Stoicism Virtues, Ethics and Relationships

Stoicism is an ancient philosophical school that originated in ancient Greece and was later developed in ancient Rome. It was founded by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BCE. Stoicism emphasizes living a virtuous and rational life through self-discipline and inner tranquility.

Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions; the philosophy holds that becoming a clear and unbiased thinker allows one to understand the universal reason (logos).

The ancient Stoics, like other philosophers of their time, placed a strong emphasis on living a life of virtue, self-control, and ethical behaviour. Their writings reflect a commitment to moral integrity, and they advocated for the pursuit of wisdom and self-improvement. 

A) Virtues and Ethics

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions about morality, values, and how individuals should conduct themselves in their actions and decisions. Stoicism, being an ethical philosophy, centres on guiding individuals toward virtuous and meaningful living. Several prominent Stoic philosophers support these key aspects of Stoicism and its ethical teachings:

 

Breif Overview of the Evolution of Stoicism

Stoicism, an ancient philosophical school, evolved over time through various founders and key figures, including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and their successors. Here's a brief overview of the evolution of Stoicism with an emphasis on its relation to these influential philosophers.

Stoicism originated as a Hellenistic philosophy, founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium (modern day Cyprus), c. 300 B.C.E. It was influenced by Socrates and the Cynics, and it engaged in vigorous debates with the Skeptics, the Academics, and the Epicureans.

 

Founding Figures in Ancient Greece:
Parmenides, Teacher of Zeno (515 bce-430 bce)

Explored the nature of reality, the concept of being, and the relationship between the one unchanging reality and the many appearances in the physical world. Monistic philosophy asserting that "Being" is the only reality,

The Happiness Hypothesis

 

Freud's divided the mind into:

·        The Ego; the rational mind,

·        The Super Ego what's society dictates,

 

Corpus Callosus separate the two brain hemispheres:

·        Left for analysis, logic and communication,

·        Right is better in analyzing space..

·        Without the left brain one will not be able to communicate what the right has experienced

 

Confabulation, is a symptom of various memory disorders in which made-up stories fill in any gaps in memory.

 

Book Summary: How to Be an Imperfectionist

How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism

By: Stephen Guise

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

Introduction 

              We all aim to achieve the best we can, and that is not bad. However, the effort on how to go about it can be problematic if it is identified with Perfectionism. For example, Perfectionism can stand in the way by delaying these initiatives under excuses of Imperfect conditions, or by ruminating on past experiences and results. This book shows you how to be imperfections to get the result you always wanted, to be super proactive and to enjoy life more.

Definitions

·       Imperfectionists aim for quantity while Perfectionist aim for quality.

Book Summary: Deep

Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves

By: James Nestor

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

 

Introduction 

              If you have an interest in Sea Animal species, Deep sea explorations, Human Biology and limits, this book is for you.

Ocean and Sea Zones

The ocean can be divided from its surface to its depth into three zones based on the amount of light received. They are:

Book Summary: Born to Run

A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

By: Christopher McDougall 

Summary by Mounir Aswad,   

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

Introduction  

I got the book after listening to Christopher McDougal on YouTube and TED and thought it will be mainly about running barefoot. However, the book is a story about Christopher following and investigating ancient tribes in Mexico, an epic adventure that began with one simple question: “Why does my foot hurt?” as the author had Knee and other running related injuries and was told not to run, so he began his search for the truth and ended up introduced to the Mexican tribe where he learned how to run barefoot, and for very long distances.
The adventurous book was surprisingly full of various subjects from Long Marathon races, men’s biology and history to the ancient Mexican tribes, their history and much more!

 

Book Summary: The 5 Seconds Rule

By: Mel Robbins

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/

Introduction 

Can you arrive at your optimum potential by counting down from 5 to o? That what Mel Robbins thinks. As one of the most booked speakers and the most booked female speaker in 2016 who has not gotten over her anxiety of public speaking but used it to her advantage

She starts the book with her life story as she was depressed, anxious and almost bankrupt where suddenly it dawned on her to jump out of bed, counting down from 5 to 0 like a rocket, and it worked… 

Book Summary: Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

By: Carl Sagan

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

Introduction 

Cosmos has 13 chapters, corresponding to the 13 episodes of the Cosmos television series.
The book covers a broad range of topics, comprising Sagan's reflections on anthropological, cosmological, biological, historical, and astronomical matters from antiquity to contemporary times. Sagan explores 15 billion years of cosmic evolution and the development of science and civilization.
He also discusses the underlying premises of science by providing biographical anecdotes about many prominent scientists, placing their contributions in the broader context of the development of modern science.
Shortly after release, Cosmos became the best-selling science book ever published in the English language and was the first science book to sell more than half a million copies.  It was only surpassed in the late 1980s by Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time.

