Section 1.1: Brave New World – A Dull Journey

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World stands out as one of my greatest reading regrets. The eight hours I spent immersed in its dense prose were lost forever. Huxley’s writing style is exceedingly tedious; honestly, I’d rather watch paint dry than revisit this book. The only positive aspect is that it makes an excellent airplane read—it’s like a tranquilizer that might have you dozing off before takeoff.

Here are some notable quotes from this book:

• "One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them."
• "If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can, and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time."
• "Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery."

Section 1.2: Rich Dad Poor Dad – Misguided Financial Advice

Out of all the selections, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki struck me as particularly wasteful. It is packed with cliché financial advice that you’ve likely encountered numerous times before. Kiyosaki's tone can come off as condescending, especially towards those who live paycheck to paycheck.

He implies that traditional workers, especially educators, are foolish for not abandoning their jobs to pursue real estate. Instead of spending your money on this book, consider more insightful reads like The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey or The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.

Here are some of Kiyosaki's quotes:

• "Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are."
• "Emotions are what make us human."
• "Intelligence solves problems and produces money."

Section 1.3: This Is How You Lose The Time War – A Confusing Narrative

This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone had an intriguing cover that drew me in, but it quickly became one of the most perplexing reads of my life. The plot is convoluted, often requiring multiple readings of paragraphs just to grasp what’s happening. The characters feel underdeveloped, making it hard to invest in their journeys.

Some memorable quotes from the book include:

• "Books are letters in bottles, cast into the waves of time."
• "I want to be a body for you."
• "I want to fix you a bouquet of them, gathered across eight hundred thousand years."

Section 2.1: The Richest Man In Babylon – Overhyped Yet Underwhelming

People continually recommended The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason, claiming it would change my perspective on wealth. While not entirely devoid of value, it is significantly overrated and hardly worth the price tag. Opt for more impactful literature instead!

Key quotes from Clason include:

• "Advice is one thing that is freely given away."
• "The sun that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born."
• "Proper preparation is the key to our success."

Section 2.2: The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck – A Cultural Cliché

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson seems to aim for cultural significance but ultimately falls flat. Much of its appeal comes from the use of profanity, but the insights offered are neither novel nor transformative. It’s arguably one of the more mediocre offerings in the self-help genre.

Noteworthy quotes from this book include:

• "Maturity is what happens when one learns to only give a f*ck about what’s truly f*ckworthy."
• "Our crisis is no longer material; it’s existential."
• "It was the f*cks not given that made all the difference."

If you found this overview helpful and want to support my writing, click this link to get notified whenever I publish something new.