Book Summaries
Jeremy Silva
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These are audio versions of popular book summaries from my blog. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Mar 17, 2022
The Ideal Team Player Book Summary
The Ideal Team Player has insights into building company culture, what makes good team players, and specific tactics for interviewing and hiring. The book has value for any leaders, managers, employees, and especially for anyone involved in hiring and human resources.
The book is written in a narrative format, similar to The New One Minute Manager, and is really easy for anyone to listen to and understand the main concepts.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2019/07/11/ideal-team-player-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Feb 23, 2022
Built From Scratch Book Summary
Built from Scratch is the story of the founding and growth of The Home Depot. I really enjoyed this book and it is written in a similar style to Sam Walton Made in America. It covers topics of customer service, developing people, leadership, management, growth, and more.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2020/07/06/built-from-scratch-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Jan 31, 2022
The E-Myth Revisited Summary
This is a good book if you are a business owner, entrepreneur, or work in a management position where you have input in how the company operates. It includes a lot of advice for developing systems and processes in your business.
One of my favorite lessons is understanding the difference between working in your business and on your business.
This episode is also available as a blog post at: https://jsilva.blog/2020/08/31/e-myth-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Jan 10, 2022
Covert Cows by Steve Robinson Summary
Covert Cows is a well-rounded book about marketing, sales, hospitality, brand building, and creating company culture. While it focuses on the food and beverage industry, most of the lessons can be applied to businesses in other categories.
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://jsilva.blog/2021/10/21/covert-cows-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Dec 14, 2021
Algorithms to Live by Book Summary
I wrote this summary several years ago, so it's not as detailed as I would make today. In spite of that, it is one of my more popular summaries so I wanted to make it available in audio format.
Algorithms to Live By is a surprisingly fun book considering the subject matter. It contains mathematical philosophy for decision-making on a wide range of topics. Including hiring, dating, real estate, sorting, and even doing laundry.
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://jsilva.blog/2019/02/05/algorithms-book-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Dec 7, 2021
Atomic Habits by James Clear Summary
James Clear did a nice job of compiling and summarizing knowledge on habits from various sources and then adding specific actionable steps. He has also created good tools and media as companions to the book which are available for free, links in the summary on my blog.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2020/03/30/atomic-habits-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Nov 15, 2021
Fanatical Prospecting Book Summary
Fantastical Prospecting is a well-rounded book on prospecting and sales. I like the advice on leveraging text messaging and social media for prospecting. The section in chapter 9 on building familiarity and the number of touches required was helpful and a good mental model to be aware of.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2019/02/27/fanatical-prospecting-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Oct 28, 2021
Getting Things Done by David Allen Summary
In 2019 I listened to Getting Things Done and it helped improve my productivity so much that I read it again. David Allen says “The implicit purpose of this book is urging you to operate from a higher level. To assist you in making your total life expression more fulfilling and better aligned with the big picture.”
My notes don’t do the book justice. If this resonates with you, I encourage you to purchase a copy and read or listen for yourself. The author narrates the audible version himself which enhances the delivery of his material.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2020/11/23/getting-things-done-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Oct 19, 2021
Deep Work by Cal Newport Summary
Deep Work gives insights into the importance of mastery and the value of doing deep work. I really like, and agree with, the thesis and hypothesis of the book. Every one should find value in this book and I often recommend it as one of my favorites.
The book’s thesis: A deep life is not just economically lucrative but also a life well lived.
Deep work hypothesis: the ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2019/08/15/deep-work-book-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Oct 7, 2021
Get Rich With Dividends Book Summary
The purpose of the book is to introduce investors to investing in dividend stocks using the author’s 10-11-12 system. There are several good concepts and ideas in the book, I learned a lot from it.
Note that some of the figures and statistics used have survivor bias, but that doesn’t detract from the value of the book for me. As with any book, you’ll need to use your own judgment when evaluating the charts and figures used.
This episode is also available as a blog post. The post includes links to the resources listed in the book.
https://jsilva.blog/2020/07/20/get-rich-with-dividends-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Sep 29, 2021
A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley Summary
This is my book summary of A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley.
My favorite quotes from the book:
Those who are the most disagreeable tend to be the most creative. This is because creative people challenge existing answers and assumptions.
Merely glancing at the solution to a problem and thinking you truly know it yourself is one of the most common illusions of competence in learning.
The dread of doing a task uses up more time and energy than doing a task itself.
Procrastination can be like taking tiny amounts of poison. It may not seem harmful at the time, but the long-term effects can be very damaging.
One might say that work substitutes for talent, or better yet, that work creates talent.
Simple explanations are possible for almost any concept, no matter how complex.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2020/09/28/mind-numbers-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send…
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Jul 26, 2021
The Motive by Patrick Lencioni Book Summary
This is my book summary of The Motive by Patrick Lencioni.
My Favorite Quotes from The Motive
Your job as the CEO is to do things that nobody else in the company can do.
If you are having bad meetings, you are making bad decisions. You’re almost certainly not talking about all of the right things.
Just because someone is in their 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s and has lots of experience doesn’t mean they do not need to be managed. Management is not a form of punishment or a sign of a lack of trust.
Good leaders are far more concerned about employees being uninformed than they are about being criticized for redundancy.
It is important for leaders to surround themselves with people who will be honest with them.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2021/07/26/the-motive-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support…
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Jul 19, 2021
Mastering the Market Cycle Summary
This is my summary of Mastering the Market Cycle by Howard Marks.
Howard Marks is one of my favorite writers on investing and I enjoy reading his memos throughout the year. Mastering the Market Cycle has insights for learning to see the big picture in the economy and investing.
My Favorite Quotes from Mastering the Market Cycle
It is from the extremes of the cycle of fear and greed that arise the greatest investment profits.
The rational investor is diligent, skeptical, and appropriately risk-averse at all times. But also on the lookout for opportunities for potential return that more than compensates for risk.
The greatest source of investment risk is the belief that there is no risk.
Cycles will happen to you, what you do in response is key.
Being too far ahead of your time is indistinguishable from being wrong.
You need a strong stomach for being wrong because we are all going to be wrong more often than we expect. Being wrong is inevitable and normal.
Success is not good f…
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Jul 12, 2021
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Summary
This my book summary of The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. This episode is also available as a blog post at: https://jsilva.blog/2021/07/12/psychology-of-money-summary/
These are my favorite quotes from The Psychology of Money:
Your personal experiences with money makeup maybe 0.00000001% of what’s happened in the world but maybe 80% of how you think the world works.
Not all success is due to hard work, and not all poverty is due to laziness. Keep this in mind when judging people, including yourself.
There is no reason to risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.
The hardest financial skill is getting the goalpost to stop moving.
Money’s greatest intrinsic value, and this can’t be overstated, is its ability to give you control over your time.
Using your money to buy time and options has a lifestyle benefit few luxury goods can compete with.
When most people say they want to be a millionaire, what they really mean is “I want to spend…
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Jul 8, 2021
The Ride of a Lifetime Book Summary
My summary of The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger.
These are my favorite quotes from the book.
It is vital to create space in each day to let your thoughts wander beyond your immediate job responsibilities, to turn things over in your mind in a less pressured, more creative way than is possible once the daily triage kicks in.
Avoid getting into the business of manufacturing trombone oil. You may become the greatest trombone oil manufacturer in the world, but in the end, the world only consumes a few quarts of trombone oil a year.
Do what you need to do to make it better.
One person’s unwillingness to give a timely response can cause so much unnecessary strain and inefficiency.
I would much rather take big risks, and sometimes fail, than not take risks at all.
I do not want to be in the business of playing it safe, I want to be in the business of creating possibilities for greatness.
The need to be comfortable with failure is the most profound lesson he learned in his first yea…
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Jun 28, 2021
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell Summary
This is an audio version of my summary of Talking to Strangers. My Favorite Quotes from Talking to Strangers
If you don’t begin in a state of trust, you can’t have meaningful social encounters.
The right way to talk to strangers is with caution and humility.
There are clues to making sense of a stranger, but attending to them requires care and attention.
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://jsilva.blog/2020/01/06/talking-strangers-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Jun 24, 2021
Effortless by Greg McKeown Summary
The one lesson Greg wants you to take away from Effortless is this: life doesn’t have to be as hard and complicated as we make it.
My Favorite Quotes from Effortless
When we apply effortless actions to high-leverage activities the return on our effort compounds.
When we invite joy into our daily routine, we are no longer yearning for the far-off day when it might arrive. That day is always today.
After I complain, I will say something I am thankful for.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. -Maya Angelou
When we are fully present with another person we see them more clearly, and we help them see themselves more clearly.
Simplicity, the art of maximizing the steps not taken, is essential.
Most geniuses prosper not by deconstructing intricate complexities, but by exploiting unrecognized simplicities. -Andy Benoit
There is no mastery without mistakes.
If you are not embarrassed by your first product launch, you launched it too late. -Reid Hoffman
T…
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Jun 21, 2021
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Summary
My Favorite Quotes from Outliers
Practice isn’t the thing you do once you are good, practice is the thing that makes you good.
People at the top do not just work much harder than everyone else, they work much much harder.
What started out as adversity ended up being an opportunity.
It is not how much money we make that makes us happy, it is whether our work fulfills us.
The kinds of errors that cause plane crashes are invariably errors of teamwork and communication.
This episode is also available as a blog post: at https://jsilva.blog/2020/10/26/outliers-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Jun 7, 2021
Living with the Monks by Jesse Itzler Summary
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2021/02/05/living-with-the-monks-by-jesse-itzler-summary/
My Favorite Quotes
Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it. -Andy Rooney
The process is often more valuable than the outcome.
