PodcastsEducaciónMere Mortals Book Reviews

Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Kyrin Down & Juan Granados
Mere Mortals Book Reviews
Último episodio

403 episodios

  • Mere Mortals Book Reviews

    The Hairy Ass Of The Art World | Get The Picture (Bianca Bosker) BOOK REVIEW

    24/06/2026 | 29 min
    Art is hairy, art is context, art is beauty and ..... art is big butts!?

    In this episode, I dive into 'Get the Picture' by Bianca Bosker, a 2024 book that explores the contemporary art world from the inside. Bosker approaches it through immersive journalism, working as a gallery assistant, art fair staffer, studio helper, museum guard and briefly as an artist herself. What I found most compelling was how the book uses those experiences to wrestle with the big questions: what counts as art, whether art is about beauty or context and how much of the industry is driven by genuine appreciation versus status, money and insider games. I talk through the parts of the book that felt especially grotesque to me — the pretension, the coded language, the collector ego, and the sense that access and reputation often matter more than the work itself.

    Thankfully, the book also shows a far more meaningful side of art. I discuss the sections that felt uplifting and enlightening, especially Bosker’s time with artists, collectors and museum guards who engage deeply with artworks and encourage slow, personal looking rather than outsourced interpretation. That side of the book helped me understand why art still matters and why people are drawn to it so powerfully. Overall, I came away feeling that the art world isn’t inherently broken so much as structurally lopsided, with highly passionate creators often vulnerable to exploitation. I really enjoyed Bosker’s writing, admired the depth of her reporting and would recommend to give it a read.

    If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:02:10) Bianca Bosker's immersive tour of the art world
    (00:04:45) The pretence, power and status games of art
    (00:08:51) Shock art and the question of what counts as art
    (00:13:07) A more meaningful and uplifting side of art
    (00:16:16) Is the art world inherently broken?
    (00:21:20) Bianca Bosker's journalism
    (00:25:02) Final Verdict
    (00:27:20) Short hiatus and podcast closing notes

    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFq
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
  • Mere Mortals Book Reviews

    Philosophy Mixed With Business | Zero To One (Peter Thiel) BOOK REVIEW

    17/06/2026 | 16 min
    Abstract ideas made definite.

    In this episode of Mere Mortals book reviews, I dive into Peter Thiel’s 'Zero To One' and why its big-picture thinking resonates more than tactical business how‑to. I explore Thiel’s blend of abstract philosophy and concrete startup stories (from PayPal to Palantir) and discuss his contrarian takes on competition, monopoly and the value of being the last mover. I unpack the optimistic vs pessimistic, determinate vs indeterminate lens Thiel uses to read cultures and markets and why these frames can guide founders to build something truly unique rather than drift into “zombie company” territory. I share what made the book engaging for me, where it might fall short if you’re after nuts-and-bolts execution and who I think will get the most out of it. Ultimately, it’s a concise, idea-rich read that can reorient how you think about differentiation, market definition and creating from zero to one.

    If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:00:35) Introducing Zero to One by Peter Thiel
    (00:04:27) Contrasting with other business classics
    (00:07:41) Why high‑level ideas can beat operational minutiae
    (00:11:03) Who is Peter Thiel? Background and ventures
    (00:12:52) Verdict: a solid read for entrepreneurs
    (00:14:00) Value for Value: how to support the show
    (00:15:08) What’s next: upcoming book reviews

    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFq
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
  • Mere Mortals Book Reviews

    Like Me Please! | How To Win Friends & Influence People (Dale Carnegie) BOOK REVIEW

    10/06/2026 | 24 min
    I'm begging you PLEASE, I'll be your very best friend.

    In this episode I review Dale Carnegie’s classic 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' nearly a century on from its publication. I walk through the book’s structure: principles on handling people, making people like you, winning others to your way of thinking and leading without resentment. Timeless advice still shines (smile, remember names, be genuinely interested, listen well) but some parts feels dated (the slow course‑shilling intro and lack of psychological depth on becoming “genuinely” interested). I also dig into the tension at the heart of the book: wanting friends and influence while being told to act without obvious self‑interest.

