The Alchemist is one of those "esoteric" feeling books that makes you feel like life is vivid again.
It certainly plays on the feeling that "there is something more" that you've forgotten and the thought that you are part of a bigger plan.
As you follow Santiago, the shepherd boy on his adventure, you will automatically question your own adventure in life; are you living up to your higher purpose? Why have you forgotten your way? What else is out there that you should be doing? Have you betrayed what you were meant to do with your life?
Asking questions like this...feeling the feelings that go along with such questions...it really is a wonderful way to live. For the short time that you read this book, you will feel more alive. You will feel more in tune with "the universe". You will feel that wonderful 1-in-the-morning-stare-out-the-window-and-listen-to-the-wind feeling...that is…unless you don't know what that feels like.
Santiago follows his dreams, which take him from Spain to Morocco and then Egypt, all in search of a special treasure. During his travels he learns lessons from messengers that seem placed in his path at the right moment, just when he needs them.
The author, Paulo Coelho, is a Brazilian writer who is very well-liked. I heard that Madonna loves him. I have read several of his books, but I think this is the best one. He has churned out quite a few more books in the last few years that I have not read yet, so it is certainly possible that he has outdone The Alchemist. I'll check it out.
A few of his books have been non-fiction and about his own life. From what I can piece together, Paulo is a member of a little-known Mystic Catholic sect which seeks after spiritual growth. They assign previously unknown international mentors to their members...older men who have attained a high degree of spiritual power (and worldly success?). I won't even go into some of the weird stuff they do, but if you want to an idea, pick up "The Pilgrimage", also by Coelho.
But do read The Alchemist; it is just such a good book. It will definitely give you a wisdom-buzz...or an "esoteric-buzz".
Today I was reading an interview with Paulo, in which he talked about watching for "Omens" in your life that only you will recognize. It's a language the “Universe” speaks to you through...like coincidences, songs, feelings, synchronicities. This is a theme he definitely speaks a lot about in The Alchemist.
Some people complain that the book is too simplistic, that you would be stupid to believe that there is some “plan” for your life that you should have followed; that you should wake up, take your head out of the “touchy-feely” clouds and get back to work.
If you are prone to such thoughts, perhaps this book is not for you. However, if you enjoy waking up your soul from time to time, there is no better place to do it than in the clouds.
Jumat, 27 Januari 2012
Highly Effective People
If you haven't read "7 Habits" yet, it MAY NOT be time to read it now.
I have noticed that you can't or shouldn't read it until you're ready. Let me explain that:
I read it in 1993 when I was 20. If I had read it when I was 19, I would have gotten nothing out of it. To be honest, when I did read it, it really was an answer to my prayers.
There are concepts in this book that are so powerful, that even just reading them (without consciously putting them into action) changed how I live.
For example, I continuously found myself comparing what was happening in my life to what I had just read. If someone said an insulting thing to me, my initial feeling would be anger, but on the heels of that thought would come something I'd read in 7 Habits. I'd be thinking, "Hey! That reminds me of when Covey wrote about ___________." And by the time that thought was gone, so was the negative situation.
Thinking became a whole lot of fun!
Even the first 3 Habits were enough to get me incredibly excited about interaction with others. You could live 1000 years and not come up with these concepts on your own.
The 4th habit was my favorite. It's called "Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood". I wish I did this more...now that I'm married! But back then, this helped me to become a very good "Speaker". I could talk to people and help them not "drown for psychological air" around me. People want to be understood. If you argue your point all the time, no one feels understood and ideas are harder to be put into action. ANY IDIOT CAN ARGUE! The whole world seems to place a huge importance on debate...and being able to destroy other people's points of view with your logic and wit.
But that's not strength. Like I said: any idiot can argue. Not 1 in 1000 people can REALLY consider another person's opinion as being the right one. Even fewer can actually stop and say to themselves: "I'm positive that I'm 110% right and that other person is wrong, but who knows? Maybe I am wrong. Let me consider their point and listen to what they need to express."
Now that is real strength.
I once shared this concept with an opinionated individual. They started yelling at me and saying I was wrong and that if you know you're right, you need to stand up for yourself and prove the other person is wrong. With a grin on my face, I replied, "Maybe you're right". LOL! They didn't even pick up on the fact I had just done to them what I was advocating.
It's amazing what happens to people when you state back to them what you think is the point they're trying to make. You'll end up starting a lot of your sentences with: "...so, what you're saying is....". Once you begin to show the person you're not there to argue, their backs go down; the urgency in their voice drops; they calm down; and then they listen to your point without fighting.
As Covey explains, the best way to influence others is...to be INFLUENCED.
