What’s your relationship with failure like? Do you accept it as part of the process of progression or does it debilitate you?

This a question many of us ask ourselves when we inevitably encounter failure. We either use it as a learning opportunity or we become entrenched in our ways of thinking blaming everyone else for the failure. 🤷‍♂️

This book examines many different concepts, such as cognitive dissonance, defining failure and achieving small steps over giant leaps. It’s one of the rare books that I read that leaves me questioning many different elements not only of myself but of society as a whole.

How can we all take more responsibility for the role that we have in society and apply these principles to create a better society? I do believe it is by constantly seeking the correct ways of improvement as this book suggests on multiple occasions. But it is also changing the stigma behind failure. Not as a badge of negative connotation, but instead of honour knowing that the same mistake can be prevented in the future. 📚

Another great book that I have read that I recommend. It seems every book I am reading at the moment is 💯.

Appreciate @matthewsyedauthor for writing this, I look forward to reading your other work as well. 👍📚

Have you read this? If so, what were your thoughts? 📚

I had heard so much about this book that I almost felt obliged to read it. As you can tell from the amount of highlights in this post, the book wasn’t my cup of tea. (British slang) ☕️

The book focuses on how we can become more open with how we engage with our colleagues at work. It defines the differences between armoured and daring leadership for us to put into practise.

The main issue I had with the book is it wasn’t saying anything original. This is partly due to the subject matter not being revolutionary and my experience with reading around this topic. But I felt the points weren’t expressed in a way that suited my liking. 📚

Even so I do think the book can provide value for anyone wanting to become more vulnerable and open with their interactions at work or elsewhere. 👍

Why do we think the way we do? Is our thinking determined by cultural and societal factors or are we true independent thinkers? 🤔  This is what Nobel Prize winning Daniel Kahneman explores in this book. 🤓  The essence of the book is focussed on analysing the differences between the two systems of the mind. System 1 requires little cognitive energy and is automatic. Whereas System 2 requires more cognitive energy. When we look at analysing our thoughts and behaviours we can derive the origins to one of these two systems. 🧠  The book goes on to talk about behavioural heuristics and biases and how and why we make choices. The book is research heavy and can be quite technical to understand when reading it. I would say for beginner readers this wouldn’t be a great book to read because I found myself confused on multiple occasions whilst reading the book. Also, there were not practical frameworks that we could derive from the book. It read more like an elongated peer reviewed journal than a good storytelling narrative. It was nonetheless interesting and a lot to learn from. 📚📚  💬 Let is know in the comments if you have read this and what you thought.  https://www.ombrclub.com/

A New Series called 'Knowledge Bites' where I talk about some of the models, concepts and theories that have captured my attention whilst reading that I have reviewed. In this week's episode I will be giving an introduction into 'Cognitive Dissonance Theory'.

This week's episode of 5 Reason Friday is 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell

Today I will be reviewing Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport. DEEP work is the ability to spend four or more, disconnected, undistracted & entirely focused hours a day practising new skills or generating high-level output while leveraging an expertise. In this book, Cal Newport describes how to become a practitioner of deep work and the impact it can have on your personal and professional life. This book is practical which is one of the reasons why I enjoyed it. The steps that Cal describes to go into a state of Deep work can prove beneficial as it has done for Bill Gates and Carl Jung to name a few. The book is supplemented by a brief PDF that describes some of the key themes and points Cal explains, and I have found this useful when implementing the strategies he outlines. This book is for those who want to increase productivity while also becoming a leader in their field. I rate this book five stars.

This week's episode of 5 Reason Friday is 'The Whistler' by John Grisham

March's book review recap includes: Zero To One by Peter Thiel Shoe Dog by Phil Knight A Birmingham Story by Ryan Sinclair The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch Hooked by Nir Eyal

This week's episode of Five Reason Friday is 'Vagabonding' by Rolf Potts.

Hooked is an in-depth analysis of how to build habit-forming products that allow for customer retention. Following the 'Hook Model' consisting of a trigger, action, reward and investment, product forming companies have a model to develop and market in our current system. The book centres on the 'Hook Model' explaining in detail how it can apply in the real world and how it has helped companies such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to amass such a large following. It goes onto explain habit forming in more depth developing on the 'Habit Loop' made famous by Charles Duhigg. It's a technical book, explicitly made for product developers, to create and distribute exceptional products. I enjoy reading about habit formation, so this book gave me insights that I didn't know before. If you have the same curiosity in habit formation, especially in business, then I highly suggest you read this book. I rate it four stars.

In this weeks 5 Reason Friday, I will be describing the five reasons why you SHOULD read 'The Four Hour Work Week' by Tim Ferriss.

The 80/20 principle centres on Alfredo Pareto's theory that 80% of wealth is in the hands of 20% of people. Koch explains that this percentage applies to multiple industries, markets and interests. The book gives detailed advice about the ways we can implement the 80/20 principle to achieve more by doing less. For instance, when analyzing individual happiness, it is common to find that 80% of happiness derives from only 20% of one's activities. Koch encourages readers to see that 20% across all areas of their life and implement them. I found this book incredibly informative and practical. It breaks down why you should be living the 80/20 principle day by day and the benefits to individual happiness of doing so. This book is a must-read in today's hectic environment when finding what is important personally and professionally can be hard. However, by adopting the 80/20 mentality, it can make it easier. There is no doubt this book is five stars. OMBR

In this weeks episode I will be discussing the 5 reasons why you should should Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman.

Sometimes you read a book and it changes your perspective this is one of those books. 📚  Too often we become entrenched in ways of thinking that have little or no substantial data to back them up. Whether you’re a subject matter expert or not, sometimes we can become so bogged down in the weeds we forget to look up every once in a while. 🤷‍♂️  This books addresses why this is the case. It doesn’t place blames an individuals and systems, but explains that there are instincts within all of us regardless of our relative intelligence that makes us blind to seeing the big picture of what is actually going on. 📚  I couldn’t recommend this book more highly to anyone who is looking for an interesting assessment of human psychology as well as learning a lot about how our world is progressing! 📚🙏

A Birmingham Story is a short narrative about some of the emotions that we face as humans at specific points in our lives. The feelings explored include trust, jealousy, anger and depression. It follows three characters, with differing circumstances, yet they have more in common than they initially thought. An argument eventually ceases their disagreement to shed light on how differing perspectives on the same situation causes misunderstandings more often than not. I have not read anything similar to this before. But, that does not take away from how much I connected with it. The themes addressed in the story do not get discussed openly enough, but the author does an excellent job telling his story while also explaining how these emotions have affected the characters. I can see the benefit of stories such as this as a medium for more discussion on mental health. This was a good read; I rate it three stars. OMBR

Today I will be reviewing Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. An autobiography of the man behind the establishment and growth of Nike, 'Shoe Dog' gives a first-hand look at its trials and tribulations from day one. I was impressed by the detail provided by the author. As such a large brand Nike seems so significant that one person cannot tell a story to define it. However, it is what Knight does exceptionally well in the book. At times it felt like reading fiction. The characterisation of the people that helped bring Nike to its current position, alongside the sadness surrounding Knight's personal life makes the reader emotionally invested in the story. As a fan of stories, sports and business separately, I have never read a book that intertwines all three so brilliantly. If you're a business owner, this book has countless pieces of wisdom. This book is for anyone who is a fan of great stories, sport and business, or all three! There is no doubt that this book is a five-star read. OMBR

In today's episode of "5 Reason Friday", I will be discussing why you SHOULD read 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry', by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Reason 1: Introductory Reason 2: Informative Reason 3: Thought-provoking Reason 4: Historical Reason 5: Progressive

Zero To One describes how to build efficient start-ups from scratch to build a better future. The future as depicted by Thiel is one which we are in control. The book looks in depth at how to properly plan and execute a start-up that can be as impactful as it is successful. Thiel explains the importance of preparing for the market while making sure the foundations of the start-up are solid before securing constant funding. Knowing little about start-up culture, I enjoyed Thiel's candidness when describing the harsh realities of establishing a start-up. I particularly enjoyed the parts where Thiel emphasises that we are in control of the start-up. Regardless of the market conditions, competitors or funding, if the business has the right balance between intellectual capacity and purpose, it will succeed in the long-term. This book is for anyone wanting to know the ways we can contribute to making the future better. I rate this book four stars. OMBR

Hello, I am your host Aun Abdi and welcome to the monthly One Minute Book Review podcast, where I break down in more detail the books that I have read and reviewed in the previous month. In this months episode, I will be discussing Supermind: How To Boost Performance and Live A Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation by Norman E. Rosenthal, The TB12 Method by Tom Brady, 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B.Peterson, Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuck, The Martian by Andy Weir and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari.

