'The Bookshelf'

Thursday, 24 July 2014

Go put your Strengths to Work

Author Marcus Buckingham

Country United States

Genre                             Non Fiction: Management

Publication Date            2007

Pages                              270

Most of us in the HR fraternity are exposed to Gallup's strength based approach pretty early in our careers. This book by Marcus who has been spearheading the strength based work at Gallup and now has his own consulting organization, takes the same beliefs and theories a step further.

The basic premise of this strength based philosophy is that all of us are more productive when our work is structured such that it uses more of our strengths than weaknesses. As Marcus says, 'success' and 'failure' are not necessarily opposites. By focusing and working on our weaknesses, we wouldn't necessarily achieve success. For success, we need to identify our strengths and work on those.

Through the book, Marcus urges the readers to identify their strengths and ensure that their work is steered towards using these strengths. While this may not always be in an individual's circle of influence, by making deliberate efforts and speaking to ones managers and consequently delivering better results (as a result of using strengths), one can make this feasible.

As Marcus elucidates, a strength is not just something that one does well in (this is a necessary but not a sufficient condition), but is something that one is instinctively drawn towards, enjoys doing and feels a huge sense of satisfaction after having done it. This is particularly insightful since so many of us merely restrict ourselves to the first part of the definition - the belief that if I am good at something that's my strength irrespective of whether I enjoy it or not. As a result of this limited approach, more often than not we erroneously allow others (mostly our managers) to identify our strengths.

I personally am a huge proponent of the strengths based approach and fundamentally believe that each of us deserves to lead a more fulfilling work life; and the starting point of the same indubitably is knowing our strengths and weaknesses and then ensuring that we spend more of our time on strengths.

In my view, this is a simple yet powerful and insightful book. A recommended read for any management professional.

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You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

The Book Thief

Author Markus Zusak

Country Germany

Genre Historical Fiction

Publication Date 2006

Pages 550

This is a book I simply adored. It's one of those books that keep you up late into the night to be finished and then leave you with a huge sense of emptiness the next day. I am amazed at Markus' brilliance at weaving together a story around a much explored topic (Nazi Germany) with such ease and beauty. This book has been a treat like none other.

This is the story of a 9 year old girl, Leisel who comes to live with her foster parents in Nazi Germany. Against the backdrop of all that was happening in Nazi Germany in the 1940s, Markus tells the story of Leisel and how she becomes a book thief since she finds solace in the written word. The story is mostly built through the eyes of this naive girl who is smart and observant and starts connecting many dots very early in life to decipher what really is happening in Germany.

Very uniquely, the narrator of the book is Death. Given the war and the mass exterminations happening in Germany and all around, the imagery of Death as the narrator gives both a grave dimension and a certain amount of humor to the book ( Death claims that she has a hard job and gets no vacation and so on).

Throughout the story, Markus builds the connection that Leisel feels with her books. Starting from a sense of pride in learning to read and write to an absolute need to possess books to rendering solace to others (in shelters) by reading to them, Lesiel grows and matures with her books. And both literally (she was writing in her basement when air raids kill all her friends and family) and figuratively, Leisel survives those years because of her books!

Hans Hubberman (Leisel's foster father) is another strong character in the book. He plays an immense role in Leisel's life (by teaching her to read, staying up with her through the nightmares etc) and is a conscientious man keen to do the right thing. Having been saved by a Jew during the war, he can never forget the favour and in return, he paints to remove anti Jew slurs from outside their houses, gets whipped on the street for handing over bread to a starving Jew, hides a Jew in his basement and so on. Hans is a reflection of how hard it was for people like him to be themselves and survive in a Hitler led Germany.

Through the character of Max, a Jew who hides in Leisel's basement; Markus illustrates the Jewish side of Nazi Germany: a life of desperation and injustice.

Markus's story brilliantly builds upon several themes: darkness (through the narrator and the war, air raids etc); desperation (through Max and other Jews who live during that time); the love of words (Leisel) and being conscientious and scared at the same time (Hans).

This is a story that is both deep and light; it's both real and fiction. Like I said, it's simply adorable. Huge respect for Markus!

