Brain Food - What I'm Consuming Right Now

Check out these suggestions.

Sep 29, 2024

Welcome to Never Stop Learning!

If you’re committed to lifelong learning and keen to learn new ways to improve your life, you’re in the right place.

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I have a slightly different post for you this week.

I very much sign up to the notion that you are what you eat but that is also true of your mind. So this week I’m sharing a few of the books, podcasts and videos I’m consuming right now.

Hopefully some of these will inspire you to look into these a little more.

Podcasts

The Rest is Politics US - Did Obama Create Trump?

Yes, I know it’s election season in the US and I know you are all probably completely sick and tired of it by now but this podcast is great for quickly getting up to speed each week.

Hosted by Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci (famously Donald Trump’s Communication Director for 10 days), they look at the latest polls, prevailing issues and talk to some interesting people from across the country.

The Rest is History - The French Revolution

For some serious brain food I’m brushing up on my history with this little nugget. This week I’ve been delving into the French Revolution. “Off with his head” I hear you say? “Let them eat cake”?

The French Revolution series is in eight parts no less. So if you’ve got some long drives or maybe you’re looking for something to listen to on a long run this is a great place to feed the brain.

How I write - The Man Behind ChatGPT

I’ve talked briefly about this podcast before but I would always recommend adding this to your podcast list. David Perell always has an interesting guest from across different fields of the writing world.

I challenge you to listen to one of these podcasts and not come away with a tip on how to improve your writing.

In his latest episode he interviews Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Absolutely fascinating - if not a little scary.

Books

Almanack of Naval Ravikant

This week I’m re-reading the Almanack of Naval Ravikant. This book collects and curates Naval’s wisdom from Twitter, Podcasts, and Essays over the past decade.

You’ll learn about his approach to building wealth, looking after his health and general approach to life. Lots to learn here.

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before

Full of tips to help manage your mental heath.

This book by Julie Smith lives on my bedside table. Packed full of useful discussion around mental heath and dealing with issues in every day life.

You will find tips on how to avoid some of the pitfalls of modern life and learn more about how your brain works in the process.

Videos

Why Britain is Poor - With Rory Sutherland

Now of course Britain isn’t poor but it’s certainly not without its problems.

Rory discusses how some of these issues lie at the heart of how western democracies make decisions and how maybe we should let our creative industries loose. As a marketeer he “would say that wouldn’t he” but he may just have a point.

As a “recovering economist”, this type of thinking fascinates me. Rory is always good for an alternative viewpoint.

(Oh, and he is a fantastic guest for any podcast. Watch how you only have to ask one question and you get a one hour monologue. Better make that one question your best!)