This book was given to me by NC State University's Graduate School as a part of the Certificate of Career Development (CCD) under the Preparing Future...moreThis book was given to me by NC State University's Graduate School as a part of the Certificate of Career Development (CCD) under the Preparing Future Leaders (PFL) program.
I found the strength-based psychology interesting and the assessment technique good. The StrengthsFinder 2.0 identified my top 5 strengths as Input, Intellection, Learner, Strategic and Discipline, which sounds fair to me. It is interesting to take a test that focuses on your strengths rather than your weaknesses.(less)
Cosmos is to the Astronomy as The Selfish Gene is to Biology. This book is definitely another one that goes on my all time favourite and most influent...moreCosmos is to the Astronomy as The Selfish Gene is to Biology. This book is definitely another one that goes on my all time favourite and most influential books of my life. In his characteristically eloquent and precise way, Dawkins introduces his revolutionary ideas about life in terms of replicators and their vehicles. This book will expand your horizons and make you wonder at the resourcefulness and ingenuity of nature left to evolve by itself over millions of years. Splendidly written. Must read for all!(less)
I started reading this book in order to participate in the Read Smart book discussion series organized by NCSU Libraries and Wake County Public Librar...moreI started reading this book in order to participate in the Read Smart book discussion series organized by NCSU Libraries and Wake County Public Libraries. I was so unimpressed by this book that I almost gave up on it. After a day or two, I was so traumatized by my not finishing a book that I started, that I went back to reading it.
This time, I was pleasantly surprised by how intelligent the book sounded. I think the author did a good job addressing the very confusing and somewhat hypocritical relationship that we have with animals in our daily lives. He touches on pets and pests, meat and other animal products, hunting and other recreational killing, research animals and even cockfighting. In writing the book he has talked to people from all walks of life- those in academia, those involved with animal rights organizations, vegans and even some people who grow gamecocks.
While the book starts of a tad slow, he builds up momentum and argues convincingly about his case- that our relationship with animals will always be confusing, draped in various shades of gray. (less)
Randy Pausch's story is moving and he is a great story-teller. It is difficult to imagine being in his shoes and his positive, upbeat attitude in the...moreRandy Pausch's story is moving and he is a great story-teller. It is difficult to imagine being in his shoes and his positive, upbeat attitude in the face of such insurmountable difficulties is very admirable. His tale forces us all to ponder the short-lived journeys that we all lead as the very real danger of deadly diseases like cancer becomes starkly apparent. This book is a definite reality-check and worth a read. I am yet to see the famous lecture that preceded and inspired the publication of this book and is down on my list of things to do.(less)
Despite how brief this book was, it was a difficult read for me. This is also the first time I'm reading any of Hitchens' works. That I give this book...moreDespite how brief this book was, it was a difficult read for me. This is also the first time I'm reading any of Hitchens' works. That I give this book three stars is entirely my fault for reading this book in my usual high speed and thus having some of the words flow over my head, and not because I can find any flaws with the arguments that Hitchens puts across.
Even though this book is brief, it reveals many a shocking fact about what Mother Teresa's true agenda was. I confess that I didn't really know much about her to begin with, other than that she was based in Calcutta and "helped" the poor. I used to argue in support of organized religions, especially Christianity because of the succour I thought the downtrodden and the poor received from the missionaries. This book is underscores how such missions truly have no other motive than to spread their dogma, even at the cost of the poor's well being. The book also brings out the political agenda behind the seemingly apolitical Mother Teresa's stand.
This book reveals how Mother Teresa loved poverty more than the poor and how she had the best interests of the Catholic faith at heart and not alleviation of suffering. (less)
Sam Harris compiles his arguments against religion in the form of this book addressed as a letter to the conservative Christian. His words are compell...moreSam Harris compiles his arguments against religion in the form of this book addressed as a letter to the conservative Christian. His words are compelling and call for deep introspection. The only problem is, I don't really see any highly religious person making it till the end of the book. This small book is definitely a great book for those having little or no time to read through the large literature available in atheism.
Harris starts off after a brief note and an introduction, to question the wisdom of the Bible and the Ten Commandments. He then discusses morality and whether we need a religious background for instilling the sense of what is right and wrong. I found his discussion on the use of contraceptives and abortion very thorough. He then moves on to the idea of "doing good for God" and questions the misconception that atheists are evil. I found my "Oh! This opened my eyes!" moment in the section, "Who Puts the Good in the "Good Book"?". I never really thought about how we use our own sense of morality to sift through what is written in any Holy Book to decide it's moral implications. He touches upon the the nature of God and prophecies and then discusses how we cannot sugarcoat or ignore the inevitable clash of science and religion. After a brief mention of evolution, he discusses the dangers of religious violence in the 21st century.
This book is an autobiography of chef Gabrielle Hamilton who runs the restaurant "Prune" in NYC. Definitely a gifted writer, Hamilton has managed to p...moreThis book is an autobiography of chef Gabrielle Hamilton who runs the restaurant "Prune" in NYC. Definitely a gifted writer, Hamilton has managed to portray her extraordinary circumstances and her early relationship with the kitchen in a very engaging way. Despite this, initially I found it really hard to find my reading momentum. I found her time frames really confusing and I couldn't understand the chapter to chapter skip. Nevertheless, she has some really profound insights and a very refreshing outlook in life.
