My bathroom reading has picked up speed these days (or means longer bathroom breaks) and I am finishing more books. Most of the books completed recently were some that I was postponing for maybe years because I thought it was self-help or bit cheesy, but the nice thing is I liked most of them.
1. Good to great : why some companies make the leap, and others don't / Jim Collins
This was topping many of the reading lists and recommendations, but had postponed. But it was interesting read. I could use some of these advice when I start my company.
2. Tuesdays with Morrie : an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson / Mitch Albom
Again one of those I keep seeing in top selling racks in supermarkets. But it was a good read. I only wished if I had a mentor whom I could be so close to talk so freely. This lead to whole series of day dreaming about playing mentor roles to young kids, which could be life changing for some not so blessed with educated parents or expensive schools.
3. The alchemist / Paulo Coelho
It is one of those books I was prejudiced against due to no specific reason. But I enjoyed reading this. I wish I knew exactly what I wanted and had the courage to follow that till the end.
4. Getting things done : the art of stress-free productivity / David Allen
I went through the latter parts of the book in minutes, but first part was interesting. I have an inbox with zero mails and trying to follow do / defer / delegate / delete for one week now.
5. Execution : the discipline of getting things done / Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
More of getting things done - good read, bit more painstaking to finish though. One thing I noted was to never finish a meeting without clarifying the actions, seeing through to the end of something and staying committed.
6. Brave New World / Aldous Huxley
Another one that kept appearing in recommendations. Didn't like it much though, thought it was kind of dated.
7. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn / Betty Smith
This is one I felt could have been edited better. I felt the childhood was covered in authentic detail and was nostalgic, but remaining story seemed a bit hurried or disconnected somehow. I would still recommend it though, especially to those who loved to finish one book a day as a kid and getting lost in some strange world.
8. Watchmen / Alan Moore
My introduction to graphic novels. It is a great book and one I would have finished in one sitting if it was 10 years back when life was much less complicated. Need to find more of graphic novels.
Ayyaps : Good list of books. Guess what, The Alchemist is an interesting book. I have spoken to a lot of people who read it and each one had his/her interpretation as to what the book was about. Yes, it was about dreams... But what "about" dreams, differed from person to person, as well as at what stage in life they were! Interesting ah!
ReplyDeleteStarting a company of your own? Wow! Good to hear that you also have a budding entrepreneurial spirit in you. I am not one of them yet, but interesting I have quite a few friends who already started something of their own or who have left posh jobs and joined start up companies to gain experience for the next step of launching themselves... Increasingly social entrepreneurship also seems to be creating a lot of buzz. Good luck with your dreams buddy! If interested check out setting up of Grameen Bank(quite a while ago) and Grameen Phone in Bangladesh...
Cheers
viggy
Items number 2 and 7 are there on my favourite list as well.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Tuesdays with Morrie, the book is really illuminating. And i feel that good education (as we call it) or expensive schools dont provide the mentoring that we need to survive in the harsh world outside. Whoever said that what ive learned is no thanks to my school is very correct - the maximum that schools can do is nurture a sense of curiosity and kindness in children and the rest is upto the individual ( unfortunately ! ). And its here that books like Morrie play the role of teacher and guide. Strictly my views.
Thats an interesting view about Betty Smith - same as you, loved the earlier portions of the book and always thought that the author intended to finish the story properly in a sequel ( if sequel idea was known during the Smiths time). One book i chanced upon was 'Angalas ashes' by Frank Mccourt - he died recently. Again, the theme is childhood, however its the dreaded poor Irish childhood and the book is thoroughly depressing in a way. It makes me thank god for the gifts that he has given me, however great or small they are.
Warm regards
jade