Blink By Malcolm Gladwell

By Malcolm Gladwell

"Blink" as per the Webster's dictionary means ": A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly" It is in what happens in this fleeting glance and a fraction of a second is what this book is all about.

For a moment close your eyes and imagine if you are in an interview, you go in and shake the hands of the interviewers and take your seat with the panel introducing themselves. Have you ever felt the vibe of a positive feeling that this meeting is really going to go well. Or conversely you might have felt Oooopps something is wrong. I have had this happen to me time and again, when I give an interview I am pretty sure in the first few seconds / minutes if I will be called for the next round / further discussions or when I have screwed up I know there is no point following up for feedback. Maybe its some little nuances of their facial expressions / the general tone of questions or something in the general pulse of the conversation.

This book is about all those times when you sub consciously assessed the situation in a very short time , call it gut feel, intuition, thin slicing, or any other fancy names. Blink is filled with anecdotes which are sometimes contradictory but nevertheless making a very good read about the varied applications of the subconscious process that goes on in the back of your mind.

Malcolm Gladwell the author has a really active and an informative website, he is a writer for the Newyorker and his website features all his old articles which has a fair bit of overlap with blink. To get an idea of what to expect in blink read this. Its an experiment conducted on the interview example that I explained earlier. The conclusion being that, the interviewers judge whether to accept or reject the applicant in the first 5 seconds and the rest of the half an hour is just a facade to justify the decision made in their subconscious mind.

Firstly I really appreciate the author for having opened up his blog for discussion on his various writings. He goes to great length to discuss his ideas and counter other opinions on his blog, in fact the comments section of his blog is perhaps one of the most intellectually stimulating conversations I have come across in a long time. Here is a very interesting debate about racism and an example used by Gladwell in his book. Please note that here is an author who takes time out to respond to the comments and discuss an issue till its end. and for me personally, he has taken the time out to respond to my mail as well so again he is as good and responsive as an author can get.

He has received fair bit of criticism and this is one of the most critical reviews Blink has received, though having read the book I don't quite agree with what Judge Posner (the reviewer) has to say, but this review might give you a different perspective of the book. Overall this is a very good read , and I have bought a copy of my own. Copy of the original post here.

Another contributor to the blog :)

Guys n Gals,
I stumbled across this blog on Orkut , left a comment and got invited by Prabal to contribute here. have been a reader for a while , never meticulous in taking notes or remembering details, don't count on me to get the facts about a book straight, at least not as compared to so many of the posts here.

I have been rambling on about books I read at my other blog > Memoirs of Books Well Written for a few months now. Just to keep track of what I read. I typically read Non fiction , motivation , business , adventure , travel and of course porn/sex. :)

Starting off here with a few titles that Prabal requested I post here. You can also write to me at haribombay (at) gmail(.) com.

Thanks and happy reading !
Hari

Fight Club - Complete Mayhem.

The First Rule of Fight Club is that you do not talk about Fight Club.

The Second Rule of Fight Club is "You DO NOT talk about Fight Club".


Well, I am gonna break both of them and talk about it, because this book is like my Punch Bag. Yes, the bag you hit repeatedly to remove your frustrations. It’s the book I would read when I am most frustrated, when I want to boil the scum of this earth and shatter every window I see. Yes, this cult classic is my Catharsis. You must be knowing what I am talking about, because this book was adapted into one of the most brilliant and complex films of our generation - a cult of its own - Fight Club starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.


Chuck Palahniuk - the creator must have been in one of his most devastating moods when he started his first book. Or probably his hatred for this Hypocritical Life we lead must have been at its Zenith. Whatever it may be, his passion for destruction, his frustrations, his knowledge of the forbidden and the trivial, come out in words as sheer vengeful literature. Yes, I would go so far as to say its modern or futuristic literature, modern philosophy.


Fight Club is narrated through a Nameless character - he could be you, me or any person living this monotonous, routine life trying to go one up on his competition, trying to mimic the fashion, lifestyle, career of someone else, trying hard to be something he is not. This character works, buys every damn luxury item in trend and creates the ideal life - one he believes to be ideal, but he can't sleep. In insomnia - everything is a copy of a copy of a copy, everything is distant, you can't touch anything and nothing can touch you! He goes to various support groups faking to be terminally ill and in their misery he finds solace, happiness, blithe and indeed, sleep. Until, one day, another faker - Marla Singer comes into his life. She's the indigent, suicidal types. Then he meets Tyler Durden - who's everything he isn't, everything he wishes to be. Together they start Fight Club, their medium to channelise their pain, their frustrations and their fast track to nirvana. Every night they die and are born again, as new, invigorated men. Fight Club has 7 simple rules and its popularity grows; so does its reach - throughout America.


