Okay so now that I have more time, I can write about what I have been listening to while running. Since March I have run largely by myself and have discovered the great selection of audiobooks that the Dallas Public Library has available. For those that are interested I use my library card, which gives me access to free audio books. What I do is log in to the Libby app and also the Dallas public library app. From there you can search audio book and what is available. I like non fiction so that is what I mostly hear. Also since I'm running around 12 hours a day doing the 6X 2 hour routine, I can listen to a book about once a week depending on the length of the book.
Also another thing that I have learned is the use of different headphones. I started using my apple Airpods and I quickly learned that ear wax can build up if not careful. After some research I learned of 'running headphones.' One of the difference was that these go over your ears instead of in your ears. This is important because you can have a greater sense of your surrounding and it doesn't cause the wax build up. Also with the summer heat and sweat, water proof is super important.
The list of books:
Onward By Howard Schultz
Interesting book about the founder of Starbucks and how the company has grown over the years. Schultz mentions things like helping the coffee farmers, and providing employees with healthcare which was unheard of in the industry. Overall the book was interesting and was a good reminder of the importance of providing a good product and treating people correctly, the whole people over profit concept was reinforced.
Meet the Frugalwoods By Elizabeth Thames
If there is one book that I looked forward to this was one of them. Frugalwoods is a couple that blogs and it deals with there journey to financial independence. The book was super helpful in understanding the importance of saving and being efficient with finance. Also it introduced the concept of financial independence retire early, and how a couple with middle class income can build wealth.
The Hiltons By Randy Taraborrelli
Really interesting book about the family that started the Hilton Hotels and the legacy. It was interesting to read about how the founder was able to take advantage of the low prices of the great depression and could foreshadow the recovery of the economy and the hotel industry could grow so much after the depression. The book also was a good reminder of how 2 and 3 generations who are left large sums of money can actually be detrimental to their lives.
White Trash By Nancy Isenberg
This book was very eye opening and a reminder that the large majority of White's in America have by and large been poor. While listening to the book I learned that poor White's have been taught that although they struggle and have minimal assets at least they are not people of color. It was interesting to read about the Little Rock integrations of schools and how it was the poor whites that were integrated while, 'Cadillac HS' remained the same. The book was a great reminder of how race has been used by the elite to divide the different groups in America.
Psychopath Free Jackson MacKenzie
The book was about what the author referred to 'Psychopath's' and the toll that they take when people interact with them. The book goes over for example the different personality disorders or Axis 2 in the DSM. As a counselor the book was interesting although a little vague, but that was understandable as it is meant for the general audience. It was also a good reminder on how much damage a person with such traits can do to your mental health.
Superfreakonomics and Think Like a Freak By Steven Levitt & Stephen Dudner
I lumped these two books together as they were by the same author and series. The books are great and would also recommend the podcast. The examples that they give are fantastic and really make you think about different social aspects. One thing that stood out was how inefficient some government interventions have been and have actually caused complete opposite effects from what they were intended. From Ignaz Semmelweis mission to wash his hands to the bystander effect on crime this series are great to listen and see how things are not always what they appear.
Every Tool's a Hammer by Adam Savage
As a fan of Myth Buster's this was a interesting read. First I got to see listen to about about Adam's life and how he ended up working with Jamie. Also the book reinforced the importance of working with your hands and the demand for trade jobs. Even in the current recession many jobs are still in demand for the trades. Also it was a good reminder as a parent of building with a child and letting them use there hands.
The Index Card by Helaine Olen
This is a good finance book. I would say if you are just going to read one book on finance this might be it. It goes into index investment, the importance of compound interest, low fees, and saving rate among other things. The book is simple to implement and was a good reminder of the different things that I needed to look at in order to have more peace of mind. Money is not everything in life, but it can provide a lot more stability and can allow more options as to your use of time.
The Great Journey By David McCullough
I had read the John Adams by David McCullough, so this book caught my eye. The book goes into great detail about the journey of Americans that went to Paris during the 1800s. From Medical students to artist, the book goes into the reasons for there month long journey on boat and why they would go. It also went into the different famines and social unrest that occurred during the time. The book was interesting and insightful into why Americans would travel to Paris and how the two countries influenced one another.
Heads in Beds By Jacob Tomsky
This memoir about a worker in the hotel industry was a interesting listen. Hearing about the hotel industry and how different workers and their lives had mixed emotions. The author goes into detail about how cut throat the industry is and how it affects the workers from the house keepers to the managers. It also has a great deal of humor from the worker that they nicknames 'el salvaje' to how the author was fired and later reinstated thanks to the unions this book kept me interested in the life story and all the mixed emotions of the author.
In Defense of Food By Michael Pollan
Eat food, Not too much, Mostly Plants. This was the advice of the book and it went into detail about the different aspects of food. From the workers who pick the food, to how it is processed. The book goes into detail on the treads of America. For example the high use of sugars and carbohydrates. It was also a good reminder of past trends and how the 'American diet' is a fairly recent invention that has caused a great deal of chronic illnesses.
The social distancing has definitely opened my eyes to all the great audio books. As I finish more books I'll provide a summary, I hope they are helpful. Thanks for reading!
Libby App Link
https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/
After shokz headphone they make various model but these were the most economical
https://www.amazon.com/Auriculaers-descubiertas-titanium-bluetooth-AfterShokz/dp/B018XNGO5A/ref=asc_df_B018XNGO5A/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241970631835&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6218080902229612630&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026919&hvtargid=pla-404032791506&psc=1
Dallas Public Library you can search all the books available
https://dallaslibrary.overdrive.com/
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