How To Have A Beautiful Mind

By: Edward De Bono

A practical read for those who want to be true global citizens. With the inevitable globalization already happening, people are more than citizens of their country. The way technology shaped our communication, making the world smaller, people are more in-touch in real time. Barriers have been torn down in the digital world and with the latest hi-tech gadgets available in most countries, time zones do not hinder people from conducting business and such.

And so, here we are in the midst of communication explosion and yet proper communication is every human being's key weakness. More than the language barrier, not being able to deliver our ideas properly and process ideas with an open mind from others are two of the major causes of miscommunication.

"How to Have a Beautiful Mind" gives loads of tips and suggests easy and doable exercises for anyone who interacts with people on a daily basis. It will allow you to have an open mind and consider the other person's point of view while at the same time, let people hear you out. At the end of every conversation, you earn respect, be liked by anyone, and walk away with more ideas to grow on.

The book caught my attention because of its simple and uncomplicated cover. The white cover and the kindergarten-like design immediately told me this will be easy-peasy...and it's true! Not to mention the author Edward De Bono himself who is a highly respected individual and responsible for introducing innovative and highly successful ways of conducting business. It may seem there's a lot to take on just to achieve a beautiful mind but it is worth trying what is outlined in the book.

Publisher: Ebury Press
ISBN-10: 0091894603
ISBN-13: 978-0091894603
First Printing: 2004

WALDEN or Life in the Woods

By: Henry David Thoreau

I first noticed Walden as a book when I watched the movie Dead Poets Society. There was a scene where young men quoted from books and one said "I went to the woods to suck out the marrow of life..." It had a profound impact on me that I decided to read the entire book. That singular sentence alone holds the true meaning of the movie in the whole scheme of things.

Thoreau was very accurate to recount his experiences when he chose to give up his possessions and life in the big town and went to live instead in the woods and start living from scratch. Relying on the available natural resources, he built his house and his furniture one at a time. What he tried to do was simply go back to basics and optimize his self with the rest of the world and at the same time, do whatever suited his needs and the needs of his spirit.

It is a highly recommended read for those who found themselves at a dead end. When you have ticked off all the items in your to-do list, what's next? The book allows you to re-think your life and help you go on to the next level but this time, do things differently. You will feel compelled to ask yourself questions like how would you want to be remembered in this life? What legacy would you want to leave to those who will succeed you?

It is also a source of philosophical musings in relationship to the mundane things of life and how important they can be. This is most especially true if when you think about it, we are so familiar with how we live our life yet it is not obvious to us the impact it has to the rest of the world. The sad part is, we belittle ourselves too much. By doing so, we deprive our environment and the people around us of the great effects of what our presence can bring.

The style of writing used by Thoreau may or may not appeal to some. It is plainly written mentioning the highlights of events that happened. There are no climactic moments that would leave your fingers stuck to the pages of the book. They are real moments, no sugar-coating, no exaggerations whatsoever. But, what is so appreciable of the whole novel is how real and bland life can get. Whilst everyone can totally relate to this kind of living, it is not entertaining so do not expect this to be a source of amusement. But, with patience and perseverance to finish reading this book, you will, in the end, realize how your life can be different and impactful.