworth's bestseller can be applied to our daily lives as parents and good people.
Stillness is Key is one of several books written by Ryan Holiday focused on stories about--and the practical application of--Stoic philosophy to our daily lives as leaders, parents, and members of society. The book breaks down how one might cultivate stillness in terms of three separate areas, the mind, body, and the spirit. Holiday includes examples and non-examples in the book in each of the areas. Dylan and Jason discuss how the book and its lessons have affected their outlook as they make their way in the world and how they find stillness in their own lives.
Jason and Dylan come together to discuss a new take on parenting from Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff's groundbreaking book, Hunt, Gather, Parent. Many of the books and advice westerners have about parenting do not actually come from "tried and true" methods of parenting that have been thoroughly researched. Instead, they have been doctors' and scientists' and other parents' best guesses about what might work for other parents. And that advice has sometimes been reversed overnight! Michaeleen travels around the world in Hunt, Gather, Parent to give us a view of parenting that might actually help us raise happy, helpful, little humans.
Do you know the difference between an introvert and an extrovert? Jason and Dylan unpack the differences in the two personality types and what it might mean for you as a leader or as a parent through their discussion of Quiet by Susan Cain. Also in this episode, Dylan makes a shocking discovery about his temperament that has eluded him for years.
Jason and Dylan discuss The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. They unpack how the themes and ideas in Holiday's book might be applied to leadership at work and as a parent. Join in the discussion through our Instagram and Facebook! Let us know what you would like to see us do for season 2 of Two Dudes.
Jason and Dylan review the New York Times best-seller, Atomic Habits by James Clear. Does the book match the hype? Can Atomic Habits help you reach your goals and achieve the identity you desire? Dylan and Jason break it down by examining the four rules of making (and breaking) habits and how you can use the laws, tips and tricks in this book to become your best self.
Using a unique combination of cartoons, personal reflection, and just enough philosophy, author and illustrator Henry James Garrett helps us change our mindset about what kind and how much empathy and kindness we really should give each other. This book is a must-read for anyone who really wants to bring more kindness to the world, but there is no to-do list here. You're going to have to work a bit harder. Jason and Dylan break it down in this episode.
Are lessons from the monastic life applicable to modern life? Can a monk's habits of mind help us find happiness in our work and families? Dylan and Jason review the second half of Jay Shetty's book, Think Like a Monk, to find out. This is part two of our discussion of Think Like a Monk and covers parts two and three of the book.
Are lessons from the monastic life applicable to modern life? Can a monk's habits of mind help us find happiness in our work and families? Dylan and Jason review Jay Shetty's book, Think Like a Monk, to find out. This episode covers part one of the book. Episode 1-4B will cover the other two parts.
Kim Scott's Radical Candor has been a mainstay in corporate leadership training for years, but can it offer helpful insights to those of us outside the corporate world? With an emphasis on relationships over rudeness, we think this book can help anyone, whether you are climbing the corporate ladder or just trying to get through the day.
This is part two of Dylan and Jason's chat about Radical Candor by Kim Scott. Part 1 is our previous episode, this one picks up where the previous episode leaves off. Enjoy!
Kim Scott's Radical Candor has been a mainstay in corporate leadership training for years, but can it offer helpful insights to those of us outside the corporate world? With an emphasis on relationships over rudeness, we think this book can help anyone, whether you are climbing the corporate ladder or just trying to get through the day.
We had so much to chat about with this book that we decided to break it into two episodes. This episode is part 1 of 2. Part 2 will be released per our normal release schedule. Enjoy!
We are calling this episode a "Bonus Chapter." It's a little bit about why we do what we do. Enjoy!
In this week's episode, Jason and Dylan break down lessons from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Can the lessons of the ancient Toltecs really help us live more productive and fulfilling lives? Can these agreements help us become better people in the workplace and with our families? Join us for the key takeaways from this short but powerful book.
Our hosts Jason and Dylan discuss The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha in our first ever episode of "Two Dudes Review Books". Join us as we explore how Neil's lessons can be applied to help us achieve work/life balance or even just find some relief from the constant burn of modern work.