Sagestones Books, The Kingsway Etiobicoke 3W6 (2026)

08/05/2026

Happy follow-versary to my awesome followers. Thanks for all of your support! Haider Amin

24/04/2026

A few months ago, I found myself on a long-haul flight, seatbelt fastened as the captain’s voice crackled over the intercom reminding everyone to stay seated. The cabin lights dimmed, and instead of reaching for the in-flight movie, I cracked open The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga.
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If you’re looking for a book that genuinely shifts how you see yourself and your relationships, I can’t recommend this one highly enough. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite w**e, grab some small chops or light snacks, wrap up in a cozy blanket, and settle in under this cool evening weather. Let the pages do their work while you relax and reflect.

At its heart, The Courage to Be Disliked is a modern dialogue between a philosopher and a young man, inspired by the ideas of Alfred Adler (the third giant of psychology alongside Freud and Jung). Through a series of honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations, it dismantles the excuses we all make for why we can’t be happy or live freely. The core message is radical yet simple: your past does not determine your future, and the only thing stopping you from living a fulfilled life is your own need for approval and fear of being disliked.

The book teaches that happiness is not something you chase through achievements, relationships, or validation—it’s a choice you make by separating your tasks from other people’s tasks. It challenges the “trauma” narrative that many of us cling to and instead empowers you with the courage to live in the present. Concepts like “the courage to be disliked,” vertical vs. horizontal relationships, and how to stop competing with others hit differently when you’re relaxed and truly absorbing them.

One of the most liberating takeaways for me was realizing how much energy I wasted trying to please everyone or worrying about what others thought. After reading it, I started making small but powerful changes: saying no without guilt, focusing on my own contributions rather than seeking recognition, and understanding that true connection comes from equality, not superiority or inferiority.

Whether you’re dealing with self-doubt, difficult relationships, overthinking, or simply feeling stuck, this book offers a refreshing Japanese perspective on Adlerian psychology that feels practical and actionable. It’s not preachy or filled with fluffy affirmations—it’s direct, logical, and surprisingly compassionate.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to pick up a book that can actually change how you show up in the world, this is it. Dim the lights, sip that w**e slowly, enjoy those small chops, and let the chill weather outside mirror the calm that settles in as you turn each page.
You’ll close the book not just informed, but genuinely encouraged to live with more freedom and authenticity. Highly recommended—grab a copy and thank me later when you feel the shift. 🍷📖
GET THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/42sHZzY
You can ENJOY the AUDIOBOOK (When you register for Free Audible Membership Trial) using the same link above.
FREE AUDIO LINK: https://amzn.to/4cE1SsA

24/04/2026

You know the feeling. The one where your chest is tight, your jaw is clenched, and your brain is running a marathon it did not sign up for. You're not having a crisis. You're not in therapy. You're just... stressed. All the time. About everything. And the advice you keep getting—"just breathe," "try yoga," "think positive"—feels like someone handing you a band-aid for a broken leg.
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1. Stress is not the enemy. Unmanaged stress is.
We have been taught that stress is bad. Something to eliminate. Leaf says: no. Stress is a signal. It is your brain and body telling you that something needs attention. The problem is not that you feel stressed. The problem is that you ignore the signal, or you drown it out, or you let it build until it becomes toxic. The goal is not to feel less. The goal is to respond differently. To notice the stress, name it, and then choose a small action, one of the 101 to address it. This shift from "I need to stop feeling this way" to "I need to respond to this signal"—is everything.

2. Your brain believes what you tell it. So tell it something useful.
Leaf is famous for her work on "neuroplasticity"—the brain's ability to rewire itself based on repeated thoughts and behaviors. She writes that every time you have a stressed thought, you strengthen the neural pathway for that thought. Every time you have a calm thought, you strengthen that pathway. The brain does not know which thoughts are true. It only knows which thoughts are frequent. The lesson: you don't have to pretend everything is fine. But you can choose to interrupt the spiral. To say, "I notice I'm catastrophizing. That's a pattern. I can choose a different pattern." Not easy. But possible.