My Experience With Fasting

Disclaimer: all advises/recommendations below are based on my own experience with fasting. This is Not to be used as medical advice. Please check with your Doctor.

I tried different types of fasting,
below is quick reference.

Why Fast?
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There are many health benefits of fasting, some of which:

• Autograph (Cell Renewal).
• Weight Management.
• Reversing Diabetes. 
•  Controlling hunger.
• Mental Clarity and focus.

I fasted Mondays to Wednesdays (3 days fast) and Thursdays to Fridays (2 Days Fast) for several months now. During the fasting days I would consume water, coffees and teas along with some butter.

My reasons were to reduce fat % (From 14 to around 11), ability to reduce extra pounds when need to and to control my per-diabetes conditions..

Book Summary: 8 Keys To Eliminating Passive Aggressiveness

By Andrea Brandt

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

If you think you are immune to passive aggressive behavior think again. Almost everyone uses this tactic one way or another in their lifetimes although, its intensity and reoccurrence vary from one person to another. Weather you are on the receiving end or sending end, it is important to understand what it is and how to deal with it

What is Passive Aggressive Behavior

Passive-aggressive behavior is the behavior of acting indirectly aggressive rather than directly aggressive. Passive-aggressive people regularly exhibit resistance to requests or demands from family and other individuals often by procrastinating, expressing sullenness, or acting stubborn.

Boundaries

Invisible lines that draw our identify.

Boundaries affect our physical (Personal Space), Ego and Self Image.

Book Summary: The Early Teachings of the Buddha

By Sarah Shaw

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

Buddha has taught for numbered years in his life time, yet his teachings reached millions for thousands of years. The early teachings are the closest one can get to the essential teaching. This means, however, there is a lot of metaphors involved and perhaps this is done on purpose to enable the teaching to move through different cultures and generations. This book discusses several passages (Sutras) from the Deega nikaya. 

Book Summary: The Road Less Traveled, Book Summary

By M. Scott Peck, M.D

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

A book referred by several other books finally had its own turn to be reviewed. The book didn’t disappoint. It is rich in insights, wisdom and free thoughts.

Re my Summary:

Regarding the File Format: this summary is written using Microsoft Word 365 and utilizes Heading Categorization, however, on the internet it losses this great functionality. If you are reading this on the web and would like to get the original file, email me: maswad@gmail.com. In MS Word, to navigate, click view and check Navigation Pane. Categories can be collapsed or expanded in both the navigation and the main window. 

Book Summary: The Obesity Code, Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss

by Dr. Jason Fung

https://idmprogram.com/

Summary by Mounir Aswad,  

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/ 

Inheritance is not the only factor for Obesity. Most obesity epidemics materialize within a single generation. An interesting facts is that we are starting to see children born obese. This book digs deep into the cause of obesity and provides a solution.

Re: my Summary: I changed the order subjects appear to what I think is most effective. For example, I summarized the solutions first, this way, one can review the solutions available and start his/her improvements program as soon as possible.

Book Summary: Genius Foods

 

Max Lugavere & Paul Grewal, MD

https://www.geniusfoodsbook.com/

Summary by Mounir Aswad,

http://mouniraswad.blogspot.com/

Max Lugavere wrote the book after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer. He researched and read thousands of papers on the subject, meet with many Doctors and Nutrition experts. What distinguishes his work is the listing of the top 10, the insertion of carb day in one's week for “Metabolic flexibility,” and the considerable importance of fasting. 

Note regarding genes: contrary to the belief that neurogenesis happens only during youth, we create neurons during all of our lifetimes. Our choices can't change our genetics but can change chemicals on top of our DNA Called epigenome, thus improving or altering the result.

