Life's Amazing Secrets

 

Book: “Life’s amazing secrets”

Author: Gaur Gopal Das

Publishing year: 2018

Review: Self-discovery is a miracle. Surely, the author must have felt one while making his debut as an author in the respective book. What really intrigued me to give a shot to this book were 2 different factors. First, being the title, well, who doesn’t likes secrets. Second, being the fact that the insights are coming from an electrical engineer turned monk.

The author weaves a brief testimonial which runs through the entire length of this book which navigates through the four different yet important wheels of vehicular life. The wheels namely are spiritual practice, association, character and service or simply put personal life, relationships, work life and social contribution.

He has cleverly use timings to add humorous flavors and make learning even more subtle. At the same time, exemplary use of simplicity makes it easy to read and deduce insights from.

A usual response to this book would otherwise have meant a disgusted expression or awkwardness by listeners. Who follows a monk these days? How would his teachings even be implementable in real corporate world? Well, seems like minimalistic way of life isn’t even important for a spiritual life. We don’t need to don saffron at all. We don’t need to sacrifice the luxuries and desires at all. What we need now is to understand basics to be authentic and logical, in our social conduct and otherwise. My valuable takeaways from the book will definitely be all those myths that were unveiled and normalized into real-time realities during the course. 

Today, in this busy life it’s very obvious to get entangled and confused between concrete aspects of life and let the emotions and stress flow to and fro. The book will certainly be a guiding light to finding balance in life i.e., in writer’s words between all the four wheels of life.

 

Grit: How to keep going when you want to give up

 Book: Grit: How to keep going when you want to give up

Author: Martin Meadows

Publishing year: 2015

Review: "A very small and  helpful guide." 

What I thought was going to be a follow-up from the same writer actually compelled me to finish first, maybe because 56 pages looked more accomplishable.

Do not confuse it for a motivational book, it is in every sense a simplified and authentical perception of failures and approach to self-discipline. A book full of well-defined methods and practices one could imbibe and thrive to reach the smallest to  biggest goals. My favourite  takeaway from this book is the ABCDE method I'm sure many haven't heard about, just like it was for me. 

The highlights of this work are:

1. Very simple words

2. Acknowledgment of various books and authors.

3. Very generic flow of solutions

4. Well organized with factors, reasons, and solutions.

5. Techniques, their names, origins, and hows' to follow. 

Last but not least, last chapter is ironically the dessert of a perfect meal. Getting insights from already accomplished yet thriving experts to share their secrets of persistence is the most intriguing part. But there's a tradition, desserts ought to be have had at the last.

The Miracle Morning (Part-I)

 Date: 12 January 2023

While keeping the book in my bag, I was reluctant whether I would be able to take some time out within such a short sojourn to read it. Much to my surprise, I completed the whole book on my return journey (i.e. on 14th January) and also took breaks listening to music.  Yes, the fastest I've ever taken to complete a book. Also, the reason it became even more important for me to add a personal note before I start talking reviews. 

While drafting, I realised that for a work as action-oriented as this one, the book review is incomplete unless implemented. I sensed that I expected a sequel for this book review from myself.  The sequel, however, would be with a deeper dive into the principles and paradigms proposed in this book, when my actions will have articulated what went into me through words and sentences. 

Book: THE MIRACLE MORNING

Author: Hal Elrod

Publisher: John Murray Learning

Year: 2016

An amazing book with very simple English and theme. The author starts with his own short biography, where he briefly talks about his life challenges and struggles. Then, he moves forward to explain how and what changed his life. 

The author has indeed learned from acclaimed sources and very enthusiastically presented his gratification to all the books and authors who have been a part of his transformational journey (especially, "Think and grow rich" by Napoleon Hill). 

A few notable features of the book that kept me energized throughout my read are:

1. Easy vocabulary (One would hardly need a dictionary to refer to.)

2. Very simplified methods (explained step by step with a sample procedure to follow).

3. Besides mentioning books that inspired him, the author has also suggested a few good books to enhance certain aspects of our lives (for me it was like a library within a book).

