As we wrap up the year of podcasting, Jonesy and Ashto review our favourite book we read and reviewed on the podcast this year. After going through a few honourable mentions, we share our respective "Top 10s", plus a special musical treat at the end based on a couple of the books high up on the list (apologies for the long time fans "the song" is not back yet... this is a different song) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ashto and Jonesy learns the basic knowledge you need to have when you (or your partner) fall pregnant and a few basic do’s and don’ts about pregnancy that you may not have thought about before.  A compilation of advice and guidelines backed by the latest research, What to Expect When You're Expecting is one of the best go-to manuals for new parents around the world. In this book, Heidi Murkoff explains the week-to-week overview of pregnancy and touches on important points such as...

David and Goliath is an investigation into what happens when the ‘underdog’ is forced to face an outsize challenge. In this book, Malcolm Gladwell asks us to reconsider how we perceive obstacles and disadvantages in our lives. He argues that the same qualities and traits that appear to give the ‘giants’ their strength are also their weakness points. Drawn from history and psychology, Gladwell uses a compelling narrative to reshape the way we see the world around us and practise what might...

Stolen Focus is a guide that can help us reclaim our focus, whether as individuals or as a society.  If you’re getting interrupted while focusing on something, on average, it takes 23 minutes for you to get back into a state of focus. But there never seems to be enough stillness, or cool and clear space for you to stop and think. When you are unable to pay sustained attention you can't achieve the things you want to achieve. You want to read a book, but you are pulled away by the pings and...

This week, Jonesy and Ashto learn an unconventional approach to making the best use of their time from Four Thousand Weeks. In contrast to other time management or productivity books, this book debunks the idea of time management as we know it. Productivity is a trap. Nobody in the history of humanity has ever achieved the ideal work-life balance. You certainly won’t get there by simply joining the ‘5 am club’ or copying ‘The 6 Things Successful People Do Before 7 am’ that you see on...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy delve into Swipe to Unlock: an introduction to technology and business strategy concepts, and a compulsory read for anyone pursuing a career in the tech industry. Understanding technology is becoming essential no matter what you do for a living. Doctors are now using artificial intelligence to diagnose patients. Farmers are using drones to grow better crops. If the world’s biggest companies used to be oil and electric firms, they have now been replaced by the likes...

This week, Jonesy and Ashto explore the concept of human nature and history from the perspective of moral psychology. The Righteous Mind examines why it’s difficult for us to get along and understands why society is so easily divided into hostile groups (each so certain of its righteousness). This book draws on the latest research in neuroscience, genetics, social psychology and evolutionary modelling. But the main message of the book is ancient – it is the realisation that we are all...

How does a penniless Russian tennis club with one indoor court create more top-twenty women players than the entire United States? How does a humble storefront music school in Dallas, Texas produce Jessica Simpson, Demi Lovato and a succession of pop music phenomena? How does a poor, scantily educated British family in a remote village turn out three world-class writers, the Bronte sisters? The Talent Code is all about understanding talent hotbeds – mysterious talents that seem to bloom...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy identify the key barriers to making changes and mitigating them. Everyone has something they want to change – marketers who wish to change their customers’ minds, leaders to transform organisations, start-ups to change industries or nonprofits to change the world. However, change is hard, especially when nothing moves after countless efforts.  The Catalyst takes a different approach to successfully executing change, focusing on removing significant roadblocks and...

