*Aristotle’s relentless quest to categorize everything has had a massive impact on philosophical and scientific thinking over the last 2,000 years. *His very rational, left-brain way of seeing is the essence of Western civilization. *The Nicomachean Ethics (dedicated to his son, Nicomachus) is the best expression of Aristotle’s moral philosophy. It provides a recipe for the good life that is still discussed and applied today. *The good life is one where reason is taken into account at all levels. One should act with the appropriate balance, rather than live a life of unrestrained action or bla ..read more

*Through his discussion of his early life and studies, his long career in law enforcement and role in the spotlight of various Clinton and Trump controversies, ex-FBI head James Comey examines what it takes to be an effective, ethical leader. *Comey led the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails that some believe tipped the 2016 election result in Donald Trump’s favor. *Getting to the truth was crucial, but so too was running the investigation independently from the inevitable political pressures. *After Trump was elected, Comey battled to maintain the independence of the FBI. He describe ..read more

*Despite the attention-grabbing title, this isn’t a guide for rebels without a cause, keen to flip the middle finger at society and authority. Instead, it’s an unusually deep and thought-provoking look into the human experience. *Mining his own memories of being expelled from school for drug possession, travelling around the world seducing women, coming to terms with his parents’ divorce, and struggling to forge a career as a blogger, Manson presents a unique and intriguing life philosophy that cuts through the empty promises of clichéd self-help manuals. *The “subtle art” of the title poses a ..read more

*Banned from elite schools due to the circumstances of his birth, Leonardo propelled his own education through endless reading, observation and experimentation. *He found refuge in the world of art, where his paintings of sacred dramas and Earth-based beauty astonished contemporaries. *Today, most of us know the name Leonardo da Vinci and something of his genius, but little of the full breadth of his creative impact and achievements. *Acclaimed biographer Walter Isaacson’s richly illustrated book, published ahead of the fifth centenary of Leonardo’s death, fills the gaps. He uses as his primar ..read more

*Countless books have been written about him, but The Essays of Warren Buffett (first published in 1997) is the only edited compendium of writings from the ‘Sage of Omaha’ himself. *Buffett’s eagerly anticipated annual letters to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway contain valuable insights into his philosophy and idiosyncratic investing style, plus many simple nuggets of wisdom that everyone – multimillionaire or not – can benefit from. *Despite their age, the basic lessons in these essays have not dated. His overarching message, unusual yet undeniably successful, is that if you work with peop ..read more

*The twelve chapters of The Meditations, the personal writings of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121–180 AD), offers modern audiences a clear understanding of Stoic philosophy. *The ancient Greek school of Stoicism hails from the 3rd century BC and was a flourishing movement in ancient Greece and Rome for some four hundred years. *It was used to build strength of character and emotional resilience in order to live wisely and cope well with life’s misfortunes. *Many of its principles remain highly relevant today, especially its call for calm and courage in the face of chaos and anxiety. *Written in G ..read more

*Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a book that dares to tackle the biggest questions about the progress of humanity. Harari puts pay to the idea that the study of history is a dusty affair involving arcane debates about the reigns of forgotten kings.  *Instead, he pulls together familiar portions of history – such as the rise of the first cities, the age of exploration, the Industrial Revolution – to create a much bigger story about the progress of our species.  *This is history on a vast canvas. Sapiens also shines a light on the deep origins of human capacities that we mostl ..read more

*When you walk into a party, are you the type who hits the dance floor immediately, or the type who heads to the kitchen to see how you can help?  *Perhaps you’re more likely to bring a book and find a quiet corner. Or maybe you’re the first to kick off a spirited debate about current events. These are a few small examples of the nine personality types based on the ancient Enneagram concept.  *Authors Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile want to teach you about your own natural inclinations towards specific virtues and vices, as well as those of others, through the lens of the Enneagr ..read more

Today in the Book Lounge, Tom & Karin discuss the book Bad Blood. Each week Book Insights creator and author of The 50 Classics Series Tom Butler-Bowdon and Memo’d Program Manager Karin Richey invite you to join their fun and casual conversation about the book of the week. Hear what they love it about, what they don’t, how they rate it, and how it can advance your work and life. You’ll learn why it was selected to be part of the curated list of Book Insights, and what’s new with the book or the author currently. This week, Tom and Karin offer you insight on: *Tom & Karin share their vi ..read more

Today in the Book Lounge, Tom & Karin discuss the book Grit with special guest Michele Hill. Each week Book Insights creator and author of The 50 Classics Series Tom Butler-Bowdon and Memo’d Program Manager Karin Richey invite you to join their fun and casual conversation about the book of the week. Hear what they love it about, what they don’t, how they rate it, and how it can advance your work and life. You’ll learn why it was selected to be part of the curated list of Book Insights, and what’s new with the book or the author currently. This week, Tom and Karin offer you insight on: *Mic ..read more