My Self-Help Books Recommendations

Most self-help books are the same self-help ideas. Most self-help books advice are life cliques explained differently or disguised differently. Sometimes the simple solutions are the worse solutions. If you understand quickly, then it's probably bad advice.

I read self-help books. I donated most of my self-help books. My different thinking self-help books recommendations are fiction books. I was a lost soul from Aug 2008 to Sep 2008. I started to read fiction books in Oct 2008. My life started to improve. Regardless, here are my recommendations which I still own on my book shelf. All recommendations are in alphabetical order.

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Discover core habits. Practice, practice, practice the habits.

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray. I read the first edition. I believe there are updated editions. Some concepts are outdated because values, attitudes, and knowledge change, shift, and correct. There are new opinions. There are new lessons. The core never changes.

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. Life changes. Everyone changes. Everything changes. A person can control change. A person can't control change.

Outside The Self-Help Books

I recommend the following books not considered self-help. These two books are priority over the three books above on my self-help recommendations.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. The book explains why some people succeed and some people don't succeed.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. The late Steve Jobs changed the world. Learn who the genius was. He had strengths. He had weaknesses. He had success. He made mistakes. He wasn't perfect. He was human just like you and me.

Update On A Past Blog

The last four sentences in Beethoven Practiced Eight Hours A Daywere the following: "Hard work, practice, dedication, learning from your mistakes, and practice are keys to success, keys to be great. And when you're good, then get better and better. Never stop innovating. Innovate infinitely." I wrote the blog on Aug 13, 2009. Don't ask me why I'm actually doing the last four sentences years later.

The update is a personal checkpoint. I approve the checkpoint. The job training continues indefinitely six days a week. My subjects are Excel, SQL, Git, Linux, Power BI, Python, JSON, and Sublime Text. The job training includes practicing, learning new concepts, and reviewing. Use it or lose it. My non-career related personal projects include learning rope knots, learning Morse Code, learning how to use a compass and map for land navigation, and making paper airplanes. I workout physically four or five days a week. I read books. I look forward to new job training subjects and new non-career related personal projects when I complete any existing subjects and projects.

Random Anime Music Back In Time

I ripped selected anime CDs from the late 1990s to early 2000s on Sun Jun 21, 2020. Nostalgia. I remember watching good anime series. The reason I ripped is to listen to my past generation anime music when I feel the urge. Listening to music on my phone is easier than inserting a CD to my old CD radio or to my old CD Walkman. I retired from anime in Sep 2014.

I browsed YouTube watching live versions, official music videos, and alternate versions while the CDs were ripping. I share the videos below in no particular order.

On Your Mark by CHAGE and ASKA live at 2004 two-five.

A Cruel Angel's Thesis by Yoko Takahash from Neon Genesis Evangelion piano version by YouTube channel Animenz Piano Sheets.

GO! GO! MANIAC by K-ON! star voice actresses from K-On! live at Come With Me!! Concert Feb 2011.

Studio Ghibli Medley from various Studio Ghibli movies piano version by YouTube channel Animenz Piano Sheets.

Melissa by Porno Graffitti from Fullmetal Alchemist piano version by YouTube channel Animenz Piano Sheets.

Sora to Kimi no Message (Message From You And The Sky) by ChouCho from Suisei no Gargantia piano version by YouTube channel Animenz Piano Sheets.

Sora to Kimi no Message (Message From You And The Sky) by ChouCho from Suisei no Gargantia official music video.

Kinjirareta Asobi (The Forbidden Game) by ALI PROJECT from Rozen Maiden.

Kinjirareta Asobi (The Forbidden Game) by ALI PROJECT from Rozen Maiden live Shingi Gansaku Hakurankai 2012.

Successful Mission by Megumi Hayashibara from Saber Marionette J.

Don't Say "Lazy" by K-ON! star voice actresses from K-On! piano version by YouTube channel Animenz Piano Sheets.

Rinbu Revolution by Masami Okui from Revolutionary Girl Utena live.

Mezase Pokemon Master (Aim To Be A Pokemon Master) by Rika Matsumoto from Pokemon.

