
<p style={{ fontSize: '20px' }}>
  Recently I read the wonderfully insightful book on learning and performance at
  an extremely high level - 
  <strong>The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin</strong> - and I was very captivated
  by one idea. The idea of <strong>'building your trigger'</strong>. The reason I
  was so caught by this idea was the practicality and potential wide range of use
  for it.
</p>

> "Josh's idea is to work on a routine over a period of 30 days for example
> where you would work on purely getting yourself into the zone, into a state
> of flow."

## The idea in a nutshell

_The whole idea of 'Building your trigger' is to get yourself in the right
mental state and focused for performing some act at a high level._

For example, take presenting at work to a crowd of 50 colleagues. For many
people this can be a very nerve wracking experience and can cause a wide range
of emotions in the lead up to the presentation and during the presentation
itself. Anxiety about how the presentation will go and fear of things going
wrong during the presentation itself.

Josh's idea is to work on a routine over a period of time, say 30 days, where
you would work purely on getting yourself into the zone or into a state of flow.
Professional athletes do this before every game. They come up with a
deliberately designed routine where they can consistently get themselves into
the zone. Once in the zone the level of performance is guaranteed to be much
higher than if you were to lead everything to chance.

## How you can build a trigger

Josh's main idea is deceptively simple. You have to search through your life and
find an activity you do regularly where you have a feeling of flow. It doesn't
matter what you are doing at this time of being in the zone but there must be
something. For some it will be walking, for others it will be playing with their
children, for others it will be some sort of exercise or meditation technique.

> "For some it will be walking, for others it will be playing with their
> children, for others it will be some sort of exercise or meditation
> technique."

Once you discover this activity then it is a matter of building a routine
leading up to this activity every day for 30 days or so. This is training
yourself and creating a routine you can then transfer over to your performance.

<Image960x660
  src="building-your-trigger_liy57s"
  altText="Presenter to audience"
  imageCategory="articles"
/>

The example given in 'The Art of Learning' is a business leader who always felt
nervous during big presentations and tended not to perform to the level he felt
he could. So after discussions with Josh they discovered the time of day he
feels most relaxed is when he played ball with his son at their home. **So they
built a routine around this activity**. The routine started out like this:

- Eat a light consistent snack for 10 minutes
- 15 minutes meditation
- 10 minutes stretching
- 10 minutes listening to some Bob Dylan
- Play ball with his son

The business leader then performed this routine for 30 days. Playing ball with
his son was always a joy and he was always in a relaxed state. He was training
himself to consistently get in a state of flow by doing something he enjoyed
doing anyway.

_The next step is the crucial step - Transferring this routine over to where you
want to implement it into other 'pressure' situations in your life._ In this
example the business leader transferred it over to the time before big
presentations. He did exactly the same routine (except the playing ball with his
son!) before the presentation and by the time he reached the presentation he was
in such a relaxed state that he breezed through the presentation and it went
much better than usual.

## Condensing the routine

One has to be practical though and we all are leading busy lives. This example
routine is great because it is extremely transportable and can be performed
pretty much anywhere. However, in all likelihood you won't have 45 minutes
before every moment you want to get into this state.

Therefore to make this routine lower maintenance and more flexible, the idea is
to incrementally reduce the amount of time on each part of the routine **BUT**
keeping it similar enough it will still produce the same physiological effect.

The leader gradually reduced the time spent on each activity in his routine over
a number of days. By doing this gradually he was able to retain the impact of
the routine but condense the actual routine into a much shorter period.
Eventually he reduced the time for the routine down to 12 minutes and it was
still just as potent.

## Conclusion

If there is any area of your life where you would like to perform at a high
level consistently, incorporating a 'trigger' into your life can really help
you. It gives you a predictable and reliable method to getting 'into the zone'.

The beauty of this practice is a trigger can be created for anyone and catered
to that person's specific needs. If incorporated correctly it can become
extremely powerful, transportable and potent.

It requires some thought and dedication to build the habit into your life but
once that work is done you have a great addition to your tool chest to help you
achieve your goals.

## Want to Learn More?

<Image266x400
  src="josh-waitzkin-art-of-learning_aqomaf"
  altText="The Art of Learning - Josh Waitzkin"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

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  <AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0743277465&linkCode=as2&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=d3357e90f7c3c96b77475117658f3e07" />
</Box>


In his book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin walks the reader through his methods and systems he has developed over his lifetime to optimise peak performace. Building your trigger is one of his methods.

Building Your Trigger - Art of Learning

<p style={{ fontSize: '20px' }}>
  Did you know that 80% of us breathe wrong. When I first found out about this
  statistic I was shocked! How can this be? It’s a natural thing right? How can
  you breath wrong?
</p>

> “The human body was designed so that breathing would be done through the nose
> and not through the mouth. The mouth is there for communicating and eating.”

I discovered this statistic from the
[very impactful book ‘Breath’ written by James Nestor](https://paperbacktravels.com/book-summaries/health-and-wellness/james-nestor-breath).
In this book he describes how 80% of people throughout their lives breath
inefficiently with the main culprit being mouth breathing.

## What is mouth Breathing?

The human body was designed so that breathing would be done through the nose and
not through the mouth. **_The mouth is there for communicating and eating. Its
not there for breathing!_** However, due to a multitude of reasons many people
now breath partially or solely through their mouth and this has a whole range of
consequences. Some of these consequences are mild but some are deadly serious.
_And I mean DEADLY!_

Breathing through your mouth at all times, including when sleeping can lead to
the following problems in adults:

- Bad breath
- Gum disease
- Brain fog
- Snoring
- [Sleep apnea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea)
- Heart related issues (Yes that is correct!)

In children chronic mouth breathing can lead to the following problems:

- Crooked teeth
- Facial deformities
- Poor growth
- Problems concentrating at school
- Anxiety

## Benefits of breathing through the nose

Your nose is designed for breathing and it helps you breathe safely and
efficiently. It is full of nasal hair which helps filter out foreign particles
such as dust and allergens.

It warms and moisturises the air that enters into your lungs which makes it
easier for your lungs to use. Your nose also releases nitric oxide which helps
to widen your blood vessels and this in turn improves the oxygen circulation in
your body.

## I was a chronic mouth breather

Ever since I can remember I have been told to ‘shut your mouth’. I was told this
continually as a child and I always closed it in the moment but before long it
was open again and I was again breathing through my mouth.

> “I realised if friends and loved ones around me were noticing my mouth
> breathing then I must have been doing it quite a bit.”

No real solution was given to me and honestly as a child it was just accepted by
myself and my parents. I mean surely breathing through your mouth wouldn’t cause
any _real_ problems right?

However, this habit (and I do mean habit) even remained into my adulthood. There
would be occasional remarks from friends and even my wife would ask me sometimes
if I realised I had my mouth open at certain points. _I realised if friends and
loved ones around me were noticing my mouth breathing then I must have been
doing it quite a bit._

Well into my thirties (I guess better late than never!) I read ‘Breath’ by James
Nestor and it hit me like a ton of bricks. **It was one of those things that you
know you should probably do something about but it wasn’t such a big deal
right?** But the more I listened to James’s book the more I realised how many
issues I had been suffering from that could be related to my mouth breathing. I
was in shock!

<Image960x660
  src="trouble-sleeping-ill-cold_s9zi6n"
  altText="Trouble sleeping due to being ill"
  imageCategory="articles"
/>

In my thirties I was having continual problems such as — sinus problems leading
to dizziness, blocked ears, waking up with a blocked nose, infections in my nose
that would lead to the need for antibiotics to remedy, snoring (which really
annoyed my wife), waking up in the night due to a feeling of lack of breath.
Could all these things be related to breathing through my mouth and not through
my nose?

## Why I started taping my mouth at night

I had so many realisations from James’s book that I knew I had to do something.
I needed to address this problem once and for all. There was one solution James
suggested that really stood out for me. _That was to tape my mouth whilst I was
sleeping._

> “Wouldn’t I suffocate in the night? How would I take a drink? What if I don’t
> get enough oxygen through my nose and I just die quietly in my sleep?!”

When I first heard this I was pretty sceptical. Wouldn’t I suffocate in the
night? How would I take a drink? What if I don’t get enough oxygen through my
nose and I just die quietly in my sleep?!

However, there were some things about this solution that I really liked:

- Easy to implement
- Cheap (go have a look at other solutions to keep your mouth shut at night,
  they aren’t cheap!).
- It didn’t require any medication
- I could try right away

I had to give it a go…

## How I tape my mouth shut

I followed James’s advise in this
[Youtube video on taping your mouth at night](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nxi2kDcZx4)
(The instructions are in the first two minutes of this video.)

> “The idea is to take a small 1 inch x 1 inch piece of yellow weak tape and
> place it on your lips in the center of your mouth so they stay together
> throughout the night.”

The idea is to take a small 1 inch x 1 inch piece of yellow weak tape and place
it on your lips in the center of your mouth so they stay together throughout the
night. I do this just before I fall asleep every night and have been doing this
for about 6 months now.

Sometimes the tape comes off in the night and sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t
worry too much about this as I figure the main thing is I am doing this
consistently so more often than not I am sleeping a good portion of the night
with my mouth closed and breathing through my nose.

## Benefits I have found from taping my mouth at night

_Wow! This has been pretty revolutionary for me._ The benefits I have noticed
are:

- I sleep more consistently through the night
- I barely snore anymore (my wife is so happy!)
- I wake up without a blocked nose even in times where I can feel it could
  become blocked
- I am much more aware of my mouth being open in the day now so this has a knock
  on affect of me keeping my mouth closed in the day too
- I rarely suffer from the severity of the sinus problems I did before

## Conclusion

I have realised as I get older it is the small seemingly innocuous things that
can have a real detriment to your quality of life over the long run. For me
mouth breathing was definitely one of these things. By making some small change
to your life (in this case it was taping my mouth closed at night) it can really
turn things around in many other areas of your life.