Originally read as a part of "Read Smart" initiative by the NCSU Libraries and the Wake County Public Libraries, I missed the book discussion scheduled YESTERDAY. Oh well, I make it to the next one for Caleb's Crossing.(less)
This book is definitely a must read for all George Carlin fans. While it wasn't really written by Carlin, it gives a lot of insight into what shaped C...moreThis book is definitely a must read for all George Carlin fans. While it wasn't really written by Carlin, it gives a lot of insight into what shaped Carlin and the story behind his acts. I've always felt Carlin wasn't just a stand-up comedian... his role went much beyond that. He was a philosopher (he would've hated that label, I think). The book made me realize how much work he actually put in to create his pieces. Imagine taking extensive notes filling numerous computers! It was also a little sad reading how much drugs and alcohol affected his life and his family's. (less)
I don't really call myself a dog person... maybe that's why I really liked the book. From what I can see from others' reviews the bad reviews stem fro...moreI don't really call myself a dog person... maybe that's why I really liked the book. From what I can see from others' reviews the bad reviews stem from those a) who found the story a typical dog story b) who don't like dogs c) who were outraged at Marley's treatment.
While the story was predictable, and yes, a typical dog story, I felt Grogan did a nice job writing the book. He's a journalist and it shows. No matter how typical the story is, the book did make me laugh throughout and cry at the end. Grogan tells a heart-warming story and I couldn't care lesser about the minutiae and debate whether his training was perfect, whether the Grogans deserved a dog, the mistakes they did etc. etc. I'm not interested in judging Grogan's treatment of the dog. All I care about is the story and it touched me. Enough said!
Oh and yes, I'm never getting a dog. I can't bear all the heartbreak in the end.
For me, giving up on a book before finishing is rare, but this one almost drove me to it. The only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars is because I lo...moreFor me, giving up on a book before finishing is rare, but this one almost drove me to it. The only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars is because I love animals and own cats myself. The story is endearing, no doubt about it. Vicki Myron's story is filled with tragedy, no one can deny that. However, I found the book excessively long, digressive and over-romanticized. To give Myron credit, she obviously did well enough for a small town librarian writing about a cat she loved. After a phase where I thought I just might have to give up on the book, a few days break from the constant harping on small town values, unexpected autobiography of Myron's tragic life instances and over-reading of a cat's intentions helped me get to the book's last page.
I feel I'm being too cruel on Myron... that's really not my intention. It's a good enough read if you love cats, I suppose. (less)
Leaving aside the fact that Strobel's "case" for anything starts off with giving historical credence to things I question to begin with (like calling...moreLeaving aside the fact that Strobel's "case" for anything starts off with giving historical credence to things I question to begin with (like calling the New Testament a historical account), there is something about Strobel's writing style which grated on my nerves.
This book is a good source of information for the layman person of Christian faith, who wishes to understand in simple terms the "proof" that the New Testament offers about the death and the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. For this reason alone I give this book 2 stars. Obviously being a non-Christian, I would be hard-pressed to rate this book higher than that, just like any theist would when it comes to Dawkins or Harris.
Another thing I really appreciated from the book is the chance to add to the database of theological and theist-atheist debates that I need to look up. The book was concise and precise, but I really found the extended introductions with minutiae of what the interviewees were wearing/looked like/their interior decoration/their "tenderness of heart", etc. highly irritating.
A person like me who gives no importance to the literal meaning of "holy" books, will find the book flawed right from the start. (less)
I cannot begin to describe how amazing this book is. Of all the books I have read in my life till now, I will always remember Carl Sagan's Cosmos as t...moreI cannot begin to describe how amazing this book is. Of all the books I have read in my life till now, I will always remember Carl Sagan's Cosmos as the book that brought back meaning into my life. With wonderful humility Dr. Sagan makes the unfathomably huge Cosmos come to life with words that are clearly written from the heart, complemented by beautiful photographs and illustrations. I cannot imagine any reader not being moved by what Dr. Sagan is trying to tell us. As I progressed through the thirteen chapters that make this book, I went through phases of awe about how big the known Universe is, how little we know, how insignificant we are in the Cosmic scale of things, hopelessness of how petty even the biggest and most serious of international arguments (forget the minutiae of daily petty fights and grudges) are, poignancy about lost knowledge and civilizations, before I realized truly what Dr. Sagan wishes to say- human life is so, so, so, very precious. In the deafening noise of various philosophies that concern the meaning of life, Dr. Sagan's voice is the soothing balm of reason to chaffed and tired ears.
This lonely planet called Earth in a forgotten corner of the Universe desperately needs more people like Dr. Sagan who can write such as eloquent a book as the Cosmos.
I recommend this book to each and everyone. If I have kids, this book will be one they will quote as the formative book of their childhood.
Carl Sagan, we miss you and you will always be my hero. (less)
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