The Book Reviewz

Seasonal Joy...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:18:00 PST

Its that time of the year again - On one hand you revisit your goals/resolutions and measure yourself against the set thresholds and either congratulate yourself or push yourself for running that last 1 mile; On the other hand you make elaborate plans for celebrating this festive season in the most memorable manner! Well, we did a small exercise last evening and to our amazement it turned out to be quite motivating and encouraging.

We compiled all the feedbacks and comments we have ever received on this blog, printed them out and read each one of them to ourselves aloud- believe me the comments were quite fascinating, diverse, insightful and often very funny- but the point is they left us feeling very good inside which is why say "Thank You Readers!".

On Christmas eve, whether you watch the snow come down or the sky light up or simply indulge in celebration with loved ones to capture the holiday spirit, lets just say that the joy of the seasons has just begun! We wish you all Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays ahead ! Here are some links in case you wish to do some light reading during the holidays-afterall this blog is about reading resources !;) Free eBooks, Short Stories, Popular Manifestos, Cool Comics, Interesting Articles

Be Merry, Be Jolly, Be Savvy & Have Fun !

Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style

noreply@blogger.com (Nidhi) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:39:00 PST

Picture this-21st January, 2006-0500 hrs PST-Tring-Kring! Tring-Kring! "Hey Nids, Gd Morning buddy- I wonder Why is everything so BIG in this country?, Why do people utter sweet one liners like "Hey-How you doin'?", How come streets are so clean? Why do people grab a Coffee on their way to work?" ...and before he could bombard me with dozen other questions-I muttered (quite strongly though;)) "Can we talk later pls CG? Its way too early here in West Coast !" And perhaps I heard the anticipated "Oh, I am so sorry Nids."-. Yeah, I am referring to one of the contributors on this blog and the incident refers to the 1st phone call he made to me upon arriving here in the land of way too many opportunities. By the way this blogger (any guesses?;)) is by far one of the most inquisitive persons I have ever come across on this planet(or even in Milky Way). You really have to be super patient to hear his never ending questions and bunch of crazy ideas/solutions he comes up with to deal with everyday problems. But watching him actually execute few of those fanatical ideas despite facing stiff resistance or unsweet criticisms most of the time (this blog is an example) can be seriously inspiring and entertaining at the same time !

Anyways here goes the review of "Green Chic:Saving the Earth in Style"-a brilliant book I read on my way back from NYC this Saturday. The book as the title suggest is all about adopting a smarter and greener lifestyle. If you observe closely you'll realize that nowadays almost every corporation(including the consulting firm I work for) loves parading the "Going Green" Mantra around in Press Releases, in Shareholder Meetings and in every possible public appearance of the firm. After all they wish to communicate that they are concerned about the environment, the mother nature, the ecological balance, the rising CO emissions, the alarming Ozone depletion and what not! Well, all that sounds good and sometimes such initiatives actually work too but we all know the ground reality. I mean c'mmon leave the organizations aside-given a chance I (or for that matter most of us) would love to drive a Ferrari (~ 20MPG avg), go on a cruise trip to Bahamas or fly a private airplane. So here I am almost on the verge of hurting land, sea and air habitat.

Well, this bestseller by Christie Matheson is centered around the belief that "No one can do everything but everyone can do something". Her writing style resembles that of a blog and she has loads of creative recommendations for pursuing Greener lifestyle at home, at parties, at workplace and almost everywhere. The author understands that in modern times-its very vital to live a stylish life but she adds by saying that habituating a few educated choices in our everyday activities can certainly make our world a little greener and sweeter place. One of the coolest things about the book (Thank-you Google!) is the fact that it's printed using Vegetable based inks on a certified recycled paper which conveys the book's message even more strongly-she sure practices what she teaches. Some of the tips I loved are:

Create a cute recycling setup
Skip soda and consume organic foods
Watch your workout gear
Be a material girl
Get Green Bling (They do prove to be instant head turners for men:))
Let there be [LED] Light
Be picky about paper products

I would certainly recommend this humorous and entertaining book to eco-committed stylish readers (savvy chcis in particular). Wish you luck (you'll need plenty :)) on your march towards Going Green and being super stylish ! It's been months since I wrote something and seeing my thoughts in black and white here somehow leaves me feeling so good inside-Thanks CG!

Hit the Library...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:36:00 PST

There's this amazing thing I realized about the books we read - somehow we seem to extract much more out of them than what the writer/author put into in the first place! There can be 'n' number of interpretations & inferences of a para in print! While there are books we just enjoy reading, there are those which are thought provoking and might transport us to a different dimension altogether and then there are those which might even change you life! So, in case you are still wondering how to make 2008 an exceptionally memorable year, try grabbing one of these books and we are positive that you'll have a blast. Cheers ! :D

October Bestsellers...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 PDT

With festive season round the corner, all of a sudden life around seems to be brimming with opportunities - point is can we grab them before they vanish into thin air. Hang On for before we get super enthusiastic-we do realize that nothing happens until you move or put in genuine efforts - be it cracking a standardized test, cooking a special delicacy or trying to persuade someone (the toughest of all)-e.g. an amazing writer (in our case) to write a book review for this blog. While we put our persuasive skills to a test - here's a list of October Bestsellers you might wish to have a look at (Thanks for emailing it over Betta) !

We wish our readers a very Happy Diwali & splendid Halloween ahead !

Cheers,
Chinmay & Tanya

Games People Play...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:21:00 PDT

"Games People Play" is just the kind of book I wanted to read since ages - it seems to answer a dozen of questions I've always wanted answer for !If you have encountered situations where your best friend behaves in an Incomprehensible (mystical) Manner, appreciation comes unexpected corners, your children/loved ones challenge your beliefs, people around you tag you as "one-of-a-kind", you wonder Why strange things are happening?- all I would say is "Welcome to the Real World", read this amazing book and enjoy your stay in this world composed of interesting people :)

The groundbreaking book by Eric Berne is a brilliant composition of psychological theatricals that human beings play during the course of their ever changing lives. The author (a famous psychiatrist) observes behavior patterns between human beings quite closely and terms them as "Games" that are powered by intense human emotions, feelings and motives. The book is detailed with classifying and discussing a variety of games people play on a continual basis in their lives. He classifies such games into seven categories - Life, Marital, Party, Sexual, Underworld, Consulting Room, and Good and describes their structures, the roles of those involved, respective anticipated payoffs and smart ways to recognize and move beyond any game. I seriously marvel at author's observation of vivid human behaviours and interactions and they sure strike a chord somewhere. For example, the author presents people as beings driven by stimulus hunger (e.g. the need for strokes or quick appreciations) which is understood in case of infants who always need stroking and moral boost but the same is shaped into need for special recognition by family and society as one gets older. The author further iterates that adults have a hunger not only for stimulus and recognition but also for structure of their waking hours which is why most of us want our work@office to be challenging and structured.