By sleeping better I now wake up more fresh. I can be more present and active in
the day. Therefore I perform better at my work, I am more likely to exercise, my
mood is consistently better throughout the day and on and on and on. Just one
little change has really improved my whole quality of life and for that I am
deeply grateful.



<Image266x400
  src="james-nestor-breath_lfziu8"
  altText="Breath - James Nestor"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>



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  <AmazonCta link="https://amzn.to/3hKwaeR" />
</Box>

The book "Breath" by James Nestor helped me introduce one strange but ultimately very beneficial habit into my life...

Why I Tape My Mouth Shut At Night


I am a parent and as a parent I am often questioning what methods and practises
I should be adopting in order to give my children a good upbringing. As all
parents will know the path of parenthood is fraught with difficulties, failures
and setbacks. However, it is also one of the most rewarding adventures you can
ever hope to embark on.

So imagine my surprise when reading
[The Chimp Paradox](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039916359X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=039916359X&linkCode=as2&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=c4af00df2a368dc98ac2f6dffcff25e1)
by Dr Steve Peters recently and learning about the ‘**Fridge Door Syndrome**’.
In his book Dr Peters describes ‘The Fridge Door Syndrome’ as one of the most
common forms of Goblins that affects most people in Western society.

_\*Note: A Goblin is described as being more or less a hard-wired behaviour,
belief or automatic program that developed in childhood before the age of 8. In
the Chimp Paradox, Goblins are pretty much considered unerasable and therefore
something we need to learn to contain._

> Dr Peters describes ‘The Fridge Door Syndrome’ as one of the most common forms
> of Goblins that affects most people in Western society.

## What exactly is the ‘Fridge Door Syndrome’?

Imagine you are a parent and your child is attending their first day of school.
The apprehensive child is full of emotions at the prospect of embarking on a big
step in their young lives. At school their teacher suggests that the child paint
their parents a beautiful picture. After school the young child runs up to their
parent with the picture in hand and eagerly shows them their latest masterpiece.

The child hands over their work of art and the parent (with the best intentions)
wanting to praise their child and boost their confidence looks at the picture
and responds with something like ‘Wow! This picture is fantastic, you are very
clever, I am so proud of you. Shall we put this on the Fridge so everyone can
see?’. The parent then puts the picture onto the Fridge for all the world to
see.

<Image960x660
  src="fridge-door-image_ueisw8"
  altText="Child drawing a picture"
  imageCategory="articles"
/>

> Wrong! According to Dr. Peters this is putting a great big Goblin into their
> child that they now must deal with for the rest of their lives.

This is good parenting right? Taking interest in what your child is doing and
encouraging them and then showing this to the world? Wrong! According to Dr.
Peters this is putting a great big Goblin into their child that they now must
deal with for the rest of their lives. The child now associates the love and
attention they received from their parents with what they DID rather than with
who they are. They now have a belief that in order to be loved and respected in
the world they must achieve and accomplish things. According to Dr. Peters this
is why so much of the Western world is beset on achievement in life and so much
praise is placed on those who accomplish things. This is why so many people end
up with low self esteem because they struggle to live up to expectations and
therefore feel that they just aren’t enough.

Dr. Peters suggests a better approach would be when the child runs up to their
parents, that they put the picture to one side and hug and greet the child and
express their pride and joy at that moment and THEN look at the picture. This
sends a message to the child that THEY are important irregardless of what they
do or achieve.

## Realisation

When I read this it instantly hit me. I had been passing these Goblins onto my
children since their births!! I started searching through memories and was
horrified how many times I had done this. I then looked around and suddenly
became conscious of this behaviour in so many of my friends who have children.
It really shocked me that such a normalised behaviour in our society and culture
could actually be planting these Goblins in our children and impacting the very
way they see themselves in the world.

## Conclusion

OK… maybe it isn’t SO dramatic as my initial reaction but upon finding out about
this Syndrome and digesting it I have had a definite behavioural change. Now
whenever my children present me with something they have done I really try hard
to greet THEM first and then look at whatever they are presenting. I don’t
always succeed but I am definitely conscious and aware of this now.

This is also why I love reading because time and time again it shows how having
access to other people’s wisdom can bring about positive changes in your life.
For me this particular realisation really hit close to home as I am a parent of
young children and I really believe that parents have a fundamental
responsibility in raising their children.How the child develops is very much
affected by their relationship with their parents or parental figures.

Dr Peters book ‘The Chimp Paradox’ is an incredibly powerful mind management
model that can help you become a happy, confident, healthier and more successful
person.

