Monday, December 21, 2009

Atlas Shrugged (1957)


Ayn Rand
“Who is John Galt?”
This is one of the most significant fiction books I read; it is the story of John Galt about a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did... Through this book Ayn Rand puts forward her philosophy of Objectivism. It talks about protecting capitalism, and how to move above greed and evil effect. Book is full of quotations. When John Galt come back to society there is speech on radio (almost 100 pages)..Amazing!

“I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine”.

“Pride is the recognition of the fact that you are your own highest value and, like all of man’s values, it has to be earned”.

“Rationality is the recognition of the fact that nothing can alter the truth and nothing can take precedence over that act of perceiving it”.

“That which you call your soul or spirit is your consciousness, and that which you call 'free will' is your mind's freedom to think or not, the only will you have, your only freedom, the choice that controls all the choices you make and determines your life and your character”.

“The recognition of individual rights entails the banishment of physical force from human relationships: basically, rights can be violated only by means of force. In a capitalist society, no man or group may initiate the use of physical force against others. The only function of the government, in such a society, is the task of protecting man’s rights, i.e., the task of protecting him from physical force; the government acts as the agent of man’s right of self-defense, and may use force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use; thus the government is the means of placing the retaliatory use of force under objective control”.
—Ayn Rand,

The Fountainhead (1943)


Ayn Rand
This is Ayn Rand’s first major literary success. Like her other books this book also has a philosophical backdrop like individualistic idealism vs pragmatic approach “Chalta hai” of life. Protagonist Howard Roark is dropout architect prefers perfectionism, originality in his work, how he develops his career in the world of hypocrite society represented by various characters like his class mate Peter Keating, Ellsworth Toohey popular art critic and manipulate mass opinion, Dominique heroine of The Fountainhead doesn’t cares what anyone thinks or does. She lives her life for herself and no one else…
Book is very inspirational, and last long with you…

“That love is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. Not a bandage for dirty sores. But they don’t know it. Those who speak of love most promiscuously are the ones who’ve never felt it. They make some sort of feeble stew out of sympathy, compassion, contempt and general indifference, and they call it love. Once you’ve felt what it means to love as you and I know it–the total passion for the total height–you’re incapable of anything less.” (From book)

“I often think that he’s the only one of us who’s achieved immortality. I don’t mean in the sense of fame and I don’t mean that he won’t die some day. But he’s living it. I think he is what the conception really means. You know how people long to be eternal. But they die with every day that passes. When you meet them, they’re not what you met last. In any given hour, they kill some part of themselves. They change, they deny, they contradict–and they call it growth. At the end there’s nothing left, nothing unrevered or unbetrayed; as if there had never been any entity, only a succession of adjectives fading in and out on an unformed mass. How do they expect a permanence which they have never held for a single moment? But Howard–one can imagine him existing forever.” (From book)

"Here are my rules: what can be done with one substance must never be done with another. No two materials are alike. No two sites on earth are alike. No two buildings have the same purpose. The purpose, the site, the material determine the shape. Nothing can be reasonable or beautiful unless its made by one central idea, and the idea sets every detail. A building is alive, like a man."

"If you want my advice, Peter," he said at last, "you've made a mistake already. By asking me. By asking anyone. Never ask people. Not about your work. Don't you know what you want? How can you stand it, not to know?"

"He had forgotten his first building, and the fear and doubt of its birth. He had learned that it was so simple. His clients would accept anything, so long as he gave them an imposing façade, a majestic entrance and a regal drawing room, with which to astound their guests. It worked out to everyone's satisfaction: Keating did not care so long as his clients were impressed, the clients did not care so long as their guests were impressed, and the guests did not care anyway."

Ellsworth Toohey: There's the building that should have been yours. There are buildings going up all over the city which are great chances refused and given to incompetent fools. You're walking the streets while they're doing the work that you love but cannot obtain. This city is closed to you. It is I who have done it! Don't you want to know my motive?
Howard Roark: No!
Ellsworth Toohey: I'm fighting you and shall fight you in every way I can.
Howard Roark: You're free to do what you please!
Ellsworth Toohey: Mr. Roark, we’re alone here. Why don't you tell me what you think of me in any words you wish.
Howard Roark: But I don't think of you! (IMDB)

The Little Prince (1943)


Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Book is full of humor, story, visuals, and creative ideas across the journey of prince. The Little Prince is the observations about life and human nature. Can one imagine cooking on the volcanoes?

Mr. God this is Anna (1974)


Fynn
Basically book talks about spiritual aspect of life (More like question arise to 5 year Anna and tries to find innocent answer which adults find difficult to come up with) focuses a lot on the importance of religion and God in Anna's life, this book is really about faith very innocent. Nice to read

My days (1974)


R.K.Narayan
In this autobiography R. K. Narayan shares his life story very humorous way. His childhood in the grandmother's garden with picture perfect pet peacock and monkey… not interested in school, he trains grasshoppers…dreaming takes him to writing fiction, British diplomats, eccentric journalists, simple life humor and fall in love. R. K. Narayan's larger-than-life perception of the human comedy, and always true to it….

