A&B #41

Hey friends and happy Sunday.

I spent this week catching up on work. 

Specifically, I updated my ebook

12 Universal Laws of Social Media Creation

. I added two bonus chapters–the first is about 5 secrets great creators know and the second is about 5 cardinal sins creators want to avoid. 

I also went through my Twitter to find my top tweets. After writing 8,000+ tweets, here are my

.

And after reading 200+ books, here are the

.

Alright, let's talk books.

📚 Book Lessons:

This week's book is Lying by Sam Harris.It's a super short but valuable book. In it, neuroscientist Sam Harris argues that we can radically simplify our lives and improve society by merely telling the truth in situations where others often lie. If you enjoyed 12 Rules for Life (specifically rule 8: Tell the truth or at least don't lie), you'll like this book.Here are 3 lessons from it: 1) Avoid Lying As Much As PossibleSam Harris argues that lying is the road to chaos. Why? Because to lie is to intentionally mislead others when they expect honest communications. It's to create a false narrative and with enough lies, you create a false reality.One small lie can quickly lead to another one and another one after that. Before you know it, you're keeping a closet full of lies, and sooner or later, they will come crashing down and harm you and others in ways you did not anticipate. For example, if you notice your best friend is starting to gain a lot of weight and he asks you if you think they're getting fat. You could lie and say no. But by doing so, you're giving them permission to continue their harmful lifestyle which can result in them developing health problems. They could potentially develop heart problems and die much younger than they were supposed to and you would have lost a close friend all because you thought it was better to lie to them instead of telling the truth.2) Being Honest Is The Best PolicyHonesty is a gift we give to others. By being honest, we can potentially save them from making a mistake or harming themselves. Being honest also lets us live in the present because we don't have to keep track of anything we've said in the past. Honesty also builds trust. It may cause short-term discomfort but it will help you avoid long-term problems. For instance, telling your partner you owe tens of thousands in student loans will cause discomfort in the relationship, but it's much better that they know this now than years later when the payment has doubled in size.And being honest doesn't mean you have to be a jerk. You can be honest and kind. If your partner asks if she looks fat in a dress, there's a big difference between saying "yes" and saying "I prefer the red dress you tried on earlier." Both statements are true, but the latter is phrased in a kinder manner.3) Don't Lie To Your PartnerOne study found that about 10% of communication between spouses is deceptive. Think about that, would you want your partner lying to you 10% of the time? Probably not.Lying to your partner will not only weaken your relationship but, if you have a massive lie, like hiding an affair, that lie will slowly eat at you and erode your relationship.And if your friends are aware that you're cheating on your spouse, they will either slowly remove themselves from associating with you o tell your spouse about your affair. Either way, your lies will cost you. So if you want to live a truly good life, avoid lying to your partner.

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) Stop spreading lies.

• When you lie, you have to spend time and energy keeping track of all your false narratives.

• If you tell enough lies to someone, they will live in a false reality can that harm them or others around them.

2) Be more honest.

• Being honest will cause short-term discomfort, but will help you and others avoid problems in the long-term.

• When you're honest, you don't have to keep track of what you've said in the past because it was all truthful.

• You can be both honest AND kind. Pick your words carefully so that you tell the truth without being a jerk.

3) Don't lie to your partner.

• Lying to your partner will weaken the trust and bond you built with your significant other.

• If you're hiding a major lie, it will slowly eat at you and erode your relationship, or perhaps even cause the relationship to implode.

🎧  Podcast Update:

No new podcast this week, but if you want to become a better reader, check out my podcast with Anne Bogel in which she shares several reading tips from her book I'd Rather Be Reading.Watch it here.

📖  Reading Lesson:Before you continue reading your book, ask yourself:• Why am I reading this?• What do I hope to gain from it?• How will I implement the lessons I learned?

⭐️  Weekly Quote:The 4 Levels of The Reader Hierarchy:

1. I don’t read books but I know I should

2. I occasionally read books but I know I should read more

3. I read lots of books but I know I should be taking more action

4. I read often but also spend time applying the lessons I’ve learned

Which level are you on currently?(source)

🙏  Support:This week's newsletter is made possible by Scribd.Scribd is the Netflix of books. You get unlimited ebooks AND audiobooks for just $9.99 a month. That's right, you can read all the ebooks your heart desires and listen to as many audiobooks as you wish. This is an incredible offer for anyone who wants to read more while balling on a budget.Sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here.

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!Read on,Alex W.