It's such a good book and it's filled with principles that will help you in all your dealings, but I find you have to be in a position in your life to put it into action. It will work great if you can practice it every day in a setting as:
-a family member dealing with difficult situations
-a manager
-a salesperson
...or anyone who needs to deal with people day-to-day. If you feel a strong need to know how to deal with others more effectively, maybe you're ready for this book now.
I have noticed that you can't or shouldn't read it until you're ready. Let me explain that:
I read it in 1993 when I was 20. If I had read it when I was 19, I would have gotten nothing out of it. To be honest, when I did read it, it really was an answer to my prayers.
There are concepts in this book that are so powerful, that even just reading them (without consciously putting them into action) changed how I live.
For example, I continuously found myself comparing what was happening in my life to what I had just read. If someone said an insulting thing to me, my initial feeling would be anger, but on the heels of that thought would come something I'd read in 7 Habits. I'd be thinking, "Hey! That reminds me of when Covey wrote about ___________." And by the time that thought was gone, so was the negative situation.
Thinking became a whole lot of fun!
Even the first 3 Habits were enough to get me incredibly excited about interaction with others. You could live 1000 years and not come up with these concepts on your own.
The 4th habit was my favorite. It's called "Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood". I wish I did this more...now that I'm married! But back then, this helped me to become a very good "Speaker". I could talk to people and help them not "drown for psychological air" around me. People want to be understood. If you argue your point all the time, no one feels understood and ideas are harder to be put into action. ANY IDIOT CAN ARGUE! The whole world seems to place a huge importance on debate...and being able to destroy other people's points of view with your logic and wit.
But that's not strength. Like I said: any idiot can argue. Not 1 in 1000 people can REALLY consider another person's opinion as being the right one. Even fewer can actually stop and say to themselves: "I'm positive that I'm 110% right and that other person is wrong, but who knows? Maybe I am wrong. Let me consider their point and listen to what they need to express."
Now that is real strength.
I once shared this concept with an opinionated individual. They started yelling at me and saying I was wrong and that if you know you're right, you need to stand up for yourself and prove the other person is wrong. With a grin on my face, I replied, "Maybe you're right". LOL! They didn't even pick up on the fact I had just done to them what I was advocating.
It's amazing what happens to people when you state back to them what you think is the point they're trying to make. You'll end up starting a lot of your sentences with: "...so, what you're saying is....". Once you begin to show the person you're not there to argue, their backs go down; the urgency in their voice drops; they calm down; and then they listen to your point without fighting.
As Covey explains, the best way to influence others is...to be INFLUENCED.
It's such a good book and it's filled with principles that will help you in all your dealings, but I find you have to be in a position in your life to put it into action. It will work great if you can practice it every day in a setting as:
-a family member dealing with difficult situations
-a manager
-a salesperson
...or anyone who needs to deal with people day-to-day. If you feel a strong need to know how to deal with others more effectively, maybe you're ready for this book now.
the success of his Pulitzer Prize
Coming on strong after the success of his Pulitzer Prize-winning <i>Guns, Germs, and Steel</i>, Jared Diamond's new book, <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> is a tome of intriguing insight to the other side of the coin. While <i>Guns, Germs and Steel</i> examined how some societies thrived, due to their respective geographic and environmental endowments, this book examines why ancient societies have collapsed so often in the past, in part for the same reasons. To support this thesis, the book delves into a variety of past civilizations, including the Anasazi of the American Southwest, the Maya and the Viking colonies of Greenland to illustrate that collapse of a society is no respecter of geography. Nor is it a respecter of time. <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> also looks at modern-day societies such as Rwanda to explain the catastrophe that recently befell this afflicted nation, as well as it depicts present-day Montana and the fascinating factors rendering this once wealthy state into one of the poorest. Could Montana be a microcosm for the U.S. at large? The book asks how once astute societies that built magnificent monuments testifying of their social and economic prowess, could suddenly vanish or be rendered impotent. Not lost on the reader throughout these case studies is the nagging thought that perhaps this fate might also befall our own wealthy country. In fact, it is the seminal point of this provocative book. <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> hopes to stir our collective consciousness to an understanding what lies before us so that we may be saved, as evidenced, from the pitfalls of the past. In essence, we cannot separate the economy from the environment if we hope to avoid devastation.
