S2.E5 - Scarcity Brain - Chapters 11-Epilogue

This week, Robb leads our discussion of Chapters 11 - Epilogue from Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter.

• Chapter 11: “Happiness” - (3:56 - 40:47)

When would you say that you’ve been the happiest in your life? (3:56 - 20:18)

When have you relied most on prayer in your life?  How did that make you feel/increase your faith? (20:19 - 32:41)

What did you find particularly interesting in the Benedictine monks’ view of work and purpose? (32:42 - 40:47)

• Epilogue: “What We Do Now” - (40:48 - 1:05:39)

That concludes our review and discussion of Scarcity Brain!

For season 3, the guys will read Blue Zones, Second Edition: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner. You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here. For the first episode we’ll discuss the preface, chapter 1: “The Truth About Living Longer” and chapter 2: “The Sardinian Blue Zone.”

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast.

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com.

Please subscribe and give us a review! We would really appreciate it.

We are taking the next two weeks off. We’ll see you Tuesday, February 27. Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, Adam (“Flez”) leads our discussion of Chapters 9-10 from Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter.

Chapter 9: “Stuff” (2:30 - 39:30)

• In regards to “stuff”, what kind of societal norms have you conformed to or products have you purchased to appear better than others or to attempt to fit in? (2:30 - 32:30)
• How much as our unprecedented access to wealth and goods contributed to people’s decreased felt need for religion or faith? (32:31 - 39:30)

Chapter 10: “Information” - (39:31 - 59:00)

• Describe your experience with meditation. (39:31 - 45:09)
• With information to seemingly everything at our fingertips, how do we tap into our innate drive for exploration to help us find meaning in our lives?

Next week we’ll read chapters 11 - Epilogue (pages 238 - 288)

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

Please subscribe and give us a review! We would really appreciate it.

See you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, Garrett leads our discussion of Chapters 6-8 from Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter.

• Chapter 6: “Certainty” - What is an example in life that has been “gamified” in a negative way that you think can be redeemed and used more positively? (2:20- 28:19)
• Chapter 7: “Influence” - How do you find the balance between having authentic pride and seeking a healthy amount of influence while being content and satisfied, rather than going too far and experiencing the negative sides of over pursuing influence? (28:20- 43:49)
• Chapter 8: “Food” - What do you think is the biggest solution to improve health both at an individual level and societal level? (43:50- 1:08:20)

Next week we’ll read chapters 9 and 10 (pages 169- 237)

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

Please subscribe and give us a review! We would really appreciate it.

See you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, Adam leads our discussion of Chapters 3-5 from Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter.

• Chapter 3: “Where the Scarcity Loop Lives” - Which examples stuck out to you of where the Scarcity Loop exists? What are your thoughts on the dilemma about Easter’s idea of regulating technology to make it less engaging or additive? (1:49 - 20:50)
• Chapter 4: “What We Crave More” - Why do we overlook subtraction as a way to change things or make improvements? (20:51 - 34:40)
• Chapter 5: “Escape” - What did you all think about the brain disease model of addiction versus the environmental role of addiction? (34:51 - 58:07)

Next week we’ll read chapters 6-8 (pages 94 - 168)

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

Please subscribe and give us a review! We would really appreciate it.

See you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

We’re back for Season 2! This week, Thomas leads our discussion of the Introduction, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 from Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:00 - 5:03)

Scarcity Brain Introduction - Chapter 2 discussion (5:04 - 53:07)

• What is the most annoying, difficult, or destructive form a “scarcity loop” you or the people you know and love have been or are caught in? (5:04 - 19:09)
• Was anyone previously aware of the “scarcity loop” tendency in human nature? Now that you’re aware, do you think you’re more equipped to not get stuck in as many scarcity loops? (19:10 - 29:36)
• After recapping chapters 1-2, the guys discuss their own scarcity loop experiences around gambling and ways to lean into self-control in all aspects of life (29:37 - 53:07)

Next week we’ll read chapters 3-5 (pages 38 - 93).