In the latter half of the book, the author focusses on the three ego states - Parent (exteropsychic), Adult (psychic) & Child (archaeopsychic). He declares that the key to structural analysis and an understanding of game play is the concept of deciphering the ego state person you are interacting with is present in. Contrary to the general perception that one matures with age (Infant to Adult)- author says that all of us toggle between the said ego states every now and then depending upon coherent set of feelings and behavior patterns of people participating in a game - all interrelated.

Numerous examples illustrated by author like usual battles between couples, parents-children, boss-subordinate and boy-girl make the book quite an interesting read. Though in extremely difficult and emotional inreations I prefer (staying quiet and) NOT being judgemental (Thanks for the Tip Dad !) and it sure helps !! My take away from the book is the advice author gives towards the end of the book - "As with any game, it comes to an abrupt end when one player decides (mostlyunconsciously) to stop playing !" Sounds simple - isn't it...well try it out for yourself and let us know :)

Happy Reading...!

Koyal Dark Mango Sweet...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:05:00 PDT

Before suspending my Lib Membership for few weeks, I decided to vist YA Section yet again and was so happy upon spotting yet another bestseller by "Kasmira Sheth". The book "Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet" is a first-person narrative of a smart Gujarati girl living in the most eventful Indian City - Mumbai. The book describes Mumbai life in quite a vivid manner and it sure is a ready reckoner illustrating Indian Culture and tradition. The story revolves around Jeeta - a 16 year old exceptionally smart girl who lives in a small apartment in Mumbai with her family. I particularly liked her conversations with her mother(almost each one of them made me smile) spc. when she keeps challenging her mother with old beliefs and customs. The story outlines many events which are such a common place occurence in any Indian Family. Kashmira really describes things / occasions in such a simple language - as a reader you certainyl feel immersed in the story. Both her books have left quite an impression in my mind for sure. The book describes the anxieties and tough times that parents go throuh while trying to find a match for their daughters. The concept of "Arranged Marriages" has been in practice since centuries in India and the story does touch upon key areas that one (unmarried guy/gal) must consider before marriage. I am sure that this story would get an instant admiration from young adults since in a way the story talks about Generation Gap, Women Empowerment, Career Focus and Choices for the Young - thru the protagonist Jeeta.

I wish to write so many inferences I derived from this amazing book but since I am seriously short of time right now - all I would say is that if you get a chance pls do grab a copy of this fascinating tale of friendship, relationship, bonds and true love ! Here's an Interview from the author herself. N'joy & have a nice evening ahead.

The Blue Jasmine....!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:46:00 PDT

I visited the local Public Library yesterday and asked for some Indian Author's bestseller. Without a doubt Bertha (the amazingly energetic librarian who loves talking about her Grand-Children) directed me over to YA Section. As I was walking past book shelves, I spotted a catchy title "Blue Jasmine". Sounds interesting - I said to myself ! A quick glance on the back cover intrigued me instantly. The author Kashmira Sheth earned a Paul Zindel First Novel for this book and I couldn't resist myself from reading the book right away. Well, 'Blue Jasmine' is basically a narrative on cultural differences & the experiences of Seema Trivedi - a young girl who moves to America as an immigrant at young age.Heading for the land of opportunities (as her Dad termed) was not so easy for the 12 year old Seema since that meant separation from all her friends and her beloved Grand Parents. While her father enjoyed his job and a batter pay, transition for this girl from India to Iowa was quite an experience - as the author illustrates in this beautiful book. The way author has carved out small cultural differences is simply brilliant ! For ex. Seema's teacher at school doesn't understand why she refers $1,000,000 as 10 Lakh than a Million or why is 'Swastika' - the symbol of Good Luck hated in US. Because of heavy accent and shyness, her classmates make fun of her, she faces many troubles making friends and realizes what differentiates a good friend from not so good ones. The inquisitive Seema keeps asking her mother for explanations for tons of questions she has about Why things are eccentric in US.

The story takes many emotional turns and besides Seema is centred around two more characters : her cousin-Raju and her (poor) Indian Classmate-Mukta. Both Seema and Raju are very attached but physical separation makes them each other so much specially on occasions like Rakhi and Kite Festival. Likewise Seema is quite attached to Mukta who always reverred Seema back in school; Mukta handed her a handkerchief with a 'Blue Jasmine' (and thus the Title) carved on it when Seems was leaving India. This Blue Jasmine keeps reminding Seema of Mukta and their correspondence through letters is quite interesting ! However, due to a personal emergency Seema has to rush to India and we now see a matured smarter Seema. We certainly recommend this book - the characters in this book are so lifelike and we bet all immigrants can find a near instant connection !

While you hunt for a copy of this book - here's the first chapter from the book itself:) Enjoy !

The Little Engine that could...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:49:00 PDT

(Photo Credit - Wikipedia)

While revisiting the blogger settings today, I realized that it has bee ages since we posted any Book Review here. And before I come up with a dozen explanations trying to reinforce the false notion that I or my partner were very busy saving the world , launching rockets or gearing up for the next Olympics - I quickly grabbed a Comic Book from a peer's desk. And to my utter surprise - it was quite a nice read.

"The Little Engine that could...!" is basically a tale of a little engine that owing to its sheer optimism is able to achieve the seemingly tough task. Here's what happens in the story - there's this heavy train full of toys and food and together they try to climb a hill. Unfortunately the engine breaks down and that's when all the toys seek help from the trains of varying sizes and strength that pass by. However, they all refuse to provide help for various reasons ranging from we can't do it to Why should we do it ! Discouraged, the toys spot a little blue engine with so-so strength and ask for assistance. This brave little engine agrees to help when the toys tell him that its very vital for them to reach Hill Top and he is their last hope ! I love this part 'coz I remember back as kids - most of us were bold enough to take up every challenging tasks and pulling it to to finish line / success with solid self belief and practical application of ideas. Surprisingly its only when we grow up - we say "Naaah, we can't !" or "That's too tough !" etc. Think about it as you spot the next challenge your life showers you with - we are sure you might give it your best shot !