3. Small changes are not small. They are the only changes that last.
We want big transformations. A week-long retreat. A new life. Leaf says: that's not how the brain works. The brain changes through repetition, not intensity. Five minutes of deep breathing every day is more powerful than an hour once a month. One genuine compliment is more powerful than a week of forced positivity.

4. You cannot pour from an empty cup. And you are not selfish for noticing that the cup is empty.
Many of Leaf's strategies are about self-care. Not bubble baths and face masks (though those are fine). Real self-care. Saying no. Setting boundaries. Asking for help. Taking five minutes to breathe before you walk in the door. Leaf writes that the most stressed people she knows are the ones who have convinced themselves that everyone else's needs come first.

5. Perfectionism is not a virtue. It is a stress machine.
Leaf dedicates several strategies to perfectionism, the belief that you must do everything right, that mistakes are unacceptable, that failure is not an option. She writes that perfectionism is not about high standards. It is about fear. Fear of judgment. Fear of shame. Fear of being seen as flawed. And that fear creates constant, low-grade stress. The antidote is not to stop caring. It is to practice "good enough." To finish the email and hit send, even if it's not perfect. To make dinner and serve it, even if the sauce is a little thin. To show up and be seen, even when you're not sure you're enough. The lesson: done is better than perfect. And you are already enough.

I read this book in pieces. A strategy before bed. A strategy while waiting for coffee. A strategy when I felt the spiral starting. Some of them worked. Some of them didn't. That's fine. The point is not to do all 101. The point is to find the few that fit.
Leaf writes near the end: "You are not trying to eliminate stress. You are trying to build resilience. Resilience is not the absence of struggle. It is the ability to struggle and still stand."
I closed the book and took a breath. A real one.

GET THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/48maAuf

24/04/2026

There’s a moment many of us recognize—when we get excited about an idea, not because it truly matters, but because it sounds clever. I’ve been there: attached to a solution before I’ve even understood what problem it’s solving. Reading Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution feels like a wake-up call. It gently dismantles that illusion and replaces it with a harder, more honest path: stop chasing ideas, start obsessing over real human pain.
Here are 7 powerful lessons that reshape how you think about success, business, and even life itself:
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1. Fall in Love with the Problem, Not Your Idea.
The core message is simple but uncomfortable: your idea doesn’t matter as much as you think.
Most people fall in love with their solution—they defend it, polish it, and refuse to let it go. But Levine argues that success comes from being obsessed with the problem. Why? Because solutions change. Problems don’t.
When you anchor yourself to the problem, you stay flexible. You’re willing to pivot, adapt, and rebuild—until you truly solve it.
2. Solve Problems That Actually Hurt.
Not all problems are worth solving. Some are mild inconveniences; others are daily frustrations people would gladly pay to eliminate.
A valuable problem is one that is:
Frequent
Painful
Expensive (in time, money, or stress)
If people aren’t actively bothered by it, they won’t care about your solution.
3. Start with the User, Not the Product.
One subtle but powerful shift: talk about the user’s struggle, not your technology.
People don’t care about what you built—they care about what it fixes. As Levine puts it, saying “I built an advanced system” is far less compelling than “I help you avoid traffic jams.”
Clarity comes when you describe the pain so well that users feel understood.
4. Embrace Failure—But Make It Fast.
Failure isn’t the enemy; slow failure is.
Levine encourages rapid experimentation—test ideas quickly, learn quickly, and move on. The faster you fail, the faster you discover what works.
Each failure is not a setback but a filter removing what doesn’t work, bringing you closer to what does.
5. Focus on One Problem at a Time.
Scattered focus kills progress.
Instead of chasing multiple ideas, commit deeply to solving one meaningful problem. Break the journey into stages—problem validation, product-market fit, scaling—and give each your full attention.
Depth beats breadth every time.
6. Build for Behavior Change, Not Just Technology.
Great products don’t just exist—they change how people behave.
If your solution doesn’t shift habits, it won’t stick. Real innovation isn’t about features; it’s about creating something people naturally adopt because it makes their lives easier.
7. You Are Not the Customer.
One of the most humbling lessons: your perspective is limited.
Just because something makes sense to you doesn’t mean it works for others. You must constantly talk to users, test assumptions, and gather feedback.
You are only one data point—not the market.

