Knowledge is an asset that remains with you permanently, does not require you to spend ostentatiously and grows multiple folds as you share with others. Knowledge when used wisely is your best friend in distress and can be the only friend when lonely. Which implies you will never be left lonely. Chasing the right set of knowledge sets Maslow’s hierarchy of physiological needs, safety, belonging, self esteem and self actualization in motion. It’s comical to define the vastness and utility of knowledge in a single blog. And it’s equally horrid to fathom its absence.
This note ain’t about knowledge but the agents of knowledge. The catalysts of learning who propel the society that tirelessly seeks improvements. Our teachers come in varied personas, instances and events. Some of the most trying times of my life have been my biggest influencers. They lay hidden, unpretentious, sometimes formidable and yet cast a magic spell at the end of their course. We diverge in perceiving the importance of teachers to the context of our lifestyle. While we might be highly attentive to the academic educator in a classroom, we exhibit multiple blindspots to the ones who circle in our quotidian life. Amongst these are our own behaviors that go to shape our habits and character. I picked up one such blindspot couple of years ago. The habit of learning through books as my teacher.
It is impossible for any human to have all experiences in life. It is yet possible for them to learn about all experiences in life. We might not have direct access to the authors who pour out their observations and deductions of an experience. But we can have access to the knowledge through their books. In this endeavour I made reading my master that also helps me tide over the original master at times, which are our circumstances. Our circumstances however are uncontrolled tutors, while we can choose the book of preference in which we seek information or wisdom. Reading how others dealt with a circumstance gives us a substantial heads-up if at all we had to deal with the same.
We lose the sense of entitlement or victimization, knowing the position was dealt by someone else at some time. Leaders, philosophers of the world inculcated the idea of reading to the population to derive a third-party or an outsider view of events around them. When a nation is struck with natural calamities such as floods or earthquakes or financial calamities such as recession or poverty, it is knowledge through reading that can sail us above such tides at a state or an individual level. Books are a form of meditation once engrossed into its matter and theme. Books help me to be in the here and now than traversing into the past or the future. To this teacher I remain an ever loyal.
What am I reading now?
Speaking of which, I thought to share the list of books I have been reading of late and would love to recommend some of the best according to me. I have a book to listen to while driving, a book during my run, a book for weekends and a bedtime book to call it a day. I would love to see your comments on these books and would await your recommendations for me. Remember – sharing knowledge only increases it. So here we go.
PS: This is not a review of any book as I would be doing that sometime later with a detailed note on each.
- Waking Up – Sam Harris is a renowned American author, neuro-scientist and one of the founders of ‘New Atheism’. Harris demarcates the concept of spirituality and religion in this brilliant rendition of how the brain and mind operate. He brings out multiple scientific discoveries on why we behave the way we do by challenging the existing societal decree on the idea of self and the mind. He lashes out vehemently on the fake gurus and exposes the myth on drug usage. The author also speaks of his own spiritual journey with varied forms of meditation and Buddhist masters. A must read for those engulfed with extreme religious discourses and myths.
- The Great Mental Models – Author Shane Parrish describes his motivation to write this book to the scarcity of such books available in the market. Parrish compiles an effective list of thinking models that would help any individual in any given chore. The idea of maps and working with confidence is thoroughly explained and so are the concepts of first principles, probabilistic thinking, inversion, Occam’s Razor and Halon’s Razor. A perfect read for individuals who get stuck in deadlocks and are crippled for thought or even those working on large scale change projects.
- The Mystery of 3 Quarters – Sophie Hannah brings back the mystique of Agatha Christie to the fore in this mystery set in 1930 London. The depiction of the protagonist and the ever beloved detective Hercule Poirot as an accused in accusing four unknowns of a murder through letters is brilliant. The detective is in a dock and must clear himself and the mystery that lays ahead of him. This is the third book from Sophie Hannah on the Agatha Christie narrative of Hercule Poirot after ‘The Monogram Murders’ and ‘Closed Casket’. As always, a perfect read for mystery and especially Agatha Christie fans.
- The Future of Capitalism (Reading now) – Reading through Paul Collier’s account on where the world stands with this highly acclaimed book is my first attempt at reading a book on global economics against the backdrop of political philosophies. Collier starts with how our societies are drifting apart in the new age economy – bringing in new anxieties through failed ideologies. How the ascendance of the highly educated vs the uneducated is creating a high imbalance in the social strata. How this phenomena has impacted contemporary capitalism and why ethical capitalism should thrive for a prosperous tomorrow. His narration as a historian of failed political ideas are nothing less than compelling be it religious fundamentalism, fascism or socialism. A must read to understand the future of markets or at least how they must function.
- Who owns the future – Jared Lanier is known as the father of Virtual Reality. A Silicon Valley legend who established multiple start-ups in his career which are now associated with giants such as Google and Microsoft. The author wields his axe on how user information is sourced for free by capitalists in the digital age. Lanier describes how the future can function in an information economy and would not eliminate the ever important ‘middle-class’, if the middle class valued their own data and privacy. He differentiates between an honest and corrupt economy and how such dishonesty must be identified. The book is gripping, in-depth and explains why information is the new King in town.
These are some books I read this year which I have found to be intelligent, path-breaking and yet soothing. I prefer to read and learn from books of different genres and not stick to one particular form. As a reader this broadens your domain and offers holistic views of reality by avoiding any bias. It also introduces you to various styles of writing and narration. All of this that fuels one single aspect of our lives – learning. In this process of discovering new information, you might also find a new you and a new ever reliable and ever available teacher.
Sagacity is the key. Only a well wishing guiding force can teach us to observe and still observe extensively until we are free..
Knowing = Liberation
Knowing =Bondage
We should chose only a well wishing force to guide us. Knowledge can only liberate, bondage is a choice we make.
Beautifully penned!
Sadly, most who gain Knowledge stay bonded to their knowledge and guard it with their own lives instead of sharing and spreading …
yes, that is how society should envisage to grow. thanks for reading 🙂
Well said Bhava..
thank you for reading 🙂
Really makes you think! Thanks for sharing, great article.