The story takes a twist when Tyler starts Project Mayhem. When the Club Fight sessions take an ugly turn, when the arena become the city, targeting the rich, the fortunate, the government, the system. Our nameless hero realizes that things have gone out of hand, but it is futile to resist, because this uprising consists of people who serve food, who do laundry, who protect people while they sleep; they are in the system to break it. He tries upsetting their plans, which he believes would have disastrous aftermaths, but the evil twist towards the end completely takes him off-guard. You yourself are thunderstruck with what happens because it transcends beyond your comprehension or belief. Finally, our Nameless Hero finds a way to suppress Tyler, once and for all, and save Marla - who he loves. But Mayhem continues, as Tyler successfully creates separate pockets of his army, completely capable of acting independently.


This Book is a cult, because it’s a revolt against the things we take for granted. The book says "You are not the clothes you were, you are not the books you read, you are the same decaying organic matter as everyone else, and we are part of the same composite pile! " That’s philosophy for you. Give up all the worldly pleasure, give up your vices and only when you hit bottom will you truly be free. Only when you have given up everything, that you fear nothing. Only when you are close to death do you have a Near Life experience. I think so passionately about this that I could go on and on and on. The book is full of amazing little fundas. Added to this, Chuck Palanhiuk has written this book in a chaotic manner. Lines appear between sentences from no where. The premise itself is chaotic and its accentuated by the style of writing. And within the chaos you find tranquility.


Many would find it complete and utter crap and many more would fall in love with it. After you read the book, you want to hit someone --> for completely different reasons. But that’s the point, either you love it or you hate it, but you can't ignore this piece of modern art. Get a hold of it and let your imagination go wild. I am sure one read will make your mind work in the fight club mode. Its the fight club effect. I myself stay in the Fight club mode for hours, sometimes days. Most of my best pieces of work come after a quick read of an inspirational excerpt from this book or after watching a scene from the movie. Enjoy complete mayhem. Enjoy.

"The first step to eternal life is you have to die" - ChUcK PaLaNiUk

The Google Story

By David A Vise

This book takes you inside the creation and growth of a company that has become so familiar its name has become a verb recognized around the world.

In 1998, Moscow -born Sergey Brin and Midwest American Larry Page set out to 'change the world' through a search engine that would oraganise every bit of informatoin on the web for free. Through the creative use of cutting -edge technology and series of groundbreaking business ideas,they were soon taking on microsoft and winning.Despite the bursting of the dot-com bubble they have turned to a start-up investment of US$1 million into a market value of over US$40 million.

You will learn about the amazing network of computer kept in specially chilled,secret rooms which store over four billion web documents.

But even as it rides high, Goggle wrestles with difficult challenges in a business that changes at lightning speed. It was able to continue expand and innovate while sustaining the guiding vision of its founders mantra : DO NO EVIL ?...

A must read....by David A. Vise

If you want to know how GOOGLE function read this
http://infolab.stanford.edu/~backrub/google.html

First Among Equals

By Jeffery Archer

I tried to read this book, but succeeded only in third time. The reason was I couldn’t comprehend the parliamentary jargon of Britain, used exhaustively in the book. The story is all about ambition and destiny. There are four central characters, which came from very different backgrounds. One is blue blood, second is from top notch political scion, the other two come from very poor families.

The style of Jeffery Archer is same as of Kane & Abel. Initially, every chapter focuses on only one character, consecutively and the sequence goes on, till these guys meet. Owing to the common burning ambition, they come in way of each other and then the real story begins.

Each one of them is brilliant, shrewd, kind hearted and brutal at the same time. Their brilliance overshadows their dark part of life. Each one of them gets one standing ovation in the British Parliament, which is one of the most moving moments in their lives. They all are friends but the deadliest enemies.

To project the story realistically, Archer weaves the story around history. Their number of events elaborated in this story like attack on Mary Thatcher, terror attacks by IRA ( Irish Republic Army)………… While reading it, I forgot that its fiction. I am sure, these four men must have existed in the mentioned times.

As a whole, story is very thrilling, fast and informative. This is my favorite, out of all the Archer’s creations. The best part about the story is that the real life political experience of Archer in British Parliament, makes story more vivid and expressive.

The Book of Five Rings

By Miyamoto Musashi

It was written in 1643 by Miyamoto Musashi, undefeated dueler, master less samurai, and independent teacher. He was professional men at arms born into a long tradition of martial culture that ultimately come to dominate the entire body of Japanese polity and society. His writing is relevant not only to members of the ruling military caste, but also to the leaders in other professions, as well as people in search of individual mastery in whatever their chosen path.