Mezase Pokemon Master (Aim To Be A Pokemon Master) by Rika Matsumoto from Pokemon Movie Mewtwo Strikes Back version.

Mezase Pokemon Master (Aim To Be A Pokemon Master) by Rika Matsumoto from Pokemon live on a TV show.

Mezase Pokemon Master (Aim To Be A Pokemon Master) by Rika Matsumoto from Pokemon live at Anime Expo Santiago 2018.

Yume no Tsuzuki (Continuation Of A Dream) by various voice actresses from Sakura Wars Budoukan 2 live Teito Paris New York 2011.

Sugar Baby Love by Yoko Ishida from A Little Snow Fairy Sugar.

Instant Bullets Blog Jun 21, 2020

*Costco refuses the following items returned for a refund due to COVID-19: toilet paper, paper towels, sanitizing wipes, water, rice, and Lysol. Good idea. Screw the hoarders.


*The Movie Gigi On Marriage. Don't marry at once. Marry at last.

*Senior Sports Analyst Ray Ratto Shared A Story. Ratto is currently working at 95.7 The Game KGMZ-FM. He shared a story from his mentor Nick Peters when Ratto started his sports journalist career. Ratto asked Peters how do you work as a sports journalist. Peters said, "never show fear." Ratto interviewed former San Francisco Giants manager Frank Robinson. Robinson answered Ratto's initial questions with short answers. Ratto told Robinson if you don't want to do this, let's not do it. Ratto began to leave the room. Robinson replied, "What do you want to know?" Robinson tested Ratto if he was brave or a scary cat. Robinson had an ability to smell fear in a person. Here's an article The World According to Ray Ratto.

*Dr. Anthony Fauci People's 2020 Sexiest Man Alive. There are online petitions People magazine should award Dr. Fauci 2020 Sexiest Man Alive. I agree. Integrity, strength, intelligence, professional, confidence, and respect are sexy. Many men have few of the above or none of the above.

*Earn A Cake. The Question Is What Kind Of Cake. The cake is earned. A plain cake is delicious. Earn more. Add frosting. Complete more. Add the filling. Continue. Add fruit, candles, and whipped cream. Complete satisfactory and sincerely. Add happy birthday on the cake. 04/05/20 before I slept and after watching Harry Potter #3.

*I Promise My Dad I Date When I'm 35. I have a thought for the young men and young women who desire older men and older women. The younger men and younger women can wait to be older to find a lover at a matching older age.

*What Is The Secret To Find A Spouse? What is the secret to attract people? Be useful. Don't be a nobody. Don't be nothing. I knew the answer years ago from number 40 in my Top 40 Most Memorable Moments. Don't ask why it took me additional years to connect the dots.

*When Does The Fun Begin? My answer is when you're better. My answer is when you're getting stronger.

*A Thought On The Current President And Past Presidents. I start with President Bill Clinton from 1993-2000, continuing with President George W. Bush from 2001-2008, President Barrick Obama from 2009-2016, and ending with President Donald Trump from 2017-present. These presidents had or have an opportunity to end racism. They had or have an opportunity to end police brutality. Equal justice under the law is equal like a math equation. Likewise with Congress, state governors, courts, and The Supreme Court. Why is President Trump with less than one presidential term at fault for unequal social justice? Why is President Trump blamed for inequality? Why is President Trump accused of poor leadership? I welcome all opinions.

*Where Is The Source Of The Leaks? I'm not talking about water plumbing leaks. I'm talking about information leaks. The chances are the source originates from the dissatisfied party.

*I Play The Fantasy Game. Playing the fantasy game is like a hypothetical situation.

*How many years does it take to overcome a mid-life crisis? My intuitive answer is six years. The average length is six years. Personally speaking, I'm lucky I didn't experience a mid-life crisis. Or I already experienced a mid-life crisis I didn't realize which is solved.

*Are Geniuses Cynics? Geniuses think about problems. Geniuses create solutions. Geniuses are cynics by nature. Geniuses think about answers like breathing. They anticipate problems. The possible answers to the problems are infinite. They think bad to be good.

