The Urban Monk by Pedram ShojaiIssue 28 | July 2016

Jeff Wenberg from LeadPages recommended this book to me. He sent me a copy after reading a book I recommended him, which is one of the best parts about community and, specifically, book clubs. We share books we love! In fact, without Jeff’s recommendation, I might have not picked up The Urban Monk (Amazon link) at all. But, because it came highly recommended, I decided to give it a shot. Plus, it was a nice change from the business-related books I typically read. [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

What I found most enjoyable about the book are Pedram’s personal stories, and the stories of some of his clients who had been struggling through various things, such as poor sleep, lack of energy, etc., and his unique remedies and solutions for them.

I’ve actually been meditating consistently for over a week now, and I learned some new techniques by reading the book. Some of the remedies in the book I might have been skeptical about in the past, but I now know work well. The book is actually filled with some pretty amazing hacks for a clearer mind and body, leading a more stress-free life, and gaining more energy and productivity in business too.

As a former Taoist monk, Pedram’s stories and personal experiences are uniquely grounded and rich in wisdom. He even takes a scientific approach to much of what he teaches, which provides the reader with a ton of detail not typically revealed in books like this.

One feature of the book I really love are the “modern hacks” at the end of each chapter that discuss what one can do today to counter the negative aspects that we might come across in life. So it covers both the philosophy and science, but also the tangible, real-world actions one can take.

Lastly, Pedram’s insight into self-image, money, and being present was spot-on and a good reminder. Here’s my favorite passage near the end of the book that sums up this insight beautifully:

“The premise is that how you do one thing is how you do everything. Life is hard work, and when we apply ourselves to mastery of the items we choose to engage in, we do what it takes to be good at it . . .It is a frame of reference, an attitude.

I just love that.

If you’re looking for an insightful, refreshing book to mix in with your business-related reads, The Urban Monk is absolutely for you. It was a different read than I’m used to, but I liked it and I think you will too!

Buy the Book on Amazon