YOU CAN GET THE FREE AUDIO BOOK ON THIS LINK- FREE AUDIOBOOK: https://amzn.to/4w3XrAm
GET THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/4mPz45c

24/04/2026

Mindset Matters!

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22/04/2026

My mom called me the other day. Just a regular call. Asked what I'd eaten for dinner, reminded me to check my oil, told me a long story about a neighbor's dog. Normal stuff.

After we hung up, I sat there for a minute. And I thought about this book I just finished.
What to Do When I'm Gone is not like any book I've ever held.
Suzy Hopkins wrote it for her daughter, Hallie. One day, Hallie asked her mom a question that most of us are too afraid to even think: What do I do when you're gone? And Suzy—brave, funny, real Suzy—decided to answer. On paper. Page by page.
What came out is part instruction manual, part love letter, part permission slip to keep living after loss.
The book is structured like a guide. Day one. Week two. Year five. Suzy tells Hallie what to do right after she dies (eat pie, call your brother, don't make any big decisions). She tells her what to do when grief shows up in strange ways (yes, you might laugh at a funeral, and that's okay). She tells her how to make her famous potato salad, which songs to play when she needs a good cry, and—most beautifully—gives her daughter permission to be happy again.
I laughed out loud at the part where Suzy says to get rid of her "weird art projects" without guilt. I cried at the letter she wrote for Hallie to open on her future wedding day. And I sat in silence for a long time after the last page.
Here's what got me: this isn't a sad book about dying. It's a brave book about living. Suzy doesn't pretend death isn't coming. She just refuses to let fear steal what matters—connection, honesty, laughter, and the kind of love that makes someone write down recipes and advice so you never feel alone.
The illustrations by Hallie herself are simple and heartbreaking and funny all at once. Little drawings of a mom and daughter. A pot on the stove. A hand reaching out.
I thought about my own mom's phone call. About all the ordinary moments I don't pay attention to. About the things I'd want to say if I had the courage to write them down.
This book is a gift. To give to someone you love. To keep on your shelf for when you need to feel held. To remind you that the people we love never really leave—they just become the voice in our head that says eat the pie, call your brother, you're going to be okay.
If you have a mother, or a daughter, or anyone you can't imagine losing.
Get the book: https://amzn.to/3QBSr5y
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22/04/2026

Based on I am The Mind by Deep Trivedi, here are four precise, core lessons that form the foundation of the book's philosophy:
1. The Mind and the Brain are Distinct Entities
The book emphasizes that your brain and your mind are not the same thing. The brain is merely a physical organ—hardware that executes commands. The mind, however, is an invisible governor (a play of frequencies and energy) that acts as the software. The mind sends the emotions (joy, sorrow, fear, anger), and the brain simply reacts to them. Recognizing this distinction is the first step to taking back control.

2. Mastering Your Mind Unlocks the Ability to Read Others
Trivedi argues that human psychology is universal. Once you thoroughly understand the mechanics of your own mind—why you feel what you feel, and why you act the way you do—you gain an acute, almost effortless insight into others. You will be able to accurately predict people's motivations and understand exactly why they are behaving in a certain way, giving you a massive edge in both personal and professional relationships.

3. The Strategic Power of Unpredictability
The mind naturally clings to the familiar, which makes most people highly predictable. If you are predictable, others can easily map your temperament, anticipate your reactions, and manipulate situations to their advantage. A key lesson from Trivedi is to purposefully break your routines and step out of "autopilot." By remaining slightly unpredictable, you prevent others from putting you in a box and taking advantage of you.

4. The Present is the Only Remedy for Sorrow
The book outlines that despite modern advancements, humans are still plagued by stress because the mind constantly oscillates between the baggage of the past and the anxieties of the future. Ignorance of this mental loop is the root of human failure. True joy and success are only attainable when you actively manage your mind to stay anchored in the present moment, cutting off the draining emotions tied to what has already happened or what hasn't happened yet.
GÊT BOOK: https://amzn.to/4mN9oGr
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Sagestones Books

08/05/2026

24/04/2026

24/04/2026

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