Ekta | wisdomekta

The great philosophical books often have open endings , allowing the reader to dive into their own emotions and imagination. After reading this book, my observation seems to have gotten stronger. This was another read gifted to me by an office colleague, titled The Illicit Happiness of Other People by Manu Joseph. The book is a tragicomedy that explores human emotions and expressions in some of the most tragic, yet strangely normalized, lives. Based on a dysfunctional Malayali Catholic family in 1990s of Madras, the story is dealing with the aftermath of their 17-year-old son Unni’s suicide. The plot includes his alcoholic father, Ousep, investigating the "illicit," mysterious reasons behind Unni’s final act, his wife Mariamma (who talks to walls), and their younger, insecure son Thoma. The book uncovers some deep and complex layers of genius, existential joy, and human secrets. “Happiness is an unavoidable, almost 'illicit' destiny that people cannot escape.” This ...

Coming from a background wherein the promises are treated in the most sacred way, this book was not a surprise to me. Since childhood, my parents have made sure that the importance of character, the consequences of promises, and the standard of integrity are well established within my persona. I try my best (on a daily basis) to uphold the teachings of my parents. And that is not because of some obligations towards them, but because when I practice these values, I feel lighter, calmer, and a true peace inside. For me, this book was a simple reminder of my childhood values. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom is a self-help book by Don Miguel Ruiz. It outlines a code of conduct, based on Toltec teachings, that aim to improve one’s life. Agreement 1 – Be Impeccable With Your Word: This speaks regarding the importance and power of our tongue and mouth, and about the words we speak. This agreement urges us that we must try our best to speak truth, avoid gossip, and ...

  On the eve of Women’s Day, as I turned the last page of my second read (1st-  Daivya Sutras  ) from the author Mona Verma, my heart ached for the girls and women who had to endure the piercing pain of being tagged as “manhus” as they become child widows trapped in a fate they never chose. Yet, alongside this sorrow, another feeling of pride rose for those who dared to resist. For the women who questioned, who spoke, who broke, who walked away from the suffocating grip of this cruel tradition. For the ones who took the first trembling step so that others could one day run. The story is begins with the three-year-old Brinda is widowed after being married for a few hours, her family refuses to take her back in. Deemed ‘munhoos’, she finds her way to Nirmala Ashram in Banaras where she leads a life of child widow under the watchful eye of Vasanti Bua and her friend, Debi. It is also a tale of a promise kept by the brother of Brinda, Jhulan. The story begins with a flood, a...

  Reckoning Rumble Revolution This book is my second read by the author, Brené Brown. She is an expert in talking about emotions and vulnerability with a grit that I definitely re-felt empowered. Written in a storytelling style from her own life, she shows that consistency in emotions is yet another key to great leadership. The book primarily argues that the willingness to show up and be seen, with no guarantee of outcome, is the only path to more love, belonging, creativity, and joy. Living a brave life is not always easy : We are, inevitably, going to stumble and fall. As we recognise the power of emotions, somehow we are not afraid to lean into discomfort. Walking into our stories of hurt can feel dangerous . But the process of regaining our footing amid struggle is where our courage is tested, and our values are forged. Our stories of struggle can be big ones, like the loss of a job or the end of a relationship, or smaller ones, like a conflict with a friend or colleague or mi...

  “Our struggles are the short-term steps we must take on our way to long-term success.” This was yet another book I read while flying, when the only distractions were the pilot speaking or the air hostess explaining things. The book is thin, easy to read, and most importantly, divided into point-wise explanations. There are pages that can be skipped and may be later revisited, if and when one start applying the “finding your whys” concepts entailed in this book. After reading his first book,  Start With Why (which was a bit disappointing), it was kind of mandatory for me to read this subsequent part of book  ( giving second chance to writer (pun-intended)!! ). The title of book is - " Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team"  co-written by David Mead, Peter Docker, and Simon Sinek. "Find Your Why" picks up where "Start With Why" left off. This guide intends to guide us on how to apply Simon Sinek’s powerful insigh...

  Being an otrovert , there are times when my observations while talking to a person and the words spoken by them seem like contrasts; those talks are the hardest ones. I feel like completing the formality and running away.  And probably, that's the reason, that the title of this recent read attracted me. “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell – this isn’t the first book I have read by the author. Having already read “The Tipping Point” and “Outliers” by Gladwell, I was more than ready for his signature, journalism-style writing once again. Gladwell certainly attempts to cover a difficult and far-reaching topic – just why and how do conversations with strangers go so wrong? He gives examples reaching back into history – the 16th century first meeting of Cortés and Montezuma – through to the ill-fated meeting of Chamberlain and Hitler, with other famous incidents and accidents. He threw with two puzzles through his writing...