The Martian follows the main character Mark Watney, as a space accident leaves him stranded on Mars, while his crew members escape. The book details his impending doom as Mark tries to find the best method for his survival, with the story, following his trials and tribulations along the way. What I liked about this book was the author's use of Mark's first-person perspective. Chapters in the book were broken down into log's which followed Mark's journey and survival efforts during his time on Mars. The humour that the author puts into the characterisation of Mark makes the story compelling as the reader is surprised by the optimism that he shows in the face of adversity. The author's use of technical knowledge regarding equipment used in space travel elevates the narrative as well as the storyline. I enjoyed reading this book as it had a right mix of humour, optimism and hope. I rate this book four stars. OMBR

This book is a follow up to Gary's bestseller 'Crush It' released in 2009, which defined how everyone can cash in on their passion. 'Crushing It' is an update to that book including testimonials from people who had successfully implemented principles in 'Crush It', to build successful businesses. Gary includes what he believes to be the eight essentials in developing a company that can influence. Examples of the eight include intent, attention and the most important... content. Like 'Crush It' this book looks forward to the future and the tools businesses can use to grow and gain attention. The most significant device being voice recognition using Alexa voice. This book brings a lot of practical value for anyone wanting to build a sustainable business by leveraging social media to their advantage. I would suggest readers begin with his previous book 'Crush It' before moving onto this book. That being said, it's still a great read on its own. Five stars. OMBR

Today I will be reviewing the TB12 Method by Tom Brady. Brady arguably one of the best athletes in the world, describes in this book how he obtains peak performance on and off the field. The book centres on pliability, which is the daily lengthening and softening of the muscles as a way of injury prevention and longevity for not only athletes but everyone. Brady's method also describes how maintaining balance is crucial while making sure nutrition and hydration are maintained to reduce inflammation. I was drawn to this book as I am interested in learning new physical training programmes and I like Brady's emphasis on using resistance bands to supplement strength and conditioning. The book promotes his products at numerous times, and it felt that I wasn't reading an educational book but more an advertisement. For fitness fanatics, there might be some value in the book, but for everyone else, I suggest typing in resistance band training and nutrition in google and learning that way. I rate this book three stars. OMBR

Super Mind: How to Boost Performance and Live a Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation. Rosenthal explains how we can improve our state of mind by practising TM placing us into a super-mind state of consciousness. This book confused me. I was expecting a 'how to' into how I can perform TM and implement it into my life. Rosenthal during the book explains all the life-changing aspects that TM has but without actually revealing how the reader can achieve it. The author recommends to sign-up for a TM practitioner, however many of us want an introduction before committing long-term. There is little space dedicated to how we can approach learning TM individually, which surprises me. The way it was written left little to the imagination as well as it contained, name-dropping mostly and examples of how TM is life-changing. I don't doubt this, but I was expecting a lot more from this book. I rate it two stars. OMBR

Monthly recap of books reviewed on One Minute Book Review Channel OMBR

When we think about defining our career it is easy to get confined by an existing structure. What if we could breakaway and start to design our own career? This is what this book is about.   ‘The Squiggly Career’ by {insert names} describes that by taking advantage of 5 key career skills, you can put yourself in a position to start designing your own career. These 5 are:  1️⃣ Super Strengths  2️⃣ Values  3️⃣ Confidence   4️⃣ Networks  5️⃣ Future Possibilities  The book is interactive. When you read through the book there are exercises that provide supplementation to the ideas in the book and make you more involved in the reading process. 📚  Honestly, I don’t think this book is aimed at me. As I have only been in the working world for 4 years and looking to start my own business, I have a clear goal on my future as I have used the principles laid out in this book before such as vision boards etc.   That is not to say the book doesn’t have value! For anyone that is looking to create a new career for themselves, regardless of their experience, this book is definitely for you. The interactive nature of the book makes it easy to digest and makes you engrain the ideas into practise which is the most important thing. If you fall into this category then I would definitely recommend this book for you. 👍

In this book Priestley explains how we can create a digital, scalable, valuable and fun business that will thrive in a fast-changing world. The book is specific for businesses, either new or established, wanting to develop their influence through developing 24 specific assets that contribute to the overall impact of a successful business. The 24 assets are sub-divided into both physical and softer assets such as software assets and brand assets, clearly pointing out what is important for businesses to focus on. From a business owner and entrepreneur point of view, this book provides a tremendous amount of value. In particular, I enjoyed how Priestley explains that businesses need strong overall assets across all 24 categories to keep themselves protected in both booms and recessions. The book is specific for individuals interested in developing their own business but there is also a lot of value for casual readers. I rate this book four stars. OMBR