Perhaps this is best depicted in the book's treatise of the Anasazi. Their vast ruins in what is now northern New Mexico echo a well-ordered, sophisticated society in a fragile desert environment that lasted over 600 years. To put this into perspective, they lasted longer than any European society in the Americas to date. However, over time the Anasazi of the Chaco Canyon complex became ever more specialized in the tasks of the society. This in turn allowed them to make gains in economies of efficiency while making them equally interdependent as a culture. More and more the main complex at Chaco Canyon depended on outlying communities and outposts for their support, not unlike London or Rome today. These cities served as governmental and religious centers to facilitate the management their respective societies. <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> describes how, like many of our cities of today, "Chaco Canyon became a black hole into which goods were imported but from which nothing tangible was exported." As the population grew so did the demands on the surrounding environment. Fuel and other essential resources became ever more distant; coupled with soil depletion and erosion in the surrounding farmlands. In essence, they became increasingly close to living on the margin of what the environment could reasonably support. The final straw was a prolonged drought. No longer able to support or feed themselves, the society suddenly collapsed into open revolt and total civil warfare, culminating in cannibalism and ultimately total abandonment of the site. The moral lesson is that while they "adopted solutions that were brilliantly successful and understandable in the 'short term' (they) created fatal problems in the long run." The analogy to our present day situation of overextending ourselves is obvious.
While <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> seems to make a strong connection between collapse of a society and it's environment, this book is not all about eco-meltdowns. He also measures four other critical factors involving the demise of societies as well; including hostile neighbors; loss of trading partners; climate change and perhaps most importantly, a society's responses to its challenges. In this vein, this book also looks at several past success stories where societies in Japan and the highlands of New Guinea had the insight to change fundamental, traditional values and restore a positive balance with nature, trading partners etc. and thrive.
In its conclusion, <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> presents a cautious optimism for our own future. The book concludes that because we are the creators our own problems, we also have the power to amend the quandaries we have made. This, the book maintains, will not be easy and will require profound courage; but necessary if we are to have hope for the future.
Perhaps this is best depicted in the book's treatise of the Anasazi. Their vast ruins in what is now northern New Mexico echo a well-ordered, sophisticated society in a fragile desert environment that lasted over 600 years. To put this into perspective, they lasted longer than any European society in the Americas to date. However, over time the Anasazi of the Chaco Canyon complex became ever more specialized in the tasks of the society. This in turn allowed them to make gains in economies of efficiency while making them equally interdependent as a culture. More and more the main complex at Chaco Canyon depended on outlying communities and outposts for their support, not unlike London or Rome today. These cities served as governmental and religious centers to facilitate the management their respective societies. <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> describes how, like many of our cities of today, "Chaco Canyon became a black hole into which goods were imported but from which nothing tangible was exported." As the population grew so did the demands on the surrounding environment. Fuel and other essential resources became ever more distant; coupled with soil depletion and erosion in the surrounding farmlands. In essence, they became increasingly close to living on the margin of what the environment could reasonably support. The final straw was a prolonged drought. No longer able to support or feed themselves, the society suddenly collapsed into open revolt and total civil warfare, culminating in cannibalism and ultimately total abandonment of the site. The moral lesson is that while they "adopted solutions that were brilliantly successful and understandable in the 'short term' (they) created fatal problems in the long run." The analogy to our present day situation of overextending ourselves is obvious.
While <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> seems to make a strong connection between collapse of a society and it's environment, this book is not all about eco-meltdowns. He also measures four other critical factors involving the demise of societies as well; including hostile neighbors; loss of trading partners; climate change and perhaps most importantly, a society's responses to its challenges. In this vein, this book also looks at several past success stories where societies in Japan and the highlands of New Guinea had the insight to change fundamental, traditional values and restore a positive balance with nature, trading partners etc. and thrive.
In its conclusion, <i>Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed</i> presents a cautious optimism for our own future. The book concludes that because we are the creators our own problems, we also have the power to amend the quandaries we have made. This, the book maintains, will not be easy and will require profound courage; but necessary if we are to have hope for the future.
Ultrametabolism
"No wonder it's so hard to lose weight- our bodies are designed to keep weight on at all costs; it's a matter of survival. It's embedded in our DNA." In essence, we are designed to gain weight, expounds Mark Hyman, M.D. in his new bestselling book <i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i>. This books follows on the heels of his previous bestseller, <i>UltraPrevention: The 6-Week Plan that Will Make You Healthy for Life</i> that he coauthored and proves to be every bit as informative. Dr. Hyman, who has a passion for the cutting-edge science of Western medicine and alternative health for over 20 years, maintains that <i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> is not just another of many weight loss books on the market. Rather, the book is your body’s owner's manual for overall health. He distills his knowledge into a healthy lifestyle, which reduces the factors of a number of epidemic health problems and degenerative diseases currently plaguing us, while at the same time we also gain the positive side-effect of weight loss.
<i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> dives in by turning much of what we believe as conventional wisdom concerning weight loss on its head. Much of what we think we know about weight loss actually has been making us gain weight. As evidence, the book points to the fact that despite the $50 billion we spend on weight loss every year in America, whether it's diet pills, programs or exercise routines, they all have a dismal success record. In fact, for every diet we go on, we end up gaining five pounds on average in the long run. Obesity is now overtaking smoking as the number one cause of preventable deaths with almost 70 percent of the adult population and one third of our children now overweight. Compounding the problem are the profitable foods the food industry pushes, entrenched pharmaceutical companies and our own government's recommendations, especially when it comes to the "food pyramid" or low fat in our diets.