## Want to Learn More?

<Image266x400
  src="steve-peters-the-chimp-paradox_hgejsl"
  altText="The Chimp Paradox: Dr Steve Peters."
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

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  <AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039916359X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=039916359X&linkCode=as2&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=c4af00df2a368dc98ac2f6dffcff25e1" />
</Box>


In his book The Chimp Paradox, Dr Steve Peters explains about the Fridge Door Syndrome. This can have a psychological effect on children putting a Goblin into their system.

The Fridge Door Syndrome


<Box textAlign="center">
  <h2>1. The Last Days of John Lennon - James Patterson</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="james-patterson-the-last-days-of-john-lennon_aldnbg"
  altText="The Last Days of John Lennon"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“The greatest true-crime story in music history, as only James Patterson can
tell it. Enriched by exclusive interviews with Lennon’s friends and associates,
including Paul McCartney, The Last Days of John Lennon is the thrilling true
story of two men who changed history: One whose indelible songs enliven our
world to this day—and the other who ended the beautiful music with five pulls of
a trigger.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I have loved The Beatles ever since I first discovered my parents’ White Album
record as a nine-year-old. I remember being spellbound by songs such as Back In
The USSR, Bungalow Bill and While My Guitar Gently Weeps and then feeling a
sense of genuine loss when my parents explained to me that the band couldn’t
make any more music because one of its members had been murdered a few years
before.

I’ve read, watched and listened to much more about The Beatles since then and
find myself increasingly captivated by the music and the stories behind it. I
know of James Patterson as a best-selling fiction writer (although I’ve not read
anything by him yet) and I’m really interested to read how he applies his
writing style to real-life events that are arguably far more powerful than a
made up story. - James

### Release Date

December 7, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Days-John-Lennon/dp/0316429066/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=The+Last+Days+of+John+Lennon&qid=1606475228&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=776a0ef1728b0516e0cf8e4e4d285e7e&language=en_US" />

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  <h2>2. Data Action: Using Data For Public Good - Sarah Williams</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="sarah-williams-data-action_yj4iov"
  altText="Data Action: Using Data For Public Good"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“Big data can be used for good--from tracking disease to exposing human rights
violations--and for bad--implementing surveillance and control. Data inevitably
represents the ideologies of those who control its use; data analytics and
algorithms too often exclude women, the poor, and ethnic groups.

In Data Action, Sarah Williams provides a guide for working with data in more
ethical and responsible ways. Too often data has been used--and manipulated--to
make policy decisions without much stakeholder input. Williams outlines a method
that emphasizes collaboration among data scientists, policy experts, data
designers, and the public. This approach creates trust and co-ownership in the
data by opening the process to those who know the issues best.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I work with data in my day job, so I have spent a lot of time thinking (and
reading) about its huge potential for making the world a better place as well as
the dangers of too much personal data accumulating in the hands of companies and
states. I’m really interested to see what Sarah Williams proposes in Data
Action. There is definitely a need for an ethical framework for working with
data as its impact on every aspect of life increases. - James

### Release Date

December 8, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Data-Action-Using-Public-Good/dp/0262044196/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=data+action&qid=1606472118&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=d8fe8588ac9e61031677b4c926327151&language=en_US" />

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  <h2>3. Badass Habits - Jen Sincero</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="jen-sincero-badass-habits_erx9qv"
  altText="Badass Habits"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“Badass Habits is a eureka-sparking, easy-to-digest look at how our habits make
us who we are, from the measly moments that happen in private to the resolutions
we loudly broadcast (and, erm, often don't keep) on social media. Habit busting
and building goes way beyond becoming a dedicated flosser or never showing up
late again--our habits reveal our unmet desires, the gaps in our boundaries, our
level of self-awareness, and our unconscious beliefs and fears.

Badass Habits features Jen's trademark hilarious voice and offers a much-needed
fresh take on the conventional wisdom and science that shape the optimism (or
pessimism?) around the age-old topic of habits. The book includes enlightening
interviews with people who've successfully strengthened their discipline
backbones, new perspective on how to train our brains to become our best selves,
and offers a simple, 21 day, step-by-step guide for ditching habits that don't
serve us and developing the habits we deem most important.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I am sold on the importance of habits as a way to learn skills and live
healthily. Every time I've managed to train myself to do something consistently
(over the last year it has been going for long walks and studying Italian), I
have really felt the benefits. Books such as
[The Power of Habit](https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=68c21986968d09b6732a901701efdecb&language=en_US)
by Charles Duhigg and
[Atomic Habits](https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=3JF2BJSN421PD&dchild=1&keywords=atomic+habits&qid=1606585829&s=books&sprefix=atom,stripbooks-intl-ship,238&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=f52b685c71df99df49c8ff85b6a74d50&language=en_US)
by James Clear helped me understand the science and best practices behind habit
formation so I'm looking forward to finding out how Badass Habits will add new
ideas and concepts to the topic. - James

### Release Date

December 1, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Badass-Habits-Cultivate-Awareness-Boundaries/dp/1984877437/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=badass+habits&qid=1606585991&s=books&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=91f818d7d1f54d8541521df9cfb62706&language=en_US" />

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  <h2>
    4. Competition is Killing Us: How Big Business is Harming Our Society and
    Planet - and What To Do About It - Michelle Meagher
  </h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="michelle-meagher-competition-is-killing-us_t1amke"
  altText="Competition is Killing Us - Michelle Meagher"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

We live in the age of big companies where multi-billion and trillion dollar
mammoths dominate the market and prioritise shareholder profits over all else.
This leads to extreme wealth inequality, inhumane conditions for workers and
relentless pressure on the environment. Yet no government or organisation has
the power to regulate these companies and hold them to account.