Anyways, this incredible little engine puts himself in front of this heavy train and succeeds in pulling the train over the mountain while repeating its motto: "I-think-I-can....Chugg Chugg Chugg Chugg...I-think-I-can...Chugg Chugg Chugg Chugg...I-think-I-can !". The book truly is amazingly inspiring and Wikipedia rightly mentions this book as a metaphor for the American Dream. The story has evolved since the book was first released and there's a very nice animation film made on the plot too. That said - we are all charged up after Labor Day Weekend and as we grab a good bestseller from Library today - we wish you all Good Luck for your upcoming endeavors and yes....

We think you can....We know you can...!
~ Chinmay & Tanya
{We love feedback!}

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:34:00 PDT

Thinking For A Change

Well, this is another great contribution by our great pal "Amit"..

“Thinking For A Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work” is a book written by John C. Maxwell, who is an American author, speaker and "leadership expert." Maxwell has written more than 50 books (mostly on leadership), including The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow, among others. His books have sold more than thirteen million copies, with several on the New York Times Best Seller's List and translations in over fifty languages

After reading this book, it makes you realize the importance of why to think and how to think. We do think a lot of time, but this book will broaden your horizon and will make you to think for simple questions for which only you, yes only you can give the answers. These few simple questions, I am sure as I felt, will throw you out of your comfort zone.

With very good quotes and real life examples from different people in different areas along with author’s own life experience, this book is must read for anyone who is frustrated with his/her routine life and hoping that things will change on its own. This book unleashes the power of good thinking and following it until it becomes your habit. It makes one realize that to change one’s life lies in his/her own hand.
Following skills, that one needs to acquire, with great examples and quotes are put down in the book:
Skill 1: Acquire the Wisdom of Big Picture Thinking
Skill 2: Unleash the Potential of Focused Thinking
Skill 3: Discover the Joy of Creative Thinking
Skill 4: Recognize the Importance of Realistic Thinking
Skill 5: Release the Power of Strategic Thinking
Skill 6: Feel the Energy of Possibility Thinking
Skill 7: Embrace the Lessons of Reflective Thinking
Skill 8: Question the importance of Popular Thinking
Skill 9: Encourage the Importance of Shared Thinking
Skill 10: Experience the Satisfaction of Unselfish Thinking
Skill 11: Enjoy the Return of Bottom Line Thinking

“Good Thinkers are never at a loss to solve problems, they never lack ideas that can build an organization and they always hope for a better future. A person who knows how may always have a job but a person who knows why will always be his boss ”- From Thinking For A Change

There’s so much to talk about this book and the thinking skills, but one would appreciate the importance of it only after reading and understanding them. Enjoy reading this book and I hope this would make a lasting impact on you as it did on me!!

Why We Buy - The Science Of Shopping...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:21:00 PST

I can never forget the beginning of the year 2008 - company of amazing friends, pulsating tracks from YellowCard amidst scintillating fireworks, sumptuous food & my euphoric spirit - thoughts about Jan 31st, 2007 night lights up my otherwise serious face ;) Anyways, let me come back to the real world where every moment can be a pleasant surprise - only if we are attentive enough...! I picked up this amazing book by Paco Underhill at the airport. Honestly speaking - the book cover interested me a lot which is why I grabbed this bestseller. Reading this book was quite a learning experience for me for reasons more than one...it talks about the esoteric "Science of Shopping". Paco Underhill explains the shopping phenomenon that often go unnoticed by retainers & shoppers alike and tries to find what makes the contemporary consumer tick..! Some of the questions this book tries to answer are:

How working women have absorbed the way supermarkets are designed?
How a well-placed basket can turn a small purchase into a significant sale?
What kinds off signage & packaging turn browsers into buyers?
What is "Common Sense" design of a store?
What makes shopping a great experience?

Why we Buy - is a remarkably fresh guide offering creative & insightful tips on how to adapt to the changing customer in this ever complex world which is full of brands enough to confuse a customer than appealing him. To me the book turned out to be a fascinating voyage illustrating the psychology of modern retailing & shopping. This thought provoking book is divided in following 4 sections and walks one through true psyche of a consumer.

(i) The Science Of Shopping

(ii) The Mechanics Of Shopping

(iii) The Demographics Of Shopping

(iv) The Dynamics Of Shopping

I loved the way Paco analyzes common incidents which all of us observe on a daily basis. Here's one of those:

"While studying a cosmetic section of a store in Manhattan, we watched a woman approach a wall rack, study it carefully & then try to reach a mascara placed a little high on the rack. Good that she managed to grab it - only to feel disappointed a little later that the mirror was placed out in rack's front. And disappointed, she leaves the rack. In this case, Underhill ascertains - that the logic should have dictated that the displays should always be tailored to the shoppers who use them , not to the designers to made them. Also, Women - while reinventing themselves before a mirror prefer a little privacy - only if Store designers were a lil' careful - the woman in discussion would have definately bought the item."

Another beautiful example he mentions, is about the Commuters on the run in say Chicago / NYC. Communters, he says normally glance at the newstands (for less than a second) to see how crowded it is and if it looks as though they can breeze in, they'll stop. Which explains why proper proactive planning / design can increase conversion rate by a decent amount.

Likewise, the book talks about many everyday experiences-at SuperMarkets, Bars, Restaurants, Banks, Online Stores etc. You are sure to get impressed with every chapter and thus we recommend this book to all our readers. For us was an eye opener in many ways...!

Finally, the Underhill's advice of Sign Boards (I loved it):

Design to Instant Audience Attention
Present Message in a crystal clear logical fashion
Deliver information in a way people absorb

And did we forget to wish all our readers "Happy Valentine's Day" - may you spend nice time with treasured friends today and may your days ahead be full of positive adventures....!

Fun is Good...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 17:39:00 PST

Hope you all had a great Christmas this year...!

Most of you would agree with the statement "Fun is Good". After spending a nice time with some friends in DE this weekend, I decided to do some light reading and thats when I picked up this nice book by Mike Veeck. What intrigued me was the author's claim that the book is meant for people who lead lives that are not as fulfilling as they could be. Basically the book turned out to be a Self Hep Book with usual suggestions about carrying a positive attitude, keeping things light & pursuing one's passions etc- but here are some questions (we should ask ourselves everyday - says the author) in the book that will keep me amazed for the rest of this week:

What did you gravitate towards in your school? Are you pursuing the same right now?
Nowadays, we look at what is present out there in the world for us & then try fitting ourselves in - Souldn't it be the other way around instead?
Do we have habits that shake ourselves from an otherwise Mediocre Existence everyday?
Do we have a better call of our emotions than plain Vanila facts?
Are we reading enough?
Do we venture out to do things that make our lives kore inviting?
Do we make our customers (friends, family members or real clients) feel like king (attention) ?
Are we ready to flow / adapt if life demands so?

