Strength first Goodness next by ARK Sharma

 

It's a small book of 150pages. Could have been much smaller. Many pages are repetitive. 

First of all....I personally did not like the title of the book. In my opinion the author has forcefully fit the extracts of Swami Vivekananda to the title of the book. Swamiji has inspired many souls to develop inner strength but he has no where even given faint hint that Goodness can wait. The author has a misunderstanding that being timid, being a pushover, being coward in the name of politeness.....as goodness. Swamiji insists to be bold. To fight for the truth and not fear the death. He did not say, develop strength over goodness. He says develop strength over weakness. 

The good part this book are those which has extracts of Swami Vivekananda's  speech/talks/works. 

Overall I didn't enjoy reading this book. My rating: 2/5

Corporate Chanakya on Leadership by Radhakrishna Pillai

 

Finish reading this book. If you are good reader, you can finish this book in a few hours or max in a day.

The content and English are simple. Easy reading. 

The content of the book is repetitive. You can literally skip or scroll through many pages. On most pages, it's good enough to read the subtitles. The paragraph adds no additional information. It was like reading the answer paper of a student. Even though it's only a line to be told, the author has dragged it on many pages.

I read a review comment on amazon which said the book is a compilation of many good books. I agree. I think it's like a review comment of many books. Though the author has quoted the verses from Chanakya Arthashastra...the paragraph didn't make any significant value addition from corporate perspective. 

In my opinion,  reading PMBOK gives you better leadership qualities and guidance than this book. I was disappointed. 

From past few books that I bought on amazon, I have started to wonder how are these books being rated so high!!!!!

My rating: 2/5

Man's search for meaning by Viktor Frankl

 Finished reading this book last week. This book is beyond my ability to rate. 

Viktor Frankl is doctor by profession,  survivor of Nazi's concentration camp. He derived a new theory of counselling called Logotherapy.

The first half of the book narrates his stay, struggles and survival stories in the Nazi camp. His analysis of his inmates, human behaviour in the extreme conditions,  the drift in the psychological mindset when they are suddenly free into the world.....

Its intense...but very depressing.  These are not merely stories but realities documented in detailed description of incidents and associated emotions. 

I took a long time to finish the book simply because it was emotionally heavy. 

I don't recommend this book because I didn't enjoy reading it.

Ikigai The Japanese secret to long and happy life by Hector Gracia and Francesc Miralles

Just finished reading this book Ikigai by Hector Gracia and Francesc Miralles.

In my opinion there is no secret and there's nothing Japanese about this book.

It was more like reading a blog. The authors have summarised some researches, interviews, books.... across the globe....consolidated it into a book.

I felt the word IKIGAI has been overused. Its forcefully fit into everything. 

For example,  if someone believes life is driven by Karma, they will perceive every incident of their life, people they come across..... as karmical repercussions. 

In this book Ikigai has been used in the same way.

If you read the epilogue of the book, I don't think you will find anything more than that in the entire book.

I felt the book was a drag. It felt like reading some textbook.  Didn't interest me. No wow factor. My rating 2/5

Few extracts to summarise the book:

The book summarises some of the methods of psychological counselling. Nothing Japanese about these :)

Logitherapy by Frankl Victor: You may want to read Man's Search for reading 

Morita therapy by Shoma Morita

Naikan meditation 

Csikszentmihalyi's book The psychology of optimal experience 

Owen Schaffer's DePaul University

Travel blog to 2 places in Japan:

Ogimi and Okivawa in Japan. The authors have included short interviews of some people who have lived a long life. 

Okinawa province diet: We have heard this concept multiple times by many dietitians: Hara Hachi Bu is eating 2/3rd of what u need

Description of how to do Exercises: Radio taiso, yoga, tai chi, chi kung, Shiatsu.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK ROWLING

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling. This is the first time I am reading Harry Potter book though I have watched the movie.

This book needs no review or rating. It justifies the popularity it owns. Like most books that are converted to movies, this as well has the same impact. The book is superior to the movie. The movie comes very close to the book, however, the book interests me more than the movie experience. 

