Book 1 Post 2
After reading Brian Cox's book, Putting The Rabbit In the Hat, there are a few key takeaway that I was able to come back with. Not only was his upbringing filled with hard ship and sadness, but it showed how those hardships ultimately led him to becoming the person he is today and how it impacted his fruitful acting career. He started off with loving theater and he had a deep connection with the Dundee theater in Scotland. He was extremely passionate about Shakespeare and mentioned how the major turning point of his career was the when he spent his time at the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company).
One thing I found interesting while reading the book was that he talks about his peer actors and his opinions about them. He mentioned that Johny Depp is overrated. He also talks about Michael Caine's career as being able to do the same thing over and over again. While explaining some of the negative things he has analyzed about some of his competitors, he goes on to explain some of the key attributes of his other competitors and how he admires them. From this, I learned that in whatever field you are in, you are always analyzing your competitors, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. This is what Brian does that I found very interesting.
As the book goes on, Brian begins to talk about the inevitability about death and passage of time. He shares some stories that helped shape where he is today and has mentioned that he tries to live in the present and appreciate the way things are and the importance of making the most out of specific opportunities. He uses humor to cope with hardships and how humor is extremely important in making connections.
After reading most of the book, it was cool to see the way a successful business man carries himself through hardships and ultimately shines in some of the brightest lights on the biggest stages. I would recommend this book for anyone trying to figure out how to navigate themselves through their own personal hardships as well as their positive moments.
After reading your post it sounds like it would be a great reminder to students who are going through job recruitment. There are highs and lows when it comes to job searching and hunting and sounds like this book would serve as a perfect example that it is normal in life to get through the hard times and know how to acknowledge the good times.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very insightful book! Similar to your reading, the book I read, American Like Me, also highlighted how our struggles and hardships inevitably shape who we are today. This book sounds like it provides a lot of valuable lessons about navigating life.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very interesting to read based on your blog. I like how the author gives his personal opinions and does not agree with the majority of the people and says Johny Depp is overrated. It also makes it interesting to me because you mentioned the author is a businessman over coming hardships, which also ties in to my major.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts! I find it fascinating how Brian Cox’s hardships shaped his career and success, especially through his love for Shakespeare and his time with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His honest opinions about his peers also stood out—how he balances critique with admiration shows a lot about personal growth in any field. I also appreciate how he uses humor to cope with hardships and his focus on living in the present.
ReplyDelete