300 episodes

Hey I'm Kyrin and I review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (i.e., not recent releases). Join me as I cover the basic details before diving into the themes, ideas and learnings we can take away from the fascinating realm of literature. Weekly live episode on Thurs 10am AEST (Wed/Thurs Midnight UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan every now and then.

Mere Mortals Book Reviews Kyrin Down & Juan Granados

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 10 Ratings

Hey I'm Kyrin and I review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (i.e., not recent releases). Join me as I cover the basic details before diving into the themes, ideas and learnings we can take away from the fascinating realm of literature. Weekly live episode on Thurs 10am AEST (Wed/Thurs Midnight UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan every now and then.

    A Study In Semantics | The Tyranny Of Words (Stuart Chase) BOOK REVIEW

    A Study In Semantics | The Tyranny Of Words (Stuart Chase) BOOK REVIEW

    We must blah blah the blah in order to blah the blah from blah.'The Tyranny Of Words' by Stuart Chase is his attempt at furthering the field of semantics to the general public. He takes us through the general theory, how language is used compared to cats or primitive people, areas of human conversation that contain more precise meaning and plenty of examples of unclear language. It's split into 19 chapters and worth noting he was writing this in a time of great confusion. Communism, capitalism, fascism were all hot topics being argued fiercely in the build up to the subsequent war.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(1:54) - Themes/Questions(12:49) - Author & Extras(17:36) - Summary(21:41) - Value 4 Value(23:03) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

    • 24 min
    Life, Liberty & Property | The Law (Frédéric Bastiat) BOOK REVIEW

    Life, Liberty & Property | The Law (Frédéric Bastiat) BOOK REVIEW

    To quote the great philosopher Judge Dredd .... "I am the law".'The Law' by Frédéric Bastiat is a philosophical treatise that might get confused as political writing due to the subtitle. Bastiat argues that the law should be limited to a narrow subset of protection of natural rights, not to be philanthropic & interfere in people's lives. Mini sections are all throughout with plenty of quotes from the French Revolution and other French notables. I found it to be useful in thinking about how governments should use laws and agree with most of the principles within.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(3:07) - Themes/Questions(12:59) - Author & Extras(17:51) - Summary(22:51) - Value 4 Value(24:49) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

    • 25 min
    Let's Break The Bank | More Money Than God (Sebastian Mallaby) BOOK REVIEW

    Let's Break The Bank | More Money Than God (Sebastian Mallaby) BOOK REVIEW

    Who is to blame for all the financial turmoil?'More Money Than God' by Sebastian Mallaby is a history of US hedge funds. It details how they were created, notable people who worked in them and some of the legendary trades that occurred. It also goes over some of the larger financial bubbles (and subsequent crashes) that happened and contributions that hedge funds played in them.Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :)Timeline:(0:00) - Intro(2:08) - Themes/Questions(12:01) - Author & Extras(13:25) - Summary(17:56) - Value 4 Value(18:49) - Join Live!Value 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

    • 20 min
    Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger | Mere Mortals Learnings

    Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger | Mere Mortals Learnings

    Be Useful extends beyond mere autobiography to offer a blueprint for practical action and personal success. "Be Useful" is structured around pivotal themes like having a clear vision, the power of persistence, and the importance of community and support networks. Join us as we take a look at the memorable, key takeaways from the book tody!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(1:05) - Clear vision(3:06) - Winners circle(5:30) - Work hard(6:32) - Follow through(9:18) - SummaryValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

    • 9 min
    Be Useful, Goddammit | Be Useful (Arnold Schwarzenegger) BOOK REVIEW

    Be Useful, Goddammit | Be Useful (Arnold Schwarzenegger) BOOK REVIEW

    Be Useful extends beyond mere autobiography to offer a blueprint for practical action and personal success. "Be Useful" is structured around pivotal themes like having a clear vision, the power of persistence, and the importance of community and support networks. At 260 pages, the book is an engaging read filled with actionable advice, personal anecdotes from Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life as a bodybuilder, actor, and governor, and reflections on setbacks and strategic successes. While it intertwines stories of resilience and the joys of giving back, Schwarzenegger emphasizes that everyone can make impactful contributions, not just celebrities. This book is recommended for those seeking a blend of motivation and real-world strategies to enhance their effectiveness and purpose in life.Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(1:22) - Core themes(3:14) - Insights on success(5:15) - Stories of resilience(6:31) - Strategic success and influence(9:19) - ConclusionValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcastConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

    • 11 min
    The Spirit Of The Japanese Poem | Japanese Death Poems (Yoel Hoffmann) LEARNINGS

    The Spirit Of The Japanese Poem | Japanese Death Poems (Yoel Hoffmann) LEARNINGS

    I explore the themes and insights from the book 'Japanese Death Poems' by Yoel Hoffman. I discussed the spirit of the Japanese people, their ability to embrace opposing ideas, and the complexity and simplicity of reality. I share selected death poems and provides analysis on their meaning. Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing each moment. Finally, the delusion of death poems and emphasizing the value of embracing imperfection and taking action in life.Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and Purpose(1:04) - The Spirit of the Japanese(3:53) - Selected Poems and Analysis(9:40) - The Last Day and the Delusion of Death Poems(12:51) - Conclusion and TakeawaysValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support)Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast)Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ (https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/)Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU (https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU)Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod (https://twitter.com/meremortalspod)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast)

    • 13 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

aliciakenworthy ,

Great reviews

I have “A Farewell to Arms” sitting on my bookshelf right now and listening to Kyrin talk about it clarified my decision as to whether I should actually pick it up. These reviews are great. The Aussie accent certainly doesn’t hurt!

Aguirre_edd ,

The quickie I always wanted!

First and foremost, Kyrin and Juan have a knack for making book reviews exciting and fun, something I would’ve never thought to be so entertaining.

As a light reader, it’s hard to come across a good book or recommendation when the options are endless. However, the way this is put together takes me on a short journey without giving away the context of the literature.

Keep it coming boys! This flesh ape is waiting for more!

Local Loner ,

Passionate with plenty of comedic relief

My favorite Aussie’s!!! Like myself, these guys have an intense appreciation for life and an unceasing curiosity about the world that surrounds us. Their passion is evident in every word they speak and a breath of fresh air in culture that gets overshadowed by likes and followers. Keep being different!
P.S. // 10 out of 10 recommend to ANY college student!

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