3 Non-Fiction Books to Help You Master Your Skills and Achieve More Success in Life
And a few bonus materials for the curious minds.
Hey there, dear subscribers! Today is a good day because the new edition is here, which means you get some new book recs!
It’s been a while since we had a full edition dedicated to non-fiction. And if you’ve been waiting for it, you might especially enjoy this one.
In this issue, you’ll find some of the gems for improving certain skills, such as negotiation and active listening, as well as a book that invites us to look at the bigger picture and reconsider our mindset.
These books certainly have a bunch to offer to a curious reader, and I invite you to read them with an open mind.
This is our first edition hosted on Substack, and I hope you like it!
P.S. Looking to read some of the previous editions? You can find them here.
#1 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol S. Dweck
What is this book about and why is it worth reading?
The book explores the concept of mindset and how our beliefs about our abilities can influence our success and personal development. Dr. Dweck introduces the idea of the "fixed mindset", the belief that abilities and intelligence are static traits, and the "growth mindset", the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Here’s how she defined it in her interview:
“In a fixed mindset students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb.
“In a growth mindset students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.
According to Dweck, individuals may not even be aware of their own mindset, but it can be evident in their behavior and reaction to failure as fixed-mindset individuals tend to dread failure and consider it a negative statement on their abilities. She argues that two mindsets play an important role in our lives, and that the growth mindset allows us to live a less stressful and more successful life.
The book also offers advice on how one can cultivate a growth mindset for personal growth and success. One essential takeaway for me was the importance of not pushing anyone into a fixed mindset in the first place, for example, through praising children’s intelligence, which can make them avoid challenges and be risk-averse.
While I value the insights in the book, I did have one issue with it: it could have been an email. The book extensively explores the two mindsets in various settings, offering a bunch of comparisons and real-life examples. But once you grasp the core idea, what comes next might feel like a stretch.
It's also worth noting that other researchers have found it difficult to replicate Dweck’s findings, which caused a fair share of criticism. However, I think the belief that intelligence is not genetic and fixed can be a powerful motivator for personal growth. If the growth mindset will help you increase your motivation to learn even by a little bit, I’d consider it a success.
I believe it’s a crucial read for anyone seeking personal development and realizing their full potential. The book’s idea, although could be compressed into one sentence, has become my go-to thought when I doubt myself. “You can learn anything”, I tell myself. In fact, you don’t have to be “talented” or “smart” before you get out of the womb, you can learn it if you have the willingness to do so.
About the author
Dr. Carol Susan Dweck is a New-York-born psychologist and professor at Stanford University. She is known for her research on mindset, motivation, and personality. Her work has had a significant impact on the fields of psychology, education, and personal development.
Bonus: Here’s an interesting speech by Carol Dweck, where she talks about developing a growth mindset.
#2 Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
What is this book about and why is it worth reading?
In Never Split the Difference, Voss draws on his own experience as a former FBI hostage negotiator, which makes it a great resource on negotiation techniques. In the book, Chris shares insights and strategies he learned during his career, which are also applicable to everyday situations where negotiation skills can be of use.
The book is full of real-world examples and practical advice to help readers become more effective negotiators. It touches upon various tactics and principles, including active listening, building rapport, and using empathy to better understand the other side's perspective.
While the book is insightful, I found it a bit arrogant to my taste. You can tell Voss is at the top of his game and Never Split the Difference stands out for its unique perspective, but I’d recommend to approach it with an open mind. Voss's confidence and assertiveness may not resonate with every reader. Approach this book with a critical mindset, take away only what would benefit you and ignore the rest.
The book would appeal to anyone looking to improve their negotiation skills that can be applied in various aspects of life. And if you’re like me, you might find it a bit thrilling to learn more about the inner workings of the FBI 😎.
Quote from the book:
“No” is the start of the negotiation, not the end of it.”
About the authors
Christopher Voss is an American businessman, author, and academic as well as a former FBI hostage negotiator. Chris had an impressive career: he worked in the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit and was the lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI. After handling over 150 international hostage cases, he retired and founded The Black Swan Group, a negotiation skills consultancy. He co-published Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It with Tahl Raz, a keynote speaker, author, and a journalist.
#3 You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters
by Kate Murphy
What is this book about and why is it worth reading?
Can you name one person who can truly listen to you without jumping in to offer an opinion or make it about themselves? Are you a good listener yourself?
These are the questions Kate Murphy asks in her book You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters.The sad truth is, many of us are not very good listeners (or at least, not always). In fact, most people she asked couldn’t even describe what being a good listener means. In the abundance of digital communication today, no one seems to really listen or even know how to.
In her book, Kate explores the importance of listening in our daily lives, why we’re not listening, what impact it has on us, and how we can change that. Drawing on the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening, she provides insights and practical advice on how we can become better listeners to improve our personal and professional relationships. What’s even more interesting, to illustrate her point, she introduces us to some of the best listeners out there, such as a CIA agent, focus-group moderator, bartender, radio producer, and furniture salesman.
Listening is something we do or don’t do every day. While we might take it for granted, it can have a big impact on our communication and understanding of others. I would recommend this book to literally anyone who is interested in enhancing their listening skills. This book is informative and thought-provoking and has something to offer to any reader regardless of how good of a listener you are.
Quote from the book:
“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned as a journalist is that everybody is interesting if you ask the right questions. If someone is dull or uninteresting, it’s on you.”
About the author
Kate Murphy is a Texas-based journalist who has written on various topics related to communication and human behavior and whose work was published in The New York Times, The Economist, Agence France-Presse, and Texas Monthly.
What’s new?
New Book: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
A new book by Adam Grant, the author of the popular Think Again, will be released on October 24. I’m excited about this one! Once I get my hands on it, you will certainly receive my review on it.
New TV Show: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
In the August issue of The Bookmarked Newsletter, I shared my review of Lessons in Chemistry, which is coming on October 13 to Apple TV as a miniseries starring Brie Larson. Even if you haven’t read the book, I think it’s worth checking out!
Before you go on with your day...
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Thank you for reading with me, and I'll see you soon!
Happy reading,
Liza
“Life is too short to read a bad book” — James Joyce
Disclaimer: The links to the books in this edition are affiliate, so if you choose to make a purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission.