Week 2 Round Up of Books Read in 2019

Week 2 : Jan 7 - Jan 13, 2019

Books Read - 3

1. Education and the Significance of Life by J. Krishnamurti - A very thought provoking book about the real objective of education, encompassing all the possible dimensions attached to it and all the key stakeholders related to it. A  bold book, very nicely written, which, through its carefully defined eight chapters leads us to an understanding of the type of transformation that education could bring about at a global scale, if every stakeholder understood its real purpose and then contributed their bit to it, without any prejudice or bias. The book is quite hard-hitting and talks about many man-made paradoxes that have severely damaged the core purpose of education and how education is churning out learners, imbibed with wrong set of values. Whereas the sole purpose of the education is to develop an integrated individual/ learner endowed with the prowess to challenge the status quo (by virtue of being free from any fear or bias) and how the current system of education is still instilling conformity, superficiality and building a lopsided personality in the learners. A book with great insight on real education and  providing a rational view to many of the obvious facets of good education and its significance in life. The book clearly highlights the need to have such an education system that would prepare a learner for life.
2. How Life Works by Andrew Matthews - A book can't get any easier and entertaining than this one to talk about the concept of subconscious and the relation between Thoughts and Feelings. With his own, unique style of writing, the author takes the reader subtly into the realms of subconscious, myths related to it, and how it impacts our overall success and happiness in in life. Citing various real-life scenarios and various scientific studies, research and experiments, the book comes across as a very credible piece to read, even about topics such as Heart and Love.  There's a whole lot that the book delivers and that too to an extent that the principles mentioned could be applied in our daily life smoothly and with much ease. The book has an explanation and relevant answer to the most basic or complex question that any reader may have about life.
3. The One Minute Apology by Kenneth Blanchard - A parable that delves deep in the subject of owning our actions, decisions and responsibilities which go a long way in avoiding conflicts and improving things at workplace (or any other area of life as well). The book clearly demonstrates that how the simple acts of acknowledging, accepting and correcting our mistakes could work wonders for everyone involved - the concerned individual, the concerned team, the organisation and other key stakeholders. So many times and for so many valid/ invalids reasons, we do not own what we commit and this leads to catastrophic repercussions. This book describes in a very simple way, an easy-to-do approach to build in the responsibility to apologise whenever needed and how doing so not only builds our character, enhances our credibility(inspite of committing the mistake/ error) but also prevents the situation from getting worse. 

Week 1 Round Up of Books Read in 2019

Week 1 : Jan 1- Jan 6, 2019

Books Read - 5

1.  20,000 Days and Counting by Robert D. Smith - If ever you were looking for an impactful book to guide you about discovering your passion and purpose in life, then this is the book. Don't get misled by the length of the book (it's an extremely short book) and just pick it up, read it and by the end you would come out with so much clarity about your life. The chapters are short, crisp and well articulated. Never will you come across a book where every word carries so much meaning. The title is derived from the fact that we never really count our lives in terms of days lived and if we give that a thought, we will realise that the importance of every remaining day of our live and would strive to make it count.
2. The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking - I landed on this book because of my quest for understanding the science/ concept of Happiness. Denmark has been voted as the happiest country of the world multiple times and that's what pulled me to this book. Hygge is a  Danish concept of Happiness and this book is all about that. In fact, it's an encylopedia on Hygge. The book is laden with ample of details for anyone seeking to understand the concept of Hygge, right from the history to the rituals and to the things that make up the Hygge. Hygge takes the concept of Happiness on a different plane all together and doesn't just refers to revelry but connotes camaraderie, socialising, minimalism, culture, tradition, inclusion, positivity, and i can go on and on. Towards the end, there is a dedicated session on correlating Hygge and Happiness and that's like an icing on the cake.
3. Just Shut Up and Do It by Brian Tracy - This is a blueprint on setting goals and achieving them in 7 lucid steps. The book covers all the key facets of goal setting and goal getting in an easy to remember and implement form. The presentation of the book is simple and easy and just about anyone can get started on esatblishing goals after reading this book. The book is like a companion, helping us in actualising our goals. 
4. Do the Work by Steven Pressfield- This is a book which is all about the types of resistance that impedes our growth, be it in personal or professional space. The book discusses about the resistance that appears in the form of doubt, fear, procrastination and/or any other self-sabotaging behaviour and then goes about delivering actions and methods to address them. 
5. The Shooting Star by Shivya Nath - Freedom, Independence, Self-Discovery, Exploration are just few of the words that could best describe this wonderful book. It's a beautiful memoir of a "nomad" (well, that's how the author address herself) , her journey about breaking the stereotypes and following her passion of exploring the world. The protagonist takes us on an incredible journey across different continents, countries, culture and people. All through the book, there are so many life lessons we could derive from the experiences of the protagonist (author herself). The book is about an exciting and enriching journey from the known to the unknown.          

