The Psychology of Books Series – Book Review: Close to The Bone by Lisa Ray

Being a lifelong learner, I hardly create my reading lists. Instead of me needing to choose books, the chosen books reach me in a magical way. ‘Close to the Bone’ is one such book that captured me. If it has reached you too, I suggest not missing reading it at all.

While the words in golden beautify the book cover, the real gold is hidden inside this memoir of Lisa Rani Ray, a popular name in the world of modeling and cinema. It’s her soulful saga that begins with her heartwarming childhood stories and family incidents. There is a lot interesting to read, from carrying a mixed-race legacy with her to the experiences she gained from her time spent with family, relatives and friends in two different countries, India and Poland, where her father and mother respectively belong to.

Lisa has also wonderfully written an account of her life in Calcutta, Canada, New York and London, among other places, and her professional life that ‘accidentally’ started in Bombay. Her inclination to writing and poetry, practicing yoga and meditation, mural painting, and travel and adventure is all mentioned beautifully. From her inner conflicts, failed relationships, bulimia issue and fears in life to her graduation from the deadly disease of multiple myeloma/cancer, she has very honestly penned it all down.

What most appealed and related to me was the storytelling of her deep spiritual adventures and her quest to understand and achieve a balanced life by believing constantly in her positive thoughts and not in the norms and fears that prevail around one’s choices in life. She has shown the courage to rise above societal tags and bound beliefs to spread awareness about issues close to her heart.

Whether it is about undergoing stem cell treatment or attending red carpet events with her shaved head, Lisa, through her life experiences, teaches the world to shed its inhibitions and find the real ‘self’ to manifest what seems impossible.

Although I found the book slightly dragged by the end, it’s actually a page turner, even if it’s not a fiction book. That’s simply because Lisa’s life is so real, yet unreal; so intuitive and random, yet cosmically planned; and so inner-oriented, yet extremely candid. I strongly recommend the memoir to all.

Lead a happy life, reading and growing…:)

The Psychology of Books Series – Book Review: The Knife’s Edge by Prof. Stephen Westaby

Continuing my quest for wonderful reads, this month, I came across a non-fiction book named The Knife’s Edge. For those of you who want to develop with the development of knowledge, this book can be a pearl in the necklace. Here is my review of The Knife’s Edge:

“The Knife’s Edge is a beautifully crafted book by an equally crafty cardiac surgeon, Professor Stephen Westaby. As its caption suggests, it’s truly an account of the heart and soul of a cardiac surgeon who deals with the ups and downs of life, every single moment at work. You’ll see the sacrifices and pains behind that routine of multiple mind-boggling surgeries that are handled under extreme pressure by surgeons, yet with great precision. Sometimes, their hands are tied; sometimes, their times are.

I also appreciate the way the author has raised his questions on the working of a healthcare system that he believes to be lacking in advanced equipment and resources required for a job that is considered to be the toughest in the professional domain. It was sad to learn about the conditions in which critical heart surgeries of infants and adults take place when the system is unable to provide for the best, which it is surely able to achieve with such talented nursing personnel and surgeons.

Some compassion for the sufferers and a slight change in administrative mindset can avoid many dangers, fears and risks to the ‘precious’ life. Suffering is never a good sight to witness, whether by patients’ families or their surgeons.

This book not just covers the author’s professional cases but also his personal life that sometimes displays the shades of sadness, fear and misery and the feelings of joy on other occasions. I feel life is never normal when death becomes a regular part of it. I was moved by the incidents like those of Sophie and Oliver, the little patients who came back from the clutches of death, simply because their surgeon forever believed in hope and in magic at times when he strove constantly to achieve perfection.

While it’s advantageous to be aware of the basics of anatomy and medical procedures when you read this book, the life stories, thoughts and experiences of Prof. Westaby are worth cherishing, especially when the book is so well edited and supported by a glossary of medical terms. Go for it any day, guys!”

