Book Summaries

Summaries of books I've read. These summaries don't replace reading the book. So, if you find any summary interesting, I'd encourage you to buy the book to read it.

I took the idea of writing these summaries from Derek Sivers.


Stoicism (11) Productivity (6) Minimalism (5) Programming (5) Fitness (4) Relationships (4) Other (3)


Stoicism (11)

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

Category: stoicism. Date read: June 21, 2017. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

Personal skill, effort, and consistency is only a small part of success. We're not that good; we need other people, we need luck. Don't let ego make you think otherwise, don't let it think that you can be successful on your own.


The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Category: stoicism. Date read: October 17, 2016. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

Explains the three main stoic disciplines, perception, action, and will. Obstacles are not there to stop you, but to show you the correct path. The book is strictly better than my notes. Recommended to everyone.


The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Category: stoicism. Date read: June 8, 2017. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

You're already making decisions and choosing, all the time. You just need to change what to give a fuck about. It's going to suck. You're going to be nervous. You're going to freak out. You may get pissed off at people or piss off people. These are all necessary side effects of choosing where to place your fucks. Choose wisely.


Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Gregory Hays

Category: stoicism. Date read: May 21, 2017. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

It's amazing how one of the most important person in the world, who lived more than 18 centuries ago, had to deal with the same problems that we deal on a daily basis. Contains timeless lessons about how to live a good life with the advice that Marcus Aurelius continuously told himself.


The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

Category: stoicism. Date read: October 8, 2017. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

A lot of stoic quotes explained and brought to our daily lives. Even though you should read this book on a daily basis, I couldn’t do it. I would either forget or read more than one quote per day.


As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

Category: stoicism. Date read: March 1, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Highly motivational, although without supporting studies or evidence, to convince you to improve your life. You're the sum of your thoughts; change your thoughts to change yourself.


How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Category: stoicism. Date read: October 27, 2017. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Forget yesterday and don't think about tomorrow. Focus on today. Accept the worst and improve from there.


The Freedom Handbook by Jeff Hirz

Category: stoicism. Date read: April 17, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

You can achieve personal freedom. It doesn't depend on external factors, only on you. Life, as it is today, is full of unnecessary burdens. Constantly clean up and periodically reflect upon your life to achieve freedom. Enjoying every bit of it without regrets.


The Universe Doesn't Give a Flying Fuck About You by Johnny Truant

Category: stoicism. Date read: March 1, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Everything you do, and don't do, is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Eventually, nobody, and then nothing, will care. Stop worrying and start living.


You Are Dying, and Your World is a Lie by Johnny Truant

Category: stoicism. Date read: March 1, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

A short guide on the importance of doing important things. The time you spend worrying about things is time you're never getting back. Use your time to test your boundaries and increase your levels of discomfort. Greater joys comes aft


The Flinch by Julien Smith

Category: stoicism. Date read: April 29, 2019. My rating: 2/5. Buy on Amazon.

A short book on how the flinch is holding you back. The flinch is that instinctive reaction you get whenever you want or need to do something. All it takes to overcome the flinch is a single moment of strength.


Productivity (6)

How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens

Category: productivity. Date read: July 8, 2020. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

A simple and actionable method to take notes that are helpful not only for the current project but also for lifelong learners.


Make it Stick by Peter Brown

Category: productivity. Date read: February 10, 2016. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Most known ways to study doesn't work. This book explains different techniques to improve your learning; full of references and stories to support their ideas. It includes tips for teachers, students, trainers, and lifelong learners.


Master Todoist by S. J. Scott

Category: productivity. Date read: October 28, 2017. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Explains how to use one of the best task tracking tools out there, Todoist, with the GTD philosophy. It doesn't have anything new but it does a good job proposing how to use Todoist to achieve your goals.


To-Do List Makeover by S. J. Scott

Category: productivity. Date read: April 29, 2016. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

No new techniques, rather a mix of several ideas from other places. Its accomplishment is a simple and actionable system that works. I absolutely like this system, and it's what I'm using right now. It has helped me focus on what's important instead of doing busywork.


Time Well Spent by Mike Burns

Category: productivity. Date read: December 10, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Time management techniques has nothing to do with managing time. Spend time doing the right things instead of doing many things. Being busy isn't valuable. Accept that everyone leaves things undone, but decide to leave the least important ones undone.


Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles Hummel

Category: productivity. Date read: April 17, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

How we allow the urgency of tasks dictate our lives, taking all our time, whether we want it or not. Time is best spent doing important things. Looking back, a list of urgent tasks finished generates anxiety. A list of important tasks finished generates peace.


Minimalism (5)

Declutter Your Mind by S. J. Scott and Barrie Davenport

Category: minimalism. Date read: August 7, 2019. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

We are hardwired to worry and view situations more negatively than they are. This book explains some mental clutter causes and techniques to clear your mind. Try them out, practice them, and keep what works for you.


Simpler by Mike Burns

Category: minimalism. Date read: August 31, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Explains the importance of being a minimalist. People are more important than things. Time is more important than things. Minimalism is a process not an end. The purpose of minimalism is to enjoy all the extra time, money, and energy that we gain by being a minimalist.


