Book Reviews and More
For those enraptured by the sweeping scale and depth of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, the Prince of Nothing, the Five Warrior Angels, and The Wheel of Time are all series which offer similarly expansive worlds, cultures, and stories.
Dive into the enchanting world of Progression Fantasy, a subgenre that has been taking the literary world by storm over the last decade. In this realm, characters grow and evolve, unlocking extraordinary powers and abilities through relentless determination. Join me as I explore some of the most gripping books in this genre, where underdog protagonists challenge the odds, form found families, and...
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth asks what is the biggest indication of future excellence and comes to the conclusion that it is grit, a combination of passion and perseverance. The ideas, case studies, and research at the core of this book are compelling and clear in their explanation. Angela Duckworth, PhD, is a 2013 MacArthur Fellow and professor of psychology at...
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler is an excellent addition to the dystopian genre. A friend recommended this book to me last week and I read it on their recommendation. I enjoyed the key ideas presented by the main character in the story but struggled with the dark tone at times and am still haunted from a few of the scenes in this book. I don’t personally read much dystopian...
I love reading and engaging with stories within the fantasy genre because they all provide a unique twist on the way in which the world and society operates. The fantasy and sci-fi genres provide an outlet for authors to consider how the world would be different in an unlimited number of scenarios with the best worlds feeling as real and alive as our own. Fantasy worlds are typically defined by...
You have a choice. Mindsets are just beliefs. They’re powerful beliefs, but they’re just something in your mind, and you can change your mind. As you read, think about where you’d like to go and which mindset will take you there. Carol Dweck – Mindset Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck is one of my all time favorite books on the psychology of motivation, mindset, and the...
Today I want to discuss the Veil of Ignorance thought experiment proposed by John Rawls. The Veil of Ignorance serves to explore the idea of justice and equality by helping remove one’s personal biases and inclinations from the larger equation. The Veil of Ignorance encourages us to imagine the most equitable and just society that we can and in doing so I believe it encourages compassion...
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle seeks to demonstrate that skills are meritocratic, they don’t care who you are or how you were born. Skills develop based on biological imperatives that allow anyone with dedication and consistent effort to become talented. Although talent feels and looks predestined, in fact we have a good deal of control over what skills we develop, and we have more potential...
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel captured my interest from the start of the book and kept me engaged all the way to the end. The basic idea is that we are too quick to treat money as though it has natural rules and laws like we would with issues of physics or biology and not nearly as interested in applying principles of psychology with...
Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Annie Duke was a surprisingly excellent read. The last book that I read, Little Bets, discussed the importance of taking a “betting framework” into our lives and decisions, however Thinking In Bets was able to not only express the same ideas as Little Bets, but to provide an entirely more...
Book Reviews and More
Hey there! I'm Wyatt McGillen, a 26-year-old book enthusiast from Wisconsin. My background includes a bachelors of arts with majors in Philosophy, History, and Politics and Government and a national finalist in impromptu speaking.
I love learning about our world and how we fit into it. This blog is an accumulation of philosophy, sociology, and impromptu speaking. These topics are all filled with captivating stories, interesting facts, and profound ideas. All of which enrich my life and hopefully yours.