In Competition is Killing Us, lawyer and campaigner Michelle Meagher,
establishes a new framework to control capitalism, presenting a fair and
comprehensive approach to competition law that limits unfair mergers, enforces
accountability and redistributes power through stakeholder governance. By
debunking six myths about the free market, Meagher shows how corporate
capitalism concentrates power at the cost of people and planet, and shares a new
vision for anti-trust for the 21st century. It's time capitalism worked for the
many and not just the few.

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

It’s becoming more and more known that wealth inequality in society is at
ridiculous levels. Big companies, no matter how much profit or revenue they
generate they always want more. I have worked in international corporations and
this endless drive for more is exhausting. It’s also frightfully unfair how much
these big companies get away with because they have the resources to get around
laws through loopholes and other means. I really am against any kind of
unfairness so when a book comes out about how there could be a solution to this
ever growing problem then I definitely want to read it to educate myself and see
what hope we have for the future. - Adam

### Release Date

December 10, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta
  link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0241423015/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=paperbacktrav-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0241423015&linkId=45f8167f4d082e29da680b55d2b06221
"
/>

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  <h2>5. The Nature of Conspiracy Theories - Michael Butter</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="michael-butter-nature-conspiracy-theories_x4vief"
  altText="The Nature of Conspiracy Theories - Michael Butter"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

In this book Michael Butter provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to
the nature and development of conspiracy theories. Contrary to popular belief,
he shows that conspiracy theories are less popular and influential today than
they were in the past. Up to the 1950s, the Western world regarded conspiracy
theories as a legitimate form of knowledge and it was therefore normal to
believe in them. It was only after the Second World War that this knowledge was
delegitimized, causing conspiracy theories to be banished from public discourse
and relegated to subcultures.

The recent renaissance of conspiracy theories is linked to the internet which
gives them wider exposure and contributes to the fragmentation of the public
sphere. Conspiracy theories are still stigmatized today in many sections of
mainstream culture but are being accepted once again as legitimate knowledge in
others. It is the clash between these domains and their different conceptions of
truth that is fuelling the current debate over conspiracy theories.

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I love conspiracy theories! I mean did we really land on the moon as a species?!
Really?! But in all seriousness I am always intrigued by them. Sometimes they
just seem damn right outrageous and sometimes they seem completely legitimate
and believable. But what I like most about them is they make you look at certain
events throughout history from different angles. History is told from a certain
perspective but in any situation there are always many perspectives. It's very
easy these days to get locked into your silo (especially with the mass adoption
of social media) and therefore only see things from this one perspective.
However, when you hear conspiracy theories, even if they seem ridiculous
sometimes they usually bring facts and perspectives from events and situations
that you would otherwise not know about. And one thing we need more than ever
nowadays is the ability to look at things from many perspectives and not get
trapped in our ways of thinking. - Adam

### Release Date

December 7, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1509540822/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=paperbacktrav-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1509540822&linkId=58981bb575d3a21d66b0affea6efb730" />


Find out which 5 books we are most excited about for December 2020. There is a great list including books about John Lennon, big data and conspiracy theories.

Five New Books To Read In December 2020


<Box textAlign="center">
  <h2>1. A Promised Land - Barack Obama</h2>
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<Image266x400
  src="barack-obama-a-promised-land_immu4t"
  altText="A Promised Land"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one
man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world
stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black
American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope
and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He
is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how
living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to
reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that
inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I am an Obama fan and I find US politics endlessly fascinating, so this is a
book I’m excited about. I read the brilliant
[Becoming](https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/1524763136/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=3LX1FYI95GE1M&dchild=1&keywords=becoming+michelle+obama&qid=1603375285&s=books&sprefix=becom,stripbooks-intl-ship,236&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=ed6ab31337bb8f1935bb19b99cc2aa45&language=en_US)
by Michelle Obama earlier in the year, so it will be interesting to hear the
story of the country’s first black president in his own words and get an insight
into the events that shaped his time in office. - James

### Release Date

November 17, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Promised-Land-Barack-Obama/dp/1524763160/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=35IQY6LIG8YHK&dchild=1&keywords=a+promised+land&qid=1603375193&s=books&sprefix=a+pr,stripbooks-intl-ship,282&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=3d41530e33a5f05b294302753704e9ac&language=en_US" />

