Being HR

February 18, 2020

This is a very polarizing book. One will either instantly love it or will call it ‘mumbo jumbo’ as Time Magazine review stated. Oprah Winfrey had highly praised the book on her TV show. I also believe that yogaguru/Godman Sadhguru Jaggi has picked up a LOT from this book but actively disengages and disagrees with book’s statements in his public life, perhaps due to the fear that his followers might jump the wagon. For the troubled mind engaged in modern life’s challenges, this book is perhaps the only real ‘life-changing’ book on the shelf of ‘self-help-feel-good’ books. This is most suited for audience above the age of 30. Those who are struggling inside. Those who are in  a near-constant phase of anxiety/anger/anxiousness and REALLY desire some peace of mind (or as per Tolle, peace FROM mind). One will find many of books teachings converging with teachings of yoga, Buddhism and some bits of Hinduism. It is indeed a powerful book and most certainly a very very deep meaning book. Once you get a grip of the fundamental, you will find it hard to turn pages, as each line will unfold multiple paragraphs of understanding in mind. I give it as a gift to people I know, who need it.

February 17, 2020

This is a book about cancer. Its biography. It is almost impossible to know about the existence of this book since we don’t look for such books in the bookstore. My dad came about the name of this book when he was watching a TV news article in hospital about a man who does some social service for poor cancer patients. He gave reference of this book, which my dad told me to buy. He wanted to read it, but at that time his chemotherapy was at top force and he couldn’t. I just casually started reading it once day with not much expectations. I was hooked. It starts from the start, takes a smooth and continuous journey and give a holistic picture of cancer landscape. It’s a straight 5/5. I feel that in near and far future, this book will become more and more known, which if you think is kind of unfortunate.

April 17, 2019

A great/must read for all the political enthusiasts out there with non-binary political biases. Ignore the film based on this book, the film lacks salt in taste when compared to the book. A great narrator, Baru has on occasions tried to give himself too much credit for directing Dr.Singh, however, it is well justified for him as he was an outsider and not a politician. I would have loved to read about Dr. Singh from his own words, but I don’t think he will ever write on that subject being a Gandhi family royalist.  

July 03, 2018

His are the books which will stand the test of time. Incredible clarity, never seen before span of knowledge, ocean’s depth. This is his 4th book. All are worth time/money/effort.

June 27, 2018

Superb clarity and ability to cut the crap. Risk and mitigation taken to its bare bone core. The importance of small failures to making one robust to big ones. Simply an amazing read. This is a kind of book which will be as refreshing to read in a 100 years from today, as it is now. 

June 26, 2018

It is that rare coincidence where the author, the book and the book’s subject, all three are priceless gems. Fortunate to have stumbled across this book.

June 25, 2018

He is the master of probabilities, the wizard who separates signal from the noise. No one can bullsh** him. Among various definitions of ‘rationality’ and ‘ethics’ his definitions are the once I liked the best. In the world clouded by news and media, he can help you cut the crap. I am a fan.

June 23, 2018

I think every house hold already has a copy of this one. This book has passes the Lindy Test, the test of time. It’s antifragile. Now there are a lot of points in the book which may or may not suit an individual’s personality, but definitely some will be very useful. I am not saying that you will be amazed or shaken by the book, but I will count it in essentials and you will definitely want to revisit the book at various points of your professional and personal life to take some simple but powerful cues from the book. 

June 22, 2018

Indian history taught to us in schools basically ended in the year 1947, with India’s independence. By the time we grew up as an individual and developed some knowledge/interest in politics (or rather started reading newspaper with interest, other than sports and colored pages as before), we had a gap of many years of information which we never knew fully and only in bits and pieces. This book fills that gap beautifully, starting from 1947 and ending at 2016. A must read for every Indian who is born in the 80s and beyond and chooses to vote in the democracy.

March 14, 2018

Again a classic from Drucker. This time he goes deeper in the individual and explore the strength based movement which later got huge popularity worldwide. Building on your strengths and not wasting time on areas where you have little competence. A nice read for everyone.

March 13, 2018

This used to be a very well-known book in the Leadership Shelf. Basically gives some suggestions on leadership traits and people management. Nothing out of the ordinary, mostly common sense wrapped in good language and examples. You won’t miss much even if you skip this one.

March 12, 2018

He was a man ahead of his time and perhaps even ours. Any management student/employee/guru who has not read Drucker’s work just points to one fact, that s/he is a lousy reader. There is a good collection of books by Drucker you will find in any decent library. In this particular one, he emphasizes on some of the very key aspects of an executive’s knowledge to help to focus on results and outcomes which are right (effective). Each line of his work has deep meaning and logic and even after these many years, I still find his books difficult to read. One tip, see the traits and skills mentioned in the book and find the closest person to that particular level in your office, and make him/her your mentor.

March 08, 2018

This was a refreshing read, especially coming from an eastern author living in the western world. His experiments with self are worth applauding. The way he has uncovered the understanding of rejection, layer by layer, with proof and examples, is truly amazing and will put many so-called science-backed theories to shame. There is no goodie-goodie motivational stuff here, simple actions and reactions, simple analysis of the results and incorporating the learnings in further experiments and coming to a very decent list of conclusions at the end which can really help a lot of people. I think, if undergrad students are able to read this book, they will be able to benefit from it far-far more in all the spheres of there lives.  

