Reading Assignment

I have read a number of self-help books during the
past 5 years.

These are some books I studied, that were very helpful,
memorable, and inspiring during the times I needed
them most:

Jim Rohn’s 5 Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle

Stephen MR Covey’s Speed of Trust

John Maxwell’s Becoming a Person of Influence

T. Harv Ecker’s Secrets of a Millionaire Mind

Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, How to Win Friends and Influence People through Public Speaking 

Deepak Chopra’s The Way of the Wizard, Buddha

Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, and Debbie Ford’s Shadow Effect

Gary Zukav’s Seat of the Soul

Kevin Hall’s Aspire (few sample chapters)

Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, Tipping Point

Lance Armstrong’s Every Second Counts

Quotations from Mother Theresa: Love

Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet

George Clason’s Richest Man in Babylon

Og Mandino’s The Greatest Miracle in the World,
Greatest Salesman in the World, The Choice, The
Gift of Acabar, The Return of the Ragpicker,
Mission: Success, A Better Way to Live

Florence Scovel Shinn’s The Game of Life and How to Play It

These books along with my journals are housed in
the (bed)space I rented in Manila. The housemates
(old and new) are now the ones reading them.
I was very happy to learn the other day, that
they all find the books very helpful.

I did not have to bring them with me here (Cam Sur),
because just like me, they (the books) too,
have to move on to the next set of people who need
them at this point in their lives.

There was only one book I brought with me —
The Bible. Five years ago, I opened my mind and
gave the Bible a chance. Now it’s clear,
that I was the one given the chance.

Along with the Bible, here are the books I am
studying now:

– How to be Compassionate by the Dalai Lama
– A Course in Miracles (ACIM)

Do you have books you would like to recommend?

Thanks for sitting in!

Reading 101.1

In my previous log, i have shared with you
techniques on maximizing a book that you read.

(By the way, those apply to self-help books,
and not your college text books. :p )

I really haven’t shared yet, how you know it’s
the right one for you.

There’s every book that matches every situation,
and every personality. Make sure the book you
are reading is not wasting your time.

I don’t have a regular shopping schedule for books.
Usually, I have a question in my mind that I allow
to sit for a while. Then, I wait for an answer.
Which I get in a form of an experience, person, or
book.

Finding books for me is like accidentally talking
to somebody and later realize that what he/she
said was the answer I needed to hear.

What about you? How do you choose/ find the books you
read?

Thanks for sitting in!

Reading 101

One of the advantages of being a student of life is I can choose my teachers (or can I)? I don’t have to see my teachers face to face, and they don’t have to be alive either.

Over the years I have learned of a technique so I can learn as much as I can from the book I am reading:

1. LOOK FOR CHEMISTRY –  Books, just like teachers are supposed to appear when the student is ready. When nothing clicks, we need to set the book aside. Otherwise, reading will only be a waste of time

2. TAKE SMALL BITES – Food and books are similar in one aspect – they need to be digested so our bodies / mind can be nourished. Read only one chapter per day or per week. We need to give our mind time to process the learning, question the ideas, and possibly form a conclusion.

3. EXERCISE REGULARLY – Not just our body, but the knowledge we have built inside the mind. Just like muscles, knowledge not put to good use easily fade away. We need to practice and apply what we learn.

4. SHARE – The best way to remember and to learn more is to share what we read.

Do you have other helpful tips? I’ll be happy to learn from you.

Thanks for sitting in. 🙂