The rise and empowerment of the samurai class in Japan may be seen in the two terms used to refer to its members, samurai and bushi. The word samurai comes from the Japanese verb saburau, which means “to serve as an attendant”. The word bushi is Sino Japanese and means “armed gentry”. The word samurai was used by other social classes, while the warriors referred to themselves by the more dignified term bushi.

Musashi in this book decries empty showmanship and commercialization in martial arts, focusing attention on psychology and physics of lethal assault and decisive victory as the essence of warfare. His scientifically aggressive, thoroughly ruthless approach to military science, while not universal among Japanese martialists, represents a highly concentrated characterization of one particular type of samurai warrior.

Musashi abandoned an ordinary life to exemplify and hand on two essential elements of ancient martial and strategic traditions. The first one of these basic principles is keeping inwardly calm and clear even in the midst of violent chaos. The second one is not forgetting about the possibility of disorder in times of order.

According to him, “The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.”

The book is divided in the form of four scrolls:

• The Earth Scroll
• The Water Scroll
• The Fire Scroll
• The Wind Scroll

These scrolls describe the different perspectives of practicing martial arts, which all are essential to be unified in a true warrior while using the art to achieve decisive victory.

The best thing about book is liberating martial arts from the war. The author describes the basic element of martial arts in a way that they are applicable to any art. This style of description is accomplished by describing the four scrolls by means of comparing the art of “Swordsmanship” and “Carpentry”.

The author says that to have an attitude proper to a real sword means to be deadly serious. “Shinken shobu” are the two words describing this attitude, which literally means a contest with real swords, means something done in deadly earnest. That is the true sense of martial arts.
So, by reading this book we can get stimulated to learn and apply any art in a deadly earnest way. The art could be computer programming, journalism, law, writing......................................

THE McKINSEY WAY

by Ethan M Rasiel

Whenever I think of consultancy firm; the first name that strikes to my mind is “McKinsey”. Why is this company-a dream company for most of the MBA’s? The only answer to this question is MK's style of working and ability of its solutions to get things work for their clients, isn’t it? Believe me this book is very easy to go through as it used best possible & simple language and well pointed anecdotes.

This book is all about the way MK handle its business. However author claims that it is very easy for you to use MKW in your own business or profession, and I found it realistic. The way author has written this book is fantastic. The book has been divided into parts.

How MK think about the business problem
How MK work to solve the business problem
How MK sell its solution
Life at MK

The cardinal rule that McKinsey-ites can never forget is MECE (Mutually exclusive collectively exhaustive). This is the best thing; however most of the time gets ignored by non- McKinsey-ites; that’s what I claim. Whenever you work on anything you should keep this MECE in your mind, this helps you to be equipped with all possible ways towards the solution to any kind of problem and reduce the confusion by avoiding repetition. While studying any business problem McKinsey-ites study it in structured manner. Indeed this helps you to boil down at the crux of the problem; it is essential part as your solution needs to fit the clients’ requirement. Putting the client first is one of the most important key to successful client services. McKinsey-ites form the initial hypothesis, which determines the approach towards solution. So keep in mind that McKinsey-ites never go with blank slate, they have their structured approach to think about business problems, what do you do? The next thing that book talks about is 80-20 rule, which is one of the best rules in management. This rule helps to expedite the solution process; as keeping this rule in mind you can get the 20% things (key drivers) which contribute 80% to the output and this makes it easy for the McKinsey-ites to keep the wheel rolling. I really love this rule.

Here comes the focus on marketing part of MK and how MK does it. Your solution becomes valuable only when you sell it to your clients. But author claims that “MK sells because MK markets”. At this juncture McKinsey-ites are expected to be prepared with their recommendations which must be supported by the facts & figures and outcomes from the research. Before going for any kind of research you need to streamline on particular issue, again use MK structure with MECE. If you forget doing this then you may end up collecting things, which may digress and confuse you. Gathering data for the research purpose plays vital role in coming up with best possible recommendation for the problem. Interviewer should possess the skills to absorb the required information in least possible time. Now let’s see how MK makes its way towards solution. Brainstorming is considered as one of the best way to solve the problem, same works with MK. At MK there is no bad idea, but this doesn’t mean that speaking on irrelevant topic will be entertained- beware of it. Each and every idea gets respect, which is the quality of good working environment which is conducive for the growth of the employees and in turn organization (hierarchy gets sidelined when McKinsey-ites are involved in brainstorming session). Book also focuses on the importance of the team; success of MK in the field of consultancy depends on the success of the team.

