Top products from r/BettermentBookClub
We found 30 product mentions on r/BettermentBookClub. We ranked the 65 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
1. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 3
Simon & Schuster
2. The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 2
The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
3. The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 2
Free Press
4. So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
Great product!
5. Models: Attract Women Through Honesty
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
Models Attract Women Through Honesty
6. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradit with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.Humorous, surprising and informative, D...
7. Carpe Antiperspirant Hand Lotion, A dermatologist-recommended, non-irritating, smooth lotion that helps stops hand sweat, Great for hyperhidrosis
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 2
👍EXTRA-EFFECTIVE: The #1 dermatologist-recommended OTC antiperspirant treatment for sweaty hands. Our clinically proven antiperspirant hand lotion was specifically designed to stop sweaty, clammy hands, and help manage the symptoms of palmar hyperhidrosis, or excessive hand sweat. Achieve zero sw...
9. The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Bantam
10. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem: The Definitive Work on Self-Esteem by the Leading Pioneer in the Field
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
The Six Pillars of Self Esteem
11. The Feeling Good Handbook
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Great product!
12. 10 Days to Faster Reading
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Warner Books NY
14. Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change
15. The Power of One: A Novel
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
Ballantine Books
16. Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner - OCR Digital Highlighter and Reader - Wireless (Mac Win iOS Android) (Black)
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
Create summaries faster than ever before; just slide your handheld scanning pen across a line of printed text and watch it appear instantly on the screenSuper accurate and fast multilingual ocr text scanner ideal for students and professionals in the library, office or on the goUse your pen scanner ...
17. A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
18. On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It (Penguin Great Ideas)
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Penguin Books
Thank you for sharing these thoughts; I imagine that wasn't easy.
> My parents placed an emphasis on sports, and on winning. However, I have come to realize that this mindset breeds hedonism. When my purpose in life was to win and seek the most benefits for myself, this attitude ultimately led to mental weakness and a lack of willpower when it came to pleasureful activities. In my opinion, even the goal of being happy leads to a hedonistic lifestyle.
The way I see it, feelings of happiness fall on a spectrum between pleasure (short-lived, visceral, shallow) and joy (long-lasting, subtle, deep), and while seeking pleasure is hedonism, seeking joy is not. Helping others brings (most of) us joy, and altruism is pretty near the opposite of hedonism.
The trick, I think, is balancing our desires for pleasure and joy, as each provides its own stability. Not experiencing pleasure leaves us irritable and unpleasant, while lacking joy leaves us purposeless and depressed. Neither state is ideal for accomplishing anything.
> And now, here I am. I am utterly confused now, when it comes to my life's goals. Should my goal be to make contributions in order to improve human civilization? Or something else? Idk.
One approach I suggest you try is this:
This advice is based on the "craftsman mindset" advocated by Cal Newport's So Good They Can't Ignore You, which he presents in opposition to the "passion mindset" that focuses on the question, "What should I do with my life?"
While this doesn't directly address your philosophical questions, following this approach may provide you with a mental clarity that could help. Think of it as a bottom-up kind of philosophy that generalizes from your actions and experiences, rather than the top-down kind that seeks to impose abstract ideas onto concrete reality.
> Apologies for the rant.
No need to apologize, as this is the kind of thought we BettermentBookClub subs like to discuss. I'll tag /u/PeaceH, /u/Skaifola, and /u/TheZenMasterReturns, who may want to respond to you with their own perspectives. They know much more about Stoicism than I do, so they may even answer your questions, unlike me. :)
>might not follow through with the lessons in the book.
This seems like the obvious avenue for improvement. If a lesson seems promising, try it.
Maybe it would help to try books that are more like workbooks? This is one of the best ever written.
Most book summaries are bad in that they don't connect the different themes in an intelligent way to actually allow your brain to comprehend the important details correctly and quickly - which is the point of a summary. The summaries in this sub are quite good, but only because there are committed people who did the really deep digging and can bring up the gems to show you in a comprehensible way.
Reading the book is always, always more beneficial than reading the summary (unless time is a factor, like cramming for a test). You won't get less content from reading the book versus reading the summary, but 99% of the time you will lose content from the summary.
If you are struggling with reading comprehension and retention, I absolutely recommend Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book. Read it all the way through, deliberately, carefully, then read it again a year later using its own tips. It has helped me get 40-50% more juice from each book since. It's a tremendous capital investment in your reading ability (which will serve you well here and in life).
