The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari- A Book Review

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

 by

 Robin Sharma 

The Backdrop 

What happens when a man who is a champion at everything fails and falls...but finds his true calling in life..?

'Julian Mantle' had it all..his friend,colleague 'John' admired him .. somewhere in his heart envied him as well..but one day Julian and his perfect life fell apart.

Julian left his booming career, he gave it all up and travelled faraway to an unknown land.

Cut to fast-forward a few years..Julian is back..but he's changed ..he's unrecognisable.

What happened to him? How did it happen to him?

He was at John's office not in one of his expensive suits but in red robes.

The Takeaway 

Julian was at John's office with a purpose ...but what is it ? after all these years?

This book is about a man's journey to find the real meaning and true purpose of life.

It's about change, self- discovery , enlightenment and happiness.

Favorite Quotes from the book 

1.)"Happiness is a journey, not a destination."

2.)"Freedom is like a house:you build it brick by brick. The first brick you should lay is willpower. This quality inspires you to do what is right in any moment. It gives you the energy to act with courage. It gives you the control to live the life you have imagined rather than accepting the life you have."

Why Should you read this book at all ?

If you ever think, you are stuck somewhere in life, you are in a deadlock, read it ...

I am sure it will bring out a positive change in your life and perspective. It will give you a road map to follow and a new beginning to hope for.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book..what a fabulous work it is ..a perfect blend of spirituality, culture, religion and most importantly life 🌱

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- Meenakshi Sinha 

( An Avid Reader )

The Little Prince - A Book Review

"What is essential is invisible to the eyes"

 

A tiny blue book called The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery to lead you through the runaway of life.

Is It a Children’s Book ?

Its appearance might bewilder you but this is not a child’s book. It is a book for all containing beautiful life lessons.

The Storyline

The Novella begins with a pilot crashing his plane in the Sahara desert, where he meets a young blond- haired boy who is an inhabitant of Asteroid B-612,where he lives with three volcanoes and a rose plant. The Little Prince has met a lot of people a drunkard, a king, businessman, geographer, night lamper..a snake, fox and many more.His meeting with these characters in the book are metaphorical in nature.

The Prince & the Rose

The Little Prince has a special place for ‘rose’ in his heart but he often contemplates that ‘rose’ tries to take an undue advantage of his affection.

The Pilot & the Little Prince

The Pilot and the little prince seek for a well to quench their thirst but something unfortunate happens and their plans are put to rest.

The Author & his Work 

The story is closely associated with author’s life. His love for planes and his homeland is clearly visible in the story. The World War had separated the author from the two things he loved the most and it affected him deeply. His pain and separation has created a voyage for this beautiful book to fly away.

 

Life lessons in the Book

1.)We must never lose our imagination in life.

2.)What is invisible to our eyes and felt by our heart is the most important things in life…like air, love,hope.

3.) Attachment, the uniqueness and meaning it gives to life and relationships is what matters.

4.) In life nothing is perfect but hope can make everything better.

Favorite Quotes

1.) “ What is essential is invisible to the eyes”

2.)The thing that is important is thing that is not seen..”

3.)‘I’m beginning to feel lonely in this desert.”  “You can feel lonely among people, too.”

I have enjoyed reading this book,hope you will too.

- Meenakshi Sinha ( An Avid Reader)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHIKHANDI AND THE OTHER TALES THEY DON'T TELL YOU by Devdutt Pattanaik - A Book Review

‘All things queer are also part of nature' 

I had the golden opportunity to read 'Shikhandi and the other tales they don't tell you.' It was indeed a wonderful book and here is what i have discovered..... 

Who is Shikhandi?

Amba = Shikhandi (reborn as Shikhandi)

 Amba was the daughter of King of Kashi who wanted to marry a man called Shalva but she and her other two sisters are abducted by a warrior called Bhisma. Bhisma abducted the three sisters for his half-brother Vichitravirya who was unable to find a suitable wife for himself. Amba pleaded to go back to Shalva and was allowed to return but neither Shalva nor her father accepted her back into their respective families. 

Amba then returned to Bhisma with her marriage proposal but he had taken a wow of celibacy. He insulted her and shunned her away. Later Amba pleaded and prayed to immortal Gods, Sage and Kings but none came to her rescue except ‘Shiva’ who gave her a boon that she would be the reason of Bhisma’s death but only in her next life. To end her suffering Amba invoked fire and leapt into it.

In her next life Amba was born as Shikhandi the daughter of King Drupada, raised as a man and gets married as a man to a woman. In the end at the battle of Kurukshetra, Shikhandi did become the reason of Bhisma’s death.

The book tells the story of famous characters of Indian Mythology who have been in the brackets of LGBTQ at a particular stage in their respective lives. eg Arjuna, Indra, Narada, Aravan, Ila, Samavan, Vishnu, Samba and many more.

But who is this book about in reality?

Well the Author dedicates it to all those out there and all those in between.

Hindu Mythology & Queer Stories

Author writes that in Hindu mythology the patriarchy, the idea that men are superior to women was, invented. Hindu Mythology constantly references to ‘queerness’ as the idea that questions the notion of maleness and femaleness. Queer stories are not restricted to Hindu Mythology. There’s a line in the book mentioned from the Vedas “ Vikruti Evam Prakriti” which can be translated as ‘All things queer are also part of nature.’

The Third Gender in India

Author constantly clarifies that he writes this book not seeking any approval or judgement but to give voice to an ‘unheard community’ in our society. India’s third gender, the transgender, the ‘hijras’, have a peculiar clap to make sure the world does not render their queerness invisible.

Gender, Sex and Sexuality

Author explains that the term ‘sex’ is biological, ‘gender’ as a term is used to express how biology is expressed in our society. As the author writes ‘sexuality’ deals with all the aspects of gender, orientation, identity, psychology and sociology associated with it.

Questions & Cultural Filters

The book raised several questions like..

 1.)What is so distinctive about being a totally masculine male and a totally feminine female? 

2.)What is it? Is it a ‘cultural filter’ that blocks millions of wailing voices for help? Or is it just ignorance seeking to be bliss?

3.) How can celibate men decide the basis of relationship anyone can have, when they themselves are devoid of any kind of attachment?

The Takeaway from the Book

 “Shikhandi and the other tales they don’t tell you” by Devdutt Pattanaik questions issues regarding treatment of queer community in the mythology and society. The Author puts a logical reason and argument basing Hindu mythology.Difference has to be accepted and appreciated. Last but not the least just to remind you......Whenever you are at a traffic signal and you see and hear a ‘hijra’ a eunuch clapping, trying to grab your attention, do remember it’s not really their way to beg... but a cry for help of an ignored and discriminated community.