The Blessings of Adversity
Finding Your God-given Purpose in Life's Troubles
by Barry C. Black
Most people see trouble as something negative and seek to avoid it whenever possible. But what if it’s those troubles that actually lead to greater blessing and purpose? In The Blessing of Adversity, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and the 62nd chaplain of the U.S. Senate distills the wisdom gained from thirty years as a counselor, theologian, and psychologist. Barry Black offers a blueprint for removing the sting of life’s trials, showing us how to let God use our pain for his glory by blessing others―and how that can actually help heal our own pain. Drawing on Scripture and his own experiences as a counselor and chaplain to some of the most powerful people in the world, Black teaches us how to deal with seasons of God’s apparent silence, offers techniques for staying encouraged in the middle of life’s storms, and shows how to find advantages in adversity.
The Psychology of Money
Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness
by Morgan Housel
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel uses 19 short stories to explore how human behavior, emotions, and psychology, rather than just math, drive financial decisions, arguing that soft skills like patience and humility are more crucial for wealth than technical knowledge. Key themes include the power of compounding (like Warren Buffett's wealth accumulation), the importance of controlling your time, the difference between getting and staying wealthy, and the paradox that wealth is often what you don't see. The book emphasizes that personal experiences shape our money mindset and that luck and risk play significant roles.
Key Concepts
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Behavior over Brains:
Doing well with money is more about behavior than intelligence; a genius can fail if they lose emotional control, while an ordinary person can succeed with good habits. -
No One's Crazy:
People's financial decisions are shaped by their unique experiences, which seem rational to them, even if they look strange to others. -
Luck & Risk:
Both play a much larger role in outcomes than people realize, and nothing is as good or as bad as it seems. -
Compounding:
The most powerful force in finance, exemplified by Warren Buffett, who made most of his fortune after age 65. -
Getting vs. Staying Wealthy:
Staying wealthy requires a different mindset, focusing on survival and avoiding ruin, not just making big wins. -
Freedom:
The ability to control your time is the highest dividend money pays. -
Wealth is Hidden:
Wealth is what you don't see; a fancy car doesn't mean the driver is rich, but it does mean they've spent money.