Now, these questiosn appeared quite normal to me initially, but when I learnt that the author served as the Co-owner of 6 Minor League Baseball teams and made a successful career in multiple roles like Advertising Professional, Marketing Consultant & a noted keynote speaker - I told myself - "Let me put my thinking cap on for the remaining 5 days of this year" - afterall its never too late to try....right? ;-) By the way, here's a list of Best Novels from 1923 to the present that TIME picked - have a look.

Matter Of Honour..!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:50:00 PST

Of late we have been keeping ourselves busy working on our Blog's aesthetics. With Thanksgiving around the corner & our desire for embracing change, here's our new post with review of one of the bestsellers packed in a brand new template by one of our very good friends - Amit.

Matter Of Honor Book is yet another mystery, thriller beautiful penned down by Jeffery Archer. The story, which revolves around 1966, starts with Russians discovering that Nicholas Czar II Icon hanging in the White House Palace is not an original one but rather a duplicate copy crafted by a painter and situation gets intensified on knowing that the original icon contains a very important document that will allow Russians to have an upper hand on Americans. But for that to happen they must find out Czar's Icon before a critical deadline. Comes into picture Russian KGB's office Alexsandr Romanov, an inspiring, intelligent and unreliable KGB officer, who is assigned this task of finding the original Czar icon within a month.

At the same time in London, a will is read to late British armyofficer Gerald Scott's family. Adam Scott, who is an unemployed ex British officer and son of late Gerald Scott, receives an enclosed envelope as a part of his inheritance. A Nazi Officer, Hermann Goring, had given this envelope to Gerald Scott, who was held responsible forthe Nazi officer's death. The envelope had not been opened since 20 yrs and details the events for Goring's death and details of a SwissBank vault left in the name of Emmanuel Rosenbaum to Scott thatcontains Czar's Icon in it.

As story builds up, Romanov too finds out about the existence of this vault and sets out to seize the Icon. Adam gets lucky when he gets tothe Czar's icon just before Romanov is able to put his hands on it.Then begins a chase, which leads from Greece to France and then back to London.

There are some intriguing questions in the plot - isn't it...! What document does that Czar's icon contains in it? What is it that will help Russians to get an upper hand on Americans and make them the most powerful country in the world? How Romanov finds out about the Icon? How does a German Nazi Officer come into possession of the Icon? Lastly and the most important, what happens at the end? Are Russiansable to seize Czar's Icon or is it the American's?

Want to know the answer for the above questions? What are you waiting for? Go grab your own copy. Secrets are not being told here ;-) Enjoy Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:06:00 PST

Eyes of the Heart: Seeking a Path for the Poor in the Age of Globalization

"Wherever the poor are heard and respected," writes Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president, "the face of God is illuminated." In this book,he writes an epistle on behalf of the poor of his poverty-stricken country, the leader, who is also a priest, notes that one percent of people control 45 percent of Haiti's wealth. Eighty-five percent of the population cannot read and write. And over 500,000 children, mostly young girls, live in Haitian households as unpaid domestic workers — carrying water, cleaning house, doing errands, receiving no salary and no schooling. I read the above few lines in a book review and couldnt think of anything better to start with ... Dont you think its actually a global thing that he has focussed upon ? We read a lot many books on improving coomunication skills, self control and many other contemporary things , but how many of us actually pour our heart and mind to understand the reality around us ~ the facet of the people around us ; Do we actually feel the pain rather we look for the news of the geeks like recent discoveries, stock updates etc... Wake up friends, start living for the people for you are one of them !

I finished reading the book "Eyes of the Heart" recently. It is a short, passionate and an inspiring book that will actually shake your nerves. Aristide movingly describes the terrible poverty of Haiti, and cites historical statistics to argue that this poverty is created by outside forces that also create poverty elsewhere. The cure is that terror of the libertarian marketplace, the mobilization of the poor. True political democracy and true economic democracy must go hand in hand.
I felt like penning down these few Quotes from the book: (Worth reading!!)
"At home we are hungry. But if we sit home we will surely die. If we go to the street we may also die, but there at least is a glimmer of hope." "There will never be money enough, but there are people enough... A wealth of experience, knowledge, skill, energy and the power to mobilize resides with the poor. From this creativity, this panorama of human endurance of the poor in Haiti, and the poor in Mexico, and in Brazil, and Southeast Asia and Africa, and more and more of the poor in North America and Europe, we can learn."

"Do not confuse democracy with the holding of elections. Elections are the exam, testing the health of our system. Voter participation is the grade. But school is in session every day. Only the day-to-day participation of the people at all levels of government can breathe life into democracy and create the possibility for people to play a significant role in shaping the state and the society that they want." "Democracy asks us to put the needs and rights of people at the center of our endeavors. This means investing in people. Investing in people means first of all food, clean water, education and healthcare. These are basic human rights. It is the challenge of any real democracy to guarantee them."
"Remember that history moves in waves. We cannot expect to always live on the crests. We have to keep floating even when the waters ebb."

The poor in Haiti are part of the more than 1.3 billion people in the world who live on less than one dollar a day. We read about the unprecedented economic growth in the United States and other countries but forget that 3 billion people — half the population of the world — live on less than two dollars a day. To make things worse, globalization is having dire effects on the poor's peasant economy. Aristide discusses the eradication of the Haitian Creole pig population in the 1980s as one example. Hearty local pigs were killed with the promise that better pigs would replace them; however, the peasants found they could not afford to raise the new stock from Iowa, which needed pure drinking water and imported feed. To really help the poor, Aristide calls for the creation of more local collectives, the establishment of literacy programs, and the participation of all people in the process of democracy.

Eyes of the Heart is a wake-up call for those who haven't got a clue about the victims of the forward-charging global economy.I am sure there are many people who read a lot of books but don't have the clue about this hard fact of the world ! The gap between the rich and the poor has led to a moral crisis of staggering proportion and one that must be addressed promptly: "Behind this crisis of dollars there is a human crisis: among the poor, immeasurable human suffering; among the others, the powerful, the policy makers, a poverty of spirit which has made a religion of the market and its invisible hand. A crisis of imagination so profound that the only measure of value is profit, the only measure of human progress is economic growth." With the fierce moral vision of the leader, Aristide challenges us to see with the eyes of our hearts.