Today I Want To Talk About The Numbers Greater Than Zero And Less Than Or Equal To One

Everyone experiences hits and misses. I experience more misses by one. I graduated from a different high school in my senior year because district budget cuts closed my high school in my junior year. I enrolled at San Jose State University one year too late because the California State University required additional General Education classes for incoming freshmen and current sophomores. There were San Jose State University classes for which I was the "guinea pig": Computer Science 46A professor taught C+ for the first time, Math 42 Discrete Mathematics professor taught for the first time, and the Physics department introduced the Physics 60 series entrance exams were required; fortunately, all became insignificant because I majored in Economics. There were changes at my first jobs after I graduated college. My first job the company purchased another company for which we merged and moved to a new location less than one year. My second job my manager moved to another country less than one year.

The misses by one or less continues. I stopped counting the number of times I was the second choice for a job hiring. I stopped counting the number of times I placed second playing tabletop games. My life is better if I have 20% more good luck.

The greater than zero and less than or equal to one applies to sports. If a baseball player earns an average of one extra hit a week during the season, then he is a hall-of-fame baseball player. If a football quarterback throws 50% more touchdowns, his football team wins the Super Bowl; likewise, for defensive ends increasing the number of sacks between 10%-20%. A basketball player becomes a starter when he increases his three-point percentage by 5%.

The Global Perspective

It's my intuition and it's my opinion the world is a better place for everyone when there are small changes. The movie Sicario Josh Brolin's character told Emily Blunt's character if 20% of the USA population stops snorting drugs, then the war on drugs is over. If the world population growth slows down by 20%, then the overpopulation fear disappears. If people increase sleep 10%, then stress is reduced and focus is strengthened. If we cut processed food consumption by 50%, then overall health increases. All percentage changes can make a positive difference.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Harder To Fake It

Today is day 90 for the California Shelter In-Place (SIP) order. Counties modify SIP orders to meet their needs. I share my observations. I'm not a professional. The chances my observations are true are the same as professionals. The pandemic is new. The pandemic is uncharted. The pandemic is unprecedented. There is new history.

The COVID-19 brings out more truths. COVID-19 is sodium pentothal or the truth serum. The truth sets people free. The truth being known for better or for worse is another conversation. The truth is communicated. Myths are confirmed true or false. Hunches are revealed. Intuitions are realized. Reality happens. Strip off the armor. Lower the shields. The truth is here. For instance, Black Lives Matter, George Floyd's death by a police officer, and social injustice protests are global examples.

The COVID-19 is the equalizer. People who didn't earn their successes prepare to go down. Prepare to lose. People down on their luck continue moving forward. Keep an eye for new opportunities. One may be the big break. The good people not getting their rewards--the rewards are coming. The bad people not getting their punishment--the punishments are coming. The world is equaling out. The playing field is being leveled.

Motivation is more important than intelligence. Get strong. Patience and perseverance pay off. Strong, smart, and wise people survive. The weak are eliminated. There are too many *fill in the blank*. The genuine *fill in the blank* remains. The rest are out.

Side note: The World Health Organization Corona Virus reports 7,805,148 cases and 431,192 deaths as of the blog entry.

Update On A Past Blog

I expected a global life break to happen during the 2008 Great Recession. The world was supposed to slow down. People were supposed to take a breath. The break didn't happen. I expect the global recession caused by COVID-19 to be another opportunity for the world to take a break. The break hasn't happened. I wrote two blogs regarding slowing down Dear People, Take A Break on Mar 8, 2012 and Yes Slow Down on Oct 9, 2015. Maybe the global life break happens after the George Floyd protests. The world has been stressed out. The world needs a break desperately.

Did My Family Used Up All The Family Luck?

If I judge my family on my mother's side and on my father's side our present generations overall success, then my answer is below par. I speak in general terms. Maybe my mother, my father, my uncles, my aunts, and my older cousins are too successful all of them fail to teach my brother, my sister, their children, and my present generation cousins how to be successful. They are too busy being successful they forgot to teach their sons and daughters. All of the family luck is used for their successes. Some of their successes include higher college education, businesses, and above average intelligence.

