"Perhaps we are all immigrants. Trading one home for another. First we leave the womb for air. Then the suburbs for the filthy city in search of a better life. Some of us just happen to leave entire countries."
Tag: Kindle
Digital minimalism by Cal Newport
A year ago, I shut down my social media accounts. I also removed all unnecessary Apps and notifications from my IPhone. That was not new to me as in many instances earlier, I had done a series of digital detox. When I got more familiar with Newport’s theory, I was delighted that there was actually a movement towards digital minimalism: the art of knowing how much technology is just enough!
Tristan and Isold by Joseph Bedier
Love stories come in different shapes and forms. I have read love stories from ancient ages and other modern ones. What I miss in the stories of the XX century is the enigma. I will be reviewing a legend from the Middle Age. It may not seem relatable. However, it is. In many ways.
Mindset by Carol Dweck
I urge you not to beat yourself up. We tend to do so especially women. This book equips you with a dose of confidence as it unleashes myths about ability and achievement. If you are a lone brilliant person, read this book.
Norwegian wood by Haruki Murakami
It is fair to say that this is a poignant story demonstrating fierce independence and liberated sexuality. Above all, this is the story of a man's first love.
The letters of Abelard and Heloise
Thank you Ken for yet another generous contribution into my blog. I have had the luxury of watching The Letters of Abelard and Heloise on stage... I thought it was harsh to see how love hurts. I am not sure how it would feel when one reads it. As I promised you, I will promise subscribers with more "artistic" reviews. I will next review Tristan and Isolde (Iseult for the francophone) - the influential love story factoring in thoughts around Wagner related Prelude. Stay tuned!
The 5 a.m. club by Robin Sharma
As you read this book, you are caught by the story. This is not a typical self-help book. It is actually a story told in a very smooth style. The messages that the author tries to convey are subtle and they come to the reader close to self-realization. I loved the characters in the book as well as the flow of events that are quite thrilling.
Femme au miroir by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
This post is written by my friend Ken Mckellar who is a frequent contributor to my blog. For new subscribers, my first language is not English. It is French hence the name of my blog. It is a reminder to myself about how writing and reading helped me sharpen my English without forgetting my French. Thank you Ken for reviewing a French book for the first time on this blog knowing that French is not your first language. Kudos!
Daily rituals by Mason Currey
The purpose of the blogpost is not to define success rather to understand - similarly to the objective of the book - how a novel is written, how a masterpiece is painted, and how a symphony is composed.
What they teach you at HBS by Philip Delves Broughton
The book is quite brutal as the author dared to qualify Harvard as a "factory for unhappy people". He wrote long chapters about the burnouts, the booze-luge, the high-flyer, and more.
The secret diaries of Miss Anne Lister
For those who are new to my blog, my friend Ken Mckellar is a regular contributor whose generosity is quite disarming. He was keen to share with me another review for a book he has read. I happen to have watched the related movie. It was a British movie released in 2010. The story also inspired a series starring Suranne Jones: The Gentleman Jack. Enjoy the review and if you are a fan of this genre (Non Fiction. Biography. LGBT. History), you can purchase the book here.
Brain rules by John Medina
Brain Rules is a book written by John Medina that speaks in a scientific way about the principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. The principles are based on research and case studies at the intersect of neuroscience, psychology, and biology.
Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood
Goodbye to Berlin teaches an important lesson for our times. Totalitarian regimes never burst on to the scene: they creep up stealthily, step-by-step, on a vulnerable population hungry for change. And before the population knows it, the dictator is in control. By the time Isherwood published his novel, seven years later, Europe was at war.
World order by Henry Kissinger
Some qualify this book as a meditation on the roots of international order and disorder. Kissinger, the author, is one of notable diplomats of the modern era. He was the security adviser for a number of presidents and he spent his life studying foreign policy events. In this book, Kissinger reveals the challenge of the twenty-first century: how to bring order into a world where perspectives are contradictory.
Why we sleep by Matthew Walker
My friend Ken has been saving me from my complacency. I am not sure how neuroscience explains when we are behind, when we miss deadlines we put for ourselves, when we prioritize items at the expense of others, etc. I personally think that sleep deprivation impairs my productivity and most importantly my creativity. In an earlier post, I shared my thoughts about the fan #1 of sleep: Ariana Huffington. I was back then reviewing her book that focuses quite a lot on the importance of sleep in our life.
My top six reading Apps
For those who do not know me, I have a peculiar relation with technology. This time, I decided to review reading Apps. For so many years, I have struggled reading using an Ipad, a Kindle, or any other technology. To be honest, I still do not. However I recently discovered a few interesting Apps that added great value to my reading journey.
A woman in Arabia: the writings of the queen of the desert By Gertrude Bell
I have been away for a few weeks. They were tough two weeks. I discovered that when I am not well I find no joy in writing. I thank God I have a friend like Ken. He contributed once again to my blog. He reviewed a book we both read and enjoyed. It is fitting that in the same month as International Women’s Day, we feature the writings of one of the most remarkable women of the 19 and 20 centuries. Into only 58 years, Gertrude Bell packed enough adventure and intrigue to last several lifetimes.
The no.1 ladies’ detective agency by Alexander McCall Smith
To be completely honest, I have had a tough week at work. It was long, demanding, included travelling, and more. I did not have a chance to write a personal blog post. But, as usual, my dear and now standing contributor Ken saved me. It is not like something bad would happen if I do not blog once a week. However this is a level of consistency I am committed to. Also when you are so overwhelmed with the readers' reactions, comments, shares, and likes - you feel that you have no choice but honor every reader's expectations. Ken reviewed a book I have not read. His review will surely make me read it. I hope it does that to you too. Enjoy.
Venus in furs by Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch
This is to introduce my friend Ken again. This time, we decided to get out of the cliché and do a review for a book that is quite risqué. We hope you enjoy the review as much as I did. But I also hope you will read the book. This is an atypical read; but it is all worth it.
Sapiens a brief history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Sapiens is a book that surveys the history of humankind. It covers the evolution of humans from the Stone Age through the 21st century.