So, don't you think that its high time that we open the eyes of our hearts and do something worth being a responsible human being and contribute with the purity of that essence that flows from our hearts! Let me know your candid feedback my dear avid readers!!Ciao......

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:55:00 PDT

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century is a best-selling book by Thomas L. Friedman analyzing the progress of globalization with an emphasis on the early 21st century.

Being an Indian , I was so delighted to see the author mentioning the places of my homeland country in the esteemed book with so much praise for tech savvy places!

History of the world twenty years from now, and they come to the chapter "Y2K to March 2004," what will they say was the most crucial development? The attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the Iraq war? Or the convergence of technology and events that allowed India, China, and so many other countries to become part of the global supply chain for services and manufacturing, creating an explosion of wealth in the middle classes of the world's two biggest nations, giving them a huge new stake in the success of globalization? And with this "flattening" of the globe, which requires us to run faster in order to stay in place, has the world gotten too small and too fast for human beings and their political systems to adjust in a stable manner? I was so mesmerized by these few lines of the book that actually portray as if they have been pulled from everyone's inquisitive minds.

In this brilliant new book, the award-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman demystifies the brave new world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering global scene unfolding before their eyes. With his inimitable ability to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues, Friedman explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and societies can, and must, adapt. The World Is Flat is the timely and essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.

"Before 9/11, New York Times columnist Friedman was best known as the author of The Lexus and the Olive Tree, one of the major popular accounts of globalization and its discontents.For Friedman, cheap, ubiquitous telecommunications have finally obliterated all impediments to international competition, and the dawning 'flat world' is a jungle pitting 'lions' and 'gazelles,' where 'economic stability is not going to be a feature' and 'the weak will fall farther behind.' Rugged, adaptable entrepreneurs, by contrast, will be empowered. The service sector (telemarketing, accounting, computer programming, engineering and scientific research, etc.), has been outsourced to the English-spoken abroad; manufacturing, meanwhile, will continue to be off-shored to China. As anyone who reads his column knows, Friedman agrees with the transnational business executives who are his main sources that these developments are desirable and unstoppable, and that American workers should be preparing to 'create value through leadership' and 'sell personality.' This is all familiar stuff by now, but the last 100 pages on the economic and political roots of global Islamism are filled with the kind of close reporting and intimate yet accessible analysis that have been hard to come by.

The metaphor of a flat world, used by Friedman to describe the next phase of globalization, is ingenious. It came to him after hearing an Indian software executive explain how the world's economic playing field was being leveled. For a variety of reasons, what economists call ''barriers to entry'' are being destroyed; today an individual or company anywhere can collaborate or compete globally. Bill Gates explains the meaning of this transformation best. Thirty years ago, he tells Friedman, if you had to choose between being born a genius in Mumbai or Shanghai and an average person in Poughkeepsie, you would have chosen Poughkeepsie because your chances of living a prosperous and fulfilled life were much greater there. ''Now,'' Gates says, ''I would rather be a genius born in China than an average guy born in Poughkeepsie.''
What created the word "flat world"? We all say a lot many things about changing the world and believing that all our rights are equal, there's no discrimination at any front of life but how many of us actually are clear with the real meaning of the word "flat".I had been to my homeland recently and the most beautiful question was asked by one of my most respectable Uncle.He simply asked me that since am reading the book "The World is flat ", so now that I am coming to my homeland after a long gap , how do I think that the world is flat ? Isn't that a very important question.Believe me , I could answer by using the jargons of globalisation and all , but then my mind was questioning me that "Do I really have the complete answer to that vital question"? Read this book and it will be an eyeopener to many facets of globalisation.

Friedman emphasizes on the technological forces. Paradoxically, the dot-com bubble played a crucial role. Telecommunications companies like Global Crossing had hundreds of millions of dollars of cash -- given to them by gullible investors -- and they used it to pursue incredibly ambitious plans to ''wire the world,'' laying fiber-optic cable across the ocean floors, connecting Bangalore, Bangkok and Beijing to the advanced industrial countries. This excess supply of connectivity meant that the costs of phone calls, Internet connections and data transmission declined dramatically -- so dramatically that many of the companies that laid these cables went bankrupt. But the deed was done, the world was wired. Today it costs about as much to connect to Guangdong as it does New Jersey.And now goes the tagline of many esteemed organisations that they connect in such a way as to they connect life !!! Phew!! I must say that I am willing to leave this blog post a little incomplete for letting all of the avid readers to go ahead and catch the book that reads the history of globalization of 21st century.

As somewhere read," this book should end up on the front seats of quite a few Lexuses and SUVs of all stripes",it actually is book that may sound a little boring if you don't like to hear the word "history", but then read it once and you will simply owe something to the book! Its a worth read!

Attention Book Lovers...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:24:00 PDT

Today evening, as I was Googling about people who are passionate about reading books - I came across a term that intrigued my interest.

BookCrossing: n. the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise. Hmm, now that sounds interesting, for here @ Book Reviews too - we basically wish to share the reviews of the bestsellers, of the books that made a visible positive Value Add in our lives. That perhaps explains the reason why we buy books faster than we can read which is perhaps due to getting enticed to nice books which catch our eyes' attention every now 'n' then :) Of late you might not have observed new posts on our blog. No we aren't busy with our lives, rather we are working on getting you fresher, richer and diverse content (regular dose of reviews would continue) across in an innovative way. We like & value your friends very much like you do and we would love to reach them as well. For now sharing few sites we have fallen in love with, hope you like 'em:

Library Thing : Online Catalog Of Books that connects people who read common books !
What Should I Read Next : Wondering what to read - try this out !
Book Crossing: Share the Joy Of Literacy (Our Fav Site)
DailyLit - Receive daily dose of e-book via Email / RSS Feed.

From The Heart...!

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:03:00 PDT

Reading biographies has always remained my fav pastime. This time as my eyes were hunting for biography of some unique personality in New Haven Public Library - I found "From The Heart:Seven Rules To Live By" and rest as the say is history...! The book was the first publication of Robin Roberts - one of the most famous American television broadcaster till date. Upon enquiring a little more about her from my American friends - I learnt that she is one of the most loved & reverred anchor of ABC's "Good Morning America" Show. In her book, she actually speaks from her heart in a very lucid manner. The book is truly heartfelt & inspiring.

