Monthly Mullingš”
2023 Wrapped: From Page Flippers to Thought Shifters
Hiš TapanĀ here!
The holiday season is upon us. Another year around the sun. Another year of failed āgetting healthyā goals. And another opportunity to set āgetting healthyā goals.
As we wrap up this year, I wanted to share some reading recommendations and 3 goals I am setting for next year. Btw, I have wisened up and not setting any āgetting healthyā goals this year š„²
But first, a massive thank you to everyone who's been following this newsletter and to all the new subscribers who've joined along the way! ā¤ļø
The newsletter hit over 7,500 views, while my website saw more than 21,000 views. Plus, we've had a solid 29% increase in subscribers year over year!
The following newsletter issue topped the charts as the most-read this year:
š©ļø Survivorship Bias, Warren Buffett's Noah Principle, and Unlikely Champions Razor
š¢ Why We Remember What We Do: An Unexpected Key West Adventure and the Peak-End Rule
š When More is Actually Less: The Paradox of Choice
āļø For 2024, my goal is to reach 3,000 subscribers. So, if you like what you've been reading and would like to support, please share Monthly Mullingš”with your friends, colleagues, or family! šš½
š A Year In Books
Matching last year's tally, I've hit 47 books so far. Currently on my 48th, but it seems I won't be able to brag about it in todayās newsletter.
But let's be honest, not all 15,000 pages were read. Some were skimmed, others skipped. If you fast forward a decade, I'm betting I'll recall the details of just 4-5 of these books. This is okay. As Sara Nisha Adams says,
Sometimes, books just take us away for a little while, and return us to our place with a new perspective.
I tried to read a lot more fiction and biographies this year which you will see in my recommendations.
āļø For 2024, a second goal of mine is to broaden my reading across more disciplines and industries, targeting at least three new areas. I'm stepping out of my comfort zones in history and psychology to explore new territories. First up on this exploration? A deep dive into the intriguing world of the restaurant business!
š Top Three: My Favourite Page-Turners of the Year
š¦ Lion Trackerās Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
This is one of my hall of famers. Boyd, a life coach and lion tracker, uses the metaphor of a lion-tracking expedition to share life lessons.
I believe this is one of those books that must enter your life at the perfect moment for you to fully appreciate its depth; otherwise, it's just another story. I wrote about it in one of my previous newsletters which you can read here.
If you can see your whole lifeās path laid out then itās not your lifeās path.
ā Joseph Campbell
šš½ Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly
Itās a lifetime's worth of advice compiled into short, memorable aphorisms. Itās easy read but extremely difficult to follow.
Simple, good guidance for all aspects of life such as business, career, relationships, health, and wealth.
You are what you do. Not what you say not what you believe not how you vote but what you spend your time on.
ā Kevin Kelly
š§ Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger by Peter Bevelin
This book is a compilation of mental models from multiple disciplines. Itās not just one of the best books I have read but also a summary of all the ideas I have ingested in the past 3-4 years.
It includes numerous insights and lessons from the legendary Charlie Munger, who, sadly, passed away this month at 99. His wit and wisdom, however, lives on through his teachings.
In my shift to digital, I've been leaning more towards Kindle and less towards physical books, unless they're truly exceptional. This book is the one paperback I felt compelled to buy this year, despite already owning it on Kindle. It also holds the record for the most highlights I've ever made in any Kindle book!
It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.
ā Charlie Munger
Psst, you can also check out my all-time favourite book picks herešš½
š„° Honorable Mentions: Five More Reads Worth Your Time
š¤ What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama: Five intertwined tales, all centred around the charming world of one public library. It's a brief yet heartwarming journey through the pages.
š¶āš«ļø Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami: True to Murakami's style, this book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of confusion, disgust, and a profound sense of depth. As you delve deeper, you'll find yourself lost in his world and end the book brimming with questions. Definitely, a page-turner.
š§Ŗ Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: Plenty has been said about this book, yet it truly stood out to me as a compelling read. Skillfully navigating through sensitive themes, it tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, a singularly remarkable single mother and chemist in the male-dominated world of 1960s America. Itās her journey to becoming an unexpected cooking show host and an inspiring role model for her daughter.
š We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Through humour and relatable examples, Adichie crafts a unique and inclusive definition of twenty-first-century feminism, rooted in awareness and understanding.
š Half Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati: Itās the biography of Indiaās 9th Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao, and delves into his pivotal role steering India in two defining moments of modern Indian history: the 1991 economic reforms and the Babri Masjid demolition.
And that wraps up my book recommendations for the year. I'd like to leave you with a final thought, sparked by Morgan Houselās latest book, Same As Ever.
Want to understand the changing world? Start with what stays the same.
Jeff Bezos once pointed out in an interview, 'People will always want cheap things, quickly.' Warren Buffett echoed a similar sentiment, noting, 'People were greedy in the 1920s and they were in 2008.'
āļø So, here's my final goal: to seek out, comprehend, and refine my understanding of such timeless principles that not only persist through time but also have a profound impact on our lives.
It's about grasping the unchanging to navigate the changing.
Until next year,
Tapan
Thanks for reading šš½ Do you think any of your friends or family will like Monthly Mulling like you? Please share!š
If you have any comments, you can connect with me on Twitter or reply to this email!