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Book Review- Rework by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried

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With the genesis of the human era, the growth is defined in direct proportion to the innovation of its generation. Distinct criteria dictate so that they become the law… for the time being … but with the momentum, the laws either need to be re-defined or moderated as per the new law. This is the orbit of progress and as we generally understand... that progress keeps on thrusting ahead. I found this book at the airport bookstall last week. The charming title “Rework” made me wonder about the kind of new philosophy of business it will be deliberating upon and this curiosity led me to yet another captivating read. Re-work does not corroborate the same old traditional advice found in a majority of business books. It bluntly tosses out old business rules. However, the basic theme ( or I should say 'law' ) persists i.e. the prosperity of an individual, an organization, and a nation is symbiotic with the individual aspiration which should reciprocate with the vision of the organiz...

Book Review- Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo

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  Initially, the name of the writer of this latest read Ankur Warikoo was known to me as a podcaster who chaperoned me through morning walks via his online sessions. Later, I started following him on YouTube and found his theories and topics relatable and practical. So it was no wonder that I pre-booked this book with the unique title "Do Epic Shit" and read it. But surprise… surprise… this small book took me two months to finish . Certainly, the content is fantastic. And I followed the instructions of the writer to go over 4-5 pages at one time and later gave comprehensive thought to the readings. There is nothing new in the book… yet everything re-new-ed . My verdict about this book is… the simple writing with quick fundas deciphered in the most genial manner- is perfect for those readers who avoid thick self-help kind-of books and for those who are looking for some affirmation booster in the various situations of their lives. The book enlightens the timeless concepts i....

Why not use some common sense?

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"Common sense" is the most common word I have heard people recite commonly to depict the requirement of common understanding to do the daily tasks or taking typical decisions in common life. I have also observed people who use this term to commonly refute the things/actions because it is above or below their “own common sense”. Voltaire has once said “ Common sense is not so common ” and to expand on this… species with this quality are rare. People can indicate that they have common sense but during moments of necessity, the common sense goes hideaway. Nevertheless, I wonder if these seldom found species are easily diagnosed and celebrated among the herd of human beings. We all know the story of The Nano Car and Ratan Tata. Such are people whose actions can be termed as “ common sense in action ” giving rise to a deep impact. As defined by Wikipedia, Common sense is a sound, rational judgment about everyday matters, or an essential ability to discern, understand, and judge ...

Book review- The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

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  “I may be injured; I may even be wounded to the heart, but I’m not defeated yet.” - This is the spirit of the heroine of my latest read “The last queen”. An un-put-down-able novel by Divakaruni breathes life into the forgotten queen, Jindan Kaur, the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the glorious ruler who built the powerful Sikh empire at the onset of the nineteenth century. This is my second read for the writer after  Palace of illusions Such a poignant tale of Rani Jindan whose life is like a fairy tale gone wrong . I did not know her story earlier so I feel grateful to learn about the queen, and an additional thanks to Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, I now am also aware of how our Kohinoor- the diamond landed in hands of the British Queen. The writer has justified this fictional historical biography by dividing the life of Jidan Kaun (also called Jindan Kaun) into four parts-- 'Girl', 'Bride', 'Queen' and 'Rebel '-- that revive her remarkable li...

Book Review- Karma by Sadhguru

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Image from Internet One of the subjects of my interest is KARMA. I have been reading about it, analyzing its various facets through several readings and also through my rendition and self-dialogues. After completing this recent read titled Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny by Sadhguru,  I realize that my previous blog relating to the topic-  The Law of Karma   is like a kid’s interpretation of Karma.    The very first chapter offers the definition of Karma which in itself is plenty to think about and self-reflect. “ Karma is the accumulated impression of past activity, either of thought, emotion, or physical action. The quality of the karma that you gather is not necessarily in terms of action alone. It is also in terms of the volition with which action is performed .” In this book, Sadhguru elucidates the common fallacies about the whole idea of Karma being a punishment or a reward for the deeds done. As per him “ Every moment of your life, you a...

Book Review- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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Coincidently I opened to read this book on 2 February 2022 exactly 12 years after it got printed. Being a science student myself, the “ HeLa ” term is not new to me… however, the saga behind HeLa brought utter impact and revelation. In 1952, HeLa cells came to be the first human cell line that could thrive and divide endlessly in a laboratory , leading scientists to label these cells “ immortal ”. They are the world's most ubiquitous sources for medical research on everything… from hormones, steroids, and vitamins to gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, studying atomic bombs' effects, outer space …even the polio vaccine. It gives me goosebumps to realize that we all have benefitted from 'her' cells and shall continue to be part of our future generations as well! These Immortal ' HeLa ' cells belonged to 'her'. She was a 31 years old African American woman named Henrietta Lacks. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, born into a family of tobacco farmers in Virginia...

Book Review- The Legend of Lachit Borphukan by Nilutpal Gohain

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  Some people don’t wait for history. They make history and redefine the word “valor”. Situated off the NH 37 near Jorhat is the statue of Bir Lachit Borphookan amid a garden adjacent to his Moidam (burial ground). I have visited the place once and was captivated by a little introduction about this local hero. Little did I know that this “local” hero is the history architect! I feel humbly appreciative to the writer of this read Nilutpal Gohain who aptly acquainted me with the rich history that germinates from the ancient land of Assam and to the hero Lachit Borphukan. The plot is of 1667 AD, Assam. After a plunderous invasion of the Mughal Subedar Mir Jumla, the Ahom kingdom is reeling under loss, deceit, and inside disputes. The Ahom Monarch Chakradhwaj Singha and his ministers are serving the vassalage of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb under the terms of a despicable treaty and the morale of the Assamese people is curtailed to its lowest ebb. However, a valiant commander of the Ah...