On Thinking Big, the World's Greatest Negotiator, and the Bomber Mafia
On Thinking Big, the World's Greatest Negotiator, and the Bomber Mafia
Books that changed my life
Hello all!
Here is your weekly dose of books that changed my life.
1. Personal development
The Magic of Thinking Big: Acquire the Secrets of Success...Achieve Everything You've Always Wanted
Summary
We’ve certainly seen this theme before, but this book is unique in that it is packed-with tactical advice. This is a good book for both dreamers and those who feel stuck.
Insight: The thinking that guides your intelligence is much more important than how much intelligence you may have.
Principle: When you believe, your mind finds ways to do. When you believe something is impossible, your mind goes to work for you to prove why. But when you believe, really believe, something can be done, your mind goes to work for you and helps you to find the ways to do it.
Behavior: Use action to cure fear and gain confidence. Actions feed and strengthen confidence; inaction in all forms feeds fear. To fight fear, act. To increase fear--wait, put off, postpone.
Author: David Schwartz
Themes: Personal development, Entrepreneurism, Growing a business, Culture
My personal notes from the book
2. Biography
The Adventures of Herbie Cohen: World's Greatest Negotiator
Summary
This is a fun read and you’ll get a fresh perspective on how to live a life and how to negotiate. Richard Cohen writes a book on negotiation, but in the style of a biography. Many great insights.
Principle: What you say is often less important than how you say it. It's like the difference between the head and the heart, between the knowing and the believing.
Insight: Don't get fixated on a particular outcome. Always be willing to walk away. Once you see your life as a game, and the other things you strive for as no more than pieces in that game, you'll become a much more effective player.
Insight: Care, but not that much.
Behavior: If you don't remember a person's name, ask them if they still live in the same place. Don't ask them about their children, because maybe they have no children. And don't ask them about their spouse, because maybe that person died.
Author: Richard Cohen
Themes: Biography, Negotiation, Living a full life
My personal notes from the book
3. History
The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War
Summary
Every Gladwell book I’ve read has been entertaining and this one is no exception. If you enjoy reading about history, particularly WWII, you won’t be able to put this book down.
Insight: All war is absurd. For thousands of years, human beings have chosen to settle their differences by obliterating one another. And when we are not obliterating one another, we spend an enormous amount of time and attention coming up with better ways to obliterate one another the next time around. It’s all a little strange, if you think about it.
Insight: Revolutions are birthed in conversation, argument, validation, proximity, and the look in your listener’s eye that tells you you’re on to something.
Principle: The more you invest in a set of beliefs—the greater the sacrifice you make in the service of that conviction—the more resistant you will be to evidence that suggests that you are mistaken. You don’t give up. You double down.
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Themes: History, Decision making, Human psychology
My personal notes from the book
That’s a wrap. Thanks for reading!
Please continue to share with me the books that changed your life!
Best,
Adam
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