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

The Razors Edge

     Author                        W Somerset Maugham

     Country                      United States

     Genre                         Fiction: Classic

     Publication Date       1944

     Pages                          314

This again is one of those books of Somerset Maughum that has decided to stay with me. And the best way for it to stay would be to feature on my blog and hence; here it comes.

This is a story about Larry Darrell, an American pilot who is traumatized by his experience in World War 1 and he hence proceeds to lead a life in search of truth and meaning. Larry's refusal to lead a 'normal life' (as defined by the society) and to take up a regular job separates him from his then fiancé; Isabel who is unwilling to get married to someone who is leading a life of wandering & searching. Isabel goes on to marry someone of her status in society while Larry fills his life with innumerable spiritual and other experiences across Paris, India and other places. The story is interspersed with Elliott Templeton, Isabel's uncle who strives thorughout his life (and even on his death bed) to lead a life of social eminence.

In usual Maugham style, the story flows seamlessly and the reader is left gripped with different characters in the book. The ending is particularly powerful where he points out that each character gets what he was thriving for: Larry - happiness; Isabel - an assured position in society and Elliott - social eminence.

This powerful yet simple book leaves me with just one thought: how each of us strive for different things in life and how it's a blessing to know what one wants out of life. While to some Isabel may have seemed selfish to have not pursued her relationship with Larry, to me she's someone who exactly knows what's important for her in life and is unwilling to sign up for something lesser. While I may not be able to associate with her aspirations, her clarity around those is impressive.

So many of us drag ourselves through life doing the so called 'right' things with absolutely no inkling of what our mind & soul truly crave for. Clarity of mind and the grit to pursue would make life so much happier!

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Thursday, 12 June 2014

Lean In

Author                      Sheryl Sandberg

Country                    United States

Genre                       Non Fiction: Management

Publication Date      2013

Pages                        387

If you have been reading the other book reviews on my blog, you would know that I rarely read non fiction or management books. I mostly find some awesome company in fiction; both contemporary and classics.

However, in keeping with my decision to read different books this year, I ended up with this book 'Lean In' and I am so glad I did. Being on a sabbatical from work has helped me absorb the book somewhat better since it allowed me to reflect on my own personal and professional ethics from a distance. And I have surely ended with a list of aspects I wish to change about how I manage my professional life.

While the book has received its fair share of criticism, I would suffice by saying that Sheryl has done an awesome job in sharing her views on how women should manage their professional lives. And like any other author, these are her personal views and while many have struck a chord with me, there are some that haven't. But those that have are here to stay.

Sheryl's reflections on how most women face insecurity or "feel like a fraud", how even today ambitious and successful women are not liked, how being able "to do it all" is really a myth and how all of us (men & women) together need to embrace changes at home and at the workplace to make it an equal society are relevant and thought provoking.

What has personally stayed with me is that it's important for the women to speak up and acknowledge differences in order that they are treated the same. While this may sound counter intuitive, the essence is that instead of trying hard to "fit in", women should openly talk about their specific needs and demand that they be met. Men and women are not the same in their emotional build up, in the societal expectations and thus, instead of trying to prove that we are the same, we should acknowledge uniqueness and he treated fairly for that.

Exploring the topic of "choices" (between having a career or being a homemaker); Sheryl rightly points that feminism was not supposed to make us feel guilty. It was supposed to make us free by giving us choices and making us comfortable with the choices we make. Unfortunately, that is far from true today. There is hardly a woman who does not feel guilty (mostly, a career woman of not spending time with her kids) and this need for constant validation of our choices is truly an affront to feminism. Let's all start by respecting our choices and those of others.

And finally what has really convinced me that it's critical we all play mixed roles (of bread winning and care giving) is that we owe this to our next generation. As Sheryl says, the more our kids see us playing mixed roles, the more comfortably they will envision choices for themselves. And finally there will be a society where expectations will not be set by gender but by interest, passion and talent.