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  <h2>2. The Practice: Shipping Creative Work - Seth Godin</h2>
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<Image266x400
  src="seth-godin-the-practice_hm8xla"
  altText="The Practice: Shipping Creative Work"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“Based on the breakthrough Akimbo workshop pioneered by legendary author Seth
Godin, The Practice will help you get unstuck and find the courage to make and
share creative work. Godin insists that writer's block is a myth, that
consistency is far more important than authenticity, and that experiencing the
imposter syndrome is a sign that you're a well-adjusted human. Most of all, he
shows you what it takes to turn your passion from a private distraction to a
productive contribution, the one you've been seeking to share all along.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I have always loved the way Seth Godin expresses himself as a writer and a
speaker. He has a way of boiling large topics such as marketing down into simple
ideas that make sense and inspire you to act. As someone who has spent hours and
hours trying to make music, I know all about the challenges that can get in the
way of productivity. I can’t wait to read Godin’s take on this subject. - James

### Release Date

November 3, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Shipping-Creative-Work/dp/0593328973/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=3FSBH50XA3V5O&dchild=1&keywords=the+practice+shipping+creative+work&qid=1603375452&s=books&sprefix=the+practice+s,stripbooks-intl-ship,233&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=5ad6ae309e673069a56f254c02715542&language=en_US" />

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  <h2>
    3. First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and
    Romans and How That Shaped Our Country - Thomas E. Ricks
  </h2>
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<Image266x400
  src="thomas-e-ricks-first-principles_y9kzym"
  altText="First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author
(Thomas E. Ricks) offers a revelatory new book about the founding fathers,
examining their educations and, in particular, their devotion to the ancient
Greek and Roman classics—and how that influence would shape their ideals and the
new American nation.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I’m not expecting this to be an easy read but I love the concept and I have
always wanted to learn more about classic philosophical ideas and understand how
the world we live in today is built upon them. I think the biographical aspect
of this book will help to put these ideas in a practical context and I’m
interested to read some of Thomas E. Ricks work for the first time. - James

### Release Date

November 10, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/First-Principles-Americas-Founders-Learned/dp/0062997459/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=1AZPZEBLU6KKO&dchild=1&keywords=first+principles&qid=1603376424&s=books&sprefix=first+princ,stripbooks-intl-ship,288&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=d7bc1bb7da1be9b76313979308e0e795&language=en_US" />

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  <h2>4. Volume Control: Hearing in a Deafening World - David Owen</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="david-owen-volume-control_eskumj"
  altText="Volume Control: Hearing in a Deafening World"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

"Our sense of hearing makes it easy to connect with the world and the people
around us. The human system for processing sound is a biological marvel, an
intricate assembly of delicate membranes, bones, receptor cells, and neurons.
Yet many people take their ears for granted, abusing them with loud restaurants,
rock concerts, and Q-tips. And then, eventually, most of us start to go deaf.

Millions of Americans suffer from hearing loss. Faced with the cost and stigma
of hearing aids, the natural human tendency is to do nothing and hope for the
best, usually while pretending that nothing is wrong. In Volume Control, David
Owen argues this inaction comes with a huge social cost. He demystifies the
science of hearing while encouraging readers to get the treatment they need for
hearing loss and protect the hearing they still have.

Hearing aids are rapidly improving and becoming more versatile. Inexpensive
high-tech substitutes are increasingly available, making it possible for more of
us to boost our weakening ears without bankrupting ourselves. Relatively soon,
physicians may be able to reverse losses that have always been considered
irreversible. Even the insistent buzz of tinnitus may soon yield to relatively
simple treatments and techniques. With wit and clarity, Owen explores the
incredible possibilities of technologically assisted hearing. And he proves that
ears, whether they're working or not, are endlessly interesting."

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I am an avid music fan my whole life and have always loved listening to music. I
often wonder at the amazing variety in sound that the human ear is able to pick
up. To recognise voices, to distinguish notes, to pick out different sounds… yet
it is something I think so many of us take for granted and only when something
goes wrong do we suddenly appreciate what it is to hear. This book seems to fit
exactly and how many people accept loss of hearing as part of life. Two of my
sons also suffer from some hearing loss and they do wear hearing aids. This is
also a motivation to read this book to understand more about what they are going
through and what potential solutions may be available in the future. - Adam

### Release Date

Technically a rerelease but Nov 1st 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525534229/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525534229&linkCode=as2&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=0eed3edc0eace95ccde64a8036e0120f" />

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  <h2>5. How I Learned to Understand the World - Hans Rosling</h2>
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<Image266x400
  src="hans-rosling-how-i-learned-to-understand-the-world_dsfxtn"
  altText="How I Learned to Understand the World"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

"It was facts that helped him explain how the world works. But it was curiosity
and commitment that made the late Hans Rosling, author of worldwide bestseller
[Factfulness](https://paperbacktravels.com/book-summaries/economics/hans-rosling-factfulness),
the most popular researcher of our time.

