Book Reviews
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Anne Lamott’s “Debt of Honor”: The Quiet Power of Owning Your Word

People always look for ways to be held accountable to achieve their goals; what if all they had to do was look internally? What better person to hold you accountable than yourself? The Power of Internal Credibility This is where a strategy called the “Debt of Honor” succeeds. As I was reading Bird by Bird… Continue reading
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What Harry Truman Taught Me About Action and Integrity

Harry Truman’s biography highlights his ascent to the U.S. Presidency from a small town in Missouri, emphasizing lessons in decision-making, perseverance, and integrity. Key takeaways include the importance of action over indecision, maintaining confidence despite challenges, cultivating a reading habit, and valuing humility and a strong work ethic to achieve success. Continue reading
Adversity, American History, Biography, Book Ponder, Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Character, David McCullough, Decisions, Ego, Harry Truman, History, Humility, Integirty, Korean War, Leadership, Lessons Learned, Politics, Presidents, Reading, Reading Habit, Reading Life, Truman, U.S. History, Work Ethic, World War I -
How Adversity Shapes Success: Insights from American Heroes

The Unseen Journeys of Lost Friends Have you ever had a childhood friend you lost touch with, and when you ran into them years later, they were changed entirely? Perhaps it was age, but there was something else you just couldn’t put your finger on. Perhaps their demeanor and confidence weren’t where you expected their… Continue reading
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A Short History of the Downfall of Reading

As an avid reader of history and biographies, I am always intrigued by how much people read, especially leaders and highly successful people. Analyzing reading habits from a time when reading became widely available to all in the 15th century with the invention of the printing press to the present day, reading has been on… Continue reading
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9 Books I Read In January

My goal in 2025 was to prioritize reading more than ever by minimizing my screen time and replacing TV, video games, and social media with reading. This strategy truly paid off: I read a record nine books. Now, to the books. On Writing by Stephen King As a writer it’s a good idea to squeeze… Continue reading
Berlin Wall, Bob Doto, Book Ponder, Book Reviews, Books, Brandon Sanderson, Charles Dickens, Classics, Crime and Punishment, David Copperfield, David McCullough, Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Washington, Harry Truman, Hegel, Helena Merriman, Lessons Learned, Niklas Luhmann, Odysseas, Peter Singer, Philosophy, Reading, Richard Brookhiser, Ron Chernow, Sonke Ahrens, Stephen King, Truman, Tunnel 29, World War 2, World War 3, Zettelkasten -
How Time Can Be a Gift of Generosity

Generosity transcends money; it includes offering time and support to others. Emerson exemplified this, receiving community aid during his crisis due to his selfless actions. Continue reading
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Write, Read, Repeat: Building the Habits That Lead to Better Writing

There’s No Excuse Not To Be Writing Once a year, I’ll pick up a new book on writing to get my creativity flowing again and to see if I gain any new insights into the craft. While I gain some new tips and tricks, I will save you a ton of time and tell you… Continue reading
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5 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2025

As we approach 2025, I try to spend December planning ahead and pondering my reading goals for the following year. Usually, I’ll pick a few books I want to reread, a daily devotional, and perhaps some new releases that I’ve been waiting for. My goal is usually 52 books, and I tend to read at… Continue reading
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5 Best Books I Read in 2024

Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour I had only heard of Louis L’Amour in passing as an author of old western novels. After listening to an interview with his son on the Art of Manliness podcast, I resonated with the life of Louis L’Amour, and even though it feels far-fetched, I felt like… Continue reading

