Luke Conran — Reading

The 5 AM Club

Robin Sharma · May 2025 · ★★☆☆☆

Robin Sharma explored the interesting topic of waking up early and setting the first hour of your day in order, with the expectation that the rest of the day will follow smoothly. There was many motivational quotes and stories from various well-known figures from history, and it served as a great reminder of what it takes to achieve greatness. While it was a little convoluted in nature, and lacked the practicality of many other books I have read, I enjoyed the motivational amplification it has added to my life, and I am thankful for that. Overall, I would say it isn't a spectacular read, but it is a decent read for those who are looking to be motivated and inspired to wake up early and take control of their day. It is not life-changing information, however.

Morning routines can set the tone for your entire day, but implementation requires more than motivation.

Don't Believe Everything You Think

Joseph Nguyen · May 2025 · ★★★★☆

Joseph Nguyen explores the fascinating topic of overthinking, and how it can limit your satisfaction with life and overall happiness. An interesting quote that continues to stick with me that the book included was "I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it." Nguyen takes an extremist approach as to say that all thinking brings about displeasure, and that to limit the entirety of it would lead to a peaceful and happy life. He draws upon specific examples of asking the reader when they are most happy, and I specifically think of the moments when I used to play games in my backyard with the neighbors, and time would fly past. I see now that in those times when "time flew", I was not thinking at all, but totally in the present moment. Especially in the modern world of rampantly being bombarded with information, I thought this book was quite valuable, and will likely reread and remind myself of its principles in the future.

Our happiest moments often occur when we're fully present, not lost in thought.

The Defining Decade

Dr. Meg Jay · April 2025 · ★★★☆☆

Dr. Meg Jay did not rattle my brain with any epiphanies after reading this book, but it did serve as a great reminder of the importance of the twenties. I always enjoy learning what might be good decisions in the future for me, and this book did just that. Jay's book is a great reminder that the twenties are a time to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. As she describes, the twenties are an overhyped decade, where everyone younger than twenty wants to act older, and everyone older yearns to go back. However, it is alright to be a little lost in your twenties, and to not have everything figured out. Set yourself up for success in your thirties, because life gets hectic then. Make the leap and figure what's next for you. Don't sit around and wait for life to happen, but instead take action.

Your twenties are a crucial decade for laying the foundation of your future, so be proactive.

The 2 AM Principle

Jon Levy · March 2025 · ★★★☆☆

Jon Levy shocked my worldview a little bit with this book, and reminded me of my youth and the recklessness I could get into to gather great stories. The 2 AM Principle was a great reminder that I do not want my entire life to consist of just cutting out all pleasures and working to achieve greatness, but also that I would like to experience incredibly fun and novel adventures. While Levy did seem like he was slightly promoting his own greatness, I did find the book actually quite enlightening. Levy broke down the principles of each of his novel adventures into four distinct areas, and how each must be utilized to create a wonderful night. In the future, while I am not as crazy or reckless as Levy in my decisions, I will likely keep his principles in mind if I want to host or create great events for friends, or when I am exploring in a different country. Ultimately, this did not create anything in my life as of yet, but it was a great reminder to experience novelty in one's life and create adventure, and thus I deem it solid in worth.

Life needs balance between achievement and adventure—both contribute to meaningful experiences.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey · April 2024 · ★★★★☆

Stephen R. Covey broke effectiveness down in seven distinct habits that I found quite interesting to read with this book. Due to the fact that I was forced to read this book with an organization, I find I remember much less of it than I would have liked, but I do remember some of the key principles. Some of the more important ones to me personally were the first, "Be Proactive", the third, "Put First Things First", and the fifth, "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood". These three habits were all areas of life that I struggled with (and still do), and I found that they were quite useful in helping me to become more effective in my personal and professional life. I find I am much better at shaping the future of my life with the first and third, and I am much better at listening to others and understanding their perspectives with the fifth. Overall, I would say this book is a great read for anyone looking to become more effective in their life, with some very practical advice. I think I will reread it again in the future to refresh my memory on the other habits, as I do not remember them as well.

Do the harder things such as being proactive, prioritizing effectively, and understanding others first, and life will flow better after.

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho · January 2024 · ★★★☆☆

Paulo Coelho takes a much different approach to this book than many others on this list, and it is a much more philosophical and spiritual read. Through the telling of a story, Coelho shows the importance of following your dreams and true intentions for your life. The book is a great reminder that life is not just about the destination, but also about the journey and the lessons learned along the way. I found that the book forced me to think uncomfortably (in a good way), as it has made me think about my own life and what I truly want to achieve. While I still am yet to find the ultimate purpose of my life, I do find that I am much more in tune with my own desires and what I want to achieve. While philosophical, I think this a fun read intertwined with good lessons.

Pursuing your personal legend and dreams is essential for a fulfilling life, and the journey is as important as the destination.

How To Talk To Anyone

Leil Lowndes · August 2023 · ★★☆☆☆

Leil Lowndes took an interesting approach to the layout of this book, but the practicality of it was quite useful. The book is laid out in a series of tips and tricks to help you become a better conversationalist, and it does not disappoint. While there are an abundance, too many to remember, I found that the ones I did remember were quite useful. One of my favorites that has not only helped me improve my relationships with others, but also helped me just become happier is "The Flooding Smile". This is the idea that when you meet someone, you should smile at them as if you are seeing an old friend, and then hold that smile for a few seconds. This creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, and it has made me feel wonderful when I do it. Overall, I would say this book is a great read for anyone looking to improve their social skills, although it can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of information presented.

Small changes in how you approach conversations can lead to significant improvements in your social interactions.

Breath

James Nestor · June 2023 · ★★★★★

James Nestor has severely impacted my life with this book, and it resonated with me at a depth I did not expect. Communicating through a story but with well-backed research, Nestor opened my eyes to the wonders of our breathing, and how we have lost our way. Whether related to our aesthetics in terms of tongue posture, the development of breathing difficulties such as asthma or sleep apnea, or even deeper explanations of what people label miracles, I learned an incredible amount of valuable information. Each day after I have read this book, I now think of my own breathing, how to keep it optimal, and how to set up my nighttime routine to give me the best benefits in the future. I am even considering expanding my palate in the future to hopefully bring about a better lifestyle. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is attempting to stay ahead on their health, especially for those with breathing difficulties.

Proper breathing techniques can dramatically improve health, sleep quality, and overall well-being.

Atomic Habits

James Clear · February 2023 · ★★★★☆

James Clear has altered my life through the course of this book. As I have placed the principles of this book into action in my life, I have found a profound amount of success in breaking bad habits. To be honest, it hasn't significantly helped me develop good habits, but in terms of breaking bad habits, it has been exceptional. The clearest example of this for me is my ease in limiting my processed food and sugar intake, and how I find no discomfort in forgoing dessert or other sugary treats. As I grow older and will be able to shape my environment more fully (such as when I live alone in my own apartment), I think I will be able to use his teachings to an even further degree, and this excites me. I highly recommend this book, but if you do not think critically to apply the principles to your life, I doubt you will find success. Put them into action!

Make bad habits invisible, difficult, and unattractive; make good habits obvious, easy, and attractive.