On When Pride Still Mattered, Experiments with Truth, and an American Prometheus
On When Pride Still Mattered, Experiments with Truth, and an American Prometheus
Books that changed my thinking, my behaviors, and my life
Hello all!
Its been a super fun week as I gathered the notes from books that I read twenty years ago! So many great memories. Now I get to share these insights. Here is your weekly dose of Three Book Thursday-books that changed my thinking, behaviors, and life.
1. Biography
When Pride Still Mattered : A Life Of Vince Lombardi
Summary
One of my favorite biographies. It taught me about leadership, persistence, and relationships. While I am not a Green Bay Packer’s fan (despite attending the University of Wisconsin for undergrad and grad school), you can’t help but to fall in love with Lombardi and the Pack after reading this book.
Insight: In football, as in life, excessive fear and anxiety can dim the brightest mind.
Insight: Competitive sports keeps alive in us a spirit and vitality. It teaches the strong to know when they are weak and the brave to face themselves when they are afraid. To be proud and unbowed in defeat and yet humble and gentle in victory. And to laugh, yet never forget how to weep. And to give predominance of courage over timidity.
Quote: Fatigue makes cowards of us all. -Vince Lombardi
Quote: Inches make the champion, and a champion makes his own luck. -Vince Lombardi
Author: David Maraniss
Themes: Biography
My personal notes from the book
2. Autobiography
Gandhi: The Story of My Experiments with Truth
Summary
This book should be required reading for all humans. I thought I knew about Gandhi’s life but after reading his autobiography, was in even more awe of everything he accomplished. I love to read about people with skin in the game and those who find a higher purpose for their life. By focusing on being a better person himself, Gandhi went on to lead a revolution and changed the world. It is hard to comprehend what it takes to make an impact on the world, but as Gandhi taught us, be the change you want to see in the world. His self-experiments, while some a bit too extreme for me, are certainly an inspiration and helped me to focus on leading a more disciplined, and healthier life.
Principle: Let no one think that it is impossible because it is difficult. It is the highest goal, and it is no wonder that the highest effort should be necessary to attain it.
Insight: Truth is like a vast tree, which yields more and more fruit, the more you nurture it. The deeper the search in the mine of truth the richer the discovery of the gems buried there, in the shape of openings for an ever greater variety of service.
Quote: I began to realize more and more the infinite possibilities of universal love. -Gandhi
Author: Gandhi
Themes: Autobiography
My personal notes from the book
3. Biography
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Summary
You’ve probably heard about the Oppenheimer movie currently in theaters. It was good, but not great. What is great is the book that the movie was based on. Oppenheimer, like all of us, was a complicated human who was at the center of one of the most morally-challenging events in human history. If you enjoy American history, you’ll find this book a wonderful read.
Motto of Ethical Cultural Society: Deed not creed.
Insight: Wartime compelled some mild-mannered men to contemplate what was once unthinkable.
Quote: Knowledge is itself the basis of civilization, but any widening of the boarders of our knowledge imposes an increased responsibility on individuals and nations through the possibilities it gives for reshaping the conditions of human life. -Niels Bohr
Authors: Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin
Themes: Biography, History
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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