Person
Every book Tal Ben-Shahar recommended on podcasts
Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar appeared on The Mel Robbins Podcast to share timeless wisdom for cultivating happiness and purpose, recommending several key works. He recommended Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography, highlighting its subtitle, My Experiments with Truth, and explaining that the focus on ongoing experiments rather than absolute certainty serves as a guiding mantra for his life. Dr. Ben-Shahar also strongly recommended two pieces of writing by Helen Keller: an essay on optimism in which Keller declares optimism as her religion despite facing severe hardships, and an essay titled Three Days to See, where Keller reflects on what she would do if she had sight for a brief period. Furthermore, during the conversation, Dr. Ben-Shahar discussed the concept of antifragility, drawing upon the ideas and academic work of Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
Books recommended by Tal Ben-Shahar
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Mahatma Gandhi's Autobiography
Mahatma Gandhi's Autobiography, subtitled My Experiments with Truth, details the spiritual and political life of the twentieth-century Indian leader.
Recommended“one of my favorite biographies is um Mahatma Gandhi's the subtitle of his autobiography is my experiments with truth it's not my finding truth it's not the ultimate truth it's my experiments with truth and that for me is a guiding Mantra”
Where to get it
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Optimism
Optimism by Helen Keller is a reflective essay examining the power of maintaining a hopeful outlook amidst severe physical and environmental hardships.
Recommended“Helen Keller who's one of my teachers has an essay on optimism which I highly recommend uh that that you read and um in it says my religion is optimism and she says I look around metaphorically I look around the world and um and what I see is a lot of hardship and difficulty”
Where to get it
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Three Days to See
Three Days to See is a poignant essay by Helen Keller in which the renowned author and activist contemplates how she would spend a brief period of sight and hearing.
Recommended“if I may I just want to recommend something else by Helen Keller please so the essay on optimism the second one is an essay that she wrote called three days to see in it she reflects on what she would do if you know having been um blind and deaf for most of her life what would she do”
Where to get it
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Antifragile
Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a groundbreaking exploration of systems that not only withstand shocks and disorder but actually thrive and grow stronger when exposed to volatility, stress, and uncertainty.
Discussed“it's an idea that I read about through the work of Nasim Talib who's a professor at New York University”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Build the Life You Want: Timeless Wisdom for More Happiness & Purpose | The Mel Robbins Podcast | 2024-04-18 | 4 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I called up a a mentor of mine his name uh is Nathaniel Brandon Nathaniel Brandon has written many books on self-esteem”