Announcement - Launching Weekly Round Up of Books Read in 2019 for 52 Weeks

Dear Readers,

Here's an interesting announcement - Every year, each booklover sets a target to read a certain number of books. This year, my target stands at 200+ books, across different genres and authors.

To ensure my accountability and committment to the target, i would be posting a weekly roundup of the books read during each week in 2019. That means, for each of the 52  weeks, i will post the numbers, titles and a short summary of the books read by me. Few of them could be a re-read also, just to ensure that you don't miss out on any of the must-read books.

Hope the readers find the books worth reading !

Enjoy the weekly round up posts :)


Best
Narinder - A book eater  :)

24 Life Changing Books - 2

There's really no dearth of books that are a real source of inspiration and motivation. Every day, every moment we discover real gem of books, some old and some new, but the message conveyed remains the same - become your best version. Here's another compilation of  24 amazing books that can transform our lives and catapult us to new heights of success, happiness and achievement in life.

My criteria for selection remains the same

• The book should touch our lives and personality at a deeper level
• The book should should be an easy and simple read so that any reader could relate to it
• The book length should keep the reader motivated to finish it in 1-2 readings to deliver the desired impact instantly. 

The books are listed in random order and not in terms of any rating or preference. Here goes the list

1. 52 Changes by Leo Babauta - Nice compilation of 52 topics - simple and relevant. There is a bit of exaggeration or extrapolation for few topics but that gets compensated with the rest of the topics. Nicely structured with clear guidelines on how to implement the change. The book has a nice mix of topics ranging from the most basic and obvious ones to the most relevant ones.
2. Happiness in a Nutshell by Andrew Matthews - Wit and Humour is always at the core of each of Andrew Matthew's book and this one is no exception. Simple nuggets of wisdom, beautifully illustrated and rendered in a funny yet engaging way. The book is quite addictive. 
3. The Art of Good Life by Rolf Dobelli - Though this book is promoted as a follow up to his earlier book "Tha Art of Thinking Clearly" but this book stands on its own beautifully. The selection and delivery of  all the 52 ideas in the book are unique and contain lot of substance and weight. The book definitely delivers on what it promises to i.e. a good life. It leaves the reader with plenty of food for thought and action too. 
4. Think Small by Owain Service and Rorry Gallagher - The beauty of the book lies in linking the concept of "small changes" with human behaviour and converting into an easy to use framework. The 7 steps mentioned in the book have been carefully culled out from behavioural scientific which renders lot of credibility to the content of the book. 
   
5. The Dolphin: Story of a Dreamer - The story of a Dolphin which teaches the reader a lot about life including the importance of goals and dreams. The book is a story of hope and courage and a great reminder about how we can overcome our biggest fears and struggles by listening to our inner voice. 
6. One Minute for Yourself by Spencer Johnson - Here's another gem from the author. A first glance at the title and one would think that the book is all about self-care and like but once we start reading, the realisation dawns that the book is more about utilising the power of that "one minute". The book reveals a lot about the potential of the "one minute" and how it could transform our lives for the better.
7. Enjoy Every Sandwich by Lee Lipsenthal - Much on the lines of "The Last Lecture" and "Tuesdays with  Moorie", the book chronicles the journey of a doctor (the author) on being detected with a terminal disease (a rare form of cancer with only 10 percent chance of surviving). The book, in its own unique way, makes the readers realise (via the protagonist) about the value of "being alive" and how much importance each moment holds for us. The book is indeed quite heart-rending. 
8. The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay - Living in a world full of toxicity, this book comes as a real blessing. The book is like a manual on avoiding toxicity and negativity in life. In the book, the "garbage" refers to anger, frustration and similar negative emotions and guides the readers on how to avoid garbage in life (personal and professional), whether in terms of being dumped or dumping it on others. The message of the book is straightforward - Avoid Garbage in your life and achieve happiness and success. 
9. Do The Work by Steven Pressfield - A wonderful book about the resistance we face in life in the form of fear, self-doubt, procrastination and other forms of self-sabotaging behaviour. Primarily written from a writer's perspective but the content is equally applicable to any form of creative pursuits that we may engage in. The lessons delivered are quite powerful. 
10. Choose the Life You Want by Tal Ben-Shahar - If i have to identify two key messages from this book, they would be - 1. elements of happiness, and, 2. the power of choice. The 101 nuggets of happiness i.e the chapters/ topics are carefully chosen and laden with real examples/ stories that appeal to the reader. The book is definitely going to leave the reader much happier than before.  
11. Attitude is Everything by Jeff Keller - The topic of  "Attitude" is definitely among the topics that has been explored at length, researched in depth and also written about a lot. Make no mistake, this book discusses the topic in an entirely different way, a way that is far more engaging, enlightening and makes you reflect deep about our own attitude. The lessons are not only short and crisp but highly impactful too.   
    
     
12. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson - This book is about the reiterations we need in our life about many of the small things that negatively impacts us in a big way. The 100 topics/ chapters dealt with in this book are bound to leave us much more relaxed and calmer by virtue of the simplicity and clarity of the content.    
13. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins - Quite an inspiring book, especially because of the way the author discovered the wonderful tool of "5 seconds". This book is for anyone looking for the missing inspiration to get back and go for things. How "5 seconds" could prove to your "push moment" is the key idea of this book. Apply the concepts in the book and you might discover the panacea.
14. Little Voice Mastery by Blair Singer - A cluttered mind is the source of confusion, distraction, aggression and disappointment in our life. With so many voices playing in our head, it becomes very difficult to focus and listen to the right voice. This book is about that inner voice (crudely called as mind chatter) and guides us primarily on 1. getting aware of the voices in our head, and 2. filtering and identifying the voice that will lead us to growth, freedom and success in life. In a nutshell, this book is a useful guide on how to use the mind chatter to our advantage. 
15. Live It ! by Jairek Robbins - The book attempts to bridge the achievement gap and taking you to where you want to be.  The 3 step process described in the book (Learn It, Live It and Give It) helps the readers not only create a realistic vision but also helps convert that vision into reality. On of the important component of the 3-step process is about creating an exponential effect through giving back.   
16. Just Shut Up And Do It by Brian Tracy - Don't get deceived by the length of this book as this book is one of the most powerful books on the subject of Goals. The book is a blueprint for achieving our goals and lays out the formula in 7 lucid steps. The book highlights the importance of action in actualising our goals and acts as a ready recknoner in times of inaction, doubt or fear. 
17. The Dip by Seth Godin - Succintly put, the book wonderfully teaches that winners are not only good at winning but good at quitting too. The book delivers about "dip" that all of us hit at some point in our life. A real winner is the person who knows how to beat the dip, much before they hit a cul-de-sac.
    
18. Life is Tremendous by Charlie Jones - Perhaps one of the shortest but the most lively book on personal development. The enthusiasm of the author is quite evident in each page of the book. The seven laws of leadership mentioned in the book deal with the most essential skills needed to be productive and successful.
19. 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class by Steve Siebold - No idea, why 177  secrets ! But the book is a great attempt at compiling the secrets of world class achievers/ champions. It talks in detail about the thought processes, attitudes and actions of the achievers. Each chapter has a lot to offer the readers and include sections on action items and external references too. A powerful book to become a champion.
20. The Little Big Thing by Henry Fraser- An incredible true story of a young man who never lost hope even in the direst of circumstances and situations. An inspirational memoir filled with courage, hope, perseverance, passion and an intent to live life inspite of all odds. Definitely an emotional read but very inspiring, teaching us to celebrate life in the face of gravest adversity. Indeed a very touching account.   
21. Life's Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard - This book delivers powerful messages about life - the need for transformation and showing gratitude to the chances that life provides us every now and then. With the metaphor of an amusement park, the protagonist takes the readers on a journey of personal transformation and creating a turnaround, from a life laden with obstacles and tragedies in life to a one filled with positivity, love and redemption. 
22. The One Thing by Gary Keller - Staying focused in a world full of "distraction" is the biggest challenge today. Smitten by the bugs of  "Busyness" and "Multitasking", we carry on without any realisation of how our obsession with these two (busyness and multitasking) is doing us more harm than good. The book provides a whole range of tools, techniques and methods to get focused and live a more fulfilling life.   
23. Ready For Anything by David Allen - A nice compilation of 52 principles that could really bring about a turnaround in terms of success and achievement in personal and professional spheres. The 52 principles are nicely categorised in 4 sections and each of the 52 chapter has enough food for reflection and action.
24. You can be Happy No Matter What by Richard Carlson - Another masterpiece from the author. Among the many highlights of the book, one of the key highlight is the structuring. The book explains 5 key Principles of Life and then explains (in 5 different chapters) their impact on 5 key areas of our life. The 5 key principles mentioned in the book are all about what each of us can relate to easily - 1. Thoughts, 2. Moods, 3. Separate Realities, 4. Feelings and 5. Present Moment. The 11th chapter on checklist for life answers some of the very pertinent questions about life.    