Third wave (1980)


Alvin Toffler
It is an amazing metaphor for visualizing social change. It is like wave of sea, like within IT revolution in India from almost more than decade (prominently) still we can see some people of old generation just missed it like they don’t know what is internet… google… bit difficult to believe but it is exist!

Some part of book as it is:
First Wave was the establishment of agriculture, and the social, economic and technological forms which derived from that.

The Second Wave was the industrial
revolution, and was characterized by such features as dependence on primary energy sources, the division between producer and consumer, the appearance of mass markets for standardized goods, large-scale concentrated technology and industrial resources, the ever-increasing division of labor, and mass hierarchical institutions such as the large incorporated company, the factory, the postal system, trade unions, political parties and “democracy”, the unified national state and the mass media. In a Second Wave society, a typical individual would be born into a “traditional” nuclear family, spend twelve or fourteen years in a compulsory school, then perhaps three or four in university or training college, then go to work as the employee of a large company or the state doing a specialized and standardized job, have one marriage partner and two or three children, and enjoy job security until retirement. People bought standardized consumer products, read mass-circulation newspapers, drove standardized cars, watched nationally-broadcast television and voted for one of two or three large political parties.

The Third Wave first appeared in about 1955, and has been characterized by the appearance of decentralized
technologies, such as electronics and micro-computing, and the fragmentation of both mass institutions and Second Wave patterns of life. The division of labor becomes somewhat less rigid, goods are produced in short runs for specialized markets, new technology and industries operate on a smaller scale, and mass organizations disintegrate and become less hierarchical. Rising divorce and illegitimacy rates challenge the traditional family, traditional industries decline and are replaced by small-scale high-technology concerns, companies decentralize their structures and contract out
many of their functions to specialist outsiders, and through micro-computers, modems and fax machines, the home becomes the “electronic cottage” in which many functions previously confined to the office or factory can be carried out. Individuals have access to video, cable and satellite television and hundreds of publications, and in politics countless small pressure groups become more important than mass parties. Life becomes more individualized, more fragmented and less secure and predictable: the Third Wave brings new problems and challenges as well as opportunities.

Future Shock (1970)


Alvin Toffler
Future shock written in 1970, gives insights into the working of organizations in the future (which is today) and to the surprise it is very correct. When today I am working in organization I can understand now what author wanted to tell almost three decade before
It is regarded as masterpiece on futurology…

Book talks about organizational behavior change, from typical governmental bureaucracy to flat structure (Adhocracy), where working people will take decision regarding projects.
It will make organization unstable but very fast in the decision making. Organizational growth will be more depends on mergers and acquisitions which we can see now as a mantra for growth.
One get amazed with Toffler’s vision… need to read his latest book of the series Revolutionary Wealth (2006) after Third wave (1980)
“The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn”.
“The next major explosion is going to be when genetics and computers come together. I'm talking about an organic computer - about biological substances that can function like a semiconductor.”

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

One (1988)


Very imaginative book, takes reader on the roller costar ride. Do parallel world really exist? What if.... we can cross time beyond space, and meet our self in future or past…
There is Olympic game going in between the countries instead war to prove supremacy…Very metaphoric work…

The Bridge across Forever (1984)


Richard Bach
Book is more like autobiographical work but in the form of proper story and plot...Primarily focused on relationship and Bach's concept of soul-mates… This book is more like exposing our own thoughts with oneself (Talk a loud)…introspective in nature… when we don’t know our-self…clarifying rearranging and trying to understand one-self…

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah (1977)


Richard Bach
Illusion is quite confusing at first read, need some background of author. It is mystical adventure story about two pilots who meet in a field in America… sort of, what if, can some one… teach me, tell me…

Jonathan Livingston Seagul (1970)


Richard Bach
It is an amazing story of seagull Jonathan, his quest for life and journey. I feel this book quite dear; it works subconsciously like Victor Frankl philosophy of “Man in search of meaning”. Jonathan develops interest in flying high unlike his breed, develops perfection and teaches other to fly high. He keeps on learning new techniques and inspires the all new lot… quite metaphoric and engaging…nice photographs…

Sunday, December 13, 2009

When Corporation rule the world (1995)


David C. Kprten
When Corporations Rule the World provides a hope for global reforms by which we may reclaim our power to localize economies while globalizing…

This is one of the few books just doesn’t talk about the problem of current economic crises but also tries to find out the solution. One must read this book to understand globalization, it make more sense after you read “Lexus and Olive tree”.
We have to be more “compassionate” toward life as whole, to sustain in this ever growing economy. I never thought the usage of this term in economics but it is compelling thought and very correct for new wave of social enterprising…
Book has lot of insight stories about corporate governance, strategies (shifting copper mine from Japan to Indonesia), powerful people how they manipulate stock market, noncompetitive strategy in automobile industry to fix the cost.

Contents:
Cowboy in the spaceship, Contest for the sovereignty, Corporate Colonialism, A rogue financial system, No place for people, Reclaiming the power

The Diary of a Young Girl (1947)


Anne Frank
There are so many movies, books, account, and records on the ill effect of WW II , Nazism, but for me this is the best book to undertand; intensity of it on normal people who suffered heavy losses. Anne Frank, 15 year child wrote day-to-day experiences in her diary. Experiences are so innocent and away from political/intellectual (so called) observation, they really stand out…

Autobiography of a Yogi (1946)


Paramahansa Yogananda
For long time I was looking some good book to understand the mind of yogi or the way spiritualism means to them. What makes them to leave home? And what make them so happy without so called “worldly” things? I came across this book, and found good, so many times unable to understand the spiritual phenomena like miracles (literally I thought they are magic from fairy tale way). It is nice to know altogether different society Himalayan yogi (I saw photographs in Kumbh mela). For me this is an experience to learn different way of life style like fashion industry…

The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927)


(Selected works of Mahatma Gandhi by Navjeevan Ahmadabad volume I to VI)
Autobiographies are always nice to read or to know about person, but I have my own reservation and interpretations about persons. Before actually reading the autobiography of MKG I read his literature like letters, speeches and slowly started reading his experiments. Found quite thought provoking, and interesting. Still I am not sure how much really I understood some worldly meaning of Truth, Simplicity, non-violence…

Volume I: An Autobiography
Volume II: An Autobiography
Volume III: Satyagraha in South Africa
Volume IV: The basic work
Volume V: Selected letters
Volume VI: The voice of truth

Wings of fire (1999)


A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Very inspirational and touching story; how poor child from remote village place can climb to the ladder of height post; The President of India through dedication, hard work and determination…
Instead of much writing about book I am adding poem by APJ which talks everything…

My Mother
Sea waves, golden sand, pilgrims’ faith, Rameswaram Mosque Street, all merge into one, My Mother!
You come to me like heaven’s caring arms. I remember the war days when life was challenge and toil—Miles to walk, hours before sunrise,
Walking to take lessons from the saintly teacher near the temple.
Again miles to the Arab teaching school,
Climb sandy hills to Railway Station Road,
Collect, distribute newspapers to temple city citizens,
Few hours after sunrise, going to school.
Evening, business time before study at night.
All this pain of a young boy,
My Mother you transformed into pious strength
With kneeling and bowing five times
For the Grace of the Almighty only, My Mother.
Your strong piety is your children’s strength,
You always shared your best with whoever needed the most,
You always gave, and gave with faith in Him.
I still remember the day when I was ten,
Sleeping on your lap to the envy of my elder brothers and sisters
It was full moon night, my world only you knew
Mother! My Mother!
When at midnight I woke with tears falling on my knee
You knew the pain of your child, My Mother.
Your caring hands, tenderly removing the pain
Your love, your care, your faith gave me strength
To face the world without fear and with His strength.
We will meet again on the great Judgement Day, My Mother!
- APJ Abdul Kalam

Talking Straight (1989)


Lee A. Iacocca, Lee Iacocca,
Talking Straight offers some more experiences by Iacocca like his involvement with Lady Liberty celebration (I personally feel that all great thinkers or performers have some thing like big event in their life to celebrate and they cherish through out life). The he talks about scandals, raising kids and growing older to what's wrong with trade, Wall Street, and the American psyche. . .He also offers eight commandments of management.

Every Street Is Paved With Gold (1994)


Kim Woo-Choong
In order to understand other Asian people I short listed some books and this was one of them.
This book is filled with business person’s experiences in real life scenarios. Some of the stories are quite motivational where we can relate with us. Kim Woo-Choong writes about the importance of dreams, visions, of entrepreneurs.

Made in Japan (1986)


Akio Morita
Made in Japan is an autobiography of Akio Morita and Sony, the co-founder and former chairman of Sony Corporation. The book narrates the story of Morita, his initial struggle, Sony Corporation and its famous products (walkman), hits and miss in the evolution of Sony to Japan's defeat in World War II, and its rise to fame and fortune…

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Crime and Punishment (1866)


When I read about Dostroyevsky, I could not believe, he finished writing this book in hurry since he was in need of money; I thought it is well researched book. I look at this book as applied psychology manifesto, some time psychological thriller. Book is written in two parts like sinocidal curve: it begins, reaches at peak and then calms down.

