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 Some concepts are outdated because values, attitudes, and knowledge change, shift, and correct.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.