Today I will be reviewing The Whistler by John Grisham. Grisham well-renowned for his long line of books in the thriller genre continues this theme with The Whistler. The book follows an investigator Lacy as she tries to uncover widespread corruption in the judicial system. What she finds is a never-ending trail of corruption, deceit, murder and money laundering. As she investigates further she finds the level of corruption to be greater than first anticipated, causing the relationships around her to suffer as a result. The author captured my imagination throughout the story as I constantly tried to predict how the story would unfold. The use of multiple characters and locations kept the narrative exciting, whilst not distracting from the story. That being said, I felt that the story as a whole was a little too predictable, I was waiting for a crescendo moment for the narrative to take a 90 degree turn but I was sadly disappointed. A solid book, but I was expecting a bit more. I rate it three stars. OMBR

Dalio known for his investing and entrepreneurial successes with Bridgewater Associates, analyses in this book what ‘Principles’ he has used to attribute to his success. These are the broken down into Life and Work principles where Dalio is able to explain in depth how we as the reader can benefit from his famous approach of meritocracy. Dalio describes how we can create our own principles from failures in our lives, so that, should we come across them again we know how to deal with them. From an entrepreneurial point of view this book has tremendous value as it highlights what business owners and managers need to focus on. For casual readers, there is little value in the technical business side of the book, however Dalio encourages readers to create their own principles rather than blindly following others. I enjoy reading books that make me question and reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, and this book is no exception. OMBR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneminuteboo... Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/oneminutebo... Twitter: https://twitter.com/aun_abdi Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/oneminutebookr... YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2lp... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2713... Snapchat:https://www.snapchat.com/add/aunabdi iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/o... Website: https://www.oneminutebooks.org

The most talked about book in politics today, Wolff gives frank details surrounding the inner workings of Trump’s presidency. From the campaign trail to tracking his first nine months, Wolff details how the relationships around Trump as well as his own personality has shaped his presidency to date. Filled with accusations and accounts of conversations, the book attempts to shed light on a presidency that has grabbed the worlds attention. The book was enlightening and shocking at times. What stood out was how mismanaged the environment surrounding Trump is, mostly due to his own planning. The author engages the reader throughout the book, however this is more because of the topic, rather than the way it was written. It must be noted as well that the comments and accusations made in this book are alleged and not confirmed. OMBR

This book is a personal code for getting the best out of everyone. The book includes one hundred rules for becoming the best version of yourself around different people in multiple situations. The rules are categorised into four parts: understanding people, helping people, getting them on your side and difficult people. By doing this the author clearly breaks down the areas of interest for the reader. The book like many in the genre are more of a reference tool than a book to read in one sitting. I recommend this book if you need to improve how to deal with certain kinds of people in different situations, both at work or in day-to-day life. This book was enlightening and provided me with a lot of value. However, I feel that if it were written more like a research book rather than broken down it would have been easier to digest. OMBR

The book follows the protagonist Aza as she pursues a prize to find a fugitive billionaire and the struggles she goes through. Together with her friend Daisy they investigate his disappearance. However, this book is not so much about Aza’s quest for the prize. It centres on Aza’s struggle with her own thoughts as it tears her up from within breaking down the relationships around her. Not usually a genre I read, I was captivated by the author’s use of humour to bring to light a very serious topic, interweaving it amongst a great storyline. I enjoyed how large parts of the story are played within Aza’s head making the reader feel her pain. The author does a great job in making the reader feel empathy for Aza. This book evokes many emotions taking the reader on a rollercoaster, through happiness, pain and in the end hope. A highly recommended read for everyone. OMBR

A classic murder mystery story, the book follows a detective Hercule Poirot as he tries to find a killer on the lavish Orient Express. The book tells the tale of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone’s a suspect. Poirot must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again. What Poirot finds is a common history between all the strangers on the train, which plays an integral part in the story. The writer’s style of contrasting characters leaves the reader feeling suspicious of the true killer constantly questioning what their motives might be. The suspense that Christie is able to achieve within the story is why I really enjoyed this book. Countless adaptations on screen have tried to capture this but I believe that the book holds the true power that Christie wished to achieve.

This book is an academic reflection on what it takes to be successful. The author looks at the comparisons between race, income and education to determine what makes a person more likely to succeed. What emerges is interesting. For instance, in the book Gladwell analyses the impact that timing and luck have on the success of not only an individual but a generation as a whole. A decade between two people can mean that one more intelligent person can be less successful than a less intelligent person born in another decade due to the opportunities available. I enjoyed reading this book as it incorporates elements of psychology, sociology and anthropology to assess a commonly debated topic. What emerges is that there is not one thing that separates a successful person from another less successful person, there is a mix of different factors that are mostly external to the individual. OMBR

