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Stories Of Work , Life & The Balance In Between
Are you stuck in a job you don’t love? Are you made to do flunky work in office? Do you struggle to balance work and life? Do you want to quit your job and start a business of your own? Do you wonder about the meaning of love and life? If these questions apply to you, then this book is for you. This book is a collection of 10 contemporary short stories based on the corporate world and life in general. Although these stories are a work of fiction, they capture real life situations and dilemmas that I have seen and faced. Each story is aimed to leave the reader with a message. I believe these can help you answer the above questions. If not, I have tried my best to keep the stories as humorous and entertaining as possible.
62 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2016
6 people want to read
About the author
Tomson Robert
4 books3 followersTomson is a new-age author with a portfolio of four published books. Through his realistic narrative, relatable characters, and fast-paced storytelling, he has helped many find the courage to follow their dreams.
In the real world, Tomson is a Partner at EY with over 14 years of consulting experience in the financial services sector. Tomson lives in Dubai with the love of his life, Cini, and their adorable daughter, Lea.
Website: www.tomsonrobert.com
Email: author@tomsonrobert.com
Instagram: @authortomson
In the real world, Tomson is a Partner at EY with over 14 years of consulting experience in the financial services sector. Tomson lives in Dubai with the love of his life, Cini, and their adorable daughter, Lea.
Website: www.tomsonrobert.com
Email: author@tomsonrobert.com
Instagram: @authortomson
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 18, 2016
What if you had an invisible recording chip that you could make an incision into your brain and fix in? What thoughts would t record, say, if you were in between six months and twelve months in your first job. Yes, it has to be those many months, precisely. Because for the first six months you’re either on honeymoon travelling down the various verticals of your organization with an air that suits a princess who has just arrived, a thick garland in her arms, sizing up the candidates her father has lined up for her Swayamvara. And of it is past twelve months, you’re officially a veteran as, one, it’s time for a fresh batch of new joiners already and two, because you now know the game to be able to try your hand at it yourself. So, yes, it is that six to twelve months of mind reading that we are talking about here, things that no one else hears than you yourself. The stories take you right back there, in those times.
The stories are self deprecating and funny to begin with, though not without the clear undertone of satire, a satire that makes us lose our way all the time between the means and the end, between the journey and the purpose. And then, towards the end of story 3, it brings about melancholy. The young chap asks for advice, and the older successful climber offers one that is barely honest considering his own trade-off between life and time. The younger strides off in silent disbelief while the older smiles over his personal destiny of success and breakage, of work and home. And thus rolls on the carriage of stories, innocent yet powerful, juvenile yet so real!
Stories of Whatsapp “good mornings” and our gadget gripped days follow. Stories of Boss-saga continues, and questions arise as to if the vicious cycle must continue or is it now about time it is reversed.
The stories are ample, and they lightly touch upon wisdoms that are deeper set in the universe of mankind… if you do not do what you love, you still have the choice to love what you do, for example; if emotions were bought at supermarkets, for yet another example, and so on…
However if I were to now bring upon how this could become a batter read, I’m afraid I’d come up with points too many. I felt that while the author aimed to touch higher thoughts through apprantly superfluous stories, the attempt in most or perhaps almost all cases have been detained back to their superfluous levels, unevenly standing out against their more altruistic ambition of delivering a life’s lesson, a moral, a message. I believe that the stories need much more deep dive capabilities to be able to achieve the message that they contemplate. Also to add to it, the autobiographical tone which includes repetitive characters and stories brings forth a kind of monotony and victim playing, which is far from the real complexities of the game. The dilemmas and disputes risk both over-simplication and under-treatment of the issues in hand. And it is monochrome in that it does not provide multiple perspectives that is necessary to do justice to anything we experience.
However, having said that, it is also to be credited that the book is overall an easy read and it is hearty and honest. It warrants known snippets from lives from all around us. It warrants a few mental mirror-facing moments, too.
And to end with, I loved the marble touch from Santa in the last story.
All in all, I rate this book a 5.5 on a scale of 10, and look forward to reading more from the writer.
And yes, the review will not be honest until it carries a note of confession at its tail-end, that while doing it, I did move over to check up my social pages while surely I had nothing urgent lying there waiting for me than a pure, plain, incorrigible addiction.
The stories are self deprecating and funny to begin with, though not without the clear undertone of satire, a satire that makes us lose our way all the time between the means and the end, between the journey and the purpose. And then, towards the end of story 3, it brings about melancholy. The young chap asks for advice, and the older successful climber offers one that is barely honest considering his own trade-off between life and time. The younger strides off in silent disbelief while the older smiles over his personal destiny of success and breakage, of work and home. And thus rolls on the carriage of stories, innocent yet powerful, juvenile yet so real!
Stories of Whatsapp “good mornings” and our gadget gripped days follow. Stories of Boss-saga continues, and questions arise as to if the vicious cycle must continue or is it now about time it is reversed.