Protagonist Raskolnikov is student with radically different thinking looses his distinction between right and wrong. He feels that some people are more important than other, and in case of need they can take there life also, something similar like soldiers sacrificing life for protection of king, but in normal life scenario and he commits crime and doesn’t feel any guilt for his deeds… but as we progresses through book it shows how he develops guilt and get his redemption.

Book is bit difficult to understand because of its complex structure and translation. Most of the book talks about inner conflicts rather than plot. I feel that it is roller costar ride of reader through the mind ok Raskolnikov and his ideology. Must read book for people interested in applied study of psychology not recommended for thriller/crime loving…

The Lexus and the Olive tree (1999)


To understand globalization and its impact on the society this is very good book to start with by Thomas Friedman columnist for The New York Times.

Lexus is the car manufacturing company, suppose to be very high tech uses all the robotics, where as Olive tree is cultural symbol of traditional trees grown in china house hold. Book talks about the global impact of free economy, with lucid examples easy to understand. Being columnist for NYT author got ample opportunities to visit various countries for more than decade at various instances so he added all the knowledge, experiences and personal flavor, quotes in this book which compels reader to read.

Book is full of examples how democratic, capitalist, communist, sociologist petrol pump works toward customer. Jokes on the corruption in the various countries… Historic evidences, analysis and comparisons of various companies and policy…how some adapted globalization and how some failed

There are two ways to make person feel homeless, one is to destroy his home and other is to make his home look and feel like everybody’s home

Free to choose (1980)


Book talks about the crux of capitalism, freedom and importance of government. For this book and work in economic study Milton and Rose Friedman (Husband wife) awarded with Nobel Prize, and TV serial is made in the form of documentary of the same name.

Every day each of us uses innumerable goods and service, to eat, to wear, to shelter, simplify life, to enjoy. We take for granted that they will be available when we want to buy them. We never stop to think how many people have played a part in one way or another in providing this goods and services, how it is that most of us are able to earn the money to buy the goods.

No industrialist wake up in morning and say I need to pollute environment, rather he says I need to produce bread of the cost that normal person can afford, so to bake the bread he can not use the costly methods (solar/nuclear/clean fuel) rather he stick with cost effective means…

Chapters: The power of the market, The anatomy of crisis, who protects the customer and worker, the cure of inflation, what is wrong with our school

Commodities and Capabilities (1999)


This short monographs presents a set of interrelated theses builds the foundation of welfare economics for which latter in 1998 Amartya Sen got Nobel Prize for welfare economics

This book opens you altogether new vision to look at society. It is socio economic study where we understand; interest, well-being, advantage, commodities and their usage, utility, desire, happiness.

From book: I would distinguish broadly two ways of seeing a person’s interest and there fulfillment, and I shall call them respectively ‘well-being’ and advantage’. Well-being is concerned with a person’s achievement: how ‘well’ is his/her ‘being’? ‘Advantage’ refers to the real opportunities that the person has, especially compared with others.

How happiness (being well half) is relative term and can be explained with mathematical function, amazing!

Small is Beautiful (1973)


Small is beautiful is essentially a collection of essays and speeches given by economist E. F. Schumacher fist published in 1973 and to the my surprise it is totally correct even today. This a revolutionary approach to see the world in the different way.

Current economical growth of human being is based on profit and progress “bigger the better” creating the conflict with natural resources, like environmental pollution, inhuman working conditions. Shumacher explains his revolutionary concept of small is beautiful in very convincing manner by identifying the modern world problems, and explains through Buddhist economy. About resources he says that, how education, proper use of land, and technology is crucial in today’s scenario. How smaller working units, communal ownership and regional workplaces utilizing local labor and resources (similar to Adam Smith) can bring the change…

A Buddhist economist would consider this approach excessively irrational: since consumption is merely a means to human well-being, the aim should be to obtain the maximum of well-being with the minimum of consumption.... The less toil there is, the more time and strength is left for artistic creativity. Modern economics, on the other hand, considers consumption to be the sole end and purpose of all economic activity

The Price of Onion (2000)


Ashok Desai
To understand everyday economics (Socio-economic) for layman this is a sincere effort by Ashok Desai, advisor of Manmohan Sing’s congress government in the time of reform during 1991-92.

Book is in the form of case studies supported by Indian historic statistical data of regular use commodities like onion, ghee, oil, cereals and how price fluctuation takes place. Onion is the metaphor represents how unorganized sector like India fluctuate in it’s prize and to deal this sort of fluctuation how government reacts (some time wrong way) and what should be long term solution. It also talks about commodity prize governing mechanisms in the developed countries like USA and Europe.

This book also helps reader to understand prize mechanism of macro (international) level to micro level like mandi, and it makes us understand the complication involved. I am sure after reading this book reader feels happy on the regular irritating “NEWS of prize increase” on media, because he/she understand it well reason behind it…

The book concludes with an outline how policy making can make a difference in the economy of unorganized commodity sector like India.