“Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got a telegram from the home: “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.” These opening lines from Albert Camus’ timeless classic, “The Stranger,” encapsulate the essence of the novel and set the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of the absurdity of existence. As a first-person narrative […]
Review: American Prometheus – An Oppenheimer biography
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin is a captivating biography of Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb. The book provides insights into Oppenheimer’s life, his commitment to ethical reflection, intellectual curiosity, interdisciplinary thinking, and humility. In this blog post, we will review American Prometheus, […]
Quick Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is a non-fiction book that tells the story of a woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and used for scientific research. The Immortal HeLa Cells The HeLa cells was the first immortal cell line ever discovered. This means that they can […]
Quick Review: Hold on To Your Kids by Gabor Maté
Being a parent is hard. Children have not changed for the worse, but the culture and context of parenting have become a challenge. In Hold on to Your Kids, authors Gabor Maté and Gordon Neufeld argue that peers have become the primary influence on children’s behavior, leading to numerous social and emotional challenges. Attachment: The […]
Quick Review: Never Finished by David Goggins
David Goggins, the author of Never Finished, was hit and abused as a child and a victim of racism. However, instead of succumbing to his traumatic experiences, he found a way to channel his demons. He decided to become the toughest person on earth and actively sought out the most demanding physical and mental challenges […]
The Stoicism of Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full
At the BookLab, I sometimes turn to fiction that can enlighten us about the human condition and offer guidance on how to cope with adversity. A book that fits this category is A Man in Full, a novel by Tom Wolfe that explores themes of race, class, power, and the American Dream in the context […]
Quick Review: Stoicism and the Art of Happiness
In his book “Stoicism and the Art of Happiness“, the author Donald Robertson explores the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and its relevance to modern life. Through accessible and engaging writing, Robertson offers readers an understanding of the key tenets of Stoicism and how they can be applied to find greater happiness and fulfilment in life. […]
Quick Review: Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom
In Superintelligence, Nick Bostrom, paints a gloomy picture of what’s in store for us would we ever develop a superintelligence. It left me depressed, but I think it’s essential to have rudimentary understanding of the challenges a general artificial intelligence would entail. This book presents potential paths to reach superintelligence and dives deep into the […]
Remember what you Read – SECRETS for remembering books
Are you tired of reading a bunch of books and still feeling like you forget what you read? Well, you’re not alone. In this video, I’m going to share with you 3 techniques to help you remember what you read. 1. Summarize in your own words Summarizing the book you read in your own words […]
Quick Review: Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
Psychology of Intelligence Analysis by Richard J. Heuer is a classic book that explores the psychological factors affecting the quality of intelligence analysis, including bias, group dynamics, and cognitive limitations. It provides insights on the importance of structured analytical techniques, diverse perspectives, and the role uncertainty in intelligence analysis. Analytic thinking is a practice skill […]