The stories are ample, and they lightly touch upon wisdoms that are deeper set in the universe of mankind… if you do not do what you love, you still have the choice to love what you do, for example; if emotions were bought at supermarkets, for yet another example, and so on…
However if I were to now bring upon how this could become a batter read, I’m afraid I’d come up with points too many. I felt that while the author aimed to touch higher thoughts through apprantly superfluous stories, the attempt in most or perhaps almost all cases have been detained back to their superfluous levels, unevenly standing out against their more altruistic ambition of delivering a life’s lesson, a moral, a message. I believe that the stories need much more deep dive capabilities to be able to achieve the message that they contemplate. Also to add to it, the autobiographical tone which includes repetitive characters and stories brings forth a kind of monotony and victim playing, which is far from the real complexities of the game. The dilemmas and disputes risk both over-simplication and under-treatment of the issues in hand. And it is monochrome in that it does not provide multiple perspectives that is necessary to do justice to anything we experience.
However, having said that, it is also to be credited that the book is overall an easy read and it is hearty and honest. It warrants known snippets from lives from all around us. It warrants a few mental mirror-facing moments, too.
And to end with, I loved the marble touch from Santa in the last story.
All in all, I rate this book a 5.5 on a scale of 10, and look forward to reading more from the writer.
And yes, the review will not be honest until it carries a note of confession at its tail-end, that while doing it, I did move over to check up my social pages while surely I had nothing urgent lying there waiting for me than a pure, plain, incorrigible addiction.
August 20, 2016
Can the Twain Meet?
This is the question author Robert Tomson attempts to answer in his short anthology, Stories of Work, Life & the Balance in Between.
There is the impressive B-school degree and then there is reality - of life and corporate world. The author has tried to bring out in his stories, the resulting chasm - of having to eat a humble pie, of personal casualties, of being isolated - all borne out of certain expectations. Through a mix of profound and witty stories, evidently inspired by personal experiences (at least a few of them), the author also attempts to drive home a point or two.
The opening story, “What I Learned From my First Job” sets the right tone for the book by emphasizing on one of the most important virtues in the corporate world today. The subsequent one titled “Time for Work Life Balance” brings out the consequence of tilting the balance. The best way to succeed is sometimes not through hard work but smart work (read moves) as is seen in “The Interview”. On the other hand, one might find the story on limited dimensions a tad dry because by now one has happily got used to a twist-in- the-tale or witty flavor! However, for the major part of it, the anthology sustains the reader’s interest, be it a seasoned professional or a novice.
Generally, a problem encountered with an anthology of such sort is predictability and monotony after a few chapters. However, this one clearly steers clear of such a thing maybe because the author stops at the right point. Economically priced even for an e-book, pick this one up for a short, snappy and interesting read. Familiar jargons and terms do creep in and there are new ones like John-ism! Curious to know what it means? Read the book to find out!!
This is the question author Robert Tomson attempts to answer in his short anthology, Stories of Work, Life & the Balance in Between.
There is the impressive B-school degree and then there is reality - of life and corporate world. The author has tried to bring out in his stories, the resulting chasm - of having to eat a humble pie, of personal casualties, of being isolated - all borne out of certain expectations. Through a mix of profound and witty stories, evidently inspired by personal experiences (at least a few of them), the author also attempts to drive home a point or two.
The opening story, “What I Learned From my First Job” sets the right tone for the book by emphasizing on one of the most important virtues in the corporate world today. The subsequent one titled “Time for Work Life Balance” brings out the consequence of tilting the balance. The best way to succeed is sometimes not through hard work but smart work (read moves) as is seen in “The Interview”. On the other hand, one might find the story on limited dimensions a tad dry because by now one has happily got used to a twist-in- the-tale or witty flavor! However, for the major part of it, the anthology sustains the reader’s interest, be it a seasoned professional or a novice.
Generally, a problem encountered with an anthology of such sort is predictability and monotony after a few chapters. However, this one clearly steers clear of such a thing maybe because the author stops at the right point. Economically priced even for an e-book, pick this one up for a short, snappy and interesting read. Familiar jargons and terms do creep in and there are new ones like John-ism! Curious to know what it means? Read the book to find out!!
August 15, 2016
Please visit the blog for a complete book review: www.flipaleaf.com
Work, Life and the Balance in between talks about and answers very common questions relating to our everyday lives at work, the questions which sometimes pop-up in our head while making a mind-numbing report or the thoughts which our mind processes while seeing our peers at work. The fact that it comes from the man himself; Tomson Robert, who has juggled a lot in his professional and personal life because of work , trying to strike the right balance makes it more relevant for every associate hammering their brains in front of a computer. The book is in the form of short stories. Now, the thing I love about a book with short stories is, you never get bored of reading it and you need not maintain a typical sync to read it; it is to be enjoyed as the stories come. Let's say, it is a very non-pressurized form of reading a book.