How I Learned to Understand the World is Hans Rosling's own story of how a young
scientist became a revolutionary thinker, and takes us from the swelter of an
emergency clinic in Mozambique, to the World Economic Forum at Davos.

In collaboration with Swedish journalist Fanny Härgestam, Hans Rosling wrote his
memoir with the same joy of storytelling that made a whole world listen when he
spoke."

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

Hans Rosling dealt in facts and in this day and age sometimes facts are in short
supply when they could be really needed. By looking at facts he was able to
bring a clear point of view on many topics. He also spent much of his life in
poorer parts of the world helping stem disease outbreaks using his research. I
don’t know too much about his story though which is exactly why I want to read
this book. Talented people who use their skills for good always fascinate me. -
Adam

### Release Date

5th November 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250266890/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1250266890&linkCode=as2&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=f250e9641e0dc6912870d68106fd9d06" />


Some exciting new books are coming out in November 2020. Here is a list of five new non-fiction books that have captured our attention, including new writing from Barack Obama and the late Hans Rosling

Five New Books To Read In November 2020


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  <h2>1. Trust: America's Best Chance - Pete Buttigieg</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="pete-buttigieg-trust_cafdtf"
  altText="Trust: America's Best Chance"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“Interweaving history, political philosophy, and affecting passages of memoir,
Buttigieg explores the strong relationship between measures of prosperity and
levels of social trust. He provides an impassioned account of a threefold crisis
of trust: in our institutions, in each other, and in the American project
itself. Today, these perilous patterns of distrust have wreaked havoc on nearly
every sector of society, as Americans increasingly resent the very government
that needs to be part of the solution. With the internet and partisan television
networks acting as accelerants, Americans jettison any sense of shared reality,
lose confidence in experts and scientists, and cope with the grim national
tragedy of a pandemic that has only further exemplified the lethality of
distrust. Buttigieg contends that our success, or failure, at confronting the
greatest challenges of the decade―racial and economic justice, pandemic
resilience, and climate action―will rest on whether we can effectively
cultivate, deepen, and, where necessary, repair the networks of trust that are
now endangered, or for so many, have never even existed.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

I have been following the 2020 American presidential election race since the
primaries. Former candidate Pete Buttigieg was not somebody I had previously
heard of but I was intrigued by his story: a thirty-something, openly gay war
veteran with political experience as mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

The more I heard him speak, the more impressed I became with his ideas and
competence, so I am looking forward to getting a deeper insight into his life
and his ambitions to be part of a positive change in his country’s society.
Still only 38, I expect we’re going to be hearing about Buttigieg for decades to
come.

### Release Date

October 6th, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Americas-Chance-Pete-Buttigieg/dp/1631498770/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=13b6f74c6e5a141f14f4e00b26ba13b8&language=en_US" />

<Box textAlign="center" pt={8}>
  <h2>2. How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices - Annie Duke</h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="annie-duke-how-to-decide_f8nkab"
  altText="How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“What if there was a better way to make quality decisions so you can think
clearly, feel more confident, second-guess yourself less, and ultimately be more
decisive and be more productive?

Making good decisions doesn't have to be a series of endless guesswork. Rather,
it's a teachable skill that anyone can sharpen. In How to Decide, bestselling
author Annie Duke and former professional poker player lays out a series of
tools anyone can use to make better decisions. You'll learn: • To identify and
dismantle hidden biases. • To extract the highest quality feedback from those
whose advice you seek. • To more accurately identify the influence of luck in
the outcome of your decisions. • When to decide fast, when to decide slow, and
when to decide in advance. • To make decisions that more effectively help you to
realize your goals and live your values.

Through interactive exercises and engaging thought experiments, this book helps
you analyze key decisions you've made in the past and troubleshoot those you're
making in the future. Whether you're picking investments, evaluating a job
offer, or trying to figure out your romantic life, How to Decide is the key to
happier outcomes and fewer regrets.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

The impact of decision-making has become progressively clearer to me with age.
Decisions I made very quickly or on gut instinct when I was younger have had
life-changing long-term consequences. Moving abroad after university, taking and
leaving specific jobs, spending time learning specific skills rather than
others.

So the idea of taking a more structured approach to decision-making appeals to
me (better late than never!). That’s not to say that gut instinct is always
right or wrong, but I look forward to reading How to Decide to arm myself with a
better set of tools for approaching important decisions in the future. - James

### Release Date

October 13th 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/How-Decide-Simple-Making-Choices-ebook/dp/B07TRJB3S3/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=f85ad205de489ca676c4fa7defe29e28&language=en_US" />

<Box textAlign="center" pt={8}>
  <h2>
    3. A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future -
    Sir David Attenborough
  </h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="david-attenborough-a-life-on-our-planet_rswnqp"
  altText="A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

“I am 94. I've had an extraordinary life. It's only now that I appreciate how
extraordinary.

