Book review : Payoff

“Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations” is written by Dan Ariely. I have gone throught the audio version of this book. Its a TED series book. Its starts with an into to author’s experience of being a fire accident victim and his struggle with it that led him to pathe of professor and his experiments with understanding motivation. In his experiments he has come to believe that money is not that important, social approval or meaning matters more. The ultimate motivation might be to leave a legecy beyond our life time in the for of children, organization, attworks, books etc. These all give meaning and full filment.

Rating: 3/5. Too brief but interesting. Many of the thoughts I had only reinforced in the book.

 

Book Review : Mindwise

“Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want” is authored by Nicholas Epley. Its a book concerned with mind reading so to say. The author lays the foundation that is very difficult to guess what the other person is thinking. Even if we put ourselves in the other person’s shoes its difficult to imagine what she/he thinks, unless we have had a very similar experience ourselves. So to really understand someone we need to communicate and ask the other person. This is the most simple way to understand the other. Body language may reveal a lot but it will never be precise.

Rating: 4/5. The book has many findings which I may have already come across. Its theme resonates a unique good idea that communication is the key to understanding others.

Book Review : The Art of Thinking Clearly

“The Art of Thinking Clearly” is written by Rolf Dobelli. I have listened to an audio version of this book. This book I had completed last year and am reviewing it after long gap. Might not be accurate. This book about a number of tips which will help one in decision making. Its a book that takes note of our baises that go into decision making. It gives us a sense of why we are subjective rather than objective when approaching various circumstances in life.

Rating: 3/5. Book with lot of discussion on out biases. Nothing new but is interesting.

Book Review: The Paradox of Choice

“The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less” is written by Barry Schwartz. I have listened to the audio version of this book. Its an ok book. The author touches upon the commercialized world and how companies as try to get profits by increasing the choices given to people. Increasing the choices has the cost of trying to decide. The paradox here being with more choices our deciding ability is dulled. The authors emphasizes this in different rather long and not to the point discussions.

Rating: 2/5. Could have been shorter and sweeter. Information presented here is something I have already come across.

Book Review : The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking

“The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” is written by by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird. I have listened to the audio version of this book. The authors present an approach to effective thinking with 5 parts – fire, earth, water, air and change. “Fire, Earth, Water and Air” are concerned with how to effectively challenge a notion and actively participate in questioning an approach (like “what if”,”what’s correct”, “what’s wrong”). Through this inquiry one could try to challenge and solve problems. One should be willing to “change” to develop this inquiry mindset.

Rating: 3/5. The ideas presented are well known already. The presentation of book is good and concise.

Book Review : Wired for Love

“Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner’s Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship” is written by Stan Tatkin. I have listened to the audio book. It is book on couple relationship, and how partners could help each other to make the relationship better. The author refers to some terms like “couple bubble” for the understanding between partners. He also uses the terms like “anchor”,”island” and “wave” for personality of the partners in relationship. “Anchors” have most secure relation and goal of the other two personality types has to become anchor in the relationship. The author illustrates a number of scenarios of couples interacting with these 3 personality types and provides correction advice to better the situation. The author states that personality types are based on situations in childhood.

Rating: 3/5. The illustrated situations seem too dramatic sometimes. Its a good book to read and less good book to follow the advice.

Course Review : Outsmart Yourself

“Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You” is series of lectures presented by professor Peter M. Vishton. It is series of 24 lectures of half hour each. There is interesting discussions on various areas of brain and cognitive research. Brief initial tips is provided in each lecture. This tip is then explained based on some case study and research data. The style of lecturing also is lively and humorous at times. This is available on Great Courses website here.

Rating: 4/5. Very enjoyable course, interesting facts and tips provided. Presentation of researches is simplified a lot.

Book Review : How To Stubbornly Refuse To Make Yourself Miserable About Anything, Yes Anything

“How To Stubbornly Refuse To Make Yourself Miserable About Anything, Yes Anything” is written by Albert Ellis. I have listened to audio version of this book. The author tells about the reasons we become miserable- the shoulds, the musts, the oughts. We need to recognize these thoughts. These are called irrational beliefs (IBs). We have to counter these through thoughts and establish rational beliefs (RBs). Is the IB true? Could I be absolutely sure it is true? Written version of this book would be betters as there are some exercise and some reflective time is required on some issues. I don’t think I will be able to debate on thoughts, especially emotional ones. I don’t think it will work in that case.

Rating : 3/5. The book is interesting with the technique and steps to follow. It repeats at lot of place and I don’t feel the technique is very convincing in all situations.

 

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 About Love

“A Book About Love” is written by Jonah Lehrer. I have listened to an audio version of this book. Its about 8 hrs in length. The book starts with paternal love and attachment with kids. It covers martial love, love for good, couple love. He does cover love in a whole sense. His main theme I guess would be that though love is about initial attraction and attachment, its also concerned  with endearing with the low stages, persisting across and then getting attached more, this is what defines a true love.

Rating: 3.5/5. Found it interesting. It covers the subject from wholeness aspect. Its not innovative, but a romantically aspiring book.