Mission reading-1

For me reading books is a mission, i have promised myself that i am going to read loads and loads of books, Something which i should have done earlier. Its never too late, is it?

This is the post about the two books i read recently,

I am not reviewing them since i don't think i am capable of doing justice to the job of reviewing. I shall try to write down my thoughts on them and what i got to learn from them.

I started reading Non-Fiction books recently and must say they are truly more rewarding than fiction. Though there are exceptions!

1] Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert kiyosaki

I was advised to read this book so that i get to know some basics stuff of finance, I come from a technical background(at least i think i do!) hence have no idea of financial concepts.When i saw the book in the crossword store i was skeptical should it. But then i thought lets take the risk and see what this book with a unusual title is all about. I am happy that i purchased the book since it has taught me very valuable lessons on how to deal with finances.

It is not a investment strategy book like some people call it,it is a book which teaches you, how to manage your finances and become rich. Yes it also tells you different ways to invest but that is not the main goal of the book. It gives some good insights on why people never become rich and why they keep on falling into debts. I understood some concepts which i would like to mention briefly,

-> People think that in order to become rich they need to work harder at their job but they do not realize that the more they earn the more they spend! Rich people spend smartly and middle class people dont.

-> The difference between asset and liability is defined in a simple and easy to understand manner. People generally consider their liabilities as their assets and never spend enough time to accumulate the real assets.

-> The biggest mistake what education is doing is, it is not teaching 'financial literacy' which is of utmost importance. If anyone wants to learn how to become rich he is said to be greedy but we are digging our own grave by falling prey to debt in the forms of loans.

-> In order to come out of rat race you need to be smart and have financial literacy. The book in no way tells you to avoid work infact it tells you to concentrate more on work but also handle your finances intelligently.

The author has explained in a beautiful manner of a story and not one minute will you get bored.

Everyone should read this book especially one's who have no knowledge of finance. Go ahead and get your copy and get all the gyan!

2] Tipping point by Malcolm Gladwell

In my city Hyderabad there is a market for second hand books which is put up every sunday. For people like me who cannot spend more money this place is a gold mine! You get all the famous books and also a few duplicate stuff. I try not to buy pirated stuff but at times have no other option. I have promised myself that once i start earning i will get the books from real book stores. Most of the times i buy second hand books and Tipping point was one such book.

I bought this book after checking out the cover and reading the brief intro about it. I was not sure whether i would like it or not considering how old the book was(both years and the condition of the book!) After reading it i again gained lot of gyaan!

This book answers some interesting questions,

1] Why certain ideas or behaviors get a spark and become a epidemic whereas others don't?

2] Can we deliberately start social epidemics in a positive sense?

The book explains this by using various examples and experiments performed by social scientists and psychologists.It is a very interesting way of explaining and the author makes sure that you get the point. He basically gives three concepts

-> Law of few:Connectors,Mavens

-> Stickiness factor

-> The power of context

Each and every point has been explained in a detailed manner.

You also get to know why fight against smoking is failing, because we are focusing in the wrong direction. Its a interesting way to look at the smoking problem.

Throughout the book the author says how little factors are responsible for major change and how little effort put in the right direction can get you amazing results. These factors are responsible for the ideas to reach their tipping point.

It is a must read book according to me. You should not miss out such a great book.

"In nonfiction, you have that limitation, that constraint, of telling the truth"

~PeterMathiessen~

"Nadi Astrology"

I have always found astrology very fascinating, who wouldn't love to know about the future.

so being from a family who believed in all kinds of astrology i had many fields of astrology to explore! From Numerology to Palmistry to traditional astrology based on stars to tarot and finally Nadi astrology.

I found nadi astrology to be very interesting and its results are amazingly accurate. Don't believe me? Just google for information you will find plenty of sites.

"Nadi astrology is the form of hindu astrology based on the belief that the past,present and future lives of humans were foreseen by hindu sages in ancient sages and written down as Palm leaf manuscripts"

The experience of getting your nadi astrology done itself is a experience! I had this experience a year ago and had written about it on a forum called "Pagalguy" For those who do not know what Pagalguy is 'Its a mecca of information about MBA' and for people like me it is a community of people who help each other which is rare in our world. Now you might be wondering what has a MBA forum to do with astrology. PG as we call it is a place for intellectuals to brain storm their concepts of cracking different entrance exams and also for them to relax and get to know each other via so many threads in chit chat section. I being a 'Non-Intellectual' use PG for that!

If you are not a member of it then be one!