Book List - Three Books about Life's Lessons

There's something special and unique about certain books that instill in us that extra bit of courage to take on life's challenges, even the unforeseen ones, in the right spirit and be grateful for everything that we possess. Many a times in our life when tragedy strikes us, we get stunned and get stuck, unable to move ahead with our life. These precisely are the times when we seek solace by drawing inspiration from people who have been there before and have bravely overcome these adversities. These 3 amazing books are my personal favourites when we think about human courage and resilience. These 3 books are not only full of wisdom but are a testimony to the fact that nothing is bigger than the opportunity called life. However grim the situation may be, life always provides us with plenty to feel good about and cherish. And the most important lesson is to embrace life'e unpredictability.

• The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch - This is about the author's tryst with life after being detected with a terminal pancreatic cancer. The book captures the lecture titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" delivered by Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007. The book provides immense learning as the author recollects the memories from his childhood to the present and the lessons he learnt. He further shares about how living life and enjoying every moment is much more than anything else and how, after getting aware of his illness he started valuing every moment of it. The core message delivered by the book is to enjoy the life to its fullest and cherish every shades in it because one never knows when life may end.

• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom - Here's another gem and this book is all about the lessons and learnings on living and dying that the author(Mitch Albom) gathers from one of his university professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is suffering from ALS(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a disease characterised by death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles. After watching his college teacher on a TV program, the author connects with his professor after a gap of 16 years and visits him. The author spends 14 Tuesday's with his professor and every meeting is about lessons and learnings on living and dying.

• Enjoy Every Sandwich by Lee Lipsenthal - This book is another masterpiece about reality of life. The book details out the life of the author post diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Inspite of being a medical doctor, how the protagonist deals with the vagaries of life is the central theme of this book. With a 90% chance of dying within 5 years, the book traces the author's journey of realisation and his ascend by accepting mortality, finding purpose and mission in life and appreciating every moment of life. 

So, to be fully alive and live well

• Accept Life's unpredictability
• Accept mortality and 
• Always exhibit gratitude for what you have always  

Book Review - Things a Little Bird Told Me

Things a Little Bird Told Me by Biz Stone

Core Idea Discussed : Living one's values and mission in the startup world and in life 

A lovely book by Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter. The most striking thing about the book is the honesty and sincerity of the author in penning down things as they happened, presenting them with all the facts. While reading, it didn't appear that the book is written by a techie from Silicon Valley. The book is an interesting mix of insights, ideas and sharing and goes much beyond than just telling us how the little bird (Twitter as we know it !) came about. The revelations about the struggle and tribulations involved with a startup makes for some real interesting reading. The valuable lessons shared makes the book quite inspirational. Of particular interest was how the idea of starting cropped up, how twitter grew organically, how it metamorphed into a collaborative platform impacting humanity at a deeper level.

The wisdom and knowledge shared in the book turns it into a treatise for multiple topics/ subjects, some of which could be entrepreneurship, start up world, people over technology and how to create a value-driven business/ organisation. The real personal stories and incidents shared in the book provides the much needed inspiration to the budding entrepreneurs. Anyone reading the book could also get a slight peek into how the silicon valley operates (don't expect too much of it !) 

Though the last 20% of the book deals with the author's life after leaving Twitter but still it has so much to offer to the reader in terms of lessons in meaningful living. Reading about how Twitter turned around a "startup co-founder" into an altruistic being is pretty impressive.

It also has great lessons for startup geniuses who are smitten with greatness. It also provides some real common sense principles which every employee working in a startup need to be aware of to help them contribute their best.   

Key Learnings/ Interesting Bits from the Book

• Purpose, Passion and Patience hold the key to success in life and business
• Lesson about how inspite of so many obstacles, optimism and value driven approach could help us lead the way
• How the "bird" logo came about 
• How to convert a user into a "co-owner" and help the product evolve
• How technology could build a global bridge of human collaboration with the simple principle of putting people before technology
• Being effective and impactful while still being neutral in approach and intent
• How a simple tool could create changemakers
• Altruism and Empathy is the way forward for any technology driven business to reach out and make a real impact on human lives

Book Review - Inherit The Wind

Inherit The Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Core Idea Discussed - Darwin's Theory of Evolution

A wonderful book for 2 reasons 

• Based on an American Play about a courtroom drama
• Based on the interesting theme of Darwin's Theory of Evolution

My first tryst with reading a book based on a play left me wanting more. The book revolves around the courtroom drama related to a school teacher who is accused of breaking the law by teaching about Darwin's Theory of Evolution. The book is an interesting account of the heated arguments between the plaintiff and the defendant and which gradually turns into a contest between religion and science. The book beautifully touches upon the freedom of speech and how religion and science crosses path. Whether the school teacher has committed a crime is the main topic of contention between the two parties. The reader actually feels a part of the courtroom drama when the tempo picks up towards the latter half of the book. The book ends with an interesting verdict to the case.

Key Learning/ Interesting Bit(s) from the Book

The book makes you wonder how difficult it would have been for Darwin to find takers for his Theory of Evolution.