Book Review : You Are Not Your Brain

“You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life” is written by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Rebecca Gladding. I have listened to the audio version of this book. The book centers around mindful awareness of oneself and accepting so that one does not get dragged down by unhealthy thoughts. This mindfulness has been made  easy with 4 steps, namely,RE-LABEL, RE-FRAME, RE-FOCUS and RE-VALUE. There is discussion of something called as “Wise advocate” which I suppose is conscience.

Rating: 3/5. I found the book useful w.r.t. the description of approaching one’s thoughts through 4 steps.Some where the concepts seem abstract to follow. I found the book to be quiet boring in its tone.

Book Review : The Confidence Gap

“The Confidence Gap” is written by Russ Harris. I have went through an audio version of this book. While listening I wished I had gone through the print version as I felt it was book with lot of introspection about oneself. Its quiet a new take on the subject of confidence. Its more from the perspective of mindfulness rather than just methods of achieving the so called “confidence”. Basically through mindfulness, one has to accept his fears, his thoughts. He has to then allow space within himself to accommodate any sort of negative reasoning that mind does. This is termed as expansion. Confidence in actual is only achieved through practice, no other way. I really like the practical approach to the “enigma” of confidence provided by author.

Rating: 4.5/5. A book which revealed to me first time that confidence is through practice, fear is common before becoming courageous and committing to practice is more important than the vision of confidence.

Book Review : A Book of Five Rings

“A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy” is written by Miyamoto Musashi. I have listed to the audio version of this book. Its a very short book. I thought initially this book was going to be about essence of  principles for good living, judging from the introduction chapter. In the beginning there is just an introduction to various aspects of martial arts – earth, fire, wind, water and emptiness. As I progressed through book, this seemed more like meant for people into martial arts. In a broader sense it discusses on the various mind games and also physical strategies  that one has to study and adopt during a combat. In discusses specifically about sword fight. He also says cutting opponent should not be done with force, nor it should be weak, it should be done with only the surge of the moment and nothing more.

Rating: 3/5. This is because its not meant for me. But regardless it provided insight into some combat strategies. Some of the strategies implementation will always depend on the individual.

Book Review: What Women Want Men to Know

“What Women Want Men to Know: The Ultimate Book About Love, Sex, and Relationships for You and the Man You Love” is written by Barbara De Angelis. I have listened the audio version of this book read by the author. Its about 4 hrs in length. Its address for both men and women, may more for women. She mention about qualities of women like being creative and harmonizers. She also mentions of behaviors which women look for like attention, affection and being valued. The book is meant more for people who are already in relationship.

Rating 3/5: Book is entertaining. Lacks any practical ways. Its something like do remember this when next time you talk to your partner.

 

Book Review : Grit

“Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success” is written by Angela Duckworth. I have listened to the audio version of this book read by the author herself. I liked her voice, good to listen. The book is peppered with her research stories and findings along with stories from other researches in the field. The audio book is easy to follow with very little technical jargon. I felt its written like a reporter article type in a daily newspaper. The examples are good and inspiring. She’s packaged passion and perseverance and presented it to us with the term “Grit”. There’s not much new to tell about success, only it tells in a new way.

Rating: 4/5. Its a good book, benefits all with examples and finding. The follow of the topics is good. The topic of passion and perseverance and its association with success is well discussed.

Book Review : Mindware

“Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking”  is written by Richard E. Nisbett. I have listened to an audio version of the book. I would recommend the print version of the book. The audio is difficult to understand with only single listening. Also there is some reference to the images for  which you have to refer text  and not just listen. The author is a scholar and its more of a scientific approach to thinking. Many words are difficult to understand. I listened to this as I thought its having something to offer. The book started well but then became difficult to relate to.

Rating: 2/5. This rating is for the audio book. I may have to read the print version to give actual rating to content. This book is certainly not for everyone. Many interesting topics one can come across in this.

Book Review : Solving the Procrastination Puzzle

“Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change” is written by Timothy A. Pychyl. I have listened to an audio version of this book narrated by the author. Its a about two and half hour in length. It seems like a short scholarly book with a straight forward approach of getting along with procrastination issue. The 1st half of the audio book is  very slowly but the second half does a marathon of ideas to help you on this issue. The author insists that to solve the procrastination problem you have to just get started first. There are other factors of self regulation (like distraction,motivation and willingness, focus) that you have to take care of while at the activity. Once you get started you will always feel better.

Rating : 3/5. 1st half was very slow. Good researched content, easy to follow language. Seems like a big problem made very easy to solve with most of us.

Book Review : Think Like A Freak

“Think Like a Freak” is written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I have listened to an audio version of this book narrated by Stephen J. Dubner. The audio book is about 5 hours in length. At the end of the book you also get sample radio podcasts from the authors. The book is interesting if you are interested in facts. The authors present some think out of the box scenarios and incidents and then theorize them. I could not understand where a chapter ends and another begins. The book does not build on a train of thoughts. I would rather says it might confuse one with its mingled thoughts.

Rating: 1.5/5. Book is having some good out-of-box ideas based on facts. Nothing to remember, you forget the book once you finish it.