The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

Week 5! I'm giving you some weekly insight on books in my collection.

Robert Greene has easily become my favorite writer over the last few years, the way he weaves history, psychology & philosophy into stories that give you insight into how and why we all do what we do, is phenomenal. I have a hard time deciding which of his books is my favorite but "The Laws of Human Nature" is most definitely towards the top.


You can buy the book here: https://amzn.to/3VKT5yl


Here are 9 key lessons :


1. Understanding Human Behavior: Greene delves into the intricacies of human psychology, offering insights into the motivations, desires, and fears that drive our actions & interactions with others


2. Mastery of Self: The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness & self-mastery as essential tools for navigating social dynamics & achieving personal growth & success


3. Observation & Empathy: Greene highlights the significance of keen observation & empathy in understanding the perspectives & intentions of others.


4. Power Dynamics: Greene explores the dynamics of power in human relationships, shedding light on the strategies & tactics employed by individuals to gain & maintain control over others


5. Seduction & Manipulation: The book delves into the art of seduction & manipulation, examining the psychological principles behind these behaviors & providing insights into how they can be used ethically and effectively


6. Social Intelligence: Greene discusses the importance of social intelligence in navigating social situations & building meaningful connections with others. He provides strategies for honing social skills and fostering genuine rapport with people from diverse backgrounds


7. Self-Preservation & Conflict: The book explores the instinctual drive for self-preservation & the strategies individuals employ to protect themselves from harm. Greene offers insights into conflict resolution & negotiation techniques that promote win-win outcomes


8. Authenticity & Charisma: Greene examines the qualities of authenticity & charisma that inspire admiration & loyalty in others. He provides guidance on how to cultivate these qualities & harness them to achieve personal and professional success


9. Mastery of Influence: The book concludes with a discussion on the art of influence, outlining principles & strategies for persuading & motivating others to align with one's goals & objectives.


The Prophet - Khalil Gibran

Week 4 my people, I'm giving you some weekly insight on books in my collection.

The Prophet by Khalil Gibran might be my favorite & definitely the book that I have gifted the most. The writing style is excellent, It's written in a story format with a poetic feel to it & is basically a philosophical work. This specific copy that I own, I've only seen on eBay recently, as it's a pocket-sized version, it's not common but there are a lot of versions available.

You can buy the book here: https://amzn.to/3VLjv33

1. Love: Gibran explores the nature of love, highlighting its ability to enrich & fulfill life. Love is portrayed as a force that transcends boundaries and unites souls in harmony & understanding.

2. Marriage: The book delves into the institution of marriage, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect, freedom, and companionship between partners. Gibran encourages couples to support each other's growth & individuality within the union

3. Children: Gibran reflects on the role of children in society, emphasizing their innate wisdom & uniqueness. He advocates for nurturing and guiding children with love & understanding, allowing them to flourish into their authentic selves

4. Work: Work is explored as a means of self-expression & contribution to society. Gibran encourages individuals to find purpose and fulfillment in their work, viewing it as a noble endeavor that allows one to actualize their potential

5. Joy & Sorrow: Gibran discusses the interconnectedness of joy and sorrow in life, highlighting how they complement each other and contribute to personal growth and resilience. He suggests embracing both experiences with calm & grace

6. Freedom: The book explores the concept of freedom as an inherent right of every individual. Gibran advocates for freedom of thought, expression, & choice, emphasizing the importance of self-determination and autonomy

7. Pain: Gibran reflects on the transformative power of pain and suffering, viewing them as catalysts for inner growth & spiritual awakening. He suggests embracing pain as a teacher that leads to greater understanding & enlightenment

8. Friendship: The value of friendship is extolled as a source of support, companionship, and joy in life. Gibran emphasizes the importance of cultivating meaningful connections with others based on mutual respect, trust & understanding

9. Death: Gibran offers reflections on death as a natural part of the human experience. He encourages acceptance & surrender to the mysteries of life & death, viewing death not as an end but as a transition to a higher state of being

#Books #Book #HipHop #Business #Mindful #Iseeitall

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Peace my people, this is week 3! I'm giving you some weekly insight on some books in my collection. I got "Do You" in 2011 and read most of this on the flight to and from France when I toured there. Run DMC is the first group I remember being iconic and influential. Russell was always intriguing to me, especially because as a kid I got some insight into his role in their career and how he built Def Jam when I saw Krush Groove, which was special to me. This book opened the doors to some ideas beyond music and business, it's a self-help book that offers practical advice for personal growth and achievement.


You can buy the book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/497Vp5y


Here are 9 key lessons from the book:


1. Embrace Authenticity: Russell Simmons emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and embracing one's unique identity & talents.

2. Set Clear Intentions: The book encourages readers to clarify their goals and intentions, setting a clear path for achieving happiness & success.

3. Cultivate Self-Discipline: Simmons stresses the importance of self-discipline and perseverance in pursuing one's dreams & overcoming obstacles.

4. Practice Mindfulness: The book advocates for mindfulness and self-awareness, urging readers to live in the present moment & cultivate inner peace.

5. Embrace Change: Simmons highlights the inevitability of change and encourages readers to embrace it as an opportunity for growth & transformation.

6. Take Action: The book emphasizes the importance of taking consistent and focused action toward achieving goals, rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you.

7. Seek Knowledge: Simmons advocates continuous learning & self-improvement, encouraging readers to seek knowledge & wisdom from various sources.

8. Nurture Positive Relationships: The book underscores the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive and positive influences, fostering healthy relationships that uplift & inspire.

9. Practice Gratitude: Simmons promotes gratitude as a powerful tool for cultivating happiness & success, encouraging readers to appreciate the blessings in their lives and express gratitude daily.