Noted for her trademark down-to-earth style & warmth, she mentions that she considers her faith, family values as being the cornerstones of her emotional & professional achievements. Upon reading the book, one realises that she didn't get where she's today by the luck of the draw. From her childhood in Missippi, to remarkable college basketball start, to ESPN Show host, to co-anchor of Good Morning America - she faced the music of life with a positive attitude & vibrant charisma. Many of the items she touched upon in her book is truly recognizable in what most of us experience today -- especially with the fear of the unknown or not knowing what we want to do with our lives. She allowed one as the reader to see that those feelings of uncertainty are normal and even the most successful people have fears and setbacks. She says Dreaming, Believing & Taking instant action has helped her realise her goals. She charges the reader when she shares her learnings from life. Here are her 7 life mantras:

Be it personal/professional challenge, always position yourself to take the first shot proactively. (Be Smart)
Dream big, but Focus small. (Be Practical)
Nevers Play the race, genader or any other card. (Be Sweet)
Venture outside your comfort zone. (Be Enterprising)
Focus on the solution, not the problem (Keep the Brain Engaged)
Keep faith, family 7 friends close to your heart (Be Caring)

I mean as you read thru , you actually feel that you don't have to be on a BIG stage to make a difference and that you definitely need one another in life !! We would certainly recommend reading this inspiring book to all our Blog Readers. But by the time you place you orders for the book - enjoy the excepts right here.

Animal Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:04:00 PDT

Animal Farm ~ George Orwell

Animal Farm is one of the the most famous works of political allegory ever written till date.In today's world, should a person's position in society be determined by wealth, power and education alone? In Animal Farm, George Orwell examines this question by paralleling the way a society functions with a fictitious farm governed by animals. By using the different animals as the people in society, he seeks to show the reader how people are positioned within a society. The story is about a farm governed by animals.

The owner is known for mistreating his animals and is unable to run the farm effectively. While the farmer sleeps, the animals discuss plans to revolt against him. So,in the spring, the animals launch their attack. They start with a loud enough disturbance to draw the people from the farmhouse and then chase them off the farm. The animals decided to form their own government where all shall share in the work based on their ability. The pigs are the rulers,since they are considered intelligent. The pigs learn the skills of man including farming, reading, writing and architecture and with these skills, they teach other animals. They create a nation of animals with laws for all inhabitants. Although the animals were successful at managing crops and constructing buildings, there are problems: a power struggle ensues between two ruling pigs. Well, to know more... read the book :-)
Fiction isn't many people's choice of reading, but you will definitely enjoy this book because the author's immense creativity in drawing the scenario of the story with morale is very well presented and it will take you inside the lanes more as you read on. It was interesting how Orwell used the animals to make a statement about politics and society. Although the book was published in 1945, many of those social and political issues (such as inequalities among people and society's class structure) are still relevant. The novel was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present.

If you are looking for a book that blends controversy with fiction, I suggest you pick up George Orwell's Animal Farm. You will probably enjoy it as much as I did. You will feel the placidity of the gregarious nature of animal instinct imbibed into the humane typo .. Ciao

About Alice

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:15:00 PDT

About Alice - Calvin Trillin

Of course, there are plenty of nice books.
But let’s admit it. There are very few books that move us.
And fewer still that move us to tears at the end of it..!!

The book About Alice is one such charmer that will make you feed really nice once you read it. About Alice by Calvin Trillin is a joy to read.About Alice is a petite book (just 78 pages perhaps thats why I grabbed it from Library instantly :)).

In Calvin Trillin's (the write) antic tales of family life, Alice was portrayed as the wife who had 'a predilection for limiting hre family to 3 meals a day' & the mother who thought that if you must go to every performance of your child's school play.

Five, years after her death, her husband - Calvin offers a loving portrai of her.Calvin has been an ace journalist at 'The New Yorker' since 1963; besides he's a great humorist & novelist.He went on to Yale University (my friend at yale mentioned abt him as a remarkable Yale Alumni indeed).Much of his nonfiction includes references to his life and family. Though 'About Alice' deals with the devastating loss, he faced post Alice's death in 2001 (They got marriedr in 1965), the book is also a love story, chronicling a romance that began at a Manhattan party when Calvin treid his best to impress a younng woman who "seemed to glow" !! The rest as they say was history !

Calvin says he always wrote everything for Alice. The book is a loving tribute to his late wife Alice who died of cardiac arrest in 2001. Let me put down portions from the book itself that illustrates the how much Calvin loved Alice and what a nice woman she was:

Calvin on readers of his articles in The New Yorker...

"They may not have known her, but they knew how I felt about her. A young woman once wrote that she sometimes looked at her boyfriend and thought "But, will he love me like Calvin loves Alice?"

Calvin...

"My first impression was that she looked more alive than anyone I'd ever seen !! She was nice & when she talked to you, she was thinking about you & yes she was charming and adorned that
innocent look on face ! She was direct. There were things she didn't like, & she was never shy about saying so. She didn't like clubs, or just about any institution that excluded any-body."

Post Cancer....

"It occurs to me that Alice responded to having Cancer like an everyday problem. He says that she said that the worst thing Cancer can do is rob you of your identity which in her case was engagement , optimism & enthusiasm. The most negative word she ever used was 'passive'."

Sarah (their daughter) on Alice's Memorial...

Mom, I know you're listening somewhere, waiting patiently to hear me say these words: You were the coolest girl I ever knew."

I was way too impressed with Calvin's writing & this book in particular - awaiting your feedback as well :) By the way for more curious amongst you - here are couple of Audio Interviews of this great writer -- http://wiredforbooks.org/calvintrillin/.

Aim above the mark to hit the mark.

Two Weeks to a Breakthrough ~ Lisa Haneberg

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:37:00 PDT

I was checking the new bestsellers this morning - and was amazed to find the following video song. Its about a new book "Two weeks to a Breakthrough" by Lisa Haneberg and believe me its awe inspiring - Nice song & presentation does creates a positive 'n' lasting impact. Till we manage to find a copy of this book - N'joy the song ... we just can't wait to share this with our readers :)

"We are put on Earth to learn our own lessons"

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Thu, 03 May 2007 06:58:00 PDT

Eats, shoots & Leaves ~ Lynne Tryss

Well, another book review, here's one for Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss.Let me warn you , if you just a bookworm for reading only stories , then this review may stand a little different on your choice ;-)

If you want your words to say what you mean, then you need to understand punctuation-- don't you think this is what our teachers used to teach us?

