A discussion of the book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a fictional story about a man named Julian Mantle, a successful lawyer who faces death, from that, he realizes he needs to change his ways. Through a discussion with a friend John, Julian passes on the wisdom he gained on his personal odyssey. Along his journey, he encountered a wise sage in the Himalayas who tells him a fable. The fable has seven memorable moments, each moment a reminder of how to live a meaningful life.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

A discussion of the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a story about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago. It follows his mystical journey from being a shepherd with a dream, to traveling the world and encountering many people along the way, from bakers to thieves, gypsies to alchemists. It's a story about following your dreams and allowing your heart to guide you as you pursue an unknown treasure in a foreign land; only through that journey can you find the treasure that has been with you the entire time.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

A discussion of the book Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

Man's Search for Meaning is a book by Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist Viktor Frankl. The book looks at the suffering experienced in the concentration camps, and how finding meaning allows one to survive even the harshest of conditions. For Frankl, there are three sources of meaning: work (creating a work or doing a deed), love (experiencing something or encountering someone), and courage (the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering).

He also looks at the three phases of camp life and the symptoms that accompany them: the period following admission (shock and denial), the period when one is well entrenched in camp routine (apathy and emotional death), and the period following ones release and liberation (reintegration and emotional disorientation). Frankl analyses each of these phases, discussing the stories he experienced in various camps, and how in those situations, some lose the will to meaning, while others hold on.

In the closing third of the book, he discusses the school of psychotherapy that he founded - logotherapy. From the rich Greek word "logos", translated "word", "reason", or "meaning". It describes a therapeutic technique whose main focus is to help the patient regain their unique life's meaning, their "logos".

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

A discussion of the book Lessons in Stoicism by John Sellars.

In the book Lessons in Stoicism, John Sellars takes one through some of the core teachings of Stoicism. He focuses on the works of the well known Stoics: Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Covering topics such as:

* What is the philosopher’s role in life?

* What is within our control?

* How do we live in community?

Ultimately, as with the Stoics, Sellars provides practical insights to help us cultivate virtue and lead more meaningful lives.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

A discussion of the book Do the Work by Steven Pressfield.

Do the Work by Steven Pressfield, as with many of Steven's non-fiction books, is about battling Resistance. It's about how to do the work, and the the challenges Resistance will throw your way for any meaningful project. The book is broken into a beginning, middle, and an end - as Steven would recommend you do for your project.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

A discussion of the book Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday.

Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday is a book about ego and all its dangers. It looks at how ego is the enemy throughout different stages in our lives such as when we aspire, when we succeed, and even when we fail. Through various stories and quotes these ideas are explored, and we see how ego leads to demise, with humility being the better option.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

A discussion of the book Range by David Epstein.

Range explores the debate between generalists and specialists, examining why, as the subtitle suggests, “Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.” The book contrasts “kind” learning environments - where patterns are repetitive and predictable - with “wicked” environments, which mirror our everyday experience, filled with unpredictability and constant variation. Epstein connects these learning environments to how we approach achieving extraordinary outcomes. Contrary to the common belief that specialization is the key to success, Epstein repeatedly demonstrates that generalization often proves more valuable in the modern world.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk

Essentialism by Greg McKeown presents a philosophy centered on the "disciplined pursuit of less." The book explores the mindset of an essentialist, then outlines a systematic approach for achieving this disciplined pursuit. The core components of this approach are to "explore," "eliminate," and "execute." As McKeown delves into each of these, he contrasts how a non-essentialist and an essentialist might approach the same situations, offering concrete examples to highlight their differences.

Hosted by Peter Banda & James de Klerk