I am going to copy paste that post here ( Laziness ka baap :))

My parents had got their reading years back and not surprisingly most of what was said in the Tape( given by nadi astrologer) has happened. I was pretty much confused after my Engineering. I had this idiotic idea that i should do MS in Computer networks in England. But then i was planning to write CAT and all other exams. So in order to make a decision i thought lets go to Astrologer( I know its stupid). Astrology always interested me.

Now coming to that day,the guy here in hyderabad is a Tamilian and speaks a very strange Telugu,He took my Thumb impression and gave me a Pamplet on which i had to decide which all chapters of life i wanted to know. I being so curious ticked them all and had to shell out 3500rs for it.( I know thats heights of stupidity!!) He asked us to come after 2 days.

I was having loads of free time those days( 3 months back). So after coming to home i did lot of research( Googling!!) on Nadi astrology and got to know a lot of info on that and about a person named Shashank Oak who was a Air force personal and has written a book on Nadi astrology. I read that book in the night until 3 am!! ( If i had same interest in my engineering books,i would have had better percentage!) I read many Experiences of different people and was anxious to know about my reading. After 2 days it was show time!!

The astrologer started asking me questions to which i had to answer only in Yes or No. He asked me a few questions regarding my date of birth whether was it in May,june. I said no. Then he said it is April and after a few questions he said Its April 14 1988 I was shocked!! Then he said my mother's name and that she has completed Bcom and is working in a Government and deals with Finances. My mother works in a Bank. Then about my father.Even that was absolutely correct!! Then he said i have done Engineering in Electronics,i was in no position to react I have met with this person only twice in my life and he knows everything about my past!!
He said i am in a confused state about my higher studies,well that was very true. Now that my past and present were absolutely right,he started revealing my future.

He said i would do my Masters( MS or MBA??) in a Place where there is a Ocean,he gave examples of Mumbai,chennai etc If not in India then surely abroad. My masters would start from 2010 and complete successfully in 2012.
I will do a job in a Place where there is Ocean!!( Obsession with Ocean)
I will eventually have a love marriage with a girl who is 3 yrs younger to me and has same qualifications as me and is from a Different caste( My dad was surprised). Now this is the fun part,the girl lives in a place which is 6hrs from my place and there is a Open land or a school or hospital right in front of their home!!( I was just enjoying the session)

I would change a few jobs and my company would send me abroad and i would be for most of my life there and i have one more education which i am going to do part time( 3 yrs). Then i am going to be very good at a job which includes a lot of talking. I would become some advisor of sorts to a company!!
I will have 2 kids and i am going to get lots of guru krupa later in my life( I already have a guru in my life).
I am going to die at the age of 76 in afternoon on a Day which is one day after "Ekadasi". He said i would get moksha

You can believe it or ridicule it, I love to believe it when its good and i completely ridicule it when its bad! So when i can believe what is written on leaves by some unknown sage centuries ago then why should i doubt Octopus baba??

PS: I love to change my blog themes and this one seems to the best of all i have used so far. Isn't it good?

Helpless

"RTE is the tryst with destiny in the education sector"-Kapil sibal

With above words we added a fundamental right to the constitution and civics books. I don't know about all the fundamental rights but one that is commonly used or should i say abused is the right to freedom of speech and expression, an example of which we saw in yesterday's hugely "successful" bharath bandh. By the way did you participate in the bandh? I dint because all i needed was a holiday.

Coming to the point of this post, RTE provides free education to children between the age 6 and 14.

According to the right any child between the said age group if found not going to school or working during the school hours becomes a violation of the act and is illegal. we can complain to concerned local authority which will ensure that the child goes to school.

{For complete information on RTE check out this brilliant article here}

There is this girl who is 8 years old who comes along with our domestic help( Honestly called maid) and helps in cleaning the home. When asked whether she goes to school, she said she used to but now she isn't. On further questioning i got to know why she doesn't, her story makes me feel that RTE does not help in her case.

This girl is the granddaughter of our maid's elder sister, she used to live in village with her parents but her father who was unable to look after her sent her to the city(Hyderabad) to stay with her grandmother. After coming to the city she started going to school for a few months but then her grandmother had to go to a different city so she decided to hand over the responsibility to her sister. (Our maid) Now the girl has stopped going to school since our maid does not want to pay for her school. Even though government gives free education still there are additional expenses which need to be taken care of.

So instead of sitting idle in her home she also comes to our home and helps in cleaning.

Now the question arises what does RTE does in this case? Kapil sibal had made it clear that it is our responsibility to make sure that all children around us go to school. But what can we do when parents do not want to send their child to school?? This girl's father now wants her to come to village and he does not want her to go to school!!

Government through RTE provides free education until 8th class but then in this case it cant do anything. I feel helpless in this situation and also feel responsible in some way because we are letting a child work in our home.

I am optimistic that RTE will help many children go to school which is where they should be.