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Pebbles of Perception: How a Few Good Choices Make All The Difference
Why are we here? Pebbles of Perception is an Invitation Be Curious; Build Character; and Make Better Choices.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 1, 2017
If you're a fan of Shane Parrish, Tim Ferriss, James Altucher, or similar authors/broadcasters, this book is for you. It's a short best-of from much larger volumes, like Charlie Munger's Almanack. While that means that much of Pebbles of Perception isn't new content, it's a great Cliff's Notes of some highly regarded work.
Pebbles closes with recommendations for seven specific books. If you've read them, you'll be familiar with much of Pebbles itself:
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Man's Emerging Mind by N. J. Berrill
Poor Charlie's Almanack by Charles T. Munger
Relationship, Relationship, Relationship by Tony Humphreys and Helen Ruddle
The Promise by Graham W. Price
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Pebbles closes with recommendations for seven specific books. If you've read them, you'll be familiar with much of Pebbles itself:
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Man's Emerging Mind by N. J. Berrill
Poor Charlie's Almanack by Charles T. Munger
Relationship, Relationship, Relationship by Tony Humphreys and Helen Ruddle
The Promise by Graham W. Price
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
August 5, 2015
I see this book as a perfect college graduation gift. I will encourage each of my kids to read it in due time. Great wisdom in short, simple chapters. Add this to the list of books I wish I'd read in my 20's.
August 9, 2018
We all must have come across a story about a young, inexperienced man/woman who has suffered in life and therefore climbs to the top of a mountain to seek advice from THE wise man. And I'm quite certain we've all been through those moments when we were desperately in need of such wisdom. "Too soon old. Too late wise." Lucky for us all, we don't have to labor up any mountain to acquire it because many books exist for this very reason. Open Pebbles of Perception and we can touch wisdom.
September 25, 2019
Good read. Crisp summary of many good books mixed with personal reflections makes it a worthwhile read.
January 30, 2017
Good, Quick Read
This is a Nicely written, short book on what is important in our lives. It is an easy read that anyone can take away some words to live by. I know I always need to remind myself what is important in my life and that winter never lasts forever, spring will make its way. Be grateful.
This is a Nicely written, short book on what is important in our lives. It is an easy read that anyone can take away some words to live by. I know I always need to remind myself what is important in my life and that winter never lasts forever, spring will make its way. Be grateful.
February 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It is comprised of a number of small chapters with each having its own topic. I've heard a lot of the advice before, but found some interesting information.
May 14, 2019
Snippets of wisdom from modern masters - Ray Dalio, Charlie Munger, etc...
December 26, 2025
Well written, short topics and enjoyable. I dont think the writer have a lot of new ideas, but really mastered the art of writing, and have made each topic interesting to read.
Perfect book to relax with in the holiday
Perfect book to relax with in the holiday
February 21, 2016
There is literally nothing new in this book - it is things you know, are nice common sense with some base learnings decision theory, rationality, behavioural psychology.
Despite this I liked it - it is calm, friendly, humble. I liked also the chapter on relationships, family etc. - topics usually not covered in the quadrant of meme-space of value investing/mental models/rationality.
Despite this I liked it - it is calm, friendly, humble. I liked also the chapter on relationships, family etc. - topics usually not covered in the quadrant of meme-space of value investing/mental models/rationality.
November 14, 2018
Not so much a book as the authors notes on other books. 2 stars makes it seem like it is bad which it isn’t but if you have read the books he mentions then he has nothing new to add
March 26, 2019
Enjoyable and easy to read. A lot of wisdom from many sources concentrated in one pancake. Wise head on young shoulders.
March 28, 2021
I can read this multiple times and each time I will learn something which I can use in my life.
September 2, 2021
Good book and perfect as a gift for a young person just reaching adulthood. Below are my notes. More like this can be found at www.libraryof.xyz
The book is about the choices we make in life and how we make them. Your life is a product of your choices – good choices equals good life equals bad choices, bad life. The book is inspired by Poor Charlie’s Almanac and Lawrence Enderson’s goal is to help young people to not have to grow old in order to become wise.
LEARN TO KNOW YOURSELF. To take time for reflection and self-awareness is well-invested time. By understanding ourselves, we can understand others and with greater confidence go after our goals. By that, it gets easier not to live someone else’s life.
CURIOSITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING. The best way to learn is to approach a subject with a child’s curiosity and a questioning mindset. Curiosity leads to better questions, which in turn leads to better answers. By asking open-ended questions, we improve our chances of increasing our understanding and the answers can lead to new questions.
“Choosing lifelong learning is one of the few good choices that can make a big difference in our lives, giving us an enormous advantage when practiced over a long period of time”
THE FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE. When we have a subject or a concept we are trying to learn, we can use the Feynman technique. We produce a blank piece of paper and write the name of the subject at the top. Then we assume that we will teach someone else about the subject and fill the paper with information. If we can do this in a clear and pedagogical way, we will master the subject in question.
NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM. We should always keep in mind that everything is about what perspectives we have. If you go too far west, you end up east and vice versa. Nothing happens in isolation. Everything is affected by its context. Perspectives and contexts are different for everyone and change over time. See things from all angles and adapt to the current situation.
LOSS ASSOCIATED FEAR. Loss is something natural and to be expected. But the consequences of a loss will not be as bad as we imagine, especially if we live a varied life. We never lose our ability to learn, our ability to love and above all our ability to choose. Fear is mostly a thought-based construction. It disappears when we stop comparing ourselves to others and accept the situation as it is right now.
“Another helpful analogy is that of a ship. We are each the captain of our own ship. Fear of the future is the anchor that holds us in the harbor. Fear-ruled ships stay in safe harbours. But what use is a ship that won’t set sail?”
ADVERSITY IS NATURAL. Assuming that we will not suffer adversity is naive. An adversity is often more frightening in advance than when it comes. According to Endersen, there are three things that can make us overcome adversity and even come out better from them: (1) a reflection of the nature of adversity with a view to understanding, (2) a recognition of adversity in order to accept the situation and (3) to be able to mentally re-write our life history, now with adversity and its lessons. A common reaction to adversity is to deny it. Our goal should be to face adversity when it comes. To ask: what does life expect of me now?
FOCUS. If you ask someone successful about the secret behind their success, many will answer with just one word: focus. It’s hard to get good at something without giving it a disproportionate amount of time. The focus is on controlled applied energy. When we have something important to do, we should eliminate all other distractions and just do it. Before that thing is done, everything else is distractions.
LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. By leaving your comfort zone, you accept that you will fail. By welcoming failure, you will be able to grow. The most comfortable place for an animal is in the middle of a herd – where it is warm and safe. But the view from the middle of the herd is not very exciting.
”How will you ever be polished, if you are irritated by every rub?”
The book is about the choices we make in life and how we make them. Your life is a product of your choices – good choices equals good life equals bad choices, bad life. The book is inspired by Poor Charlie’s Almanac and Lawrence Enderson’s goal is to help young people to not have to grow old in order to become wise.
LEARN TO KNOW YOURSELF. To take time for reflection and self-awareness is well-invested time. By understanding ourselves, we can understand others and with greater confidence go after our goals. By that, it gets easier not to live someone else’s life.
CURIOSITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING. The best way to learn is to approach a subject with a child’s curiosity and a questioning mindset. Curiosity leads to better questions, which in turn leads to better answers. By asking open-ended questions, we improve our chances of increasing our understanding and the answers can lead to new questions.
“Choosing lifelong learning is one of the few good choices that can make a big difference in our lives, giving us an enormous advantage when practiced over a long period of time”
THE FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE. When we have a subject or a concept we are trying to learn, we can use the Feynman technique. We produce a blank piece of paper and write the name of the subject at the top. Then we assume that we will teach someone else about the subject and fill the paper with information. If we can do this in a clear and pedagogical way, we will master the subject in question.
NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM. We should always keep in mind that everything is about what perspectives we have. If you go too far west, you end up east and vice versa. Nothing happens in isolation. Everything is affected by its context. Perspectives and contexts are different for everyone and change over time. See things from all angles and adapt to the current situation.
LOSS ASSOCIATED FEAR. Loss is something natural and to be expected. But the consequences of a loss will not be as bad as we imagine, especially if we live a varied life. We never lose our ability to learn, our ability to love and above all our ability to choose. Fear is mostly a thought-based construction. It disappears when we stop comparing ourselves to others and accept the situation as it is right now.
“Another helpful analogy is that of a ship. We are each the captain of our own ship. Fear of the future is the anchor that holds us in the harbor. Fear-ruled ships stay in safe harbours. But what use is a ship that won’t set sail?”
ADVERSITY IS NATURAL. Assuming that we will not suffer adversity is naive. An adversity is often more frightening in advance than when it comes. According to Endersen, there are three things that can make us overcome adversity and even come out better from them: (1) a reflection of the nature of adversity with a view to understanding, (2) a recognition of adversity in order to accept the situation and (3) to be able to mentally re-write our life history, now with adversity and its lessons. A common reaction to adversity is to deny it. Our goal should be to face adversity when it comes. To ask: what does life expect of me now?
FOCUS. If you ask someone successful about the secret behind their success, many will answer with just one word: focus. It’s hard to get good at something without giving it a disproportionate amount of time. The focus is on controlled applied energy. When we have something important to do, we should eliminate all other distractions and just do it. Before that thing is done, everything else is distractions.
LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. By leaving your comfort zone, you accept that you will fail. By welcoming failure, you will be able to grow. The most comfortable place for an animal is in the middle of a herd – where it is warm and safe. But the view from the middle of the herd is not very exciting.
