50 Titles per Year - 4th READING - Daddy Muscles - Dylan Stafford

 To close the second month of 2021 readings, here goes a very special title, the best of this year so far in my opinion: Daddy Muscles by Dylan Stafford.

I was waiting to have the chance to read this book, and finally, as I prepare to apply for the MBA programs in the U.S. I put this book on my list to know more about the Dean of the FEMBA program at UCLA Anderson himself, Dylan Stafford. I know him since I started my UCLA Extension Certificate Program, after taking part in a couple of recruiting events at UCLA Anderson (either as a guest or working for UCLA Catering), and from his Podcast - DRIVE TIME. (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/fully-employed-mba/culture/drive-time-podcast). 

I knew this book was about having a baby and being a dad, something I am far from right now, but I wanted to know about Dylan's story, and, honestly, I surprised me a lot. It exceeded my expectations. I was waiting to read about changing diapers and all, but what I got was a piece of his biography, and, for real, what a inspiring story! He writes about his life as a student at A&M Texas, his Siemens manager position, some insights about sobriety and, of course, getting married and building a family. What caught my attention was his proximity to his faith by converting to Catholicism and how this guided him through his life changes. 

I think I read this book in like 3 days, so aficionado I was about this reading, so I strongly recommend for you to read that too if you are interested in inspiration, motivation and overcoming obstacles for evolving in life. I already ordered his next book and I can't wait to read it!

Title: Daddy Muscles

Author: Dylan Stafford

Year: 2010

Pages: 236

Link: www.amazon.com/Daddy-Muscles-First-Time-Pregnancy-Parenthood/dp/0557515475

50 Titles per Year - 2nd READ - Make Your Bed

 I just finished the second title from the 2021 list of 50 books. MAKE YOUR BED. I think I got the suggestion for this book from another book that I was reading but I don't remember exactly which one, I think DADDY MUSCLES by Dylan Stafford (more info on next post). This is one way in which I get many references for  new readings. Some books refer other author, so I go after them, and that is how I always have a big list of books to read. And I love it. S2

Anyway, MAKE YOUR BED is a bestseller written by Admiral William H. McRaven, a Navy Seal who describes his experience from his training to become a SEAL to his challenges in Iraq at wartime. It's incredible how tough these guys are. Comparing to them, my problems are kids stuff. The main message that I got from the book and that I can definitely apply to my life is about failure. For them, failing at their training to become a SEAL meant that they would keep trying, dedicating more time, putting more effort and overcoming any obstacle to achieve their goals. And that is exactly what I'm gonna do when I face my personal failures. Keep trying. Do my best. Put more effort each time I try again. Learn from my mistakes and improve myself to achieve my goals and change the world. Join me on this challenge and on this reading!

Title: Make your Bed

Author: Admiral William H. McRaven

Year: 2017

Pages: 144

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Bed-Little-Things/dp/1455570249/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiApsiBBhCKARIsAN8o_4gRybXhQmh_qgp3AiaovY5PKac_BSww1zfkBtTTnoVfrmx9qf9TBp0aAgLMEALw_wcB&hvadid=241628658185&hvdev=c&hvlocint=9061122&hvlocphy=1001552&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8131003197207492379&hvtargid=kwd-297112561431&hydadcr=22532_10353775&keywords=make+your+bed&qid=1613944170&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20

50 titles per year - 1st READ - The Power of Now

 First title to debut this blog is "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. I received this as a gift from my girlfriend and this motivated me to read this bool. I've already known about this book, I see people talking about it, I've seen posts and comments and, honestly, I have already tried to read it, but I dropped it after the first half because I think I found something more interest at that time. I mean, it's not bad at all, it's a good reading, but I think the this topic about "living in the present" and not worrying about the future and the past too much it's a little saturated. Also, although he uses some examples of the Bible, and other religions too, like Buddhism, Judaism and Islamic, I think he does that to kind of shoots everywhere and say what people want to hear and like the book, what I would define in word as "charlatanism". Specially because he actually criticize the view of God as the religions say, so, me, as a good Catholic, I have to disagree, because I already have my doctrines and dogmas to follow. But the tentative to join all the concepts in one independent view is interest. Some people may like it, because it is a bestseller after all.

