Review: Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is highly repetitive and yet so inspiring I kind of want to go start a company.

The premise: if you want to be a successful leader, you must filter everything you do through your Why - the reason you do what you do.

I love it. That idea of inspiration coming from your very soul and filtering all your choices through that purpose - it makes sense. If you focus too much on What you do instead of Why you do it, you lose sight and those who turn to you for inspiration will become disenfranchised. If you don't have people who believe in your ideas, you're not much of a leader.

The problem is, this book of sound reasoning and solid example spends most of the book simply repeating the same idea. I think Simon Sinek is one of the most inspirational people to listen to, and yet this book of his creation left me disappointingly underwhelmed.

The idea is solid, but it's also simple. The same examples are used over and over again, and it doesn't seem fresh, it just seems repetitive. There were also a lot of typos that really lowered the professionalism of the book. Once you've read about his Golden Circle, and grasped the concept, there's really not much more to it.

I was still really inspired reading it, and it really did make me want to start my own company haha. It does get you thinking about your own Why and purpose and what it is that motivates. I think the thought processes that this book inspires are the real gem you take away. It gets you thinking about your own methods and reasons and if it helps you change perspectives and start feeling more purpose in what you do, then that's kind of the point.

The purpose of this book is to inspire, which it unquestioningly does. If you're a business person looking for a fresh take, this is a great place to start. However, the examples are repetitive and the same concepts explained repeatedly so it's not a completely satisfying read.

As a book, not the best, but as a stepping stone to big thoughts and new business strategies, it's pretty brilliant.

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Review: Batman: The Long Halloween

Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you're going into Batman relatively blind, this is a pretty good place to start.

If you've seen Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, many elements of this story will be familiar - in particular, the origins of Two Face.

This story sees our caped crusader team up with detective Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent to catch a killer that's been dubbed Holiday, on account of his habit of killing on specific holidays.

The story works in many familiar Batman villains as well as mobsters Falcone and Maroni, so there's plenty here for even the most ignorant of Batman's followers. I really enjoyed how none were really involved too heavily, meaning this story serves as something of an introduction to the villains for the uninitiated.

There's also the nice juicy story of trying to work out who the killer is, and this would have been painful to read as single issues as there's a persistent need to put the clues together and figure it out for yourself.

I must say, as much as the artwork suits this gritty story, it really didn't work for me. It's all darkness and shadows, with the use of colour intentional and symbolic only. Some of the panels were so abstract I struggled to work them out, and I found it awkward to follow at times. I see the why, it just didn't appeal to me.

All in all, this was a fun story to read and a great starting place for entering the chaotic world of Batman comics. Artwork wasn't for me but will likely appeal to those more appreciative of stylistic tricks.

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Review: Stillness is the Key: An Ancient Strategy for Modern Life

Stillness is the Key: An Ancient Strategy for Modern Life by Ryan Holiday
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was exactly what I needed, when I needed it.

I really love Ryan Holiday's work. He uses examples to support all of his suggestions, and he's very honest about everything. Very down to earth, for someone explaining such zen concepts. He's not a wise Buddhist monk - he's just an ordinary dude who has been taught these things, practiced them, and then compiled historic evidence that supports such practices. His work is just easy to relate to.

This book, then, encourages us to find stillness. He makes the very valid point that, if any of us were told to sit for any length of time with no activity - no phone or tv or music to distract us, to just simply sit and be with our thoughts - many of us would find it incredibly uncomfortable. The notion of not doing something when we could be seems wild. Yet this stillness is where successful people go to work sh*t out. (I'm paraphrasing, of course.)

I really love that concept. I take public transport to work and if I ever forget my earphones I feel incredibly naked. You can bet I'll bury myself in a book or my phone to distract myself from the mundane act of being transported from one location to another. And reading this book was like being exposed - I actually love finding stillness when I actively choose to, yet how many opportunities to do so am I depriving myself of?

Anyhoo, the point is to review the book, not my life, so here's a pro: this book will make you review your life a little.

It doesn't criticise at all, which I find really important in self-help books. It just gently points out all the things we are ALL guilty of, and suggests alternatives that may help us lead more fulfilling lives.

It takes a very realistic approach, too: there is no suggestion of meditating for hours at a time, or locking yourself in isolation. There are some very practical tips on how you can simply insert a little more stillness into your life, and learn to appreciate the sensation of exploring your own mind.

As mentioned, this book found its way into my hands at a time when I desperately needed it. It forced me to see how much attention and energy I was giving to things that didn't matter, and how much peace I was depriving myself of. For that alone I'm grateful to have read this book.

If you are someone who often finds yourself stressed, overworked, overstimulated, or even just feeling far busier than you'd like to, this is a brilliant book for you. If you're keen to learn how to wean yourself off technology a little, this will provide some helpful ideas to support you.

Even if you are just someone looking for a way to improve your life in the simplest of ways, this book is for you.

I believe everyone needs to nurture a little more stillness in their lives, and so I highly recommend this book to all.

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Review: Will

Will by Will Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this but I don't think I like Will Smith at all now XD

You can definitely feel which parts were Mark Manson, because Will comes across as so arrogant and blind to the world. His materialism was so obvious throughout this book, and I really admire his honesty but there wasn't enough humility to soften it. For example, he straight up confesses that he put himself before his family and his kids, and while it made a twisted kind of sense there still never seemed to be much growth that followed, and any notion of his seeing why that might be a messed up way of thinking.

I mean, this book is essentially about his achievements. There are some interesting insights into why he might have behaved a certain way (and this is where Manson's contribution is quite evident) but there's no change in behaviour until the very last few chapters. I'll say it again:there is no humility. He notes when his behaviour was inappropriate but explains it away rather than offering any notion of regret. This memoir is completely unapologetic.

As a self-help book, it's not great. Will Smith got where he was by working hard and valuing success above everything else in his life, including loved ones. He destroyed countless relationships with his selfishness, and ultimately he got famous by working hard in the right place at the right time. You can't deny he worked hard, but you also can't deny that he got pretty damn lucky.

Will Smith is a brilliant entertainer - there's no denying that. This book details that journey, and it was quite fun to read. I particularly enjoyed reading about his early days as a rapper, as we tend to forget that was his stepping stone into acting. The story of his life, here on the page, is told quite well, with all the highlights, and he has had some incredible experiences so the story is not a dull one by any stretch.

The honesty is apparent, to such a point you almost wish he'd left some stuff out. The way he lives his life is almost the complete opposite of how I live mine, so it was quite painful to read at times, but it was a fascinating character study.

As I said, I don't think I would like to meet him in person after reading this (which I'm sure wouldn't bother him in the slightest), but I really admire how honest a tale this is. The highlights of his career are all covered, so fans should be satisfied, and Mark Manson's contributions adds some much needed psychology to the story. I wanted to read more about Will's growth that came so late in the story, but otherwise it was a fun, insightful read.

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