As a young man, I felt I was out there in the wild, experiencing the untouched
natural world - but it was an illusion. The tragedy of our time has been
happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day - the loss of our
planet's wild places, its biodiversity.

I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet is my witness
statement, and my vision for the future. It is the story of how we came to make
this, our greatest mistake - and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right.

We have one final chance to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore
the wonderful world we inherited.'

All we need is the will to do so.”

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

Sir David Attenborough is beloved in Britain. His voice is known to millions who
have grown up to his narrations on television shows exploring exotic and faraway
parts of the world most of us could only dream about visiting. Now 93,
Attenborough really has lived an extraordinary life and I’m really looking
forward to learning more about it in his own words. - James

### Release Date

October 6th, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Our-Planet-Witness-Statement/dp/1538719983/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=ce6963e255cb585fb329fc28aab07e0d&language=en_US" />

<Box textAlign="center" pt={8}>
  <h2>
    4. Total Meditation: Practices in Living the Awakened Life - Deepak Chopra
  </h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="deepak-chopra-total-meditation_ytrz5n"
  altText="Total Meditation: Practices in Living the Awakened Life "
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

For the past thirty years, Deepak Chopra has been at the forefront of the
meditation revolution in the West. Total Meditation offers a complete
exploration and reinterpretation of the physical, mental, emotional, relational,
and spiritual benefits that this practice can bring. Deepak guides readers on
how to wake up to new levels of awareness that will ultimately cultivate a clear
vision, heal suffering in your mind and body, and help recover who you really
are. Readers will undergo a transformative process, which will result in an
awakening of the body, mind, and spirit that will allow you to live in a state
of open, free, creative, and blissful awareness twenty-four hours a day.

With this book, Deepak elevates the practice of meditation to a life-changing
quest for higher consciousness and a more fulfilling existence. He also
incorporates new research on meditation and its benefits, provides practical
awareness exercises, and concludes with a 52-week program of meditations to help
revolutionize every aspect of your life.

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

Anything to do with meditation fascinates me and I am always wanting to
understand more about the ancient practise. Deepak is bringing up to date
research on the benefits of meditation which I am also really interested in. It
also seems this book will be filled with practical content too. The more people
that practise meditation the more at peace the world will be and I am in
complete favour of that. - Adam

### Release Date

October 1st, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1984825313/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1984825313&linkCode=as2&tag=paperbacktrav-20&linkId=298c38c47003013bfe38ef8f6cce44e0" />

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  <h2>
    5. Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy - Stephen
    Wertheim
  </h2>
</Box>

<Image266x400
  src="stephen-wertheim-tomorrow-the-world_ps3kym"
  altText="Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy"
  imageCategory="book-summaries"
/>

### What is it about?

For most of its history, the United States avoided making political and military
commitments that would entangle it in European-style power politics. Then,
suddenly, it conceived a new role for itself as the world’s armed superpower―and
never looked back. In Tomorrow, the World, Stephen Wertheim traces America’s
transformation to the crucible of World War II, especially in the months prior
to the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the Nazis conquered France, the architects of
the nation’s new foreign policy came to believe that the United States ought to
achieve primacy in international affairs forevermore.

Scholars have struggled to explain the decision to pursue global supremacy. Some
deny that American elites made a willing choice, casting the United States as a
reluctant power that sloughed off “isolationism” only after all potential
competitors lay in ruins. Others contend that the United States had always
coveted global dominance and realized its ambition at the first opportunity.
Both views are wrong. As late as 1940, the small coterie of officials and
experts who composed the U.S. foreign policy class either wanted British
preeminence in global affairs to continue or hoped that no power would dominate.
The war, however, swept away their assumptions, leading them to conclude that
the United States should extend its form of law and order across the globe and
back it at gunpoint. Wertheim argues that no one favored “isolationism”―a term
introduced by advocates of armed supremacy in order to turn their own cause into
the definition of a new “internationalism.”

We now live, Wertheim warns, in the world that these men created. A
sophisticated and impassioned narrative that questions the wisdom of U.S.
supremacy, Tomorrow, the World reveals the intellectual path that brought us to
today’s global entanglements and endless wars.

_Taken from the product description on Amazon._

### Why I want to read it

America is a country of extremes. They produce some of the world’s most
intelligent and innovative people, contribute massively to the global economy
and have had a massive influence on the entertainment industry around the world.
At the same time they lead the world in obesity rates, many millions are
illiterate and around 40,000,000 people live in poverty. I am so intrigued by
this country so when I see a book about how America became a global supremacy I
am going to read it. - Adam

### Release Date

October 30th, 2020

### Where to get it

<AmazonCta link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067424866X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=paperbacktrav-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=067424866X&linkId=a665c6af241e696ffda83dd5aec8fb2e" />


Which books coming out in October 2020 are we particularly excited about? We have compiled a list of the top five new non-fiction books to go on our reading list. Books from David Attenborough, Annie Duke, Deepak Chopra, Pete Buttigieg & Stephen Wertheim.

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