I must confess that I forced myself to finish the book this time because I thought that I could extract something good from it, and I think it helped a little to control my anxieties. I try to just accept what it is as it is. The "isness" of things like he said. It helps you to not worry too much about little problems that are part of life, and it is good for your mind and body. It's a little like meditation. So if you are into meditation and this stuff or if you like to explore different doctrines and religions, this is the reading for you!

Title: The Power of Now

Author: Eckhart Tolle

Year: 1997

Pages: 258

Link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/genericItemsPage/PDVHJN3YGU4N?type=wishlist&_encoding=UTF8

50 Titles Book List 2021

I finally found a little time to prepare the 50 titles book list for 2021! (check my social media and previous posts for previous years' 50 titles book list.

Hopefully I will keep with my goal of 50 books per year in 2021 again. Since 2018 I've been making this practice a routine, and it's really good, I've learned a lot and I got very inspired to do many things in my life and spark ideas, practices and habits that definitely made my life better and helped me find the path to reach my goals and dreams. 

If you want to join me on this journey, contact me here or on my social media. Let's read together. I need suggestions to complete the 50 titles for this year and it's good to have partners in this challenge to make it more engaging. The objective is to transform this practice into a book club. Join us! 

The idea is to read 1 book per week, have a virtual meeting to discuss the reading and give suggestions for next readings. Also, I will post here every week about each book we read. I am completely open for any ideas. This is supposed to be a collaborative blog. I need your help! I'm sure you will benefit for this too.

It's very simple, if you read 30 hour per day (15min in the morning, 15 in the evening or whatever works for you) and you will make like 40 pages per day, so about 200 per week. You can have a sprint on the weekend to finish the book too. Then we will meet virtually Saturday night to talk about the reading. What do you think? Any ideas and suggestions are welcome. Me and the pages are waiting for you to join us to have fun, learn and improve your life!

50 TITLES LIST 2021

1- The Joy of Imperfection - Damon Zahariades

2- Radical Candor - Kim Scott

3- Rock your Business - David Fishof

4- Household Gold - 

5- The Power of Now - Eckart Tolle

6- Rust in Peace - Dave Mustaine

7- Strategy Implementation - Daniel A. Nathanson

8- Alibaba - Duncan Clark

9- The Wow Factory - Paul Levesque

10- Questions that Work - Andrew Finlayson

11- Enterprise One to one - Don Peppers

12- The Tao of Personal Leadership - Diane Dreher

13- Strengths Finder 2.0 - Don Clifton

14- The 30 Day Productitvity Plan - Damon Zahariades

15- To do List Formula - Damon Zahariades

16- The Mental Toughness - Damon Zahariades

17- Morning Makeover - Damon Zahariades

18- Digital Detox -Damon Zahariades

19- Small Habits Revolution - Damon Zahariades

20- 80/20 Your Life - Damon Zahariades 

21- Mini Habits - Damon Zahariades

22- The Time Chunking - Damon Zahariades

23- Digital Minimalism - Damon Zahariades

24- Fast Focus - Damon Zahariades

25- On Fraternity and Social Friendship - Pope Francis

26- How to Win Every Argument - Madsen Pirie

27- Make Your Bed - William H. Mcraven

28- Scaling Up - Verne Harnish

29- The Leader Phrase Book - Sethi Ramit

30- Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman

31- Jobs to be Done - Lindsay Ulwick

32- Zero to One - Peter Thiel

33- How to Change the World - Jeff Hoffman

34- What got you here won't get you there

35- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

36- The Start-up of You

37- Ahead of the Curve_ Two Years at Harvard Business School 

38- Becoming 

39- The Power of Positive Thinking

40- Never Split the Difference_ Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

41- Trump-Style Negotiation_ Powerful Strategies and Tactics for Mastering Every Deal

42- Lead the Field

43- The Strangest Secret

44- Better Than Good_ Creating a Life You Can't Wait to Live 

45- Suggestion 

46- Suggestion

47- Suggestion

48- Suggestion

49- Suggestion

50- Suggestion

link to amazon list: 50 Titles a Year Book Club - LIST