Lead a happy life, reading and growing…:)

The Psychology of Books Series – Book Review: The Unnamed Bears Favor by J. Lyon Layden

As we talk about the psychology of content on this blog, I want to share today about the books that have their unique psychology. We, the writers, weave a special world for our readers in order to instigate their imagination and thought processes in multiple directions. If a book cannot do that, there is no point in its existence.

I not only create books but also read tons of them (tons from different genres!) to spark my imagination and thoughts. I suggest the same when you read something. Explore a variety of genres and do not keep yourself limited to the one you like. While your favorite genre may keep your mind entertained, your mind also needs to grow and develop with a new stream of thought.

Recently, I came across this amazing read that I’d like to recommend to you. The title of this fantasy novelette is ‘The Unnamed Bears Favor.’ This book by J. Lyon Layden is a fine read for those readers who have been finding their truth and purpose in life. I’m posting a concise review so you may get a gist of what it brings along.

My review of The Unnamed Bears Favor:

“The Unnamed Bears Favor is a well-researched, well-crafted work by the author. Those who are enlightened will reach the depth of his imagination here. The story of an unnamed village outcast started random and slow, but everything made a connection as I flipped through the pages. It’s beautiful to see how this ‘unnamed’ brave boy walks through an adventurous life journey with his brotherly tribe to try achieving a name that could define his identity and life’s purpose. The rich vocab is complemented by dramatic scenes, which I loved most about this book. I almost got immersed in the world of adorned warriors and dreadful ogres. I’m glad I came across and read this novelette.”

I’m sure you’ll also be glad to read it and more such books that take you to a higher plane of consciousness. When your mind reaches that state of consciousness, you become aware of the tasks you’re here to accomplish. All humans have arrived to complete their mission on Earth, and the earlier you find your purpose, the better you do that task. So, do not delay your mental expansion up on the ladder of life. Read-learn-absorb-repeat!

Lead a happy life, reading and growing…:)

How Book Lovers Can Contribute to the Environment this Earth Day

On Earth Day today (April 22), we all need to take a pledge to contribute to saving our environment in one way or another. Recycling can be the first important step to get started to care for your environment and Mother Earth. I know most of you may already be doing that, and thus, you must pass on the knowledge to those who require such inspiration.

Photo by Perfecto Capucine on Pexels.com

Moving further, I have an Eco-friendly suggestion for a particular group of individuals. Especially to ferocious readers and book lovers, I want to say that your first step can be to move from physical books to e books. While I understand your sentiments of loving the touch and smell of a new book, it is also critical to realize what you would be leaving for your children and grandchildren to enjoy!

Did you know that just 1 ton of non-recycled printing paper takes the lives of about 25 trees? You may now count and assess how you, as extensive readers, are contributing to environmental damage. I share your passion for book reading and must tell you that I moved to e books long back. For years, I have not bought any physical book. The ones I have are a few gifted by authors or those I rented from an e library. That leaves a lot of space inside my study, keeps my library organized on my phone/tab, and of course, saves trees from dying before time.🌲🌴🌿

I appeal to reading enthusiasts to think of it and try contributing positively to the mother that feeds them. Read green, recycle paper, and pass on your extra books to not-so-privileged individuals to read and gain knowledge from them. Protect Mother Earth in your own little or big ways, reader friends. Yes, you can do it too. Begin now, if you have not yet!

Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

10 Quick Tips to Be More Creative Right Now

As promised in my previous post, you can gain some real quick tips to be creative right now. If you always thought it to be complex to arrive at new ideas, then it is going to be super-easy from now on. It is simply about training your mind. Check out some ways to think out of the box and make it a habit to be creative:

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

1. Be open-minded: The first thing you must do is to keep your mind open to thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Resisting new ideas will stop you from being creative. Thus, start by appreciating every change that happens around you. Then, train your mind to stay adaptive and learning-oriented. Learn from any and every concept, event, source, etc.
2. Gain domain knowledge: People who experiment with their skills and innovate have good knowledge in their domains. For instance, a musician can only create new tunes when he/she has the knowledge of creating music. Thus, start gaining more knowledge on your subject. Move to Internet and search for fresh information on any topic you find intriguing. You will be surprised at what all you learn. New learning will trigger creative thoughts.
3. Solve an old problem: If you were thinking about completing a task but were facing an obstacle to do so, then rethink. If you do not have enough information to solve it, search online. Keep exploring relevant information until you arrive at a minimum of one solution to that problem. A good start may give you other creative ideas to solve that problem.
4. Doodle it: Even if you have a weird thought in mind, try doodling it. You do not need to be a great artist to doodle your idea. Draw anything that comes to mind and you will automatically be inspired to make it better and come up with fresh ideas to mend your doodle. You may carry a sketchbook to doodle your sudden ideas anytime, anywhere.
5. Link up things: Select any two items in your home and think how you would link them up. For instance, the creator of roller skates might have thought of linking shoes and wheels. What is your idea of linking up things?
6. Explore a picture: Take any picture or painting to explore keenly. Write down all you notice about that picture. Adopt a fresh perspective to look at it every time and keep noting down your ideas. Whether you like or dislike something or want to change an element, keep a note. Take a break and review your notes later. You will find how creative you have been with your thoughts.
7. Be curious: To be creative, you have to be curious. Go to watch a play. Attend a concert. Visit an art gallery. If nothing is possible, explore creative videos on the Internet. Be curious about the art so you may know more about it and create some of your own.
8. Read a novel: If you have a good story book or novel, start reading it. You can also download e books. When you read a story, you will be curious to know about further happenings. Hundreds of new thoughts will come to your mind. Work on it if you get a wonderful idea.
9. Go for a walk: To stimulate your mind, it is also helpful to move physically. When you go for a walk around your block, you will meet different people and notice a lot of activities. Make a habit of observation and giving a thought to such activities. One thought will lead to another and many more.
10. Do things differently: Whether it is about cooking your meal with changed ingredients or taking a new route to office, you should make a change today. Experiment on doing things differently.

Creativity is only about making a change in the way you think. Initiate the training of your mind immediately!

How to Grow and Develop with Poetry

If you always thought that poetry is just a way of the poet to self-express, then think again. You may still be at a nascent stage and far from self-actualization. However, you are not alone in thinking that. Many individuals believe that a poet pens down his/her personal thoughts, feelings, and past or present life in his/her poem. They don’t see any way it could be useful or helpful to them.

However, you can grow and develop yourself if you open your mind to understanding what poetry can do to you. Read on to find out.

Know yourself: Poetry can appear to be sad or happy, dark or positive, and hopeless or hopeful. Sometimes, you may find a poem as the description of an event in the poet’s life, which may actually not be the case. At another time, you may find the same poem as the description of an event in your own life. Similarly, you may find the poet’s perspective very different from your perspective on the poem’s subject. All this happens because you and your environment are unique, yet you share similar emotions, feelings, experiences and more with other humans. Poetry helps you know your real personality by the way you react to the words of someone else.

Explore your inner self: It is not only about your overt personality but you may also explore your core through poetry. I have seen readers who start interpreting a poet’s thoughts and life as soon as they read their poetry. However, a poet may pen down a poem for any purpose, to explain any concept/thought, to express their experience in any manner, and to tell their own or someone else’s story in any context. It is very complex to arrive at an exact understanding of a poet through his/her poem. Moreover, how does that knowledge add to a reader’s own growth and development? A better use of poetry is for exploring your own inner self.

Stir your core: Reading poetry is highly enriching. There are several things that may be taboo in your family, society, community, etc. Poetry is so versatile that it can break all such taboos and bring to your mind’s surface all the emotions, feelings or perspectives that you’d never share in your real life, with people around you. This is because you may not want to create a negative or rebellious image of yours. With poetry, you can actually stir that suppressed subconscious and unconscious that you’ve been carrying in your head. It gives a release/clearance to your true emotions and any negativity. When you get rid of that, you turn to be more positive, humble, compassionate, understanding of others, and energized. You start moving beyond what was blocking your growth and development as a human. You become more open and accepting of your and others’ thoughts and feelings, because you become aware of a world that’s similar to who you are.

Grow and develop your soul: When you read a variety of poetry, you explore a variety of experiences, stories, and people! Sitting on your couch, you gain the deepest understanding of the universe and the souls inhabiting it. You learn about cultures, rituals, boundaries, actions, nature, heart and soul, and what not! It may or may not resonate with you all the time, but it gives you an understanding of psychology. It’s like looking at an abstract painting and deriving your own meaningful picture from it. The purpose is not to understand an artist’s life and mind but your own! Release your emotions and leave negative traits in a painting, a poem. Believe me; you won’t get empty inside. You will glow with an inner light to take you on a path of growth so you may reach the next destination of your soul.

Go on…success is waiting for your self-actualization. Break your boundaries, know your soul, enrich your self, and light up your life with joy. (Poetry = Joy)

How to Identify Good Authors to Read

In my last blog, we discussed about the junk information widespread on social media, and how such information should be replaced by healthier knowledge from books. As promised, I’m passing on a few tips to identify the best of authors (in this blog) and the best of books (in my next blog), because the world of writing is vast and you may get lost in your quest for healthy content. So, here you go.

1. Again, you don’t find a good author on social media, selling one piece at a time. There are many authors who try to force you to read their books. A few may send a personal message, post links on your timeline, or simply keep posting in reader groups. While books marketing is done by authors, good authors have structured marketing techniques. Avoid those who have ample time to not create new knowledge but to keep reminding you in your inbox.
2. There are stereotypes among readers about authors from different countries and their ways of publishing. By ways of publishing, I mean traditional vs. independent. Let me tell you that you can come across a good author regardless of these factors. Unless you move out of stereotypes, you won’t find a diamond and you won’t become a diamond. Thus, explore authors from varied backgrounds, cultures, and nations. Sometimes, independently publishing authors are much more aware of the technicalities of editing, formatting, illustrating, publishing, printing, selling and marketing processes. Sometimes, traditional publishers may have cheaply hired inexperienced editors to work on authors’ books, resulting in low-quality work.
3. Check reviews on the books of authors, but don’t take your decision on the author’s writing quality based solely on these reviews. There are many perfect reviews given by friends and family. On personal book review blogs, there are high chances of seeing paid reviews. There are many reviews where the reader may not be capable enough to judge a book. Some readers simply pick up books by their covers and review the author negatively when they don’t find a book meeting their expectations. Actually, the author may not have written for that reader and the author may not have designed that cover!
4. While the strong reputation of a bestselling author can be helpful, the bestselling tag should not blindfold you. It’s based on several factors that a bestseller becomes a bestseller, and not always by the highest number of sold copies. Instead, you may read some freely available written resources from an author to see how you adapt to their style of writing and whether you want to read more of them.
5. If an author is consistently progressing on his/her journey for years, it is a strong indicator that he/she is a good writer. Perseverance is a quality of good authors, while others may perish after a book or two.
6. When you read an author and find that their book is unedited or badly formatted, you might not like to wait for their next one. Good writers not only devote time to high-quality writing but also to crafting and editing to near perfection. If some reviews talk about bad grammar or formatting issues, better avoid the book. There are authors who are devoted to their craft, while there are also those who just want an author tag on their chest.
7. Finally, explore the kind of knowledge you’re seeking. If you’re looking for a business management book, check the author bio to read about their business background. Similarly, if you’re seeking a self-help book, check whether the author has authority on sensitive subject matters. Read the book’s description to find what the author is offering you. Sometimes, a poorly written description is a good-enough sign of a bad writer.

 

So readers, those were a few points that might or might not help you in identifying good authors. While you can’t judge a new author and an experienced author on the same factors, I’d recommend reading the good ones in all categories. The talent of writing in an author is not determined by factors like the author’s appearance, age, experience, place of residing, number of books written, publishing style, etc. If they have passion for authoring, it will reflect right in their first book. So, you need to be a diamond-grader!

Happy reading…