I have three of them. Meditations, Tao Te Ching, and Man's Search for Meaning.
I read Tao Te Ching many years ago. I think it was above my reading level at the time as I can't recall much about it. I wasn't really paying attention to what I was reading or properly digesting it.
I have the Gregory Hays' version of Meditations. It's up next after I'm done Flow. So far Flow mentions quite a few things I recognize from Stoicism. Directly mentions Diogenes in the first chapter.
Man's Search for Meaning will probably follow shortly after Meditations.
I've only heard of the Bhagavad Gita, so that's as familiar as I am with it. I assume it's a book of wisdom or something like that from India.
I do make notes of the books I read, so if you'd like I can forward them to you when they're ready. Currently putting together some for How to Read a Book, The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance, and Atomic Habits.
The Five Elements of Effective Thinking
A concise explanation of various strategies to think better and be more creative. Written by two math teachers, I think, which makes it much, much better than some consultant-y, "I made money selling books, so you can too."
I also didn't like Mark Manson's TSAONGAF, but his previous book, Models: How to attract women through honesty, was a life changer. I mean, I'm still trying to implement the principles into my life but it already started to change my life for the better. It's not just for the single guys btw, any man who wants to be attractive should read this book.
off the top of my head:
Meditations, with The Inner Citadel as a reader
Letters from a Stoic
A Guide to the Good Life by Irvine
Do The Work by Pressfield as well as The War of Art by Pressfield
Managing Oneself by Ducker
Man's Search for Meaning by Frankl
What Predicts Divorce by Gottman
Nicomachean Ethics
Models by Manson seems to be popular on reddit
So Good They Can't Ignore You by Newport, as well
I'm currently reading Triumphs of Experience by Vaillant and find it insightful.
The Power of a Positive No
This was one of the best self-help books I’ve read. It’s not “it’s hard to say no but you just really need to say it sometimes even though you don’t want to”, it’s more like “what’s the alternative if I don’t say no; why do I want to say no” and is really helpful for understanding relationships.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553384260
I didn't read these to cure any addiction but sure everyone has some bad habits which they would like to take care of. I'm big on self improvement so try to ready as much as I can in that category.
If you're dealing with bad habits or addiction, I'd highly recommend https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Twentieth-Anniversary-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/006256143X
Even though the book is about curing OCD, but the 4 steps mentioned in this book can be applied to any kind of bad behavior or habit. Also, if you want to change habits, then power of habit gives you a really good insight as to how habits are build.
Ok, thank you!
Right now I'm reading 12 Rules for Life, but I'll add this to my wishlist for my next read. :)
I just started listening to Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life. My only complaint is it's read in his own nerdy voice. As an atheist I find his bible references are not overbearing or proselytizing but brought up in a form of basic moral truths and therefore palatable when referenced
The problem isn't the book usually, but the method towards digesting the material.
Here is the only book needed on that subreddit:
How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671212095/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8cSXAb37CK2ZK
Because it has the ability to change any book into a long term influence.
If you have any slight interest in philosophy I would recommend On The Shortness of Life
the power of one by byrce courtenay is exactly what you're looking for. Very similar to the alchemist, very inspiring.
Gloves? Cotton gloves or gardening gloves. Or try surgical gloves. Or rubber gloves. you can get gloves at the drugstore or the painting store. Go hog wild and get leather driving gloves.
you can get special antiperspirant for hands. https://www.amazon.com/Carpe-Antiperspirant-dermatologist-recommended-non-irritating-hyperhidrosis/dp/B010BVZ1VU?th=1
As you note, I typically use Kindle and save my highlights. Back in the days when I would read physical books, I always wondered about something like this product, but I never tried it: https://www.amazon.com/Scanmarker-Air-Digital-Highlighter-Translator/dp/B01N07J2AE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487543445&sr=8-1&keywords=digital+highlighter
This stuff actually works really well if you use it consistently: https://www.amazon.com/Carpe-Antiperspirant-dermatologist-recommended-non-irritating-hyperhidrosis/dp/B010BVZ1VU?th=1
I just finished The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking. It's a quick read and some of the topics are obvious but some are not. I'd recommend
it.
You bet!
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Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change
This book helped me immensely. It's written by a psychologist who has spent a ton of time researching the mechanisms and psychological basis of Procrastination, and he explains thoroughly both why we procrastinate and how to stop.
He also has a blog and podcast series where he gives further material and exercises to help stop procrastinating. I can't recommend this book more highly.