A follow up to Weir’s bestseller The Martian, Artemis follows the journey of the main character Jazz as she tries to find her place in the first city on the moon. Growing up in Artemis she found herself getting into trouble from an early age, smuggling and dealing with crooks. The opportunity to make more presented itself to Jazz as she couldn't resist. The author does an impressive job in detailing the specifics of the city engaging the reader throughout the story. Jazz's internal conflict with her past plays itself out during the story, but new characters emerge making this impossible for her. The story is engaging and the imagery descriptive, however, I felt that the ending left little to the imagination as it felt too predictable. For anyone who likes Sci-Fi I advise that they read this, but for casual readers, I suggest passing on it. OMBRFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneminuteboo... Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/oneminutebo... Twitter: https://twitter.com/aun_abdi Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/oneminutebookr... YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2lp... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2713... Snapchat:https://www.snapchat.com/add/aunabdi iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/o... Website: https://www.oneminutebooks.org

This is the second of the Gary's New York Times bestseller books. The book explains the tactics that businesses can use to provide real value to consumers in what he terms the ‘Thank You' economy. In the book, Gary explains that social media has given the power of voice back to consumers, making businesses volatile to any public issues. He explains that businesses that understand the use of social media as a gateway to provide value alongside closer contact with customers rather than a way to gain likes will win in the Thank You Economy. I really enjoyed reading this book as it gave me a real insight into what a leader in the current entrepreneurial environment is thinking about when running his business. This book would provide value for businesses owners in any industry as well as those who are thinking about establishing their own enterprise in the digital age. OMBR

💬 What does it mean to be a ‘Rare Breed’?

We often are told to conform in most avenues of our life. Whether at school or work, there are norms which often stop us from becoming our unique selves. However, there are some norms that can be broken and this is what this book shows us. 📚

In order to innovate and be truly unique we have to find our voice. This means stepping off the bandwagon of what others are doing and becoming a unique voice. 🗣

The book is split into 7 virtues of a ‘Rare Breed’:

1️⃣ Rebellious

2️⃣ Audacious

3️⃣ Obsessed

4️⃣ Hot-blooded

5️⃣ Weird

6️⃣ Hypnotic

7️⃣ Emotional

All of these virtues when combined present a challenge to anyone who wants to confront you. 📚

This book is for someone who is looking for a reason to find their own voice. The book is full of examples of individuals who used ingenuity, passion and persistence to create a life that they wanted. That possibility is available to most if you’re able to use your own virtues to their potential! 📚

The story of Azarias is rooted in the tragic loss of his wife as he tries to come to terms with who he truly is. As new people enter his life he begins to question his own past. The book captures elements of science fiction and personal self-reflection about whether we create our own history or whether it is self-determined by a higher power. OMBR

The main ideal is that the protagonist tries to convey that love is central to everything. But love neither finds you or you it, it just comes and goes as it pleases. OMBR

In a world where society is determined by one’s astrological sign, Daniel the protagonist tries to determine the how is daughter went missing. What he finds is an underworld of scientific exploration which tries to ensure that everyone’s characteristics are aligned with their star sign to ensure a peaceful society.

"The vivid description of emotion coupled with the true honesty of the book is where it becomes more than a book. It becomes a journey, from where deep thoughts of heartbreak lie, but where optimism and hope are equally as powerful." One Minute Book Review

In an increasing digitalised world, Daniel feels that the ordinary man has lost control over his freedom and is looking for saviours, such as Daniel to help them recapture this. The novella also speaks to deeper questions about our humanity, including our relationships with those that are closest with us.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, a story that follows a dysfunctional Indian families journey into the unknown. A somewhat tragic reality of two twins who do not believe that they belong, and struggle to find their voice in a world that is not willing to listen.

Andrea comes home one day to find that her daughter Emma is not home, and her world is flipped upside down. As she searches for her kidnappers she uncovers memories of her past that comes back to haunt her. Grippy and pacy thriller.

How can we overcome Friction? Friction at work, in business and life general. It is to look at how to be efficient. Finding ways to optimise systems to increase sales and conversions.

One of the most unique books I have read. Makes you think about more unique ways we can go about challenging ourselves in daily life. We become too complacent sometimes with the path that we choose and it is sometimes necessary to break this and do something different. This book will help you do that.

'Reframe the Day' by Adam Lowenstein.  An interesting book with a new and fresh perspective on living a more fulfilling life.

An interesting book that debunks the idea of the '10,000' hour rule. A research heavy book but one that will fascinate you if you are feeling behind the curve.

Mark Manson's second book that explores the idea around struggle and hope. I think this book is a bit repetitive with his first book, but good for individuals who are beginners.

I have mixed feelings about this book. A book that is interesting as a mix of books. But there are books that are singular that are better in their respective fields. 

Grit is one of those books that make you self-aware of your own resilience as well as give practical tips for how you can increase your own grit using practical tools.   

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