Now here comes the importance of all the presentations you have made in front of your class, boss or clients. Really presentation skills plays very important role in the career of any management trainee. Same is true at the MK. Book has given one kind of chart “Waterfall Chart”, as author says it is best way to present your data and I am fully agree with him. I have never before seen this chart and to my dismay it’s not available in MS Excel-2003; if anyone of you knows how to use it then please inform me. Internal communication at MK, working with client and its importance, this part is relatively slump. Last part is all about the life at MK and how to find the balance between work and life, one of the biggest management discourses.

One best thing about this book is that while reading the book you get the feel of how theories are implemented and customized to suit the organization and business.

The Origin of Brands By Al & Laura Ries.

I did like to start with the preface. Without it I don't think I will do justice to the review. They take origin of species as their basis for the book. The most important line they emphasize "Divergence the least understood , the most powerful force of the world." This is what they are trying to convey throughout the book. The opposite convergence had always been the buzz word for the market, hence the concept is neglected through n through. As the evolution does not explains for the unusual and diverse species of the world. So do the term strong exsisting brand does not explains for the emergence of new brands and new categories in market. They explain the process throughout the book. For the starting of a brand name, appeal and acceptance of consumers is very important. A brand is not created in exsisting market. We have to define new markets. The rule of divergence says that dont mix different things ( convergence) like the one in all computer TV, a major failure despite the money spent on it. To create a new brand the company should not divegre from the main theme. This means Coca Cola is a cola drink and it can't be a fruit drink later on. The Swiss Army Knife concept which still rules millions of hearts usually ends at drawers which never open. To create a new brand diverge from an exsisting brand just like Ford did from 1908 model T Ford to 2004 model Tauras. Its still a car with its wide range of ten models and a common ancestor . Definately not a sports car. To bring divergence at its best divide categories and conquer. Do what Coca Cola ( The cola drink), Microsoft (The computer operating system)and companies like IBM, Disney , McDonald, etc. did.

Despite of their failures the bad ideas return so companies have to be concious. To build a brand create something whose market is zero and not in millions. Like Rolex the high priced watch and Maxima the low priced watch. There are always two phases in brand building the innovative product and the mature one. The middle one never survive. The first to enter a market will always be the first despite the second is better. So its better to be no one then NO. 2 , 3 , 4. The best strategy to beat the leader is always do the opposite and not be a copy cat. Be Red Bull in energy drink market and not KMX a late entry. The better is not a gurantee of success but the first entry is always first. Finally to launch a brand bring enough excitement about it through advertising and leaking the product news also. Build enough anxiety among the consumers. Then launch it. Always be opposite of wat your competitors do if you are second. If you are the first remain what you are because your image will not change over time. All in all a book covering every aspect of creating a brand. Though may be sometimes slow but still a must read.

We The Living

by Ayn Rand
It was a rage among my group of friends. One might say that I had just three friends, but it was a rage nonetheless. And I used to wonder what is so outrageous about it. I set out to discover. Thus I got my copy of ‘We The Living’, the first one by Ayn Rand. The woman must have been quite headstrong herself to have written such a novel (for the lack of a stronger word).

This book holds within itself the lives of three people. But it has no intention of just holding them in because the three people are embodiments of the three characteristics attributable to the extremities of the human race.. The three characteristics are extreme love, extreme love and extreme love – though the recipient in each case is different. One is extreme love for freedom and life – that the protagonist Kira embodies. She wishes to be an engineer in a fighting country where her class is looked down upon. Amidst the hypocrisies of socialism, she gets into the institute. Her will to live freely is consummate, so is her perseverance against all odds. In the institute she becomes close friends with a fellow student, Andrei – who embodies extreme love for idealism and honesty. He is also a member of the socialist party. Both Kira and Andrei have the highest respect for each other despite their difference in political opinions.

Then comes Leo- who is the embodiment of extreme love for the self. Kira chances upon him one night and immediately falls in love. Both own a free spirit, which , it shows later, was much exaggerated in Leo. Both hated the socialist totalitarianism. By crook, they are able to escape the oppressed city. They are passionate in the beginning until differences start to creep in because of Leo’s extreme views, verging towards the foolhardy and Kira’s realist. Amidst all this Kira is expelled from the college because of her anti-party opinions which she was not afraid to voice. Cash starts to get extinct. To add to the woes, Leo develops tuberculosis. Kira wishes to turn to Andrei to help but Andrei is avoiding her for a reason that escapes her. She later confronts him and gets to know that the reason was that he has fallen in love with her. Andrei knew nothing about Kira’s relationship with Leo, so with no intention of hurting him but rather for Leo’s sake she accepts. She keeps visiting Andrei and each time they make love. Then one day Kira musters enough courage to ask for the money. He is more than happy to give.