My rating: 5/5

 

 

Angry river by Ruskin Bond

Angry river by Ruskin Bond. I have read beautiful poems and stories by Ruskin Bond during my school days. This book was gift to my son by his friend. 

It took about half an hour to read this small book. I didn't let my son read this. Simply because it's such a sad story. Its all about a small girl stuck on a small island alone when the river flooded her house, the tree, the animals....She gets saved by a boy on with a boat. Her grandparents are the only family she has who were gone off to the village hospital to save the dying grandmother. 

I have no idea why is this children's book? No moral, no fun, depressing storyline..... I am even more puzzled to see 1500+ people who have rated 4.5/5 to this book on Amazon. 

I totally disliked reading this book. Definitely not for children!!!! I rate 1/5 to this book.
 

Tales From Rumi

 

I have always admired the quotes by Rumi. So a friend gifted this book to me. It's supposed be translation of Rumi's teachings with some stories he has narrated. The book is supposed to explain the inner meaning and significance of the stories. 

Here I keep saying "supposed to" because it simply didn't. According to me, they have used some translation tool to translate the book. Most of the book is gibberish since the tool has made a word to word translation. The sentences made no sense. 

I can't really say I read the book. I simply brushed through it. I must have read about 5 or 6 stories for the whole book without getting any relevance or significance. 

I don't recommend this book.  1/5 rating. 

How to love by Thich Nhat Hanh

 

Just finish reading this book. Its a book of collection of quotes from various talks by the Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

I have watched some of the videos and read some quotes here and there by him. I loved it and hence bought 2 of his books. I didn't know that this book is collection of quotes. Had I known...I guess I wouldn't buy it.

Obviously its not a book to be read in a day or two or even rush through the quotes. I would read a few pages now and then and tried tomeditate on it the whole day. The beauty of this book is....its not random collection of quotes. Its organised to give a flow. All about love...starting from what is true love, how to cultivate, how to Express,  importance of self love, how to forgive myself,  others, life situation and loved ones........ how to support each other in love, how to sustain the love in the relationship.......

Very thoughtful,  mindful, compassionate expression of love.

It helped me gain some insights in some intense situations and regain my control over my emotions. So it was worth investing my time reading this book.

It was a slowwww. ....pleasant reading....

Past life regression therapy by P Uma Devi

 This has been a productive week. In past 7 days I have read 2.5 books (I am counting only 2, 4 and 5)

1. Letter to my father by Bhagat Singh. This is just a few pages book. Could be 3 to 4 pages only. Those who have read his most renowned book Why I Am an Atheist can relate to this letter. His conviction and clarity on what he is doing is so profound.

2. Re-read the book The Dalai Lama's Cat. Even though it's my second read, loved and enjoyed every bit just like the first time.

3. Re-read the book The Monad by CWL. Good reading but I had a tendency to rush through the pages. May be because it's the second time.  Not sure.....

4. Past life regression therapy by P. Uma Devi. A friend presented this book. So I literally forced myself to read through it. I didn't like the book at all. There's no connectivity. There's no flow. It's just discrete collection of stories. I could not even relate to the stories. The patient's present condition and past life regressed stories didn't make much sense. I think the author has tried to imitate Brian Weiss. She has not come anywhere close.

Also the author's introduction shows her expertise is with radiation biology. Not sure how she has persuaded a carrier with hypnosis therapy. She has got some training in hypnosis but I am not too sure about her expertise in the subject. The book didn't appeal to me at all. Or may it's just the ineffective writing skills....Whatever may be the case, I didn't enjoy reading this book. 

5. Started reading Ikigai. Next post after I finish that. 

Only love is real by Dr.Brian Weiss

I have previously read the book Many Masters Many lives by Dr. Brian Weiss.  This book is equally good.  I loved the past life regression and the life lessons narrated. Its amazing how destiny finds it's way to unite the soul mates.

I liked the storyline of this book. It doesn't exaggerate the story of the 2 soul mates uniting. It rather justifies the title of the book. Every life and life situations bring a deeper lesson of love.

I loved reading this book:)

I also explored the past life regression meditation by the author from the YouTube link below .  I must admit I had some interesting experiences. 

https://youtu.be/sIcd5jlarqk