Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Dec 10 2024 330 ep. 19 mins
Mere Mortals Book Reviews Podcast artwork

Hey I'm Kyrin and I review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (i.e., not recent releases). Join me as I cover the basic details before diving into the themes, ideas and learnings we can take away from the fascinating realm of literature. Weekly live episode on Thurs 11am AEST (Thurs 1am UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan every now and then.

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Cautionary Tales For Youngsters | The Fables Of Aesop (Aesop) BOOK REVIEW

Dec 10 2024 23 mins  
Why do poor wolves and foxes get picked on?'The Fables Of Aesop' by Aesop are a series of extremely small stories (aka fables) with usually a proverb to sum them up. They are mostly told via animals interacting in various contexts, with certain animal species used to highlight human traits. Often times they are contradictory and require nuance to perceive the difference in similar

Networks Of Secret Societies | The Square & The Tower (Niall Ferguson) BOOK REVIEW

Dec 03 2024 27 mins  
Can hierarchies exist in a world of networks?'The Square & The Tower' by Niall Ferguson examines a selection of networks across history. In particular it focuses upon hierarchies & how they operate compared to decentralised/distributed collections of people. You'll learn about nodes & hubs, geopolitics of WW1/2, secret societies of Freemasons & Illuminati, the conne

Miyamoto Musashi’s Lessons from the Samurai Era | The Book of Five Rings BOOK REVIEW

Nov 29 2024 19 mins  
Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremorta

Any Man's Death Diminishes Me | For Whom The Bell Tolls (Ernest Hemingway) BOOK REVIEW

Nov 26 2024 31 mins  
Are they killing others or really killing themselves?'For Whom The Bell Tolls' by Ernest Hemingway is a fictional account of an American dynamiter behind fascist lines during the 1936 Spanish Civil War. He must blow up a bridge and enlists the help of a Republican guerilla group living in the mountains. He falls in love with a girl, encounters difficulties with the leader & ult

Daily Thoughts To Nourish The Soul | A Calendar Of Wisdom (Leo Tolstoy) BOOK REVIEW

Nov 21 2024 26 mins  
Inspiring quotes can get rather tiresome.'A Calendar Of Wisdom' by Leo Tolstoy is a compilation of modified quotes that follow the days of the year. Each day will have 4-6 snippets related to a subject he cares about. Common occurrences are on religion, love, good/evil, morals, vegetarianism & self-improvement. The quotes are sourced widely from notable individuals around the w

A Monotonous Dystopia Without Pleasure | The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood) BOOK REVIEW

Nov 12 2024 34 mins  
The ultimate male fantasy is rather flat & boring.'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood is told from the point of view of an unnamed narrator. It takes place in a USA where there has been an overthrown government and everything is now dystopian. Our girl is 33 yrs old & a handmaid, whose only purpose is to give birth. Life is very different: family structures changed, su

A Fashion Icon’s Story Told in Snippets | The Little Book of Versace BOOK REVIEW

Nov 08 2024 9 mins  
 This review delves into "The Little Book of Versace," evaluating its limited depth and focus on visuals over meaningful insights. While the book covers Versace’s designs and runway moments, it lacks a cohesive narrative, leaving the reader to seek additional context elsewhere. Overall, it's deemed more of a coffee table accessory than an informative resource on the iconic b

Characters To Die For | East Of Eden (John Steinbeck) BOOK REVIEW

Nov 05 2024 31 mins  
Are people more cruel or simply the passing of time itself?'East Of Eden' by John Steinbeck is straight up one of the best books I've ever read. We follow various families across the generations as they live & die in 19/20th century America. It's uplifting in some sections and then will follow up with a brutality that brings you to your knees. Easily some of the best written ch

Don't Read Everything | Reasons To Stop Midway Through A Book

Oct 29 2024 35 mins  
I'm begging you, please don't make this mistake!Today is a special episode where I am diving into some of the reasons why I have stopped reading many books. I'm also giving a list of these books so that you don't have to waste your time on them (assuming you trust my judgement).Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(

Outliving the Odds: Lessons on Longevity | Outlive (Peter Attia) BOOK LEARNINGS

Oct 25 2024 14 mins  
In this podcast, I dive into Peter Attia's Outlive, discussing key lessons from the book on longevity and modern medicine. I highlight the surprising flaws in current medical guidelines, explore how centenarians' genetic traits can be mimicked through lifestyle changes, and busts myths about dietary habits like egg consumption. It’s an insightful conversation on optimizing health