Here Leo is cured and comes back – changed. With the help of some friends, he opens a shop that runs an illegal business and earns a lot of money. Kira is not happy with all this, she also tries to correct Leo. Incidentally, unaware of Leo’s identity, Andrei sets out to discover the truth about the shop he had been hearing bad things about. He solves it and on the day of the arrest, Andrei raids Leo’s house and finds, in the drawers, panties that Kira wore when they made lave. Things become clearer now. Kira explains to him that it was all for Leo’s sake as he was suffering. Andrei is hurt but her respect for her grows even more. Andrei goes against himself to get Leo out for Kira’s sake. Because of this, he gets expelled from the party he was so loyal about. He commits suicide.

Leo is free but suspicious about Kira's relation with Andrei. Leo decides to go to another city to earn more money. He tells her about the Decision and asks if she had slept with Andrei. Kira confirms but asks him if would still have taken the decision had she not slept with him, he says ‘Yes’. Kira feels no need to explain him the real reason. Now her ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’ heart yearns to escape to her home, her country. She is just a step from the border when she is shot. Till the end she was faithful and loyal to Leo. And Leo, he goes ALONE to the other state and becomes a gigolo.
The story is so powerful that you start feeling so strongly for the characters. Kira, who had been the epitome of strength and the will to live, dies. Andrei, the idealist, the honest, commits suicide after he gives in to the corrupt. And Leo – one might think he lived, but I think living can not be worse. He probably just survived.
I fell in love with it and would love to see a HUUUGE fan-list of the book from among the people I know.

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

This is the first Kafka Story I have read and already I belong to the Kafka clan or the cult. Its only fair that I start with a brief introduction of our Illustrious author.

In his short career, Kafka wrote some of the most amazing pieces of literarture ever put on paper. He died when he was just about 41 years of age but his sheer artistry with words is mind boggling.

The metamorphosis is one of the few short stories which Kafka wrote in his brief career. His brilliance was only recognized after he died and most of his work is posthumous work which his friend got published, though Kafka wanted it all to be destroyed. If his friend would have listened to him, we would have been deprived of this mans profound juxtapositioning of the real versus the imaginary, his vague analogies, his deft touches in each and every word he chose and paradoxically his savagery with them, using the words as a chisel to cut piece by piece or a sword to slash with one clean swipe. Kafka seems to delve into the depths of the human psyche with ease and delivers stories in the first person.

Metamorphosis is about a young man - the bread winner of the house, who gets up one morning and realises that over night he has become a Bug - like a cockroach. What transpires after that is sheer poetry in words. The Human cockroach's each and every thought is layed bare in front of us. His helplessness, his pain, his delight, his effort, his shame, his guilt, his sorrow, his crazving and his ultimate death.

After the man - Gregor gets up that morning, he is already late for work. He is worried that if he does not go to work, he might lose his job and then his family would go hungry, but his sheer helplessness to move and his dreadful appearance prevents him from doing his duty. When his family sees him in this condition, they lock him up in the room. They are ashamed and scared of him. His food is thrown into the room when he is out of sight, no one enters the room and his room's not cleaned for a long time. Basically he is marooned from this world. Kafka delves into the helplessness of this person, who has suddenly metamorphosized into a cockroach and has become reproachable. Even his mother finds him abhorable. His father beats him up with his boots, wounding him, when Gregor tries to come out of the room. He craves love, he craves for belongingness, but dies in loneliness and gloom. His family arrange for the Maid to dispose off his body and only then their normal diurnal activities resume.

It might seem weird; telling a story of a man whos turned into a Bug, but its just an analogy. It might be some disease - like leprosy which had no cure or vaccine in that era. Its the helplessness of a diseased man, shunned by society and his family, which is depicted with such deftness, dexterity and profoundity, whats amazing. Its as relevant today as it was almost a century ago.

This is definitely not for the average reader, for they would be bored or confused at the end of page 1 or might find it some weird concoction of an insane mind. If you skim the surface you would find it to be weird, but if you swim the depths - you would realise the profundness of the analogies. If you do read it, do notice how KAFKA plays with words and your thought process. You would probably have to read everything twice or thrice to really know the real meaning of what Kafka wants to say and I think he wanted it to be that way. He did not care for the ordinary or the frivolous, but the meticulous, the artistic and the intelligent.

Enjoy this classic repeatedly. Its like a sugarcane which has juice in its every straw. The only thing is that you need a big machine - concentration and passion, to squeeze out each and every drop of the nector.

Regards,
Funda-mentor