P.S, regarding my summary, I listed the top 10 first then categorized similar points together.

This summary is written using Microsoft Word 365 and utilizes Heading Categorization, however, on the internet it losses this great functionality. If you are reading this on the web and would like to get the original file, email me: maswad@gmail.com. To navigate in MS word, click view and check Navigation Pane. Now, you should see the categories on the left side. Click the arrow to explain or collapse, or right to choose collapse or expand all.

Book Summary: The Innovator's Dilemma, Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change

Innovate or Die, a favorite Business Book by Steve Jobs, this paper summaries the 2 types of innovations and how companies should organize and structure accordingly.

The two types are Sustaining and Disruptive innovation.
Sustaining innovation is the kind of innovation most company engage in when upgrading a service or adding new functions and features. Obviously if you don’t improve you risk losing your customer base and eventually your business. Disruptive innovation is more drastic change as of when you introduce brand new technology, product or market.

3 Factors of Organization Capabilities;

1)      Resources: people, equipment, technology, cash and other non-tangible resources such as product design, information, brand and customer relations

2)      Processes: Decisions and processes that transform resources into product and services.

3)      Values: Not to be confused with ethical values. Values here relate to the standards where the company and employees set priorities if an order, idea, profit margins, product or customer is important to purse or not.
The 2 kind of values:

a.       How company assess growth market values.

b.       How big an opportunity has to be before it can be pursued.

Book Summary: : Picasso Biography for Beginners,

Picasso had always impressed me,

not only of his paintings, which I admit I am not a huge fan of all of them but because of his freedom and courage of expressing himself and his continuous efforts producing amazing arts nonstop until the last days of his life...

In this book, there are rumors of him mistreating his women and other negative personality traits. A lot of these I didn't include in my summary as it seems subjective and not found on facts.

Hence, the summary below reflects on his accomplishments and few hints to learn how he was able to achieve greatness.

Before we start, let us clear the issue of the number of wives Picasso had.  Picasso had only two wives (Olga and Jacqueline) and four children by three women. He befriended other women though and hence the confusion, this page goes into details regarding this aspect of Picasso's life:
(http://www.sapergalleries.com/PicassoWomen.html)

Book Summary: Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers

Dr. Perlmutter takes us on a tour of the destructive effects of certain common food on our brains.

He makes a persuasive case for a wheat-free approach to preserve brain health and functioning, or to begin the process of healing.
.
If you want to boost your brain power, keep your memory, lift your mood and energy, as well as heal from a host of other common complaints, this book is for you.
.

I summarized the book by grouping titles/ideas together for easier reference.
In another word, the way you see the information below doesn't necessarily mirror how it was presented in the book. In fact, it may be completely the opposite, for example, the section on recommendations and what to avoid was compiled from different sections of the book and presented here as one first section. This was done to ensure no one misses these recommendations as they maybe the most important takeaways. In addition to the fact that there are some medical explanations later on that some may find too complicated or lengthy.

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Book Summary: Man's Search For Meaning

The book started with historical references to the holocaust where Dr. Viktor Frankl chronicles his experience as an Auschwitz concentration camp inmate during World War II.
He goes on to describe his psychotherapeutic method, which involves identifying a purpose in life, which for him makes all the difference and the single most important thing for any human being.

In the first part of the book, I couldn't help but contemplate about the similarities between the Nazis-Hilter regime to the Syrian-Assad Regime of today. From the inhuman treatments to cold blooded murders. The sad part, of course, is that humanity promised not to let such thing happen and we are still seeing this today with Assad.

Below is the Summary of the book which relates mostly to the second part regarding the thoughts and science behind "the Search for Meaning". You will notice the obvious differences between Dr. Frankl method of therapy to all existing methods at the time including Freuds'.

Book Summary: the way of Zen

The first impression you get when you read the title is that this is going to be about practicing the Zen way.

However, it is mostly a historical documentary with few practical examples.

The first few chapters discuss how Zen started, its link to Buddhism, Taoism, Confuciusim and how it migrated all the way from India, China to Japan.

The latter chapters do give more practical insights but not enough to start practicing a specific routine on regular basis.

The historical references do offer an amazing look into the Asian culture, religion, thoughts, differences between Buddhist schools, their link or lack of to Chinese Taoism and Confuciusim.

