If you feel like you have too many tasks on your plate, this book is for you! After implementing GTD in your life, you'll sleep better.
Some great learIf you feel like you have too many tasks on your plate, this book is for you! After implementing GTD in your life, you'll sleep better.
Some great learnings include: 1. There is no reason to ever have the same thought twice, unless you like having that thought. 2. It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do. 3. The key ingredients of relaxed control are (1) clearly defined outcomes (projects) and the next actions required to move them toward closure, and (2) reminders placed in a trusted system that is reviewed regularly. 4. You need to trust your calendar as sacred territory, reflecting the exact hard edges of your day’s commitments, which should be noticeable at a glance while you’re on the run. 5. The ultimate point and challenge of all this personal capturing, clarifying, organizing, and reflecting methodology: It’s 9:22 a.m. Wednesday morning — what do you do?...more
Robert explains the concepts behind manipulation techniques which are widely in use today. There are some heuristics we use in our everyday life to geRobert explains the concepts behind manipulation techniques which are widely in use today. There are some heuristics we use in our everyday life to get by. They serve us right for the most part but leave us vulnerable to get tricked easily. Being aware of such tactics is a good first step to start recognizing them and remain uninfluenced....more
I always wanted to formally study design patterns. Like algorithms, you just need to know of their existence. If you understand their usage, there's nI always wanted to formally study design patterns. Like algorithms, you just need to know of their existence. If you understand their usage, there's no need to memorize them.
I loved this book's style of delivering content; so conversational and full of visual examples. All technical books should be like this! Just read "How to Use This Book: Intro" and you'll know what I'm talking about....more
I could relate with the existential dread: Is that all there is? Some key insights include: 1. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or miI could relate with the existential dread: Is that all there is? Some key insights include: 1. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. 2. To the extent that a glamorous ad makes us salivate for the product sold or that a frown from the boss spoils the day, we are not free to determine the content of experience. 3. Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person’s capacity to act. 4. On the job people feel skillful and challenged, and therefore feel more happy, strong, creative, and satisfied. In their free time people feel that there is generally not much to do and their skills are not being used, and therefore they tend to feel more sad, weak, dull, and dissatisfied. Yet they would like to work less and spend more time in leisure. 5. Goals justify the effort they demand at the outset, but later it is the effort that justifies the goal....more
Economies of scale have ruined us. The society that we choose to live in is super important. I want to design a town now. The closest/fastest way to dEconomies of scale have ruined us. The society that we choose to live in is super important. I want to design a town now. The closest/fastest way to do that is in the metaverse....more
This is the first book I read twice back to back. I couldn’t stop dog-earing every few pages. There’s an entitlement that comes with being nice. If yoThis is the first book I read twice back to back. I couldn’t stop dog-earing every few pages. There’s an entitlement that comes with being nice. If you think the world owes you something for being nice, drop everything and read this. Hiding some parts of yourself to keep others happy and seeking validation is not a sustainable strategy. So true!...more
It's okay to make mistakes while starting out; you can figure things out on the way. Props to Jessica for probing at all the right places.It's okay to make mistakes while starting out; you can figure things out on the way. Props to Jessica for probing at all the right places....more
It gave me a lot of ideas for a story I'm working on! An interesting point to note is that this was published in 1949, and the surveillance aspect is It gave me a lot of ideas for a story I'm working on! An interesting point to note is that this was published in 1949, and the surveillance aspect is still scary yet plausible....more
Have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writerHave you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn’t write, a painter who doesn’t paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what “Resistance” is. This book is about that. Read it! For the procrastinators out there, it's a short one.
Some key take-aways include: 1. There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write. 2. Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it. If you’re feeling massive Resistance, the good news is, it means there’s tremendous love there too. If you didn’t love the project that is terrifying you, you wouldn’t feel anything. 3. Someone once asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied. “Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”...more
This is now my 2nd favorite book of all time after Courage to be Disliked. I picked it at a very good time as I have recently started meditation and tThis is now my 2nd favorite book of all time after Courage to be Disliked. I picked it at a very good time as I have recently started meditation and this book helped solidify a lot of things for me. I’ll reread it soon....more
Writing is everywhere. You might as well learn how to write well. Topics like science and sports are also within your reach if you enjoy learning. WilWriting is everywhere. You might as well learn how to write well. Topics like science and sports are also within your reach if you enjoy learning. William teaches us, among other things, how to structure a piece and write about people and places, with numerous examples. An element of surprise refreshes and delights readers. Be confident. Resist using an exclamation point! Add humor subtly....more
When we die, there are two things we can leave behind us: genes and memes. I enjoyed the rich examples. You should definitely pick this up if you likeWhen we die, there are two things we can leave behind us: genes and memes. I enjoyed the rich examples. You should definitely pick this up if you liked Sapiens....more
I enjoyed the wordplay. I'd love to write a witty book like this down the line.I enjoyed the wordplay. I'd love to write a witty book like this down the line....more
It's the most beautiful book I've ever read! This will now be my choice of gift for all ages. The Little Prince is one of the top translated books of It's the most beautiful book I've ever read! This will now be my choice of gift for all ages. The Little Prince is one of the top translated books of all time, and I now understand why. If you're reading this and have some recommendations for me, please let me know....more
I'm falling in love with the fable genre. Kudos to Orwell's effort for putting this down in such a simple language.I'm falling in love with the fable genre. Kudos to Orwell's effort for putting this down in such a simple language....more
I read this again after 3-4 years and still found it fresh. I could relate to many situations where I mishandled them in the past. The ideas presentedI read this again after 3-4 years and still found it fresh. I could relate to many situations where I mishandled them in the past. The ideas presented in this book are simple yet effective. I've seen them work for many people, including myself. The secret is to not treat them as life hacks! If you're praising, do it sincerely....more
This teaches you a valuable life-skill of dealing with conflict in those hard conversations. It contains a lot of practical examples and can be skimmeThis teaches you a valuable life-skill of dealing with conflict in those hard conversations. It contains a lot of practical examples and can be skimmed through again quickly! My key takeaway from this book is that anger is never caused by someone else but it’s a manifestation of your own needs.
Some great learnings include: 1. Analyses of others are actually expressions of our own needs and values. 2. NVC heightens our awareness that what others say and do may be the stimulus, but never the cause, of our feelings. 3. People are not aware that empathy is often what they are needing. 4. If someone arrives late for an appointment and we need reassurance that she cares about us, we may feel hurt. If, instead, our need is to spend time purposefully and constructively, we may feel frustrated. But if our need is for thirty minutes of quiet solitude, we may be grateful for her tardiness and feel pleased. Thus, it is not the behavior of the other person but our own need that causes our feeling. 5. At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled....more
The thought process that went into writing this is simply incredible! I might not pick up the Mystery genre again for a while as this has set the bar The thought process that went into writing this is simply incredible! I might not pick up the Mystery genre again for a while as this has set the bar quite high....more
First of all: Don't Panic! It's a quick read and will make you wonder about the ultimate question. Why? 42. So long, and thanks for all the fish.First of all: Don't Panic! It's a quick read and will make you wonder about the ultimate question. Why? 42. So long, and thanks for all the fish....more
Some takeaways include: 1. He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How. 2. Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing somethSome takeaways include: 1. He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How. 2. Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person), and in courage during difficult times. 3. One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. 4. One is commanded and ordered to “be happy.” But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue. One must have a reason to “be happy.” If you want anyone to laugh you have to provide him with a reason, e.g., you have to tell him a joke. In no way is it possible to evoke real laughter by urging him, or having him urge himself, to laugh....more
This is the first book you should read when you're starting out as a developer. Pro Tip: Read the first 10 chapters; skip the rest!This is the first book you should read when you're starting out as a developer. Pro Tip: Read the first 10 chapters; skip the rest!...more
Loved the candid account of everyday struggles. It’s motivating to see someone’s behind-the-scenes (while the system tends to focus only on the highliLoved the candid account of everyday struggles. It’s motivating to see someone’s behind-the-scenes (while the system tends to focus only on the highlight-reel!) and I wish more people share their stories....more
Although the content is similar to The Pragmatic Programmer, I liked this book more because a) it was written by Uncle Bob and b) it has a lot of persAlthough the content is similar to The Pragmatic Programmer, I liked this book more because a) it was written by Uncle Bob and b) it has a lot of personal stories. I loved the concept of wildly optimistic, nominal, and wildly pessimistic estimates. We tend to estimate projects optimistically; having the above 3 estimates laid out can help paint a better picture here....more
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