Mere Mortals Book Reviews

I'm begging you PLEASE, I'll be your very best friend.

In this episode I review Dale Carnegie’s classic 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' nearly a century on from its publication. I walk through the book’s structure: principles on handling people, making people like you, winning others to your way of thinking and leading without resentment. Timeless advice still shines (smile, remember names, be genuinely interested, listen well) but some parts feels dated (the slow course‑shilling intro and lack of psychological depth on becoming “genuinely” interested). I also dig into the tension at the heart of the book: wanting friends and influence while being told to act without obvious self‑interest.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:52) Book structure overview: parts and principles
(00:06:31) Key principles sampled: smile, names, listen, importance
(00:11:17) Childhood lens on making friends and sorting people
(00:13:41) Author background: Dale Carnegie’s path and motives
(00:17:19) The hard part: becoming genuinely interested
(00:20:34) Does it hold up? A dated yet durable self‑help classic
(00:22:29) Wrap‑up, support links and what’s next

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Most people approach The Iliad expecting the Trojan Horse. Instead, they find something darker: a story about wounded pride, uncontrollable rage, brutal violence and the moment vengeance finally gives way to pity.

In this review, I break down Samuel Butler’s translation of Homer’s epic, the feud between Achilles and Agamemnon, Hector’s terrifying presence, the petty interference of the gods, the oral tradition behind the poem, and whether a modern reader should actually tackle this ancient monster of a book.

00:00 — An Ancient Epic in My Hands
00:42 — The Samuel Butler Translation
01:03 — Did Homer Actually Write The Iliad?
02:23 — What Is an Epic Poem?
03:05 — This Is Not the Trojan Horse Story
03:40 — Achilles, Hector and the Gods
04:53 — How This Edition Structures the Story
06:15 — The Core of The Iliad: Rage
07:33 — Achilles Loses Everything
08:19 — The Gods Are Petty as Hell
09:49 — Violence, Nature and Ancient Imagery
11:41 — The Sections I Fast-Read
13:19 — The Power of Oral Storytelling
15:00 — The Brutality of Battle
15:43 — Hector Smashes Through the Gates
17:29 — No Simple Villains, Only Human Beings
18:13 — Honour, Glory and the Heroic Code
19:03 — Should You Read The Iliad?
19:22 — The Odyssey Review Is Coming


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I was wrong and I admit it .... this is the real OG self help book.

Today I dive into James Allen’s 'As a Man Thinketh' (paired in my edition with From Poverty to Power) and it still lands today. It's short, punchy and refreshingly non-woo-woo with clear calls to personal responsibility, character-building and right thought leading to right outcomes. I read standout quotes, reflect on how its agnostic tone (with light biblical echoes) keeps the focus on self-mastery and share how it inspired me to become better. I also highlight where From Poverty to Power lost me (preachier with some outlandish claims about illness and sin) while acknowledging Allen’s hard-earned optimism given his tough life story. Overall verdict: skip Poverty To Power, but As a Man Thinketh is a timeless, motivating read that influenced Hill, Peale and Carnegie.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:16) Core premise: thoughts shape character and outcomes
(00:05:40) From Poverty to Power: preachiness and sermon feel
(00:13:22) Author profile: James Allen’s hard‑earned optimism
(00:16:12) Overall take: the real OG of self‑help
(00:18:39) Value for Value, feedback and support
(00:19:27) What’s next: upcoming reviews and schedule

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What happens if the game really is better than real life?

In this episode I dive into 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline and explore whether a virtual paradise can outshine the messy real world. I outline the OASIS, the 80s-saturated Easter egg hunt and the Gunter vs corporate showdown then share why the novel’s early gritty realism hooked me but later lost its footing as coincidences piled up and the real world became improbably rosy. While the tech flourishes feel contemporary and the ride is undeniably fun (especially for gaming and 80s pop-culture tragics) the lack of deeper philosophical bite kept it from being more than entertaining sci‑fi for me. I touch on Cline’s screenwriter sensibilities and how the book’s cinematic qualities likely helped its rapid path to film.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:19) Big theme: Choosing virtual worlds over a broken reality
(00:09:06) From gritty realism to full fantasy stakes
(00:11:49) Why the ending undercuts the books premise
(00:14:17) Author focus: Ernest Cline, screenwriting vibes
(00:16:55) Verdict: a fun 6/10 for gamers and 80s fans
(00:17:20) Closing and ways to support the podcast
(00:18:26) Live schedule and what is next

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Are you entering into the dungeon?

In this episode of Mere Mortals Book Reviews, I dive into 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' by Matt Dinniman, a fast-paced RPG romp that mixes real-world apocalypse with game-show chaos. I share why this was the perfect palate cleanser after some drier reads, how the humour lands (crude, clever and consistently fun) and what makes Carl and his imperious feline companion Princess Donut so engaging as they descend through deadly, rule-laden dungeons watched by an intergalactic audience.

I touch on the book’s setup: Earth flattened and repurposed into a subterranean dungeon, humans given a stark choice to enter or struggle topside and reflect on the “would you go in?” dilemma. Expect comparisons to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in premise vibe (but with very different humour), thoughts on the world-building quirks, and where I’m at with committing to a six-book series. Final verdict: a brisk, entertaining read that hit the spot for escapist fun 7.5/10 and I’m keen for book number two.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:41) Carl and Princess Donut
(00:06:08) Gags, dry vs absurd humour and running jokes
(00:08:43) Would you enter the dungeon? Personal reflection
(00:13:15) Author notes, community and Reddit mentions
(00:15:24) Summary, rating 7.5/10 and sign-off

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