    If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:01:52) Book structure overview: parts and principles
    (00:06:31) Key principles sampled: smile, names, listen, importance
    (00:11:17) Childhood lens on making friends and sorting people
    (00:13:41) Author background: Dale Carnegie’s path and motives
    (00:17:19) The hard part: becoming genuinely interested
    (00:20:34) Does it hold up? A dated yet durable self‑help classic
    (00:22:29) Wrap‑up, support links and what’s next

    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFq
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
  • Mere Mortals Book Reviews

    The Iliad by Homer: Rage, Glory & Why This Ancient Epic Still Hits Hard | Book Review

    06/06/2026 | 19 min
    Most people approach The Iliad expecting the Trojan Horse. Instead, they find something darker: a story about wounded pride, uncontrollable rage, brutal violence and the moment vengeance finally gives way to pity.

    In this review, I break down Samuel Butler’s translation of Homer’s epic, the feud between Achilles and Agamemnon, Hector’s terrifying presence, the petty interference of the gods, the oral tradition behind the poem, and whether a modern reader should actually tackle this ancient monster of a book.

    00:00 — An Ancient Epic in My Hands
    00:42 — The Samuel Butler Translation
    01:03 — Did Homer Actually Write The Iliad?
    02:23 — What Is an Epic Poem?
    03:05 — This Is Not the Trojan Horse Story
    03:40 — Achilles, Hector and the Gods
    04:53 — How This Edition Structures the Story
    06:15 — The Core of The Iliad: Rage
    07:33 — Achilles Loses Everything
    08:19 — The Gods Are Petty as Hell
    09:49 — Violence, Nature and Ancient Imagery
    11:41 — The Sections I Fast-Read
    13:19 — The Power of Oral Storytelling
    15:00 — The Brutality of Battle
    15:43 — Hector Smashes Through the Gates
    17:29 — No Simple Villains, Only Human Beings
    18:13 — Honour, Glory and the Heroic Code
    19:03 — Should You Read The Iliad?
    19:22 — The Odyssey Review Is Coming


    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFq
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
  • Mere Mortals Book Reviews

    Thoughts Influence Your Character | As A Man Thinketh (James Allen) BOOK REVIEW

    03/06/2026 | 20 min
    I was wrong and I admit it .... this is the real OG self help book.

    Today I dive into James Allen’s 'As a Man Thinketh' (paired in my edition with From Poverty to Power) and it still lands today. It's short, punchy and refreshingly non-woo-woo with clear calls to personal responsibility, character-building and right thought leading to right outcomes. I read standout quotes, reflect on how its agnostic tone (with light biblical echoes) keeps the focus on self-mastery and share how it inspired me to become better. I also highlight where From Poverty to Power lost me (preachier with some outlandish claims about illness and sin) while acknowledging Allen’s hard-earned optimism given his tough life story. Overall verdict: skip Poverty To Power, but As a Man Thinketh is a timeless, motivating read that influenced Hill, Peale and Carnegie.

    If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:02:16) Core premise: thoughts shape character and outcomes
    (00:05:40) From Poverty to Power: preachiness and sermon feel
    (00:13:22) Author profile: James Allen’s hard‑earned optimism
    (00:16:12) Overall take: the real OG of self‑help
    (00:18:39) Value for Value, feedback and support
    (00:19:27) What’s next: upcoming reviews and schedule

    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/Xs9DjsurFq
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
Más podcasts de Educación
Acerca de Mere Mortals Book Reviews
Hey we are the Mere Mortals and we review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (the 'classics' if you will). Join us on Weekly live episode on Thurs 11am AEST (Thurs 1am UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan.
Sitio web del podcast

Escucha Mere Mortals Book Reviews, Estoicismo Filosofia y muchos más podcasts de todo el mundo con la aplicación de radio.net

Descarga la app gratuita: radio.net

  • Añadir radios y podcasts a favoritos
  • Transmisión por Wi-Fi y Bluetooth
  • Carplay & Android Auto compatible
  • Muchas otras funciones de la app
Mere Mortals Book Reviews: Podcasts del grupo