Distractions are the enemies of your goals. Learn to move past the distractions and you will succeed.
I prefer to look at happiness as a lifestyle, not a goal.
It only takes a minute to quit, but the moment will replay in your mind tomorrow and many tomorrows after that.
Getting over the fear of being embarrassed is one of the most liberating gifts you can give yourself.
If your why is big enough, the how usually emerges. A big why crushes smaller obstacles every time.
There is nothing so fatal to character as half-finished tasks. -David Lloyd George
Thinking is a skill, a craft, and an art. It can be worked on and improved with practice. We all have an op…
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Jun 3, 2021
Restaurant Man by Joe Bastianich Summary
This Restaurant Man Book Summary is also available as a blog post at https://jsilva.blog/2021/03/19/restaurant-man-summary/ My Favorite Quotes from Restaurant Man
Once you’ve been hungry, things are never the same.
The road to excess does not lead to the palace of wisdom.
When you fire someone, you are securing and enforcing the position of everyone in the restaurant.
Once your ego is making the decisions, it’s over.
Quality tells, every time.
Discounting is degrading the quality of your service and undermines the professionalism of the restauranteur.
We are in the business of exceeding expectations.
Everything on the table sends a message. A big statement is not to put salt and pepper on the table. If you are a chef driven restaurant, why would you allow your customers to alter the flavor of the food?
Failure and victory are not so far apart.
Never make decisions on your best day, and never make decisions on your worst day, make all your decisions on medium days.
Key Q…
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May 20, 2021
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Summary
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2020/11/09/greenlights-summary/ My Favorite Quotes from Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
* Knowing the truth, seeing the truth, and telling the truth are all different experiences.
* To lose the power of confrontation is to lose the power of unity.
* It’s better to jump than to fall.
* The intellect should simplify things, not make them more cerebral.
* We often don’t get what we want because we quit early or we didn’t take the necessary risk to get it.
* We are all made for every moment we encounter.
* If we stay in the process and within the joy of the doing, we will never choke at the finish line.
* Have immortal finish lines.
* Sometimes which choice you make is not as important as making a choice and committing to it.
* Some people look for an excuse to do, others look for an excuse not to.
* It is not about whether you win or lose, it’s about accepting the challenge. When you accep…
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May 17, 2021
Nobu: A Memoir Book Summary
This episode is also available as a blog post: Nobu: A Memoir Book Summary. My Favorite Quotes from Nobu: A Memoir
* Keep moving forward, even if it’s just a millimeter a day.
* The character of the people who work at a restaurant is more important than its size or reputation.
* I would rather be known as a good man than for my restaurant to be known for making money.
* Put your heart into your work.
* Guests can always tell whether or not we have prepared their meal with heart and soul. Food that has been made from the heart will touch the hearts of those who eat it.
* The only way to ensure that our guests go home happy is to notice when something isn’t right before they tell us and to act on it immediately.
* You can only be considered a full-fledged chef once you can pass on the skills you have learned from others to up-and-coming chefs. Only when an apprentice finally reaches your level can you call yourself a master.
* It takes time to teach others. If we onl…
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May 12, 2021
Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsay Summary
This episode is an audio version of my blog post summary of Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsay. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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May 11, 2021
A Promised Land by Barack Obama Summary
This episode is an audio version of my blog post A Promised Land by Barack Obama Summary.
My Favorite Quotes from A Promised Land
* Enthusiasm makes up for a host of deficiencies.
* The power to inspire is rare.
* You don’t choose the time, the time chooses you.
* People are moved by emotion, not facts.
* It is important to take the long view. To stay focused on your goals rather than getting hung up on the daily ups and downs.
* There is a direct link between doing your work and having your wishes come true.
* No problem that lands on the president’s desk has a clean one-hundred percent solution.
* Most presidents labor without knowing the economic impact of their actions.
* The absence of catastrophe, and the preservation of normalcy, do not attract attention.
* Having at least one contrarian in the room makes us think harder about the issues.
* Sometimes your most important work involves the stuff nobody notices.
* Resolve without foresight is worse tha…
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May 6, 2021
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Summary
This episode is also available as a blog post: How to Win Friends and Influence People Summary. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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May 4, 2021
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande Summary
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://jsilva.blog/2021/02/19/checklist-manifesto-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Apr 28, 2021
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Summary
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2020/03/02/think-grow-rich-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Apr 26, 2021
The Art of War by Sun Tzu Book Summary
This is my summary of The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jsilva.blog/2018/08/27/book-summary-art-of-war/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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Apr 9, 2021
Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker Summary
This is an audio recording of my book summary of Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker. The episode is also available as a blog post at https://jsilva.blog/2021/03/05/managing-oneself-summary/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-silva/support
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