That's the whole point of this book, and Lynne Truss backs it up with plenty of examples, rules, and some history. The history provides useful context; it tells you why we have punctuation in the first place. Since punctuation marks were invented as breathing instructions for actors, it makes sense that they provide clarity, rhythm, pacing, and style in every walk of sentence world ;-)

The title of Eats, Shoots & Leaves is reference to an old joke based a wildlife manual which claims a panda "eats, shoots and leaves" instead of "eats shoots and leaves." Lynne Truss has provided every writer an educational book about the proper use of punctuation. It's done with both a comic approach at times and an entertaining anecdotal history of punctuation. For everyone who's been unsure or when, or when not to, insert a comma or the correct use of the apostrophe, Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a valuable resource. Most surprisingly,this book has been at the top of UK bestseller lists and the US edition is a reprint with British punctuation rules. Some people say, "In one tidy little volume that a reasonably swift reader can zip through in the time it takes for an in-flight movie - but with far more laughs - she has wittily and concisely presented the rules of English punctuation

According to the author, this book is for the sticklers that notice the horrible spelling, grammar, and punctuation all around us. These are the people who try (and often fail) to keep to themselves the corrections that they know will fall on deaf – or even hostile – ears. The book is suitable for non-sticklers as well though, since it lays out punctuation rules along with many examples of both good and bad usage. It's entertaining, certainly British in tone and style, and at only 204 small pages (in the hardcover edition), it's a quick read.

If you're already well versed in the ways of punctuation, this book is entertaining. If you're someone who has a less than firm grasp on commas, apostrophes, and their friends, this book can help you. Either way, it's definitely worth reading.

The Mind Gym

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:41:00 PDT

There seem to be two different types of people in this world. On the one hand there are those who just seem to have ingenuity, creativity and presence and then there is everyone else. My inquisitive self saw the book "Mind Gym" in one of the Public Libraries and glance on the attractive cover & recommendation in Management Today was sufficient enough to persuade my otherwise skeptical soul to get this book issued right away.

The book starts with a Self Test that assesses the reader and based on the score one is supposed to read certain chapters of the book first. The book illustrates the working of mind, human psyche and offer numerous tips to increase one's concentration & memory levels. Now, this isn't like other self-help books that offer pearls of wisom of the effervescent human life, instead it is designed so that you can dip in and out and focus on the current challenge that is on your mind. By being fully present in the situation at hand and devoting 100 percent of energy in it - once can indeed do wonders - thats what the book claims.

The book is packed with techniques that can help one to:

Achieve more by slowing down
Make tiny investments that deliver massive returns
Say 'no' and be loved for it
Persuade other people to want to do your work for you
Ensure you get time with people who haven't got time for you

Finally, some of my favorite lines from the book that I wish to share as a "Food for Thought":

* Being satisfied with our time is largely a matter of choice.
* Does your work time drag and your play time fly by? Think it over !
* Use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few.
* You can cherry pick only when your goal isn't volume
* Go Confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.

See you with a special book review in our next blog post. Till then good bye & well here a new site for you to visit - Google Image Ripper

My Journey Back to Life

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:19:00 PST

Back when I was in high school - when I had heard about the ace cyclist Lance Armstrong - all I did was mugged up his name for GK Exam. Upon being presented with realities of his personal life, his struggles, his revelation - my kinetic energy to learn more about the man or should I say a legend - was invoked.

I picked up "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" -autobiography of cycling phenomenon - Lance Armstrong. The book essentially explains in length story of this a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multiday bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. But what amazed me was the way Lance has put down minutest aspect of his journey in the game called life. Armstrong is honest and delightful on his relationship with fellow sportsmen his victories & defeats as well. As the title indicates, this book is much less about Armstrong's triumphs on two wheels than about his successful struggle with cancer and its aftermath. Armstrong sees cancer as a part of life that is meant to improve us by making us focus on our difficulties with courage and indominability of spirit. His writing style is vibrant and immediate whether he is detailing events from childhood, racing challenges, the demands of cancer treatment, the in vitro fertilization process, or the joy of becoming a father.

Everything should be investigated under the luminosity of logic & reason is what Lance accentuates time & again in his book. While he is bedridden - down with testicular Cancer - he realises that our everyday life is replete with trials & tribulations of varying degrees &amp; magnitude; he wonders about the emotional high he experienced upon winning his first cycle race; he says afterall life is too short to grumble about things not working to our tune !!

In his battle against Cancer - he used the power of creative visualization and always perceived himself to be the ultimate winner. In a quick series of mental composition of strategy he would be adopting when in race - he used power of his thoughts to train his mind. He also learnt to appreciate small yet happy moments that life offers us everyday. Finally the line from the book that made indelible print in my mind:

"You've got to be so clear that everything you do should be long-lasting. And it should be there for everybody to see & judge."

Mind has the capacity to imagine - choice is yours - Chaos or Cosmos ;)

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:21:00 PST

Animal Farm~ George Orwell

Animal Farm is one of the the most famous works of political allegory ever written till date.

In today's world, should a person's position in society be determined by wealth, power and education alone? In Animal Farm, George Orwell examines this question by paralleling the way a society functions with a fictitious farm governed by animals. By using the different animals as the people in society, he seeks to show the reader how people are positioned within a society. The story is about a farm governed by animals. The owner is known for mistreating his animals and is unable to run the farm effectively. While the farmer sleeps, the animals discuss plans to revolt against him. So,in the spring, the animals launch their attack. They start with a loud enough disturbance to draw the people from the farmhouse and then chase them off the farm. The animals decided to form their own government where all shall share in the work based on their ability. The pigs are the rulers,since they are considered intelligent. The pigs learn the skills of man including farming, reading, writing and architecture and with these skills, they teach other animals. They create a nation of animals with laws for all inhabitants. Although the animals were successful at managing crops and constructing buildings, there are problems: a power struggle ensues between two ruling pigs. Well, to know more... read the book :-)

Fiction isn't many people's choice of reading, but you will definitely enjoy this book because the author's immense creativity in drawing the scenario of the story with morale is very well presented and it will take you inside the lanes more as you read on. It was interesting how Orwell used the animals to make a statement about politics and society. Although the book was published in 1945, many of those social and political issues (such as inequalities among people and society's class structure) are still relevant. The novel was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present.

If you are looking for a book that blends controversy with fiction, I suggest you pick up George Orwell's Animal Farm. You will probably enjoy it as much as I did. You will feel the placidity of the gregarious nature of animal instinct imbibed into the humane typo .. Ciao

Q & A - Vikas Swarup

noreply@blogger.com (Chinmay) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:13:00 PST

Q & A - Vikas Swarup

Don't go by the name of this book “Q&A”. You don’t have to answer any question here. Q&A is a story about a eighteen year old penniless waiter, Ram Mohammad Thomas, who goes on creating history by winning one billion rupees after answering all 12 questions correctly on a TV biggest ever quiz show (the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionairee) and gets arrested for winning. The producers of the show have him arrested as they are convinced that he has cheated his way to victory. But more then this it tells you about 12 extraordinary events that happens in Ram’s life to help him win the show. Events of how he was found in the dustbin by the priest, came to have three names, fooled professional hitman, found a brother friend, Salim and sister Gudiya, working for a famous actress and Australian Ambassador, as a Taj Mahal illegal tourist guide and even his love with a prostitute gives him the crucial answers to all the questions.

Q&A is brilliantly written and very well structured book, which tells you in the end that luck is something, that doesn’t happen by chance but it’s something that comes from within you. Q&A covers all shades of life. It has its own moments of happiness, sadness, comedy, tragedy and relationship. What makes it more interesting is that each chapter here starts with a generalization like traveling in a train or falling in love or working as a servant, dreams and ends with details that are unique to Ram’s life.

It symbolizes the reality of an Indian orphan in Ram Mohammad Thomas that goes through the various phases of life. It makes you believe that even they have the aspirations, dreams and a life to live. It takes you though the journey of different section of Indian Societies, riches and poor and reveals their bitter reality. It portraits how cruel a life can be to neglected portion of Indian Society who are thought to live like a dog and die like an insect.

Do you want to know how Ram Mohammad Thomas got his name? What business a penniless waiter has to do on such a big TV show? Who’s Smita and why she helps Ram or she herself is just another crook? 12 extraordinary events that helps Ram to win the show or has he bluffed everyone to win the show? Well then what are you waiting for, go read it.

noreply@blogger.com (Tanya) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:19:00 PST

Metamorphosis ~ Frank Kafka

Metamorphosis is called as the stages of the life of a butterfly . The tiny cocoon gets transformed to caterpillar ~ so the baby cocoon blooms into a butterfly and there comes the coining of the term "Metamorphosis".Well, let me tell you first that this post is one of the longest posts that I have written as a book review, so read on ;-)

I would like to quote this poem called Metamorphosis which I read sometime back:

Everyone keeps saying

You have your whole life to decide

But five years will pass so quickly

And then where will I hide?

A transformation in the making

But not yet complete

Sometimes I feel I'm floating

But I need to find my feet

One second you're a kid

hanging out with your best friends

but soon I'll be all grown up

Is this how the fairy tale ends?

Sometimes it's so confusing

Which path I want to take

And how will I prepare myself

For success or heartbreak?

Soon I will be driving

I already have a car

But I still feel like a little kid

Warned not to go to far

Sometimes I feel all grown up

And now I'm too old to play

And now I have to make all these decisions

But nothing will go my way

Why can't we just be kids forever

And save the grown up stuff for last?

But reality doesn't play fair

And I'm growing up so fast."

Well,cheers to the person who wrote such a beautiful poem ,isnt it? The book review throws light on the inner meaning conveyed by the poem..So, lets get set go....!!

Franz Kafka was born in Czechoslovakia, yet went on to become one of the greatest writers in the German language. Metamorphosis is along side The Trial, his greatest work. The book Metamorphosis revolves around the story of a young man who wakes up one morning to find that he is turning into an insect. At first he tries to hide this from his family by locking his door and avoiding human contact. He soon loses his job and thus is unable to support his household including his mother, father and sister. His family finds out about his condition and try to find a way to look after him though they find his appearance disgusting. The story is narrated through the creature/man's eyes and you see how he is affected by this change amongst them. At first they believed the creature has killed him and when they realise the truth, they seem even more disgusted. Eventually, lacking the money in the form of earnings he used to bring in, they have to find work and let lodgers into their home to pay the bills, whilst keeping their son secret.

Kafka uses the idea of his protagonist change as a device to show the problems he saw in German society at the time. The family face huge poverty in the story and the vilification directed towards the son can be seen as a symbol of the persecution Kafka. Though this was written before the times of Hitler's Aryan ideals, there was still a sense of antisemitic feeling in German society at the time. Overall, Kafka creates a surreal world all of his own in this story, as with many of his others and yet manages to keep the reader emotionally attached to a character that they would obviously not identify with otherwise.

The Metamorphosis is an autobiographical piece of writing, and we find that parts of the story reflect Kafka's own life. It is well known that Kafka felt like an insect in his father's authoritative presence and even developed a stammer while speaking to him. Gregor, likewise, cowers in fear of his father, who finds him repulsive and attacks him at every turn. Kafka even wrote that he was pleased with the similarity of Samsa's name to his own. Kafka's mother, like her alter-ego of the story, hid silently behind her husband's presence. Out of a sense of duty to his parents, and because he needed money for his planned marriage, Kafka was forced to take an office job he did not enjoy. Furthermore, his family insisted that he needs to spend his afternoons in the office. Kafka himself felt that his presence at the office was pointless, but it took up enough time that he would not be able to write, alienating him from his creative needs. Kafka had been very close to his sister, Ottla, and she usually understood him. In this dispute, however, even she turned against him in insisting he stay at the office in the afternoons. Kafka felt that she had betrayed him, and that night he actually contemplated suicide. This happened in November. Less than two months later, in Kafka's writing, Gregor's sister betrays him by insisting that the family must get rid of him.

Franz Kafka's classic short story The Metamorphosis is about a travelling salesman who wakes one morning to find himself changed into a giant beetle. Unable to communicate with his family, though he can understand them perfectly, the story charts the degradation of his humanity as he loses contact with the world around him.

Kafka's original became a classic because it's an honest fiction about how disability can affect a family, especially if it's sudden and seriously debilitating. By providing us with a visual interpretation, the metaphor is perhaps diluted a little further, reducing the power of our own imaginations to turn Kafka's bug into our own worst insect nightmare. However, this is a compassionate retelling of a fascinating novella that increases the accessibility and broadens the audience without dumbing down the content.

Now, in case you too are intrigued by works of the great German writer - Kafka, you might want to check out The Kafka Project - where one can spot every detail of Kafka's works, fans' opinions & translations. You know what , you may find this peice of post a little unusual, but it hits the hard core fact of life and this evolves out to be what you call "metamorphosis"~the stages of transformation.Ciao, with your comments ! :-)