kurtliske's reviews
43 reviews

Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Cass R. Sunstein, Richard H. Thaler

4.0

Read as a follow up to Thinking, Fast and Slow by D. Kahneman. Solid book that drives home, more than anything else, the power of the default choice. I appreciated the Econs vs Humans analogy which helped confirm what I think many of us know all too well — human beings are not logical, Spock-like creatures despite what economists would like you to believe. We are quite fallible and susceptible to influences such as ‘bounded reality,’ ‘self-control problems,’ and, of course, ‘social influences.’ It was a strong book both made me further appreciate but also better understand the real-world limits of libertarianism. I’m not certain I’m ready to consider myself a Paternalistic Libertarian but I have a much better scope of libertarianism having read this book. 

Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money by Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze

4.0

Solid advice. Been on the Ramsey Total Money Makeover regimen for years, it works and this is a logical extension of that. The style of delivery in this book no longer appeals in any great way to me personally, but the principles, concepts and tactics in the book are absolutely valid irrespective of writing style. 

The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter

4.25

Motivation read. Lots of anecdotes. Really appreciate the through story of a backcountry trip with Donnie Vincent. 

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

3.0

My first Hemingway novel. I wanted to like it, but it was just… meh. Covers a lot of ground, but I just didn’t care for the minimalist narrative style. Felt like low level work to finish this book. If it wasn’t the famed Ernest Hemingway I think I probably would have given up on this book. 

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

4.75

A firehose of knowledge. System 1, System 2, heuristics, framing, coherence, and so. much. more. I've known for some time that this book has been the source material for a variety of other books and authors I've read. Now I understand why. The world suddenly seems, slightly different when see through the various lenses that Kahneman describes. Lots of insight in this book, lots to be applied. Lots of come back too as I move forward on various projects, tasks, and interactions.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

4.25

Incredible story, made even moreso by the fact that it’s a true story. A book you don’t read, rather one you survive alongside the crew of the Endurance. Finished the book with a sense of amazement, relief and inspiration. Remarkable. 

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Did not finish book.

Sawyer never took interest while reading aloud to him :(

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

4.75

Just finished reading, still digesting… heavy book, in a variety of ways. As I revisit a few segments I highlighted it is remarkable how well set up the plot was. The journal, O’Brien, the shopkeeper… I will reread this book at some point and I’m certain it will hit differently. For the moment though it left me feeling… depressed(?). As if my general individualist bend or world view is somehow futile in the face of the Party or Big Brother (or big government) :(

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

Useful read, good insights. Just struggled to enjoy… any of it. Felt like it was full of good, rational tools and techniques that I’m just unlikely to use in the near to mid future. 

Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter by Reid Hastie, Cass R. Sunstein

4.25

Good read. Lots of useful insights on group work and group structure. Even more-so there are numerous tactical insights that can be applied in a variety of ways. Lots of notes being taken from this book.