#Books #Book #HipHop #Business #Mindful #Iseeitall

"How to Eat to Live - Book One: From God in Person" by Elijah Muhammad

Peace my people, this is week 2! I'm giving you some weekly insight on books I have read or listened to every Monday. This book is one of the first books I bought back in high school, even though I did not implement much of what I learned until later in life. I bought this book because Krs One literally says "Read the book 'How to Eat to Live' By Elijah Muhammad, it's a brown paperback" in his song "Beef", which I did without a 2nd thought. After all, at that point in my life, no artist spoke to me the way Krs did.

You can buy the book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3VicWol

Here are 9 key lessons from the book:

1. Dietary Guidelines: The importance of consuming a simple, wholesome diet consisting primarily of natural, unprocessed foods

2. Nutritional Principles: The book advocates for eating to live rather than living to eat, promoting a diet that supports optimal health and longevity

3. Avoidance of Harmful Foods: Elijah Muhammad warns against the consumption of pork, excess meat, and other harmful substances, citing their negative effects on physical and spiritual well-being

4. Focus on Fruits and Vegetables: The book encourages the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as primary sources of nutrition, highlighting their abundance of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients

5. Intermittent Fasting: Elijah Muhammad introduces the concept of intermittent fasting as a means of detoxifying the body, promoting healing, and enhancing overall health

6. Water as Essential: The importance of water intake is stressed, with Elijah Muhammad recommending ample hydration for proper bodily function and toxin elimination

7. Moderation in Eating: The book advises moderation in portion sizes and meal frequency, promoting a balanced approach to eating that supports physical health and spiritual discipline

8. Health as a Spiritual Duty: Elijah Muhammad links dietary choices to spiritual development, teaching that maintaining good health is a fundamental duty and a form of worship

9. Community Health: The book underscores the importance of promoting community health, advocating for education, and collective action to address dietary-related health issues

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Peace my people, I want to start something new that I will be sharing with you weekly on Mondays. Words are my original passion. The impact they have on our lives, the power they give to creativity, stories, and honestly, everything about them. I love to read and listen to audiobooks and I wanted to start sharing some insight into some books that I have read or listened to.

The first book that I want to share is Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.

This is an amazing book about the people of Okinawa in Japan which is the city with the most centenarians (people who live to be 100 + years old) in the world

Here are 10 key lessons from the book:

Find Your Purpose: Discover what truly drives and motivates you in life, your reason for getting out of bed every morning.

Live in the Present Moment: Embrace mindfulness and focus on being fully present in whatever you're doing at the moment.

Nurture Relationships: Cultivate meaningful connections with family, friends, and community members to foster a sense of belonging and support.

Pursue Passion: Engage in activities that you're passionate about and that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Stay Active: Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine to maintain health and vitality.

Eat Wisely: Follow a balanced diet rich in nutritious foods to nourish your body and support overall well-being.

Embrace Resilience: Learn to bounce back from setbacks and challenges with resilience and a positive mindset.

Simplify: Simplify your life by decluttering and focusing on what truly matters, letting go of unnecessary stressors and distractions.

Find Flow: Seek out experiences that allow you to enter a state of flow, where you're fully immersed and engaged in an activity.

Cultivate Gratitude: Practice gratitude regularly, acknowledging and appreciating the blessings and opportunities in your life.

You can buy the book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3vhWyt8

I just finished reading Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent's Hustler Harder, Hustle Smarter

https://www.audible.com/pd/Hustle-Harder-Hustle-Smarter-Audiobook/0062953834?ds_rl=1262685&ds_rl=1263561&ds_rl=1260658&source_code=GO1GB907OSH060513&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz5y7p6e_6gIVENvACh38SwMsEAAYASAAEgKd5fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.audible.com/pd/Hustle-Harder-Hustle-Smarter-Audiobook/0062953834?ds_rl=1262685&ds_rl=1263561&ds_rl=1260658&source_code=GO1GB907OSH060513&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz5y7p6e_6gIVENvACh38SwMsEAAYASAAEgKd5fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I just finished Hustle Harder Hustle Smarter by Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent. The stories, perspective, mind set and insight from 50 in this book are amazing. He gives you all the details from being raised by his grand mother and selling drugs behind her back to his first record deal, getting shot 9 times and then getting dropped by the label. All the deals he turned down before he knew the deal with Eminem & Dre would change his life to touring in Europe and killing it, and then coming back home to the US and realizing that people just weren't feeling him anymore an artist. His relationship with his oldest son and his oldest son's mother and even his relationship with Tony Yayo, Llyod Banks, Floyd Mayweather, Deepak Chopra, Robert Greene etc. His role as an investor in Vitamin water and of course his current position as a successful TV producer for Power and his plans beyond that. Throughout his stories, 50 drops so much great insight on his thought process and how each relationship, good or bad allowed him to grow and ultimately made him successful. I highly recommend this book.

What are you reading right now ?

Interview on La Verdad podcast

With the La Verdad team

Peace world, I did an interview recently with the good people at La Verdad. We discussed overcoming obstacles, my art and the doors it has opened for me plus more.

Take a listen below!   

Money Mantra episode 1

Listen to Money Mantra on Spotify. Money Mantra is a weekly (new episodes every Monday) podcast about money and mental health where host Cesar "V!sual" Zamudio interviews a diverse range of guest including entrepreneurs, actors, artist , yoga instructors, life coaches and much more.

Peace world, I'm excited to announce that you can now download episode 1 of my podcast Money Mantra !

This is the intro episode where I walk you through the interview process and my reason for creating the podcast. The focus of the podcast is money and mental health. I hope you all enjoy it and gain some inspiration or insight on issues you may be facing.

There will be new episodes every Monday so please subscribe on iTunes or wherever else you download podcast. It will be available on all podcast networks soon.

You can download it here on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/podcast/money-mantra/id1239641680