Tomson Robert, the author has tried to address almost all the issues and questions which one thinks about when they first set their foot in the corporate world. It is a very tedious task to convey big things- a strong message, humorous writing and a crisp conclusion- through a short story, which I think has been done commendably for some stories, but I would have loved to see the same for all of them. It is a leaflet which can be read by everyone, easy and at leisure. You never know when, while reading this, it might spark the answer to your long worried notion!
Work, Life and the Balance in between talks about and answers very common questions relating to our everyday lives at work, the questions which sometimes pop-up in our head while making a mind-numbing report or the thoughts which our mind processes while seeing our peers at work. The fact that it comes from the man himself; Tomson Robert, who has juggled a lot in his professional and personal life because of work , trying to strike the right balance makes it more relevant for every associate hammering their brains in front of a computer. The book is in the form of short stories. Now, the thing I love about a book with short stories is, you never get bored of reading it and you need not maintain a typical sync to read it; it is to be enjoyed as the stories come. Let's say, it is a very non-pressurized form of reading a book.
Tomson Robert, the author has tried to address almost all the issues and questions which one thinks about when they first set their foot in the corporate world. It is a very tedious task to convey big things- a strong message, humorous writing and a crisp conclusion- through a short story, which I think has been done commendably for some stories, but I would have loved to see the same for all of them. It is a leaflet which can be read by everyone, easy and at leisure. You never know when, while reading this, it might spark the answer to your long worried notion!
August 26, 2016
This is not a self help book but it aims to inspire a little bit of hope. In this tiny collection of ten short stories, the writer offers, for the most part, variations on a single gimmick and a few limited situations. The stories are essentially fictitious but have uncanny similarity to situations in our everyday life. People in the corporate world — who are meant to work 24x7 365 days a year — can especially connect to these situations.
Tomson develops a clear theme in book: success doesn’t lead to happiness. Happiness leads to success. The things we think will make us happier often don’t. And we want to believe it or not, all of us undergo similar circumstances where we prioritize wrongly.
Each story gives a gem of an advice.
The content of the book shines through in a clear, sincere way that is sure to inspire the reader even if it lends nothing new to their understanding.
See full review at: http://bit.ly/2bbZUnO
Tomson develops a clear theme in book: success doesn’t lead to happiness. Happiness leads to success. The things we think will make us happier often don’t. And we want to believe it or not, all of us undergo similar circumstances where we prioritize wrongly.
Each story gives a gem of an advice.
The content of the book shines through in a clear, sincere way that is sure to inspire the reader even if it lends nothing new to their understanding.
See full review at: http://bit.ly/2bbZUnO
September 13, 2016
This book entails the author, Tomson Robert's fictional accounts of his corporate life and his personal life. Through 10 contemporary short and crisp stories, the situations one usually faces in work life are highlighted through various perspectives - the boss, the employee, etc. I found it entertaining and a quick read to be completed in a single sitting (1 hour max) as it is about 70 pages long. My favourite story from the lot is 'How You Became A Horrible Boss'. All the stories are generously sprinkled with humour and make it a light read. Recommended for newbies to the corporate world.
Read my complete review here: http://survivaloftheoptimist.blogspot...
Read my complete review here: http://survivaloftheoptimist.blogspot...
August 13, 2016
Please visit http://www.guptakaushal.in/2016/08/bo... to read the complete review of the book.
The book is a collection of 10 short stories that revolve around the protagonists work, his life and the balance that he tries to create between them, day in and day out. The stories talk about the struggle that he has gone through and the escapes that he makes, there is display of intelligence and humor.
The writing is very simple and keeps you engaged. If you are looking for a very quick read, Stories Of Work, Life & The Balance In Between can be of those books.
The book is a collection of 10 short stories that revolve around the protagonists work, his life and the balance that he tries to create between them, day in and day out. The stories talk about the struggle that he has gone through and the escapes that he makes, there is display of intelligence and humor.
The writing is very simple and keeps you engaged. If you are looking for a very quick read, Stories Of Work, Life & The Balance In Between can be of those books.
August 10, 2016
Set of short stories that anyone in corporate world relate to. Most of the stories revolves around the lead character stuck in a investment firm, but it applies to many who are in a 9 to 5 corporate jobs. The short stories turned out to be too short (at least for me!) just when I was thinking that the plot is getting brewed very nicely, there you go - an abrupt end. I would've liked it to be litter more than the current length. I would add this book to my 'Read to kill time and have a chuckle once' list.
August 31, 2016
Awesome book to lift up your spirits and will help you in paving a path from mediocrity to excellence. The stories will help you relate your work culture with the characters in the story and it will make you feel as if you are a part of the story rather than the reader. A short read but a must read book which has the power to change your course of life forever, if you get the messages encrypted within the stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2016
A successful attempt by the author of this book to inspire the working professionals. This book is a collection of short stories tempting you for more at the end of each story. Humorous and satirical phrases keeps you glued towards the book. I am truly reality struck after reading this book.
August 19, 2016
Short, Crisp read it is a book which related to anyone who is working in corporate. Each story is quirky and leaves a message for the young corporates about different aspects like Work- Life Balance importance, Decision Making etc.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews