By: Henry David Thoreau
Pages: 280
Non Fiction, Philosophy
My recommendation: 7 / 10
Date read: 8th Nov'17
Brief review: The book is based on the author's experience of two years he spent in solitude in a cabin he made all by himself near the Walden Lake. First published in 1854, the book is considered to be one of the best works of Henry David Thoreau. Through the book, the author advocates living a simple life and that being wise is not enough; we should live a worthy life. The book is a detailed experience of everyday life he lived during those two years and may get monotonous for the reader after a while. It's not for starters. If you love philosophy and stoic way of living, read this one.
By: William Zinsser
Pages: 303
Non Fiction
My recommendation: 7 / 10
Date read: 8th Oct'17
Brief review: I bought this book as it was recommended by a blogger on the web. I was not disappointed. The book teaches the various nuances of writing. The importance of simplicity, style, unity, how to start and end and other bits and pieces. Simple things can turn a plain essay into a delightful reading. I definitely got few ideas to improve upon my writings. The first part was interesting. The second part was more technical and boring. If you are a professional writer or your job involves some forms of writing, I would suggest you read this book.
By: Elie Wiesel
Pages: 158
Biography, Non Fiction
My recommendation: 8 / 10
Date read: 20th Sep'17
Brief review: Elie Wiesel was the winner of 1986 Nobel Peace Prize. But before that, when he was just a 15 year old teenager, he was put into the Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Unbelievably, he was among the few who survived the traumatic experience at the camps. He wrote this heart breaking real account of his experience at the camps after 10 years of silence. This is a story of how he survived and what happened at the camps. His faith was consumed forever. There were no Gods; only the gallows. You need to read this to know what happened in those camps during the World War II. I have read stories of holocaust before but this broke my heart even more. Sometimes, it is important to know how bad life could treat you so that we respect it more than we do.
By: Philip Zimbardo & John Boyd
Pages: 337
Non Fiction, Psychology
My recommendation: 8 / 10
Date read: 15th Aug'17
Brief review: It is not a time management book. It’s a book about how we perceive time and how our day to day decisions, including life defining ones, are shaped by it. How our culture, upbringing, memories and environment affects our behavior towards time. It mostly talks about psychology of time and how we can do better by changing out attitude towards time. It was a deep read in the beginning and I thought like quitting but it became quite interesting as I went on to finish the book on a lazy Saturday. This is not a book to start your reading habit. You will grasp it / enjoy it only if you are a regular reader.
By: Dan Ariely
Pages: 247
Non Fiction, Psychology
My recommendation: 8 / 10
Date read: 18th May'17
Brief review: Dan Ariely makes an excellent case to prove that we think irrationally. We think we are in control but we are not. You will relate to so many examples he gives. Why our headaches persist after taking a cheap painkiller but disappear when we take a more expensive one? Why dealing with cash makes us more honest? Why the mind gets what it expects? Why we are happy to do things, but not when paid to do them? A well researched book and interesting read. I am sure you would like this. If you do, also read 'The Art of Creative Thinking' by Rolf Dobelli.
