Dear busy friends,
One way to learn a lot without living it, is to read about it. Yes, you have a life and I don't so I can give you this sermon on reading more while I don't have other daily routines to worry about. But, hold on, hear me out:
Biographies provide insights into others lives, their thinking, their charter, subtle mentor-ship and even, what one would call, wisdom. Mythology provided fantastical stories for grown ups. History provides one a sense of belonging and sense of perspective. Politics and Current Affairs give a framework of of the world we live in and issues we must know about. Business and Economics are crucial for us to remain a functional member of this knowledge-based-society. Fiction will arrive at the same truth with characthers and plots. Poems will make you look thoughtful (she will love you for that and she would not know why). And the list goes on from abstract subjects to functional subjects (e.g. Corporate finance, programming etc).
It is an exhausting, but nevertheless, a necessary list. It is very hard to prioritize what to read and what not to. After all there is our full time jobs, family, friends, soiree, vacations and other personal interests that add up to an exhaustive week.
So, here is what I am suggesting to my friends;
1. As a knowledge-worker you cannot get away with it so lets try the most productive way to the learning habit. Reading is just a form of it and that is what we are going to talk about here.
2. I will share with you what I think is a good list by topic. And then, through this blog, you may suggest your own list. If you like it, let is show!
(Through reviews, personal reading & discussions I have come across these books. This is not a list by order of preference or beliefs. It is simply a subset of what I have found interesting to read.
Lets get started.
Business and Economics:
This is discussing life's dilemmas and giving business people tools to stay happy (and out of jail).
This topic itself says a lot and it is something I think I would like to read. It seems to have received good reviews.
Politics:
Read the title. Read it again and ask yourself if you want to know about it.
One way to learn a lot without living it, is to read about it. Yes, you have a life and I don't so I can give you this sermon on reading more while I don't have other daily routines to worry about. But, hold on, hear me out:
Biographies provide insights into others lives, their thinking, their charter, subtle mentor-ship and even, what one would call, wisdom. Mythology provided fantastical stories for grown ups. History provides one a sense of belonging and sense of perspective. Politics and Current Affairs give a framework of of the world we live in and issues we must know about. Business and Economics are crucial for us to remain a functional member of this knowledge-based-society. Fiction will arrive at the same truth with characthers and plots. Poems will make you look thoughtful (she will love you for that and she would not know why). And the list goes on from abstract subjects to functional subjects (e.g. Corporate finance, programming etc).
It is an exhausting, but nevertheless, a necessary list. It is very hard to prioritize what to read and what not to. After all there is our full time jobs, family, friends, soiree, vacations and other personal interests that add up to an exhaustive week.
So, here is what I am suggesting to my friends;
1. As a knowledge-worker you cannot get away with it so lets try the most productive way to the learning habit. Reading is just a form of it and that is what we are going to talk about here.
2. I will share with you what I think is a good list by topic. And then, through this blog, you may suggest your own list. If you like it, let is show!
(Through reviews, personal reading & discussions I have come across these books. This is not a list by order of preference or beliefs. It is simply a subset of what I have found interesting to read.
Lets get started.
Business and Economics:
This is discussing life's dilemmas and giving business people tools to stay happy (and out of jail).
This topic itself says a lot and it is something I think I would like to read. It seems to have received good reviews.
A MUST read. If you cannot read this then get the PBS DVD on this book (available on Netflix). It will tell you about the economic history of the world. Basics that everyone must know.
Read the title. Read it again and ask yourself if you want to know about it.
Okay, calm down non-Obama followers. This is not a propaganda. The reason I am suggesting this book is because it gives a point-by-point account of issues facing civic & social America. You may not agree with the diagnosis, but it provides a good account of issues currently facing the United States. If you have the right to vote, you must take the responsibility to know the issues. That is it.
History:
As it says, a very well written simple history of the world. Read it, and you can avoid some embarrassing moments with your kids.
Current Affairs:
One has to read Zakaria to get perspective on current affairs. This is a fitting book written by a brilliant foreign policy analyst. If you don't read this then read his articles on Newsweek, Time and /or watch his show on CNN (Fareed Zakaria GPS). If you ever come to me and tell me you have not heard of him, I WILL disown you.
There is always a book on India that I read. And if India matters to you then this is a good one. Of course, every V.S. Naipaul book on India is worth reading and re-reading. And then there are so many more...
Poems:
Poems are tough. It's like gospel. You feel it or you don't. These are a good and fun collection of contemporary poems. Now, one must read the classics: William Easterly, Alfred Tennyson, Lewis Carroll, Kipling and so many more. But you know of all of them.
Philosophy
Its thick. I get that. It does, however, give a great story about objectivisim and selfishness. If you need to get away from your wife and show off to kids that you are busy reading a big old book (not the bible) and learning at the same time then read this. It is a masterpiece.
It is Bertrand Russell; need I say more. It is approximately a 100 years old and the philosophy still holds.
Faith & Religion:
Whoaa - take it easy! Hold on again. Every evolving person must question its faith - from religion to rituals. That is all I am saying. Hey, Jesus is in your heart or not, an and I am not questioning this here. But I am saying, it is a good read to contemplate what is so core to our being. We are indoctrinated with faith at a very young age. It may be time to question the good, the bad, the logical and the unrealistic. Try it.
Biography:
What a life and what a life that one can relate to. I am not a follower but I am an admirer. She wrote this on her own with no help form a ghost writer. One writes when one believes in it. It is a great story and an inspiring read.
This section is personal to me. There are many books that can and should be read. There are biographies and auto-biographies that are inspiring. They range from business life, to history to politics. They will all give you a code of conduct, a barometer of living and it will make your challenges universal.
Biographies are written by people who can reflect on their doings. Not all reflection is genuine but the issues usually are. It is a case study and it is worth learning from others experiences.
As one said that, one can learn form others mistakes or can go and piss on the electric pole oneself. Don't piss on an electric pole, learn from others, read a biography on whom you think relates to you.
Epilogue:
As my glass of whiskey comes to a shameless end and my bladder screams for a break form this writing, I realize that there are so many more categories that I have missed (fiction, newspapers, magazines, shows, web-news so on...). Much like the Oscars I do miss mentioning so many more; but unlike the Oscars I have others to contribute to this list and endless opportunity to come to this podium of blogging and expressing what I have, thus far, missed.
So help me out, let me know what you think is worth reading, worth learning, worth not-spending-the-time-with-your-family over. I am calling upon all you closet-readers - let it show!
Waiting,
V