Sean Runnette as narrator with his soothing and calming voice adds to the content of the book to give a well-deserved ride into eastern philosophy.

For these reasons, I recommend this book as a starting point for anyone looking to learn about Zen, or for anyone already practices Zen and meditation to understand the origin of how it all started. 

Below is the summary with few personal quotes and ideas. This summary is different from previous titles it is usually much more compact. Here I found it compelling to add more descriptions to provide an intelligible understanding of the content.

Book Summary: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck-

If there was a price for repeating an obscene word, this book would have got it for repeating the F*** word so many times. It got to a point where I was about to return the book, but I decided to wait and see if there was any good points after all, and there was plenty.  
 
 The author draws from his personal and entrepreneurial experience, the way he overcame obstacles, achieved self-satisfaction and what he learned on the way.

The title of the book itself is little misleading as it makes you think the book is about dismissing things in life and perhaps in funny way. The truth is that the book shows you how to prioritize on what you should “give a F” about and what you shouldn’t, and it is not that funny.

Book Summary: Deep work,

The first thing that may come to mind when reading the title of this book is what the author meant with “Deep Work” and if it applies to you?

One way of knowing that, is the definition the author gave to “Shallow work”:

“Non-cognitively demanding logistical style task often performed while distracted, these efforts tend not to create much new values in the world and are easy to replicate”

From the definition, to work deeply is not exactly white and black, there is gray area. The author touched on that and left it to everyone to define a metric to judge how deep/productive is the work he/she is performing. The author himself is academic so his metric is defined for example by how many peer review papers he can purplish per year. The common theme throughout the book however, what defines “Deep Work” is the ability to perform the task at hand with full concentration for lengthy period without being distracted. This means blocking access to social media, emails, phones and other distracted technologies.

“Book Summary: Ego is the enemy”, a Corporate Workforce blueprint

Introduction

      If I say this book is suitable for all people in the corporate world, it would be an understatement.

      If I say this book is suitable for all who seek self-improvement in whatever shape or form they desire as in arts and music, Business, Finance, Relationships… etc.  that would be an understatement.

      If I say that this book should be read by all students and in any age, that would be an understatement as well.

      However, I choose the title above for this review “Corporate workforce blue print” because I happen to work in the corporate world for decades and I believe that the corporate world will benefit immensely from this content in many ways, from improving employee’s relationships to improving one's own productivity and hence improving the company’s financial bottom line.

Book Summary: Never Be Sick Again

Raymond Francis, a chemist and a graduate of MIT, found himself in a hospital, battling for his life. The diagnosis: acute chemical hepatitis, chronic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivities, and several autoimmune syndromes, causing him to suffer fatigue, dizziness, impaired memory, heart palpitations, diarrhea, numbness, seizures... among other complications.
He eventually turned the table around and cured most of his sickness following a natural approach backed with multivitamins and minerals.

Quick Summary:
Raymond's book basically enlist all sicknesses back to the malfunctioning of the cell. Hence there aren't really many sicknesses but one, the sickness of the cell.

The book list the following pathways to health:
        1) Nutritional Pathway, eliminate the following:
      a. sugar  b. white flour  c. processed oils  d. milk products
2) Toxin Pathway
3) Psychological Pathway
4) The physical pathway
5) The Genetic pathway
6) The Medical Pathway

Book Summary: The Art of Happiness At Work

What does the Dali Lama
 have to do with work anyways? You may ask that or you may wonder what is the wisdom waiting for you to be uncovered in this book so you can work happily ever after.

The truth is really between the two statements. The Dali Lama has the wisdom to guide you with more than few tips but don’t expect a cosmic change. In this book at least.

The book is really a conversation with the Dali Lama where Howard Cutler, a writer and psychologist handles the questions and answers sessions. Howard is long time devotee to the Dali and met with him on few occasions before so don’t expect challenging questions, just a conversation.

Note on the audio version, the conversation is not narrated by the Dali Lama but by someone who is mimicking the way the Dali speaks. Howard read however, his part.

I do wish that Howard speak less than he did. He does have good and fresh ideas but the book is primarily to know more from the Dali lama’s perspective.

Below are few pointers from the book I find useful and/or interesting, followed by my ratings summary: