A Need To Read

#147 The Sh*t They Never Taught You with Adam Ashton

Adam Ashton is one half of the What You Will Learn podcast, Australia's best book podcast. He joined me to chat about their new book 'The Shit They Never Taught You', which covers the best lessons from hundreds of non-fiction books. We discuss; note-taking methods, career mastery, podcasting mistakes, picking your next book, whether or not you need to finish your books, the best books for investing and much more. 
 
For the first 8 minutes, one of us (The one whose name rhymes with Shmadam) was using the wrong mic, but sound quality comes back at 10 mins into this podcast.
 
Find out more about the boys on their website: https://www.whatyouwilllearn.com/
 
Books discussed
The Shit They Never Taught You
How to take smart notes 
The Sweet Spot 
Little History of Philosophy 
Four-hour chef 
The Inner Game of Tennis 
Steppenwolf 
Four Thousand Weeks 
 
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The best way to support the podcast is to share it with someone, anyone, like really I don't mind who, I'm not fussy.
 
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#146 The Power of Geography with Tim Marshall

Tim Marshall was Diplomatic Editor and foreign correspondent for Sky News. After thirty years of experience in news reporting and presenting, he left full-time news journalism to concentrate on writing and analysis. I spoke to Tim about; his latest best-selling title The Power Of Geography, the geographical reasons behind the rising tension between Russia and Ukraine, Putin’s message to the west, the geography of Palestine, the importance of context, the future of Egypt, China’s interest in African countries, how geographically blessed Britain is and much more. 
 
Tim writes a weekly column for Reaction https://reaction.life/xi-putin-love-affair-could-reshape-the-world/
and can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Itwitius
 
Support
The best way to support the podcast is to share it with someone, anyone, like really I don't mind who, I'm not fussy.
 
For 10% off your first month on online therapy head to: www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread
Use the code: podcast10 for 10% off the 'Reframing Happiness' webinar on Sunday 13th Feb @ 10am
For all else, including the mailing list head to: https://linktr.ee/Aneedtoread 

#145 Why you can’t pay attention

In this episode, I review Johann Hari's new book: Stolen Focus. A book that looks at the ways modern life steals our focus and attention. Modern life seems to cater only to speed and efficiency, and this does not bode well for our ability to pay attention to what matters. From that increase in speed and tech that is designed to manipulate us, to cruel optimism and the death of sustained reading Johann Hari takes us on an explorative journey of what's really messing with our ability to focus.
 
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#144 Letters From A Stoic (Seneca and why you’ve heard of him)

This is my review of Letters From A Stoic by Seneca. Seneca was a devoted Stoic philosopher, and he is one of the most widely referenced names in good non-fiction books. I have fallen in love with philosophy again recently and I have this book to thank.
 
Support
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
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#143 The Sweet Spot: suffering, pleasure and the key to a good life

A review of Paul Bloom's brilliant book The Sweet Spot, an in-depth look at our pleasure-seeking tendencies and how we may be getting it wrong in our pursuit of the good life.
 
Support
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
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#142 How technology and social media use impacts our health Dr Rachael Kent

Dr. Rachael Kent is a lecturer and researcher at Kings College London. Specifically, Dr. Kent’s research focuses on how digital technology influences everyday mental and physical health. Below are some timestamps for this conversation that may prove to be one of the most important I have had so far. I am growing more and more concerned with how technology influences our lives and it was a pleasure to chat about this with an expert.
 
All you need for Rachael is on her website: https://www.drdigitalhealth.co.uk 
 
Time Stamps
2 minutes: Intro to Rachael and her motivation behind her research in digital technology.
8 minutes - Apps and their power over us.
12 minutes - Neoliberalism and Margaret Thatcher's influence over our digital health.
20 minutes - Corporate digital and mental health.
23 minutes - What tech & social media has done to us over the last couple of years.
32 minutes - Setting boundaries with technology.
37 minutes - Self-representation on social media and dating apps.
45 minutes - There are more phones on planet earth than there are humans.
53 minutes - Digital activism.
1 hr - Health Tracking.
1hr6 minutes - Moralising health.
1hr14 minutes -  A.I. 
1hr 20 minutes -  My tips for a better relationship with technology.
 
Support
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
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For Everything else including the email sign up form head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#141 Rethinking Positive Thinking

This week I review the book ‘Rethinking Positive Thinking’ by Professor of Psychology at NY & Hamburg, Gabrielle Oettingen. 
 
I discuss; the cult of positivity, my opinion on positive thinking as a default, the benefits of positive thinking and positive fantasies, the drawbacks of positive fantasies, and using positive and negative thinking to set and achieve your goals.
 
While I wouldn’t rush to recommend reading the book unless you’re interested in reading all the supporting data to the claims made in this podcast, I would suggest having a quick watch of Gabrielle Oettingen’s talks on YouTube if you need further information. 
 
You can get the free goal setting template here Www.Woopmylife.org 
 
 
 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#140 Existential problems and simple solutions with Alex Holmes

This week I chat with Alex Holmes; writer, podcaster, existential mental health coach and author. We talk about; transition periods, existentialism, French philosophers, the importance of talking, how philosophy and mental health combine, social media, the lack of connection in society, the limitations of CBT, and much more.
 
You can find all you need for Alex on his blog www.alexholmes.co 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries and get a 30-day money back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#139 Mindfulness In Plain English

This is a book review episode of Henepola Gunaratana's 'MIndfulness In Plain English'. This is the second time I've read the book and I got so much more from it this time, if you're interested in meditation then this book will be so good for you. I feel quite inspired by it! I chat about my experiences with mediation, my opinions on it and it's various methods and explain some of the principles from Buddhism that inspire vipassana meditation. 
 
HOPE YOU LIKE IT! x
 
To buy your copy of Mindfulness In Plain English head to this link
For a free trial of headspace head to www.headspace.com/needtoread 
Sam Harris' Meditation app is available on his website https://wakingup.com/ 
 
Support
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#138 Leaving the NHS, McMindfulness and Personal Finance 101 with Yusef Smith

Yusef Smith is one-half of Propane Fitness, a former NHS doctor and life hack specialist. We chat about; Leaving his role as a Doctor in the NHS, if you should strive for happiness or satisfaction, my beef with crystals and affirmations, the ethics of online businesses, the ills of social media, meditation, screen time, Jiu-jitsu, personal finance 101, the end of my consumerism, self-awareness and many tangents. 
 
Find Yusef on Instagram @propanefitness 
Propane Fitness website: https://propanefitness.com/ 
 
Books discussed
The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida 
The Sweet Spot by Paul Bloom
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall 
Mindfulness In Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Make Time by John Zaretsky and Jake Knapp
The Psychology Money by Morgan Housel
Mindset by Carol Dweck
 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread