Today is another of the 30 Days of Truth Prompt for Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something. Yes the last post was 14, I got out of order. 15 & 16 were basically the same so I skipped 16. Next is Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage, that will be January 4th.
Personally I believe every good book should change your views. Even fiction should change your views on things, such as it may change how you view vampires who sparkle rather than reduce to ashes in the sun. Blade vs Cullens…
Okay, maybe not about sparkly vampires….
You still can learn about interactions between people. Perhaps it might change what you think about a religion, a particular people, or how you act with your family or friends. You should always be learning. If you are not learning you are not living.
Is there a book that impacted you more?
Well, there’s a horse of a different color…. In that case, I must confess to 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. While not all of the book is practical there are a lot of life lessons to be had. Developing a business so you can continue to work overtime and never be able to leave it (especially if you can’t even leave it for a vacation) is not a practical solution.
80/20 Rule
It also taught me a great deal about the 80/20 rule. While I had heard of it, I never really put the rule together with life. In it 20% of what bothers you, causes 80% of your pain. Therefore by reducing or eliminating that 20% you decrease your pain.
Relax now
He also pointed out the importance of mini retirements. Taking time throughout life to retire and learn from those retirements rather than to wait. This is brilliant wisdom because we have no guarantees and this means we get to enjoy life as we are able.
These are incredibly simple concepts yet we focus on the wrong details through much of life. I can’t say the book changed my view, but gave me greater understanding. Also there is much of the book that depends on different circumstances. But “knowledge is to know that a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is to know not to put one in a fruit salad.” This means understanding what will work for you.
Learn, Read, Love,
MJ Schrader