Our present generation also include higher college education, businesses, and above average intelligence. However, most of us have been struggling. COVID-19 may reveal many problems. It's harder to fake anything during a pandemic. There are more setbacks. There are more frustrations. There are more mistakes for which most of us have not learn. Opportunities are fewer. I fear the future is bleak for the future generation.

Any luck I earned was used up on Apr 2017. I was diagnosed with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. I required two back-to-back surgeries. The first surgery was Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography which removed gallstones. The second surgery was Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy which removed my gallbladder. I have been down on my luck since Apr 2017. The bad luck includes the little things such as more red lights at signaled intersections, out of stock items in a store, and "are you kidding me" events. The bad luck includes the big things such as not getting the job due to an eleventh-hour decision and too many recruiters bothering me for jobs unrelated to my profession. I should buy a lucky charm. Or I should curse myself to increase my chances of earning good luck.

My High School Freshmen Year Was My First Taste Of Responsible Adulthood

My freshmen year was the year I studied the hardest. I spent more hours learning. I spent more hours practicing. I spent more hours exercising at home. I spent less hours watching television. I used flash cards to learn French vocabulary. I drilled my R.O.T.C. general orders and ranks. The hard work paid off with good grades. I felt smart. I felt strong.

On the other hand, I failed the state's basic writing standards exam. My mom purchased two books to improve my English and my writing skills. I read the books. I studied. I practiced. I passed the exam in my sophomore year.

My adulthood was established. Hard work. Motivation. Focus. Strength. Intelligence. What about fun? The fun happened afterwards. I accepted the process. I accepted the challenge.

Summer Vacation Ruined Everything

My summer vacation after freshmen year was too much fun. I watched too much television. I took the adulthood lesson for granted. I thought I remember everything. I wasn't going down. The opposite happened. I forgot everything I learned. Use it or lose it. I lost it. I didn't exercise. I didn't refresh my French. It was harder without my French textbook; however, I did have my lecture notes and flash cards. My parents were partially responsible because they never encouraged me to continue getting stronger and learning more. They didn't look after me.

Today's high school students can study during the summer because of the internet; in particular, tutorial videos on YouTube, Wikipedia, books in .pdf, and websites posting learning materials.

High School Was Different Thereafter

I experienced a non-typical high school thereafter. There was one French II class instead of two classes due to budget cuts in my sophomore year. French II was overcrowded. I couldn't take R.O.T.C. because the class conflicted with French II. The district announced two high schools closed permanently due to budget cuts in my junior year. My teachers didn't care. Homework was reduced. Teaching was relaxed. Tests were easier. I graduated at another high school in my senior year. Students and faculty didn't care about the multiple schools merged. I struggled in my classes during my senior year. I could have studied smarter. I still earned A's and B's.

Freshmen Year Didn't Count

Freshmen year in a college candidate's application was excluded. I'm not sure the rules apply to today's high school students. It's ironic I didn't need a warm-up year. I was prepared in terms of motivation for college.

My freshmen year I was motivated to be a mature adult. I lost the motivation during my first high school summer vacation. The motivation came back decades later.

Side note: One of the two high schools closed permanently reopened five years later due to higher student enrollment. The school opened with freshmen and sophomores only.

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog 1

California issued shelter in-place (SIP) orders starting on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. The daily life has been slowing down. The pandemic daily life is unprecedented, uncharted, new, unknown, and untested. On the other hand, I realize I wrote 3.5 pages as if SIP was yesterday. Here's the first blog.

Tue Mar 17. I made homemade bread in the breadmaker. I broiled water on the stovetop instead of buying bottle water in the markets. I adapt the drink broil water lifestyle from my grandparents.

Wed Mar 18. Removed dust from the ceiling fan. I worked out at home with my mini gym. I purchased a 45 pound weight plate, a 25 pound weight plate, and a fitness mat on Mon Mar 16.