In part I, <i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> exposes seven hoary myths that make us unhealthy, gain weight and keep it on. First there is the Starvation Myth: Eating less and exercising more does not equal weight loss. Next is the Calorie Myth: All calories are created equal. Third is the Fat Myth. Eating fat makes you fat. Fourth is the Carb Myth. Eating a low carb or no carb diet will make you thin. Fifth is the Sumo Wrestler Myth: Skipping meals helps you lose weight. Sixth is the French Paradox Myth: The French are thin because they drink wine and eat butter, and last but not least is the Protector Myth: Government food policies and food industry regulations protect our health. Moreover, the book points out that the introduced man-made substances such as "trans-fats", which are found in nearly every processed and packaged food because they never spoil, are adding to our overall exploding health and weight problems over the past 30 years. This consumable plastic disrupts our metabolism by actually turning on a gene in your DNA, which slows metabolism causing you to gain weight. The book also discusses another danger to our health: the man-made supersugars, such as high-fructose corn syrup, which is used to sweeten almost everything these days including soft drinks. These supersugars quickly enter your bloodstream and trigger hormonal and chemical changes which induces insulin surges that tell your brain to eat more and your fat cells to store more fat.
If there are substances and foods that we eat that can trigger negative results, then surly there are ways to make us healthy and loose weight. Part II of <i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> gives us the keys to turn on our metabolism and fat burning genes, turn off your weight gain genes, and program your body to lose weight automatically. The book takes this even further in part III by providing menus and recipes, along with exercise and lifestyle treatments designed to create healthy metabolism and overall health. This section of the book is designed so it can be customized to meet your unique genetic needs to optimally awaken your fat-burning DNA.
<i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> provides a vivid road map to navigate our way back to health and fitness. And in so doing we will be successful in our quest for long-term weight loss without counting calories, fat grams or carbs. We don't have to starve ourselves; we simply need to eat in harmony with our genes.
<i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> dives in by turning much of what we believe as conventional wisdom concerning weight loss on its head. Much of what we think we know about weight loss actually has been making us gain weight. As evidence, the book points to the fact that despite the $50 billion we spend on weight loss every year in America, whether it's diet pills, programs or exercise routines, they all have a dismal success record. In fact, for every diet we go on, we end up gaining five pounds on average in the long run. Obesity is now overtaking smoking as the number one cause of preventable deaths with almost 70 percent of the adult population and one third of our children now overweight. Compounding the problem are the profitable foods the food industry pushes, entrenched pharmaceutical companies and our own government's recommendations, especially when it comes to the "food pyramid" or low fat in our diets.
In part I, <i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> exposes seven hoary myths that make us unhealthy, gain weight and keep it on. First there is the Starvation Myth: Eating less and exercising more does not equal weight loss. Next is the Calorie Myth: All calories are created equal. Third is the Fat Myth. Eating fat makes you fat. Fourth is the Carb Myth. Eating a low carb or no carb diet will make you thin. Fifth is the Sumo Wrestler Myth: Skipping meals helps you lose weight. Sixth is the French Paradox Myth: The French are thin because they drink wine and eat butter, and last but not least is the Protector Myth: Government food policies and food industry regulations protect our health. Moreover, the book points out that the introduced man-made substances such as "trans-fats", which are found in nearly every processed and packaged food because they never spoil, are adding to our overall exploding health and weight problems over the past 30 years. This consumable plastic disrupts our metabolism by actually turning on a gene in your DNA, which slows metabolism causing you to gain weight. The book also discusses another danger to our health: the man-made supersugars, such as high-fructose corn syrup, which is used to sweeten almost everything these days including soft drinks. These supersugars quickly enter your bloodstream and trigger hormonal and chemical changes which induces insulin surges that tell your brain to eat more and your fat cells to store more fat.
If there are substances and foods that we eat that can trigger negative results, then surly there are ways to make us healthy and loose weight. Part II of <i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> gives us the keys to turn on our metabolism and fat burning genes, turn off your weight gain genes, and program your body to lose weight automatically. The book takes this even further in part III by providing menus and recipes, along with exercise and lifestyle treatments designed to create healthy metabolism and overall health. This section of the book is designed so it can be customized to meet your unique genetic needs to optimally awaken your fat-burning DNA.
<i>Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss</i> provides a vivid road map to navigate our way back to health and fitness. And in so doing we will be successful in our quest for long-term weight loss without counting calories, fat grams or carbs. We don't have to starve ourselves; we simply need to eat in harmony with our genes.
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