Before I wrap up, here are two of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Guilt management is almost as important as time management"

"Every job needs some sacrifice. The key is to avoid unnecessary sacrifice"

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Animal Farm

Author George Orwell

Country United Kingdom

Genre                            Political Satire

Publication Date           1945

Pages                             112

When I look at this book, I can't help but think of one particular teacher in school who highly recommended this (again & again) but, for some reason, back then, I never managed to lay my hands on it. Maybe because this was a book about animals and I have no special inclination towards four legged creatures. Or because I was just too lazy to try something different.

But life surely keeps surprises in store and I didn't know it then that this book highly recommended by someone in Lucknow would finally get read in Baltimore more than 15 years later.

And I am so glad that this happened. This is a simply but interestingly written short novel about an animal farm where animals, tired of their slavery to humans ("two legged creatures") call upon a rebellion and take over the workings of the farm (after ousting the owner). What starts as a "democracy" with commitment to several commandments like "all animals are equal" quickly degenerates into an autocracy as the assumption of "power" starts to corrupt the pigs. However, sadly enough, it takes long for most of the masses (the "ruled over" animals) to realize that they are being manipulated by the pigs.

While on the outset, the book comes across as a simple tale of animals (and maybe that's all that I would have garnered from this had I perused it 15 years back), the author has indubitably conveyed a far deeper meaning through the same.

Despite being a commentary on the Russian revolution of the early 1900s, the book amazingly is as relevant today as it was in those days. I personally can't help but reflect on how the book is stunningly contemporary to what happens all around us today: in politics and across corporates; both private and public.

What hurts me the most is how people like us (like the horse, sheep and others in the book) get taken in again and again by what someone in a position of power promises; and how in our devotion and faithfulness we get blinded to reason. Or maybe that's in our desperation for a better future.

Finally, the book leaves me with just one nagging thought: "Who really is responsible: those who are conniving enough to take advantage or those who are naive enough to be taken advantage of?

And the answer to that is anything but simple.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Life of Pi

Author    Yann Martel

Country    Canada

Genre                       Fiction

Publication Date    2001

Pages                        356

This again is one of those books that I have been putting off for the longest time. Somehow the theme didn't interest me at the outset. But the fact that this is a "Man Booker prize" winner and people rave about it all the time finally convinced me to go through it. And it was indeed a different and interesting journey.

Through this book, Yann Martel captivatingly builds the story of Pi, a sixteen year old boy who survives a sunken cargo ship only to spend days alone in the sea with a 450 pound Royal Bengal Tiger. This brilliant and extraordinary tale of survival, desperation and winning imparts some profound life lessons to its readers.

Some of my favorite quotes that will help you gauge the flavor of the book are:

"When your life is threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival"

"Fear: it's life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. It is a clever, treacherous adversary"

"If your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you"

Despite my initial hesitation, I was truly raptured by the book. It's an experience I would recommend to others.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

The Reader

     Author                         Bernhard Schlink

     Country                       Germany

     Genre                          Historical Fiction

     Publication  Date       1995

     Pages                           218

This 1995 book by Bernhard Schlink is a telling tale on how the post war generations in Germany deal with the generation that was a part of the war related atrocities: as perpetrators, victims or just witnesses.

The book starts with Michael as a 15 year old boy who falls in love with a 36 year old bus conductor, Hanna and spends many evenings of passionate indulgence and book readings at her apartment, till she suddenly disappears one day. Later in the book, Michael once again comes face to face with her while attending trials on war crimes (as a law student). Hanna who was a guard at a concentration camp is tried and finally convicted for the part she played in the war related atrocities. The latter part of the book sees Michael struggling to come to terms with his feelings for Hanna and finally Hanna's suicide just before her release from jail.

What strikes me about the book is how it's neither happy nor sad. I am someone who likes clarity and prefer happy or sad endings so that I can then feel the "appropriate feeling". However, this book leaves me "in between". I am not sure what to feel about Hanna: whether she was a criminal or just someone who was part of the overall circumstances. And this feeling is so brilliantly reflected in Michael's character too. As a 15 year old boy, he was obsessed with Hanna but as an adult, once he is aware of her past, his feelings are meshed and he is not sure whether to love or hate her. It is this complexity of emotions that leads him to send her recorded audio versions of books but holds him back from visiting her at the prison.

In one sentence, I would describe this as a simply but realistically written book that has helped evolve my thinking.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!