Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Winner Stands Alone

10th read of Paulo and I am impressed yet again. This one centers about the glamour world and author's interpretation of how people in this high luxury and branded world go on in their life. The story is centered around lost love of a Russian millionaire who's wife has left him some 2 years back and he chooses to get her back finally during the Cannes film festival in France putting an end to his agony and pain he has been suffering ever since she left him. At some points it feels like a psychopath story and the story's end also unusual kind as what one usually expect. The interesting part is characters portrayed and how author describes the world of each.... some already a star, some on the verge of becoming a star and some others who just want to know each and everything about the stars and then the police. The story flows in interesting fashion and midway one would find the aspects of larger society related questions writer tries to put across with the use of different characters. One could call it a mystery novel but I didn't find it very grasping as Paulo goes off track at times but nevertheless interesting. Though the interesting aspect of naming of chapters with time stamp....the story completes in a period of 24 hours.
The content common to most Coelho books are : Religion,Love, Sex, questioning what is accepted normal in society, dwelling on what we refer as happiness, love, anger, madness..and others ...give it a definition in different ways.
More reviews here.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

A New Religion? H+

This latest read was good but somewhere down the line towards the end it feels more of a marketing mantra. 
Author suggests a new concept on thinking on religion based on the following elements:
Human
Happiness
Humour
Help
Hope
Health
The approach is clearly explained in a very simplistic fashion without use of complicated jargon. The primary emphasis is on the Positive element ..hence the name H+. To look at all the positive elements around you and to work on the positive note and not under fear of negativity. One's actions to be driven by willingness to help and not because of fear of committing a sin. The emphasis is on action and contribution to the world around you than personal purification. Many interesting concepts are introduced like Pons- meaning any positive action. It is something one is suppose to do and about which one is encouraged to feel proud of. Acts of giving money to beggars or being asked for help and helping are not counted as they are opportunities coming to a person and promoting begging may be anti-social by encouraging the act. Through conscious effort one is suppose to do good actions on daily basis.It may be as simple as helping an old lady cross the street. And I have no doubts the amount of satisfaction and good feeling after doing such simple acts having experienced myself. Need to be proactive.Another thing I found interesting was upon Ritual..... It is pointless but it helps in bringing in discipline and as an indicator of "I belong to". 

Point of disagreement:
Author emphasizes the fact that other religions focus on negativity(avoiding sins and wrongdoing) aspect mostly but I don't think so. Most religions have both positive and negative elements attached to them. Negative are more so to bring in order/discipline in society and prevent chaos. 
 
Some other notes from the book:
- H+ is a belief in the potential of yourself and in the potential of your fellow human beings
- Goodness is not just absence of badness but an active contribution
- It is not enough to be a good person.  You must be a person doing good things 
- Happiness is a matter of attention. If we get into the habit of focusing attention on negative aspects, we are likely to be unhappy. If we learn to focus on more positive aspects, we can be happier.
-Thinking is very important to happiness
-Judgement brings the past into the future. Design brings the future into the present.
-Humour is a social glue.
-Our brains like certainty. Perceptions seeks certainty. We then lock on to that certainty with rigidity , arrogance and intensity. Humour is all about the possibility of looking at things in a different way.Humour is all about changing perceptions.
-Humour builds self esteem. One is not at the mercy of the world around because one can laugh at it.
-with hope one seeks to make things better. Also learns to 'shrug' and become less hostage to the world around.
-being Cool concept came from American slave culture. As a style cool is defensive and contributes nothing.It is very ego-centric.
-Waffo meaning generous, warm and human (opposite of cool)

More info here .

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Susan Boyle

I had heard about news on new singing sensation Susan Boyle spotted in "Britain Got Talent" show but had not got a chance to look at any performance of hers till today. And once I watched it on You Tube . I had no doubt why all world is going gaga over her. One has to see the video to believe it. It has recorded 150 million+ hits as of now. It is simply outstanding,stunning performance. One should look at the faces of the judges before and after she sang...captured in the video....along with the cheerfulness of the public in general. No wonder this 47 yrs old lady has sparked a sensation in media since the audition happened. Her appearance and mannerism is so simple and natural, one cant help appreciating her for her talent and nature. Another thing I appreciated was the abundance of confidence in her without sounding arrogant.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Six Frames for Thinking about Information

Very interesting read from the world renowned author on lateral thinking- Edward de Bono. It gives a framework approach of how to work on information in a structured way. The framework is set to "directing" our attention in a conscious manner. The Six frames provide a method of extracting more value from information. After reading it looked that most of it many people know as what is to be done but putting a structure to it and working according to it what is missed often. Rather than working in jumbled form...where the directions are random and astray the framework helps in putting proper structure and direction. The missing part of the book is a concrete example of how the framework is put to use in a particular scenario. Though snippets of examples are highlighted in each frame but it would have been more helpful to see the whole framework put to use in a situation.
Some notes from book:

1.Purpose - Triangle frame : to lay out very clearly the purpose of looking at the information. What? is the purpose of information search or scan. Why? the information is required? is this information of value? will this information affect us? Where? should we look for this information ? are we looking in the right place? Laying out the exact basis of need for information and interaction with it.
2. Accuracy - Circle frame: used to pin point importance of some piece of inroamtion and the need to check it. To indicate an area of existing doubt and let others know about it. To invite investigation of an area in order to collect accurate information. To judge accuracy of information sources.
3.Point of View- Square frame: To pay attention to the degree of bias or neutrality in the information. To look at inofrmation from different angles. Not to get into a biased information piece. A balanced representation is very rare and vey powerful. Look out for alternative views from same point.
4.Interest- Heart frame: There is more to information than the satisfaction of need of the moment . Heart frame directs attention to matters of interest.These may be matters of general or specific interests.
5.Value of information-Diamond frame: It is sort or summary or overview. What has been the value of this information? There are different types and levels of value.
Gold Medal:Human values which apply directly to people.There are both positive( appreciation etc.) and negative (humiliation etc.) values.
Silver Medal:Values that apply to organization, whether business, family ,group etc. These may include profits,market share etc.
Steel Medal: These are direct quality values. How does it impact quality?
Glass Medal: for inovation and creative values.what is new?
Wood Medal: ecology value in the broadest sense
Brass Medal: perceptual value
Diamond frame is all about clarification of these values through direct attention.
6.Outcome-Slab frame: represents a platform on which something is to be placed or exhibited. Using this frame conclusions are laid out.

Frames provide a simple shorthand for directing attention or suggesting that attention may be directed to one particular aspect of information. It can be used by individual or group.

Truth Paste: The way we treat things so that they appear true to ourselves and to others.
It has a problem when subjective opinion is put forward as a fact. eg newspaper article with lot of adjectives used by reporter indicating more of a personal stance than actual facts.

More reviews here.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Superb Gilchrist !!

Perhaps this would one of my first's live blog. IPL ( Indian Premier League) 1st semi final on its way and Deccan Chargers are on their way to the Finals for sure. Thanks to the blitzkerg of 4s and 6s by their star captain Adam Gilchrist who made 85 runs of 35 balls. Amazing batting display by a class batsman. Great to watch him bat!!
What a comeback from the team which was last in last year's standings now bouncing back straight into the finals.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Problem of Inverted funnel