I've always been a believer in the notion that one's success is not all self-made as much as one would like to believe they are. Society, chance, someI've always been a believer in the notion that one's success is not all self-made as much as one would like to believe they are. Society, chance, someone's generosity, kindness (and in this author's case a lecherous slaver's lust for a helpless woman) have a role to play. The author in part sheds light on this school of thought not because he wants belittle the success of the successful to just say, maybe, that all of us have been created equally and if given the right outliers, we too could be successful.
What I liked:
1. Classic Gladwell, tons of research and data supporting his points.
2. The fact that he puts his own personal life in the book sealed the book a permanent place in my shelf.
What I did not like:
Not much. This book was spot on.
Worth your time and money. Please buy first-hand. Can be excellent gift to a new parent. I give this book five stars. ...more
Look, Robert Greene is the new age philosopher who writes about "fuck the world before it fucks you" thought process. If that repulses you then pleaseLook, Robert Greene is the new age philosopher who writes about "fuck the world before it fucks you" thought process. If that repulses you then please do yourself a favour and don't read this book.
What I liked:
1) One can tell that this book took a lot of researching. Holy shit! the historical stories are just one a many.
2) The chapters had a logical flow to them unlike his previous books where stratagems were just strewn all over the place.
What I did not like:
1) He tends to add these side stories now and then which confuses the fuck out of me.
In closing, I will say that this book is worth the money it demands. Whether or not it was worth the 11 hours of reading it took me to get through is for another discussion, this is one tedious book.
Someone very smart said “A good master is not who teaches well but one who creates the most number of masters”. A level of wisdom and understanding whSomeone very smart said “A good master is not who teaches well but one who creates the most number of masters”. A level of wisdom and understanding which I am very afraid belongs to a select few in this world and Epictetus must be their lord master.
Am I over reacting? Maybe but the depth with which the material in this book is presented is mind boggling. For example, Epictetus says there is nay not a person who is disturbing but rather our opinion about them that is actually disturbing us. Whoa! Total brain blast!
It is an experience reading this book, almost a divination (if you are into miracles and all, that is)....more
This book had come highly recommended in an article written by a highly acclaimed book critic in the local newspaper.
A very small book and took me leThis book had come highly recommended in an article written by a highly acclaimed book critic in the local newspaper.
A very small book and took me less than a few days to get through it.
At the core of this book is Mr. Frankl telling us this one important message 'Look, you have no control about events and situations you are put into but you do have control over one thing and that is your response and attitude towards those events and situations". Behind this idea is him putting his terrible experiences from Auschwitz as weight. It does get a little overwhelming in places but those who have read holocaust stories before may find Mr. Frankl being mild about it but as for others like me, stock up on some feel good videos and songs because you will be needing it to recuperate when you are done reading the book. Very depressing.
Now, I know, there are those who would argue about the underlying theme where Mr. Frankl downplays psychotherapy and its tenets in an effort to uphold logotherapy. True, he does that but you must understand, psychotherapy and logotherapy are HUGE subjects by themselves and to argue for either is not for us pop-psychology loving lesser mortals, leave that to the pros and enjoy the revelations Mr. Frankl gifts us.
My favorite part is "Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.....Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it."
If your objective, like it is when one finishes reading a self-help book, is to implement what Mr. Kahneman has to say in real life and benefit from iIf your objective, like it is when one finishes reading a self-help book, is to implement what Mr. Kahneman has to say in real life and benefit from it, I should warn you, you will be sorely disappointed. Believe it or not, in my opinion, I believe Mr. Kahneman is telling you exactly that in this book - that whether you like it or not, your entire life is guided or may I say decided by two fundamental ideas and that there is very little you can do to change it, period.
Mr. Kahneman is probably the villain in every modern day spiritual guru's life, he argues very effectively that contrary to what these gurus may say the external world/ your environment/ surroundings/ or even society for that matter has a large say in your personal deliberate actions. You don't have a choice.
So, having said that, shelving this book in psychology section would be gross injustice. In my view this is such a good commentary of human nature. The two are different, very much so.
Read it, totally worth it in my opinion. Can get a little too drab but hang in there, this book is an eye opener....more
This was my second book on Stoicism after Seneca's teachings.
My thoughts? it was a rather humbling experience to know that a better human being once This was my second book on Stoicism after Seneca's teachings.
My thoughts? it was a rather humbling experience to know that a better human being once lived knowing more than you have, achieved milestones of personal discovery than you could ever imagine achieving and all that with a healthy doze of humility (you know he was a emperor, right?). What a man! what a legacy! what teachings!
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. In my case a decade late, I guess. For those who yearn for nothing more but a word of wisdom durinWhen the student is ready, the teacher will appear. In my case a decade late, I guess. For those who yearn for nothing more but a word of wisdom during the dark days of self doubt and anxiety, look no further, Seneca has more wisdom to offer than one can imagine.
My advise, don't treat this as an intellectual escapade into the world of stoicism but treasure this book as a go-to succor from day-to-day pressures. Trust me, as cliched as it may sound, in these pages you will find the answers to your questions.....more
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