December 9, 2018 Leave a Comment
Ordinary Love and Good Will, by Jane Smiley, is not a typical book for me. It nevertheless found its way to me at a fortunate timing. It was a recommendation from a credible source shortly before a trip. I enjoyed reading it very much when I was in the air traveling across the country in […]
November 18, 2018 Leave a Comment
When I picked up Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, I was concerned that it might miserably disappoint me. A few writers unknowingly did that to me in the past. Usually the first book was fascinating, so I went on to read another one or two of their works. Sometimes they […]
August 25, 2018 Leave a Comment
There have been a number of (positive) challenges in my professional world. I devoted most of my time and energy to quantum computing lately. While science, engineering and technology have been the main source of fascination for me professionally, from time to time I feel overwhelmingly empty without experiencing the world from other […]
August 19, 2018 Leave a Comment
The skill of problem solving frequently lies in the interpretation and reinterpretation of high-level objectives. In this book John Kay argues that “the best way to achieve any complex or broadly defined goal, from happiness to preventing forest fires, is the indirect way. We can learn how to achieve our objectives only through a […]
August 12, 2018 Leave a Comment
Marc Tessier-Lavigne recommended this book in his recent talk given at Stanford University. The Art of Learning details the author Josh Waitzkin’s journey of reaching the top of his first field, chess, followed by his transition into Chinese martial art, Tai Ji Quan, and winning multiple championships. Had the book just stopped there, when you […]
July 23, 2018 Leave a Comment
About two decades ago, as a 2nd year middle school student, physics and mathematics were my favourite subjects. Like many children growing up in that part of the world in that era (perhaps universally?), we were asked who we would like to be when we grow up. I wanted to be another Marie Curie, inspired […]
July 22, 2018 Leave a Comment
If you only have one minute, take the 20-10 test (originally by Jim Collins). It is included in Daniel Pink’s book: A Whole New Mind, paraphrased here: Ask: Would I still do what I am doing now if I had $20 million in the bank and knew I had no more than ten years to […]
July 8, 2018 Leave a Comment
The first book I read of Jojo Moyes’ novels is her Me Before You, around the Spring of 2013. Perhaps I read it in my conservatory at the time of jasmine blossom. Later on the beautiful scent of jasmine comes to my mind when I recall Me Before You. I read a couple more […]
July 7, 2018 Leave a Comment
Traveling between China and California, I read Tara Westover’s Educated: A Memoir during my two long haul flights. In this book, Tara tells the story of her life, born to survivalist parents in the mountains of Idaho, grown up in a household that distrust public education and medical establishment. She was an invaluable […]
July 5, 2018 Leave a Comment
Who am I? Where am I going? To a certain approximation, I know the answers. But then, do I really know? It seems that I have been traveling on and off for the past two months, domestic and international. One trip followed by another. There is a different self, depending on where I am. Now […]