These books have inspired me, gave a new way of looking and understanding the world around. Some contain the germ of great idea, other are brimming with genius. Some are highly influencing; some are greatly insightful. Each book is worth buying, reading, gifting and keeping it as a personal collection.
Good employees are the organization's most valuable resource. Attracting, developing, and retaining talented people requires an environment where people are energized and connected to their work, where they take the initiative and act as owners of the business. The Authors draws on ten years of empirical research to provide real-life examples, specific tools and strategies that will help to put those disciplines to work in the organization.
A Company of Leaders shows a blueprint to transform the workplace into a company of leaders. A blueprint of an environment that will empower employees to bring their whole person to work and work together for the good of the organization. Navigating the difficult journey to create a kind of "volunteer employee" workforce who choose to work because they are energized by what they do.
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Frederick Laloux observed different styles of running organizations which he equated to a colour spectrum to help us understand the development of the consciousness of the leading styles and organizational norms. With that said the first part of the book described the colour spectrum as follows:
In the 2nd part of the book, Laloux describes from his research on the structures, practices and cultures of Teal organizations.
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If you’re an entrepreneur not for the ego-trip of being “the boss”, then this is one of the best books you can read. It emphasizes empowering your team, giving them more information, responsibility, power to make decisions, profit sharing. In Semco’s case, the results speak for themselves. The Brazilian company has been one of the best place to work for decades and it has survived through turbulent times in 90’s Brazil.
In 1980 Ricardo Semler took over the reins of the company his father founded and built when he was just 21 year old. Ricardo proceeded to break every rule of doing business, firing an entire echelon of upper-level managers. The result, in ten years of constant experimentation - a time period in which Brazil's economy faltered - Semco has achieved a growth rate of 600 percent. In chronicling Semco's inner revolution, Ricardo shows how his radical ideas and strategies, as well as his nuts-and-bolts specifics, can be applied to any company anywhere. The author credits a lot of the success to the methods described in the book.
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A Black Swan event is rare, it takes almost everyone by surprise. It has an enormous impact on future developments, and can be explained only in hindsight as predictable. Taleb argues that despite the fact that we are blind to their imminent arrival ahead of time, Black Swans drive the world more than the visible, predictable patterns around which we organize ourselves.
Examples of Black Swans would include the European ‘discovery’ of the American continents, Eduardo Severin’s $20,000, Facebook investment becoming $2 Billion, the rise of modern weaponry for war, the 9/11 attacks, and the Great Credit Crunch of 2008. The book Black Swan is quite readable, it deliberately avoids the use of equations or the dry language of textbooks. It opts for the popular science approach, use of entertaining anecdotes and wraps complex ideas within simple metaphors.
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Simplicity is the classic work about making the complicated simple. In Simplicity, Edward de Bono shows us how to bring simplicity into our increasingly complicated lives. Through his ten rules of simplicity, he encourages us to be creative and break down the complex into manageable and recognisable parts. The ideas are not new however the presentation of those ideas in this book is clean and direct with relevant examples. It's the kind of book which you would want to keep a copy of in your personal drawer and use as a reference.
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The book is structured in four sections: Definition, Elimination, Automation, and Liberation (DEAL). The two main ideas of the book are – One is to be free to do what you really want to do and the second is to get enough income from this activity so you can pursue your dreams now instead of in the future.
The goal was never to be idle. The goal is to spend as much time possible doing what we want. Tim Ferriss does not write something just off the top of his head he has lived every single step from the book. The message is a very clear, draw the picture of the life you want to have, set a time frame and develop an actionable plan. Be rational and practical, set realistic goals and work hard to get them. Then enjoy the real benefits of the 4-hour workweek.
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The journey is about a seagull who is passionate about flying and striving for perfection. A dynamic character who became aware of his purpose for living. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a story of looking inside yourself to grow into who you are. The book has a Zen quality, urging readers to find peace within by transforming oneself and sharing it with others. While reading the book imagine yourself to be Johnathan and read as if it is your story.
The book has three sections. First one talks about Jonathan’s life with the Flock, how he is cast out to live alone among the far cliffs, and how he teaches himself to fly. There are times he failed and vowed that he would be a normal seagull but then he broke his vows and went back to flying again. In next section Jonathan goes on to another life where he finds birds that are eager to learn, just like him. In the last section Jonathan returns to earth to teach birds from his old flock how to break conformity and learn to fly.
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Wisdom of the ages conversations: "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you, but not from you. And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."
The sheer beauty of Gibran's writing on how to live your life will blow you away. His philosophy is presented almost like a poetic sermon, by the prophet Almustafa. He speaks to the people of love, marriage, work, children, of buying and selling, death and other everyday subjects. A profound and an incredibly moving piece you can dip in and out of, and almost any page has the same effect. It massages your soul and leaves an impact in such a profound and beautiful way. To me it is simply a masterpiece, a spiritual classic.
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Before ‘Rumi’ became a famous poet and Sufi mystic, a religious scholar Rumi struggled with a feeling of inexplicable emptiness. Despite his thousands of admirers and disciples, Rumi felt something was missing in his life. A wandering dervish called Shams of Tabriz came as the answer to Rumi’s prayers. The pair were kindred spirits and intellectual equals who revelled in discussing matters of God, man and divine love. Their friendship transformed Rumi.
The Forty Rules of Love is about Rumi and the Shams of Tabriz. It is based on Shams’ famous rules of love. Through a series of characters, including Rumi’s family, a leper and a harlot, we discover the many versions of God. He explains that God can be seen in everything, from a king on his throne to a beggar. As torchbearer the book tell us in one of his golden rules to be nonconformist that is ‘do not go with the flow, be the flow’. The tale of their fated meeting, spiritual companionship and tragic parting is beautifully recounted.
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A Masterful spiritual classic, it is about dropping labels, learning how to Be and to have a direct experience with one self. This is a literary masterpiece that documents conversations between a Self-realized Master and visitors from all different religious, philosophical and professional backgrounds.
It’s difficult to find words to describe the depths to which this book will take you. In a nutshell, this book teaches you to be your own guru. It teaches you to trust in yourself, that you are the ultimate reality. It will amaze you a man with no formal education can come up with such profound depth! If you are looking for a book with storylines, about what happened to so and so, etc, then this book is NOT for you. If you are looking for a book that will help you cut out your own storyline, and look deeply within and question, this is a great book. After reading it, if you cannot get it, do not worry, leave it for a few months or years; but go back to it. Eventually the treasure will be revealed and you will never again have to look for another book.
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