Thur Mar 19. Mom took advantage of the DMV short lines applying for a Real ID.

Fri Mar 20. Second day no mail. Watched Hot Fuzz movie working out on my dad's stationary cycle. I didn't like watching the movie and cycling together.

Sat Mar 21. My package from Target arrived five days late.

Sun Mar 22. A daily log: sewed a button, folded paper airplanes, learned the shear lashing, wrote a blog, checked email, reviewed rope knots, researched stocks, read Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling Year 7, watched Gigi movie, and ate leftovers.

Mon Mar 23. I made a baking mistake adding one tablespoon of salt. One teaspoon of salt was correct.

Tue Mar 24. Day 7. I backed up all my data from my new desktop PC for the first time.

Wed Mar 25. I ate a TOGO's pastrami sandwich.

Thur Mar 26. Replaced leaking tank on the toilet. Cleaned all toilets in the household.

Fri Mar 27. Day 10. First time shopping. I shopped at Nob Hill and Safeway. The media overblown on out of stock groceries. There were limits on basics, toilet paper, chicken, and flour. Most people complied with purchasing limits, following social distancing, and wearing face masks. The good people outnumbered the assholes. My mom was sick. Concerned.

Sat Mar 28. Dad found an old chair to replace the broken computer chair dad purchased decades ago.

Sun Mar 29. I shaved with a new razor blade. Dad was sick. Mom and dad's symptoms were common cold.

Mon Mar 30. I adapted a second mini gym workout plan.

Tue Mar 31. The March month felt slow.

Wed Apr 1. Shopped at Costco. Line in the front entrance. 50 people entered the store after 50 people exited the store. Limits on poultry purchase. The front entrance was stocked with fruits and allergy medication. Retailers either published ads with fewer goods on sale or published no ads with sales. Cashier acrylic shields installed at Costco, CVS, Nob Hill, Safeway, Lucky, and the post office.

Thur Apr 2. The day went by the fastest since SIP.

Sat Apr 4. Rained for the first time during SIP.

Sun Apr 5. Researched transplant shock for indoor plants.

Mon Apr 6. Mopped floors. Revised and updated my book wish list.

Tue Apr 7. Removed dust from my desktop PC. Spot vacuumed.

Wed Apr 8. Shopped at Costco. Children's books stocked at the front entrance. Food court sold hot dogs, pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza, and soda. Seating area closed. Few customers shopped at Lyon Supermarket. All the Asians except one wore face masks. Roads very light traffic for an afternoon commute. All parking lots almost empty.

Thur Apr 9. Mental fatigue. Took an afternoon nap. Slept earlier. Spent half of the time job training.

Fri Apr 10. I realized today was Good Friday in the afternoon.

Sat Apr 11. Completed a 911 campaign. I backed the 911 video game years ago on Kickstarter.

Mon Apr 13. I gave away free fabric markers on Nextdoor. I posted the free items around Feb 27. I received multiple requests to acquire the markers starting on Fri Apr 10.

Tue Apr 14. Updated all hardware drivers for my desktop PC. Mom gave me a haircut.

Wed Apr 15. Mom's car dead battery. Dad charged the battery. I shopped at Costco and Lucky. Longest wait at the Costco front entrance. Protein shakes were at the front entrance.

Thur Apr 16. Day 30. More shopping. Dad drove mom's car. I purchased apples and bread flour at Smart & Final. One cashier working most of the time I was in line. Completed ATM banking at Bank Of America instead of entering the bank. Bank Of America opened at 10am instead of 9am. One way aisles at Safeway. I purchased bread and milk.

Mon Apr 20. Lucky sold another brand of chicken. My guess was chicken initially destined for restaurants. I waited ten seconds to enter Costco. The seating area in the food court was replaced with cashiers. Chicken bake was available. Chicken purchase limit was removed. Monday Costco shopping low grocery supply.

Minor back pain. I took Advil.

I sprayed tire protectant on my tires.

Tue Apr 21. Replaced winter windshield wipers for summer windshield wipers.