4. Every chapter begins with two beautiful and captivating thoughts from great people (which, of course, intrigues one to keep reading).

The book quite often brought a smile on my face. There were many learnings and fundamentals that sounded familiar to me. Credit goes to my mentor, who always kept repeating and reaffirming the importance of certain things that he imbibed from the book. 

Statements such as "how you do anything is how you do everything", "discipline creates lifestyle", "the day when you feel like not doing it, you should definitely do it", etc. (loads to mention), to me, were just like an awe moment to how meticulously he has remembered each of them and dissipated to us in an unfiltered and thorough manner.

The best takeaway I carry from here is "The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams". 

Next War India Pakistan China

 Book: Next War India, Pakistan, China

Author: Dr NC Asthana, IPS

Publishing Year: 2017

"Very intense yet simplified" is how I would describe my experience of reading this book. Coming from someone who has authored 46 books and 76 research papers besides his dignified service as an IPS [a nuclear physicist and having extensive experience in intelligence and counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir, left-wing extremism and North-east]. Also, who adorns 7 medals and 7 commendation discs.

If not for this book, every Indian is bound to overlook many significant factors or atleast underestimate a few factors he or she may know to predict if we could ever go to war with our neighbors. This book is indeed a roller-coaster ride which will take one through all the overrated factors whether it be social, political, media related, strategies  thoughts, skills and mentality not just as Armies but as Nations too.

Excellent use of vocabulary, I must say, and occasional yet sarcastic humor.  This book definitely sticks to theme and demystifies all the misconceptions that we've borrowed from social medias' and informations (supporting public opinion and not actual facts) lacking authority.

Dr NC Asthana has cited various historical wars (not just between India, Pakistan or China but also, from the world history), practices, plans and strategies to pronouncingly declare, explain and justify his opinions which he has gained through his first-hand experience and research. 

War at sea, War on land or war mid-air,  presenting all the possibilities, various triggers, terrains and climates, complementary weapon-systems, inter-relations, dependencies, pursuits, intelligence, tanks, battle plan, counteracting, national interests and character, this book is a wholesome. Period.

Concluding on a very important and often unemphasized aspect of whether, we are ready for what comes forth, not just between the armies but between the nations involved. Well, we rightfully deserve this knowledge.

The Conquest of Worry

 Book: The Conquest of Worry

Author: Orison Swett Marden

Genre: Self-help

Year: 1961

"Efficiency is a matter of concentration. And concentration is only possible when the mind is free from worry and is harmonious.".

Aptly, as the name suggests, the book will take one through a pattern of worries, we people pursue in our average lives.  It explains the significance or insignificance of each in our lifestyle whether it be physical, mental or emotional.  The author puts emphasis on fabricating positive thoughts instead of trepidating situations, crisis, confusions, etc. 

He takes us through various life aspects such as health, examinations and interviews, expectations, parenting, inferiority complex, self-control, workaholics, sleeping patterns and so on, to explain the depth of our worry habits and how each of them should be encountered in their own specific ways. 

Some might draw a parallel of the book with the popular  "The secret" authored by Rhonda Byrne.  Although, I have a different opinion regarding the approaches they've subjected to "law of attraction".  Swett has remarkably pointed out the patterns we blindly follow and doubt our efficiency, capabilities and skills to achieve our ideals in elaborate pages of our lives and thus, keeps us from reaching the zenith of our potentials. 

At some points, however, I felt as though the sentences used a lot of vocabulary which were repetitive in their individual meanings and could have been brought down to enhance readability. 

Keeping the flaws aside, it was a good read which made me realize that even so many decades ago, people had same issues and worries, and although we might have excelled in every possible way, we still are in pursuit of "peace of mind" as badly as they did then.  The book ends with a conclusion in its very last chapter, what in true sense is "well-being". 

At last, I would like to mention a few inspiring quotes from the book "The Conquest of Worry".

We are placed into this world to do a certain task, and this task is never beyond our power, if we but realize the strength.

It's not what you've lost but what you still have left, it's the residue that will tell the story.