Book Reviews and More
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...
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...
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...
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink sets out to provide a summary of the recent findings in the fields of positive and motivational psychology and how modern business practices have failed to take modern science into account. I loved how Pink analyzed the shift in worker needs as worker tasks have changed, his discussion of real motivational psychology, and the...
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.