Wed Apr 22. More inventory at Costco. No line at the entrance. There should had been. Too many customers inside.

My parents rescued a lost cockatiel. The owner retrieved her cockatiel following social distancing.

Thur Apr 23. Dad improved the 5.1 surround sound.

Fri Apr 24. Mailed letter at the post office. Purchased a chuck roast at Nob Hill. Flour in stock. Drove on the freeway. Updated my resume.

Sat Apr 25. Dad fixed a tiny leak to the outdoor faucet kitchen side. Dad also fixed a tiny toilet leak.

Mon Apr 27. I changed my workout schedule alternating five days working out a week and four days working out a week. The night was the warmest in 2020.

Wed Apr 29. Updated my webpage Innovate Infinitely.

Thur Apr 30. Dad and I shopped for groceries. Dad shopped at Lyon. I shopped at Costco. No line at the entrance. Too many people inside. Limit 3 for beef, pork, and poultry combined. Cashiers at food court moved to front of main cashier row.

Lesson learned. There is a difference between salmon and steele fish.

Sat May 2. Mailed letter at the post office. Purchased a half gallon of milk at Safeway. Limit 2 dairy items per customer. Too many people shopping inside.

Sun May 3. Added more music CDs to my smartphone.

Mon May 4. Watched Steve Jobs at the D8 conference in 2010 YouTube video. Read my personal bible.

Tue May 5. Read and reminded myself my personal notebook The Green Steno Notebook from latest to earliest. I had diarrhea.

Wed May 6. Ate pizza from A Slice Of New York. The typical weekday traffic on the street along A Slice Of New York traffic was dead. The traffic was like a weekend late night. Most stores were closed.

I backed up my desktop PC files.

Fri May 8. First day temperatures above 90 degrees in 2020. The entrance lines were long at Costco and Lyon. The Costco cashiers were spread out. Lucky market all meats except chicken on sale were sold out.

Sat May 9. Made oven french fries because the potatoes were old. Spent additional time learning Python web scraping. Watched YouTube videos on car brakes.

Sun May 10. Happy Mother's Day.

Tue May 12. Installed Ubuntu 20.14 LTS.

Wed May 13. Replaced disposable cups with tiny sauce cups to rinse my mouth with mouthwash.

Thur May 14. Mopped kitchen and entrance floors. Minor cut on my left foot.

Sat May 16. Day 60. Updated my resume. Mental fatigue due to poor meals. I ate dinner late. Cancelled workout. I relaxed watching YouTube videos.

Sun May 17. No more eating oatmeal. I began tying my shoes with the surgeon's knot. Cleaned and removed dust off all my boots. Began learning land navigation with a compass.

Mon May 18. Steak and salmon in stock at Lucky. Flour was also in stock.

Tue May 19. Watched part of a Prince concert on YouTube titled Prince & The Revolution: Live.

Wed May 20. Ate Chinese food at Blue Sky Restaurant for the first time. I had diarrhea from last night's spoiled bok choy. The junk phone calls were back.

Thur May 21. No lines at the Costco entrance. On the other hand, the lines at the cashier were back. All customers followed social distancing. It appeared Costco perfected the plan people wait at the cashier lines instead of waiting at the front entrance.

Fri May 22. Allergy attack in the morning consisted of sneezing and runny nose. Phase 2 began in Santa Clara County.

Mon May 25. First heat wave in 2020.

Tue May 26. Purchased salmon at Lucky. Purchased Coke 12-pack cans and Tillamook ice cream at Safeway. Filled my car with gas. First night I slept with windows fully opened.

Fri May 29. Drained hot water heater in garage to remove sentiment.

Sun May 31. City Of San Jose imposed a curfew from 8:30pm to 5am starting today and ending either Sun Jun 7 or further notice due to the George Floyd protests. The reason was the violent protests.

Mon Jun 1. Mailed a letter at the post office. Shopped at Nob Hill and Lucky. The lines at the cashiers were long at both supermarkets. My guess was shoppers shopped earlier than usual because of the curfew. Vacuumed the house. Revised self job training schedule.