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome to a special episode of the Books Brothers Podcast! Greg Rush, the Director of Communications at Theta Chi fraternity, reached out to ask more about our collegiate experience and how our friendships have continued into this podcast. You can read his article by clicking here.

We all joined Theta Chi in college, and our experience in the fraternity made an indelible impact and created the friendships we continue  now 10+ years later.

Due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, Greg was unable to join our call for the conversation. This episode is us answering Greg’s questions for his article.

Time Stamps of Each Question

What is the focus of the podcast? (1:20 - 4:49)

What was the fraternity like during the time we were active members in college? (4:50 - 10:12)

What leadership positions did we hold in the fraternity? (10:13 - 11:02)

What were some of the most valuable lessons from our collegiate experience that has made us into the men we are today? (11:03 - 18:40)

What is the next book we’ll be reading and discussing? (18:41 - 23:25)

How can other fraternity brothers find this podcast and lend us their support? (23:26 - 25:40)

Be sure to join us for season 2 starting on January 9! Our next book is Scarcity Brain: “Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough” by Michael Easter. 

For our first episode, we’ll read and discuss the first three chapters of Scarcity Brain:

• “Introduction: Our Scarcity Brain” (pgs. 1-7)
• “Chapter 1: The Scarcity Loop” (pgs. 8-29)
• “Chapter 2: How the Scarcity Loop Hooks Us” (pgs. 30-37)

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you in 2024! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, Garrett leads our discussion of the Conclusion chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes and our final thoughts on the book.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (2:30 - 5:17)

Conclusion chapter and book recap discussion (5:18 - 46:20)

• Which mask do you feel you’ve most identified with? (5:18 - 25:51)
• What was the biggest thing you learned about yourself while reading this book? (25:52 - 40:24)
• The guys share their final thoughts on the book (40:25 - 46:20)

Next book preview! Scarcity Brain: “Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough” by Michael Easter (46:21 - 48:33)

We’ll take the next two weeks off. Season 2 will begin January 9! We’ll read and discuss the first three chapters of Scarcity Brain:

• “Introduction: Our Scarcity Brain” (pgs. 1-7)
• “Chapter 1: The Scarcity Loop” (pgs. 8-29)
• “Chapter 2: How the Scarcity Loop Hooks Us” (pgs. 30-37)

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, Thomas leads our discussion of  “The Alpha Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:24 - 4:27)

“The Alpha Mask” discussion (4:28 - 64:36)

• Share a story of a time when you experienced someone acting like an “alpha.” Bonus points if the story is about yourself! (4:28 - 29:22)
• What insecurities are you possibly hiding when you exhibit the alpha mask? (29:23 - 51:54)
• What are your thoughts on the author’s take on becoming an “evolved alpha”? (48:15 - 64:36)

Next week we’ll read the “Conclusion” chapter (pages 213 - 223) and recap the entire book! We’ll also share what book we’ll be reading next for season 2!

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome back to the Books Brothers Podcast! This week, the guys discuss “The Know-It-All Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:02 - 4:27)

“The Know-It-All Mask” discussion (4:28 - 57:36)

• Which type of man do you relate to more, the one who can’t admit he doesn’t know what he’s doing, or the one who thinks he has all the answers? (4:28 - 21:06)
• How would you define your demeanor towards learning and obtaining wisdom, and how has that evolved over the years? (21:07 - 28:40)
• What do you think when wise and smart people say that they don’t know anything at all? (28:41 - 52:41)
• Closing thoughts (52:42 - 57:36)

Next week’s reading: “The Alpha Mask”: pages 195 - 212

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome back to the Books Brothers Podcast! This week, the guys discuss “The Invincible Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:03 - 2:59)

“The Invincible Mask” discussion (3:00 - 63:01)

• Were there any risky or foolish behaviors that you were involved in growing up (or still today)? (3:00 - 15:29)
• Has there been a time in your life that you’ve pushed so hard - trying to be invincible - that you almost had (or did have) a nervous breakdown? (15:30 - 46:21)
• What are your reactions and thoughts when you hear reminders about how you’re truly not immortal nor invincible? (46:22 - 63:01)

Next week’s reading: “The Know-it-All Mask”: pages 175 - 194

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.