March 06, 2018

Selling is a major part of one’s life and career. Those who agree with this, already are a step ahead. Those who don’t, will agree sooner or later. It helps to know some tricks and tips to be a little better at it. Books has some nice pointers in that direction. Suggested read for all.

February 12, 2018

This is not a goodie-goodie mushy-cushy book on self-motivation and happiness. This is a scientific journal with various experiments and their results. The cover of the book is deceiving. Unheard and unread gems of knowledge about the functioning of the human brain, its basic evolutionary responses and how they govern/affect day-to-day operations. It is a fascinating read. You can know, almost up to 60% of the scientifically proven knowledge about human behavior by reading this and Daniel Kahneman’s work.

February 11, 2018

Now here is the thing – anyone who has ever read any book authored by Taleb has never gone back saying it was not an eye opener. In my opinion, anyone who can read, must read Taleb. He has the clarity to cut through the bullshit thinking/opinions/science/information/data without leaving any trace of remorse. Just look at his twitter handle and you will understand what I mean. I have seen bosses giving his books as gifts to their bosses. Don’t miss out. I have the ability and knowledge to write more in this review about some amazing points mentioned in the book, but I will refrain and let you explore the reality for yourself.

February 10, 2018

The author is an authoritative figure in the domain of creativity and design. I had read some of his books when I was going my graduation and found it very hard to read and comprehend. Only now can I start to appreciate a little the depth and clarity of his words. Closely related to psychology, the book explores and explains certain ways of thinking about situations and problems. The difference between logical thinking and perceptual thinking and the role of emotions in choosing the default mode. If your work/life involves some amount of creativity, this is a good start for you. 

February 09, 2018

Some of the best bullets points you can get in the entire library to help you at work are in this book. Managing clients, internal communications, interviewing, and sales presentations – all explained as done at McKinsey. A working professional will appreciate the value and importance of this book much more than a student. A very good gift item for your colleagues.  

February 07, 2018

There are many things we have achieved in life ‘because of’ some personality-traits or skills or behaviors. The book is a good reflection to observe that the ‘because of’ might actually be ‘in-spite-of’. Things which used to work before, which used to get the job done before, get inculcated in the mind as a primary nature. These same very things might actually not be useful and perhaps rather harmful for the completion of tasks at the current time. Certainly holds good for role transitions from junior to middle and from middle to senior management. This also explains to an extent why good engineers make very bad managers. Worth the read.

February 02, 2018

A must read books for all HR professionals, especially those in middle management and top. The book shows the HR practices followed at Google. You will be amazed how simple and straightforward they are compared to the modern mumbo-jumbo words used in other companies. Results oriented best practices, using data. Good view of the performance management system. Myth buster. Use the points in this book as a backing to get your own HR initiatives approved from top management.

February 02, 2018

Complete waste of time and money. Common knowledge wrapped with big names and so-called research. Worst purchase till date.

February 02, 2018

Filled with conscious, unconscious and obvious self-praise. The sales pitch of company and self-knowledge. Apparently, no mention of any mentor/coach/training especially considering his linear rise in the organization. Waste of money.

January 27, 2018

A pragmatic intellectual. Real macro view, unlike theory and ideal models. Fascinating domino effect vision. You won’t trust the hopelessly incomplete economic news in media anymore.

January 26, 2018

Metaphorical overload. Some oversimplification. Surprisingly not the goodie goodie type. Clever plagiarism. Some great references to some established research literature (Khaneman, Gilbert). Still a good book overall.

January 22, 2018

Fun to read, lot of real-interesting-useful stories from medicine, aviation and some from finance. Dealing with complexity in consistent way. A good read for all.

January 21, 2018

A blockbuster read. From one view, it’s a detailed story of how off-shore accounts and shell companies are used and operated by the super-rich. From other view, it’s a simple reminder for shell companies to spend more on IT and security.

January 20, 2018

First 100 and last 50 pages are bombastic. It was like reading the Chetan Bhagat of politics. Middle part became self-appraisal. 

January 18, 2018

Fascinating read. Enriching experience. Good evidence of the antifragility of INC. A must read for every millennial.

January 17, 2018

Striking literature and research on the limitations of human mind’s rationality. Should be a textbook in all graduate programs. Gift a copy to yourself, you will not regret it.

January 13, 2018

Excellent read. History narrated, as it should be. Power of sticking around. Newspaper don’t do justice to news.

January 12, 2018

Grim and gloom of German hyperinflation in 1920s. Financial ignorance and political cowardliness. When brains have no longer marketable value. Monetary history, perhaps at its worst. A good reminder of what has happened, and what could happen. 

December 16, 2016

The author takes a different approach towards understanding, accepting and using criticism among many other related themes in his book. Using occasional mathematical language, he beautifully showcases how when you are proven wrong in any context, it’s not actually you who  wrong, but it is your hypothesis (the starting point of your statement/argument made on the basis of limited knowledge available at that point of time). You are not your hypothesis!

January 14, 2017

I am not so good in finance even after doing my MBA (which was in HR). It’s definitely not the easiest subject to understand however is the most important one. I will skip mentioning the arguments for its importance in our day to day life, be it investments or handling your current role at work. The bottom line is, we need to know, understand & use this domain. Fact – the term ‘bottom-line’ is itself taken from finance, a ‘part’ of P&L statement!