Simplify by Joshua Becker

Category: minimalism. Date read: April 10, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Focusing on a simpler life helps build a better life. A life with less stress and less worries. A life with more meaning and joy. Impress your friends with your lifestyle.


Ultralight by Leo Babauta

Category: minimalism. Date read: January 27, 2018. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Minimalism applied to travel. Good and actionable ideas to make your travels lighter, less stressful, and more enjoyable. It's up to you to try out different things and eventually find your own ultralight meaning.


The Power of No by James and Claudia Altucher

Category: minimalism. Date read: April 3, 2016. My rating: 2/5. Buy on Amazon.

Emphasizes the importance and benefits of saying 'no' to situations that can cause us harm. It doesn't go into the details of how to actually say 'no'. Focus and constant effort will help you make a living by yourself. Includes an interesting 5 year plan for success.


Programming (5)

Clean Coder by Robert Martin

Category: programming. Date read: September 9, 2017. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

How to be a professional! Encourages you to take responsibility and be a better professional in this young industry. The examples are great to help you figure out how to communicate better.


Growing Object Oriented Software, Guided by Tests by Steve Freeman and Nat Pryce

Category: programming. Date read: August 30, 2016. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

Using a simple language, clear ideas, and concrete examples, it builds a wealth of knowledge. It's very deep, touching hard topics of software maintainability, with real life examples. It'll get you to the next level.


Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Category: programming. Date read: October 21, 2016. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Follow the directives explained in this book to build usable software. It's short but full of examples, knowledge, and tips. It'll help you make software less frustrating, easier to navigate, and better.


Effective Programming by Jeff Atwood

Category: programming. Date read: November 10, 2016. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Very well structured with advice on how to improve as a programmer in different aspects; writing better code, dealing with customers, and improving your communication. Has examples for everything.


Effective Java by Joshua Bloch

Category: programming. Date read: May 13, 2017. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

How to write better Java. Has multiple tips and idioms to create saner and clearer applications, avoiding that feeling of drowning over all the options that Java offers. Recommended for everyone working with Java on a daily basis.


Fitness (4)

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto

Category: fitness. Date read: June 14, 2018. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Burn fat through workouts and feeding your muscles with proper nutrition — improving your body composition — instead of starving your body. It's not a quick program; it's a lifestyle change.


Convict Conditioning by Paul Wade

Category: fitness. Date read: October 12, 2018. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Explains what calisthenics is and proposes a simple but complete program that only requires time and commitment. No equipment, no excuses, only hard work.


Food Rules, An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

Category: fitness. Date read: May 5, 2018. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

A handbook more than a book with simple easy to follow rules to know what and how to eat. A much needed guidance in a world full of things we can digest but that are not really food.


Sleep Smarter by Shawn Stevenson

Category: fitness. Date read: May 5, 2018. My rating: 2/5. Buy on Amazon.

21 tips on how to sleep better. Some of the tips are common sense and some are counter-intuitive. Proposes a useful 14 day plan to apply almost all tips. Repetitive.


Relationships (4)

Some Thoughts About Relationships by Colin Wright

Category: relationships. Date read: March 19, 2016. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Relationships are hard, and cultural knowledge and archetypes aren't helping. Talks about relationships in a rational way. Even though it might sound distant or cold, the way it's written makes complete sense. The ideas are pragmatic and, in most cases, actionable.


Lying by Sam Harris

Category: relationships. Date read: January 31, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Defines "lying" and explains how to be honest all the time. Even though it might seem trivial, it's a lot harder than it seems. Includes several examples to help you be honest. Being honest is the greatest gift you can give.


The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida

Category: relationships. Date read: November 19, 2016. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

About the balance (or polarity) between men and women. Everyone knows that men and women are different but this book explains it—in a repetitive way so that you really understand—how much different we are and what we can do about it.


Tribes by Seth Godin

Category: relationships. Date read: May 23, 2017. My rating: 3/5. Buy on Amazon.

Being part of something is a natural desire. A group with a shared vision becomes a tribe and tribes needs leadership. This book is about what it means to lead a tribe and how to do it.


Other (3)

Sure You're Joking, Mr Feynman! by Richard Feynman

Category: other. Date read: August 14, 2018. My rating: 5/5. Buy on Amazon.

Feynman's stories are awesome. His curiosity and focused personality allowed him to pursue a lot of interesting—but arguably useless—experiences that ended up filled with life lessons. He definitely enjoyed his life.


The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Category: other. Date read: September 29, 2016. My rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.

Doesn't have new information and the author knows it. It's main value is the simple (although not easy) 7 step plan. It's a detailed plan to helps you to, slowly but steadily, get out of debt and build wealth by improving your money lifestyle.


Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant

Category: other. Date read: October 29, 2017. My rating: 2/5. Buy on Amazon.

Short book that emphasizes the importance of loving yourself and exercises to improve your self-love. Repetitive with multiple references to the author.