Book Club

• bey0ndM@gz!ne
• April 18, 2021
• Books-Poetry, Default, Trending
• 0 Comments

HARVIN DEOL

TOUGH TIME NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO

AUTHOR: ROBERT H SHULLER

Tough Times Never Last But Tough People For someone going through a difficult time, or is having trouble seeing the good amidst all the noise, this is the book for you. Around the world, we have been tested financially, socially, mentally and likely in a myriad of other parametres. I chose to review this book over all other books for the sole reason that it gave me a rejuvenated sense of meaning and drive when COVID hit. The lessons I learned in this book has stuck with me since, and continues to bloom with the application of stories and their principals elaborated in the book.

Reading Schullers’ book was an absolute joy. He makes the read awfully understandable and easy. There isn’t anything particularly complex. A straightforward writer simply sharing his own stories and those of others he’s traversed life with. He has an incredible ability to engage and induce a state of reverie.

I was encapsulated by the use of imagery, when describing his own experience. It was meticulously presented, I found myself imagining myself in his shoes and living the moment, not just reading it.

I particularly enjoyed the story where he shared his desire to build a new church, at a time when it was expensive and money was short. He goes into detail about how he overcame each and every roadblock, and was able to get to a point where he fulfilled his goals. The core message being that we as humans have an uncanny ability to find strength and keep striving, even when the odds are against us.

It holds true to contemporary times, with COVID. As a reader and someone who has lived through lockdown, I learned that one should stand tall, unphased by the hurling winds we are experiencing, and choose to thrive.

PRIYA BHASKAR

INVISIBLE WOMEN

AUTHOR: CAROLINE CRIADO PEREZ

I’ve worn masks meant for ‘adults’ that were too large for my ‘adult-sized’ face. I’ve desperately waited in washroom lines while male family members finish their job quickly. I never thought about it, much less questioned the status quo, until I read Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez.

The book made me hyperaware that things are designed to cater to the “majority of humanity”, which by default refers to a man. The author’s premise is that data collectors and planners ignore the little data that is available on women.

Worse, they do not include women as respondents in data collection, which results in flawed solutions that exacerbate the gender gap. The author shows us that the bias against women is an all-pervasive spectrum. It ranges from ‘harmless’ bias (such as bias in emojis – till recently, the default for a runner emoji was male) to bias that directly impacts women’s safety and health (a woman in a car accident is 47% more likely to face serious injury than a man). The (lack of) data collection impacts and imperils the choices women make about working, their health, finances, and safety.

Invisible Women is a phenomenally researched book where almost every page is generously peppered with attributions. The author blitzes us with examples from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Germany, and Africa, that prove that bias against women is omnipresent, insidious, and invisible. Ironically, this invisible, yet prevalent bias is the common thread that binds women together, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, level of education, or geography.

As the first step toward correcting the situation, humanity needs to recognise and question deeply ingrained norms. The author calls for women to step up and be part of the solution by making their presence felt in data collection, designing, and planning.

The theme of International Women’s Day 2021 (IWD 2021, which was on March 8, was “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”. Invisible Women is the ideal book to read, gift, or discuss, as it aligns perfectly with the theme of IWD 2021. This book is a must-read for anyone, man or woman, who believes that gender parity is the first step towards a more equitable world.

GURPREET KAUR

THE 5 SECOND RULE

AUTHOR: MEL ROBBINS

Mel Robbins’ book The 5 Second Rule is a great guide to help you move past these mental roadblocks and help you start living your best life. For instance, if you want to create an intentional life and implement confidence building strategies, this is a great book for you to read. I love how Ms. Robbins explains The 5 Second Rule clearly. Spoiler alert…here is the rule: anytime you are struggling with getting started on ANYTHING, count down from 5 (5-4-3-2-1) and GO.

However, there is a lot of cognitive and behavioral science that Robbins explains throughout the book to help you understand the way the rule impacts your mind and how to properly use it. As quoted from Robbins’ website, “5 Second Rule is simple. If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it.

Rounding off at 240 pages, The 5 Second Rule is a quick read, perfect for an on-demand lifestyle. Robbins uses examples from her own personal story to illustrate how she came to develop ‘The Rule’. Most importantly, she dives into her research and what she learned about in the process of using ‘The Rule’ to positively impact her own life. Additionally, she uses several testimonials and many stories of real individuals who leveraged ‘The Rule’ to change their own lives. And She notably ends each chapter with a motivational quote that makes you think, “Yes! This is exactly what I needed to read”.

Personal development books run the gamut from being preachy to overly scientific. The 5 Second Rule is a happy medium that gives just enough research and solid psychological information to create trust in the process and explain what you need to know about how it works. She does not get too “woo-woo” in her encouragement to use ‘The Rule’ in your own life either.