The Cold Start Problem addresses how tech’s most successful products solved the dreaded ‘cold start problem’ by leveraging network effects to engage billions of users. In today’s climate, it’s easier to build tech software. However, launching and scaling new products and services remains challenging. Utilised by tech giants like Apple, Google and Microsoft, the network effects are a solution that allows emerging products to break through by attracting new users through viral growth and word...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy discover the art and science of perfect timing and learn how they guide you towards more successful outcomes. Drawn from Daniel H. Pink’s research on psychology, biology and economics, When reveals useful guidance on working smarter and living better by relying on the right timing to build the ideal schedule. How do certain breaks improve student test scores dramatically? Why should we avoid going to the hospital in the afternoon? What is the ideal time to change...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy redefine the reasoning and motivation behind innovation through How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley. In this book, Ridley argues that innovation is a process that turns existing inventions into practical and affordable solutions for other people.  But do we understand the true core of innovation and the best way to encourage it? Do we set targets, rules, and standards along with direct research? Or do we deregulate from these expectations and set people free? The...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy learn about Google Ventures’ unique five-day process of product prototyping and testing ideas with customers. A bestseller that touches on business strategy, innovation, behavioural science, design, and more, Sprint includes a step-by-step process that any startup team can utilise for their project. This book presents a preview of the future through a finished product and customer reactions, giving startups an opportunity to assess the potential of a product before...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy learn practical strategies to ease the process of completing essential tasks from the instant NYT bestseller Effortless. As implied by the title, this book is a guide that offers alternative solutions to lighten the struggle of completing your tasks. Proposed by Greg Mckeown, these strategies include: removing unnecessary steps, prioritising progress over perfection, and identifying the finish line of your project.  Hard work can produce better results, but there’s...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy venture on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and meditation practices and learn how Buddhism encourages moral clarity and enduring happiness. Written by Robert Wright, Why Buddhism Is True uses the concept of evolutionary psychology and progressive neuroscience to explain the relevance of Buddhist philosophy in improving our lives. According to Wright, Buddhism presents an opportunity to liberate ourselves from the delusions in our minds. How do we stay...

Do you realise that you and all the people you know play games with each other – all the time? It can be sexual games with a love interest, competitive games with our friends, power games with our boss, or marital games with our spouse. Regardless of the subject matter or the setting, these games are deeply integrated into our daily lives that we become oblivious to them. Developed by Eric Berne, Games People Play is an original, wise, and witty analysis of the psychology behind human...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy investigate the tension between our evolutionary history and modern problems and how we can resolve this issue. Although we live through the most flourishing age in human history, we are lifeless and divided. In A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to Modern History, evolutionary biologists Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein pinpoint the accelerating rate of change in the modern world as the leading cause that overtakes our brain capacity and body's ability to adapt.  In this...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy learn how fourteen remarkable companies maintain a successful, profitable business by redefining the conventional business strategies. In Small Giants, veteran journalist Bo Burlingham introduces alternative approaches these companies have taken to stay powerful. By rejecting the pressure to grow revenue, they focus on other fulfilling business goals, including creating a great place to work, providing excellent customer service, or contributing to their local...

This week, Jonesy and Ashto learn to define creativity from Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo da Vinci. In this critically acclaimed biography, Isaacson writes a narrative that connects Leonardo’s brilliant artistry to his passion for science. He illustrates how Leonardo developed his expertise based on skills we can improve in ourselves, including passionate curiosity, careful observation, and a playful imagination. Just like many other great innovators, Leonardo’s creativity was born from having...

This week, Ashto and Jonesy delve into history’s most turbulent economic and political periods through the New York Times bestseller Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order. In this book, the legendary investor and author of Principles Ray Dalio immerses us in his study of major empires and compares the successes and failures of all the world’s major countries throughout history. With 50 years of experience in studying global economies and markets, Dalio reveals the timeless and...

This week, Jonesy and Ashto venture into Tim Ferriss’ world of rapid learning through the bestselling The 4-Hour Chef. In this book, Ferriss uses cooking methods to explain a process that we can follow to master anything–whether it’s searing a steak in the kitchen or shooting the perfect basketball shot. With tips and tricks from chess prodigies, world-renowned chefs, pro athletes, and more successful figures, The 4-Hour Chef is a helpful guide to mastering life. Ferriss takes you through the...

Whether it’s your grandparent, a teacher, or someone older and wise, you’ve probably met an influential figure who understood you when you were young and searching for answers in life. For Mitch Alborn, that person was his old college professor Morrie Schwartz. Mitch was fortunate to have a second chance of gleaning from his wisdom during Morrie’s last months of life. He would visit Morrie in his study every Tuesday, and each visit would turn into a lesson in living life.  ‘Taking just makes...

In Atlas of the Heart, Dr Brene Brown takes us on a journey through the 87 emotions and experiences that define the meaning of being human. Drawn from extensive research over the past two decades, Atlas of the Heart provides an overview of the necessary skills and actionable framework for building meaningful connections. The natural gift of cultivating meaningful connections with others involves having an equally deep relationship with ourselves and being able to explore without the fear of...

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Drawn on Milkman’s research and the work of her scientific collaborators, How to Change introduces strategic methods for identifying and overcoming obstacles that hinder change. Habits such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness often hold us back from making positive changes in our lives. Through various case studies and engaging stories, this book will teach you the following points:   •   Why timing can be everything when it comes to making a change   •   How to turn temptation...