”How will you ever be polished, if you are irritated by every rub?”
June 10, 2023
Having a choice is one of the biggest gift to mankind . But the choice that we have differ from person to person and it is very circumstantial to begin with. We can apply this gift in all areas of our life From our choice of words , the choice to have a positive outlook etc. The book teaches us the flip side of how making a good choice at times a tough one can make all the difference to that of a bad one.
For me personally the book failed to capture the attention of a reader in terms of the flow of content if I have to say so but every reader is not the same. It is just my take on it but do give it a read in order to form your own opinion.
For me personally the book failed to capture the attention of a reader in terms of the flow of content if I have to say so but every reader is not the same. It is just my take on it but do give it a read in order to form your own opinion.
March 4, 2025
The pathway of investor to author is well-trodden, and often when reading the results one might wish that it were slightly less so. Laurence Endersen's "Pebbles of Perception", however, bucks this trend, despite not really offering anything particularly new. Indeed, it is because it a repository of simple, at times trite, collective wisdom that we would all do well to heed, and doesn't pretend to loftier ambitions, that it is so readable. It can be read in a few hours, which furthers its utility as a sort of handbook to be consulted when things are going awry. It is endlessly quotable, and worth buying just for the abridged reading list at the end.
October 2, 2020
Wisdom for everyone
This is a book I'll give to my daughter to read when she's growing up. It contains advice that I wish I had been given, particularly with respect to perspective linked to your thinking and experience. I wonder though if it will go over her head and only be read and understood later on with some life experience on her shoulders. Nevertheless forewarned is forearmed!
This is a book I'll give to my daughter to read when she's growing up. It contains advice that I wish I had been given, particularly with respect to perspective linked to your thinking and experience. I wonder though if it will go over her head and only be read and understood later on with some life experience on her shoulders. Nevertheless forewarned is forearmed!
October 24, 2020
This book should not be kept on your bookshelf. It should be by your desk or with you in your bag at all times. Its a great playbook on life. Because each chapter is so short and to the point, it is exceptionally easy to read. It makes it a fantastic time filler and a great tool for introspective moments. I found it so helpful I bought many copies to be given away to friends and will continue to do so in future.
March 16, 2023
Recommended by J! Short and simple read but packed with many thought provoking questions. I especially liked the last few chapters on where to live, marriage, children, thinking biases. Each chapter got straight to the point and summarised key takeaways from thoughtful thinkers in a concise and digestible manner. Even though it was a short read, I will be rereading given these points require more reflection.
August 16, 2020
Worst kind of copypasta in a cheap amazon print on demand quality.
Reminds me of the Taleb vs Dobelli copyright dispute. Not a single original thought here. Reads like bad notes from someone who skipped too much pages in class b literatur like Arieli or Schwartz and for sure did not bother to read the real stuff from Kahneman.
Reminds me of the Taleb vs Dobelli copyright dispute. Not a single original thought here. Reads like bad notes from someone who skipped too much pages in class b literatur like Arieli or Schwartz and for sure did not bother to read the real stuff from Kahneman.
October 8, 2022
A must have in your library
To read multiple times in a year, every year. On a weekend... on a holiday... I know I will read it again and recommend it / gift it to friends in the next few weeks.
To read multiple times in a year, every year. On a weekend... on a holiday... I know I will read it again and recommend it / gift it to friends in the next few weeks.
September 1, 2025
This book offers a variety of valuable tips on a wide range of topics, making it a great gift for college graduates. My only complaint is its slightly nihilistic undertone which is a common theme in personal dev books, but it's still a worthwhile read
January 25, 2017
A handbook for living a good life
You can tell the author wrote this with the thought that he wish he knew it all 20-30 years earlier. It's short, powerful and dead right on so many important things. Don't make the same mistake: read it immediately.
You can tell the author wrote this with the thought that he wish he knew it all 20-30 years earlier. It's short, powerful and dead right on so many important things. Don't make the same mistake: read it immediately.
May 15, 2017
Mostly insightful stuff.
May 28, 2017
will have to read again to completely digest and chew on it
September 23, 2017
A must read to have the big picture about having a better understanding of how to make choice and behave.
January 13, 2018
To read it again and again in the future
November 12, 2018
A great short self help, treat this as an introduction to some deeper adventures
January 30, 2019
Packed with wisdom
Incredible little book packed with wisdom on a wide range of topics from decision making, career choice to having kids. Clearly written, no fluff.
Incredible little book packed with wisdom on a wide range of topics from decision making, career choice to having kids. Clearly written, no fluff.
June 17, 2019
I have a select few books in the category "a book I want my kids to read". This is one of them.
For those who like Charlie Munger, Scott Adams, Dale Carnegie, Life Lesson's books....
For those who like Charlie Munger, Scott Adams, Dale Carnegie, Life Lesson's books....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews