The sun rises at 6 PM: Our book journey for January, 2022

“A book can open the mind, free the heart, and speak to the soul.” - Jason Ellis

As humans, we yearn for meaningful connection and social understanding, and books definitely fulfill this need of ours. Our perspectives from books age like wine. 

The possibilities presented by a new book are always overwhelming and this month we wandered from tales of kindness to bulletproof problem solving to building 10x companies. Here are our books for the month of January.

Kindness. Aren’t we all grateful for it?

We started the new year’s first book club slightly differently. Instead of going for a usual book, one of our team members narrated their favorite tales of all times. A neighbor of Prophet Muhammed used to despise him and whenever he passed through the neighbor’s house every evening, the neighbor threw garbage at him. The neighbor fell ill one day, and the Prophet was surprised not to see garbage thrown at him. So he went to check on the neighbor and found that the person was ill and alone and there was no one to take care. The prophet decides to take care of the neighbor who was so abusive to him. The neighbor was not only shocked but humbled and embarrassed and was in extreme admiration. The story reflects the power of kindness and patience. The prophet never mentioned the neighbor’s previous behavior and treated them with genuine kindness. Today in a world where human society seems to be polarizing increasingly, kindness is key to battle polarization.

Rogue Waves‍

Jonathan Brill

The pandemic took us by storm, shutting a huge number of brick and mortar businesses by a sweep. Unexpected events have taken down a number of companies. Be it major economic disruptions, socio-political changes, or technological shifts. To thrive in the constant rogue changes or rogue waves (of course, as the author likes to call it) of today’s world, businesses need to have the right strategies in place to survive any kind of circumstances. Brill says that the covid-19 pandemic didn’t come out of the blue. Increased air travel in the past decade meant easier chances for viruses to spread from one part of the world to the other, more urbanization meant faster transmission, and an aging population meant more vulnerable people. Deeper research would help businesses to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic. Apple and CVS Health proactively prepared for this rogue wave by doing their intense research, which are examples for survivors and (of course) winners in the end. Organizations must consider encouraging and incentivizing ideas and their implementation. Many experiments may fail, but eventually, innovation is the mother of inventions. A few experiments are bound to take off, and that alone could be worth huge profits. Studies show that increased experimentation and long-term performance have a strong correlation, making continuous innovation the best bet for future success against rogue waves.

The Power of Your Subconscious

Joseph Murphy

As the title highlights, this book deepens our understanding of the immense potential of our subconscious. Murphy compares our subconscious mind to the hidden beneath of an iceberg - humongous and unknown for eyes that neglect to look beyond. He takes us through interesting stories to reveal the true power of the subconscious. Remember the first time you attempted to bake a brownie? It might require a lot of focus in the beginning, but pretty soon you get the hang of it and the task is just a walk in the park. An interesting fact about the subconscious mind is that they are vulnerable to suggestions - both good and bad. The author advises us to harness this vulnerability. For example, an Opera tenor Enrico Caruso suffered from massive stage fright before his performance. He feared that he would perform poorly and the crowd would mock him. He overcame this by making the effort to stop interfering with the subconscious mind with his conscious thoughts of fear. This powerful tool can even help you overcome envy. Wishing good upon others triggers your subconscious that you deserve good things in life too, and that will encourage you to pursue potential affluence.

• Try to inculcate the habit of thinking positively to uncover the real power of the subconscious mind.

What to Do When You’re New

Keith Rollag

Walking into a completely new place be it at the office, school, the gym, community event, or even a party. You don’t know any of the attendees, and you save yourselves from the ‘awkward loneliness’ by hiding your face on the phone screens pretending to be occupied. This might have happened to many of us. What to Do When You’re New tells you how to break the ice in such situations. Science says that it is human nature to be alert around the unknown and so we tend to stay anxious while wanting to fit in at the same time. In order to get comfortable with new changes or situations, Rollag advises us to see these as opportunities for self-training sessions where you improve and learn something new each time. This change of mindset can sweep off your awkwardness in such situations and do wonders in first-time interactions. People appreciate it when you approach them with an ‘I want to learn’ mindset. Be concise with your questions and say that you’re new. People are more willing to help and forgive you for mistakes. Finally, stay positive because positive energy helps people to connect with you more easily.

• As a newcomer, create a strategy for your introduction. Effective communication is key and be respectful and acknowledge the prospective relationship of others present.
• To make a first good impression, it’s always better to remember the names of people in the room.
• Listen to others and be empathetic. It makes others feel that you are genuinely interested in them, which builds comfortable relationships and trust.

Written in History

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Letters are close to the heart and confirm the importance of a relationship. Written in History takes you back in time. From the love letter of Mozart to political statement letters that changed the course of world history, Sebag Montefiore gives you a glimpse of the personal thoughts and feelings of renowned figures in the past. Letters aren’t only for lovers, even the dictators expressed their deepest thoughts through them. The infamous personality accused of mass murder Joseph Stalin expresses his intense love for his 16-year-old mistress through a letter. These letters are like goldmines giving us personal insight into the lives of famous figures. Wilbur Wright wrote a letter to the Smithsonian Institution asking them to believe him and now when we retrospect, we realize how that letter changed the course of history with the invention of the airplanes! Whether the messages in the letter are benevolent, innovative, or condemning, letters were indeed the essence of authentic human communication.

Captivology

Ben Parr

Social media has changed our lives and culture at large. We can get overwhelmed with a ton of information that our brain processes every day, be it Facebook and Instagram posts, emails, news, chats, and more. Simultaneously, good social skills are becoming rare. Captivology helps you hack social interactions. Parr emphasizes that in a world where anonymous people sit behind their computers typing in negative comments, it is important to realize that we don’t need to appeal to everyone. Define your relevant group of people and cater to their needs. Position yourself as a confident person and maintain eye contact in your conversations to build a connection. Parr also reveals major personality traits to know others better. The traits OCEAN are present in every person to a certain extent: Openness shows about your curiosity to new ideas and adventures, Conscientiousness is about getting things done, Extroversion depicts how you feel around others, Agreeableness corresponds to your ability to team up with others, and the final trait Neuroticism assess your mood swings.

The 5 Second Rule

Mel Robbins

This book is the push you need. The 5 Second Rule keeps you on your toes against procrastination. Whenever Robbins feels the urge to procrastinate, the five seconds rule helps her get things done - be it updating her resume to apply for jobs or going for the morning jogs in the park. American activist Rosa Parks’s pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott was instantaneous. Martin Luther King Junior’s decision to become a preacher representing the protest against bus segregation was instantaneous too. These incidents highlight the significance of the five-second rule giving us enough time and courage to grab opportunities to move in the right direction. The author says that there’s no perfect scenario or a ‘right time’ to accomplish your goals because you create your own opportunities. If she hadn’t taken the initial step to self-publish her own book, EL James would never have been able to sell a million copies of her book Fifty Shades of Grey within the first four days. 

• Make conscious efforts to control your feelings to procrastinate because researches show that emotions are a deciding factor in taking 95 percent of our decisions.

The Fate of Rome

Kyle Harper

The Fate of Rome by Kyle Harper holds relevance in the current world of pandemics and epidemics. Despite the limitations of disease and ill health, the Roman Empire flourished well. The economy was prospering, there was no hunger or starvation, and wages were growing even for the most unskilled laborers. Rome also had a stable and warm climate, climate conditions that came as a huge boon to farmers. There were a large number of trade routes and high connectedness, but it came at a cost. It gave way to the perfect breeding ground for diseases. The Antonine and Cyprian plague gave a blow to the empire, but they still were the most powerful empire in the world. Emperors like Claudius II, Diocletian, and Constantine flourished the empire again. The army was rebuilt and currency stabilized, allowing markets to reopen. However some parts stretching from Central Europe to East Asia were suffering from food shortage and famine. There were refugees and migrations, and the Romans didn’t take kindly to the Gothic refugees. The western Roman Empire fell when the Goth attacks took place.

Happy Accidents

David Ahearn, Frank Ford, and David Milk

Most of us might have watched improv comedies. The most important rule for improv is “Yes, and” which is based on the concept that an individual or performer should always face whatever situations that are thrown at them, with a positive outlook. It helps us come up with new ideas, and require no prior skills but an open mindset and a willingness to collaborate. Risks are a part of life. And “no” is a big word that can turn things down and limit your ability to think and adapt. It’s important to get the ball rolling to move forward in life. The authors also introduce us to the concept of Return on Improvisation (ROI). ROI is all about giving back to the community or your consumers to sustain in the long run. Improv group Four Day Weekend offered tickets refund, free tickets to another show, and a dinner at one of the finest restaurants when a disabled couple complained about their experience at the show. Later, the couple sent a glowing message of appreciation, reinforcing their stand on customer experience and improved the ROI. They turned the crisis into an opportunity to make things right through the power of “Yes, and''.

Bulletproof Problem Solving

Charles Conn and Robert McLean

Solving a complex problem? Don’t hesitate to take a moment to frame your problem correctly before jumping into solutions. In Bulletproof Problem Solving, Conn and McLean approach a logical way to approach problems. Asking the right questions helps you define the problem correctly - You not only save time, but you don’t end up coming up with the best answers for the wrong questions. The newspaper industry was taken by a storm by the internet because the more experienced editorials and executives tried to solve the wrong question - can online blogs publish better quality content than the more experienced editorial team. Instead, they should have looked into the matter of huge revenues generated by the advertisements. The internet didn’t poach their readers, but poached their advertisers.

Chaos Monkeys

Antonia Garcia Martinez

Chaos Monkey is a lucid insider’s autobiography on how Silicon startups and the functioning of tech industries. For many Silicon Valley is synonymous with dreams and success. Unfortunately the process of getting to work there isn’t easy for non-immigrants. According to data, in 2013 a total of 200,000 foreign workers applied for H-1B visa hoping to get employed at Silicon Valley, but only 16,000 of them got approved. And if they were lucky enough to get the visa, they were mostly at the mercy of their bosses. The visa would no longer be valid if they get fired or the company shuts down. It might be risky for investors who fund early-stage startups because companies could either fail or they could become highly successful leaving investors with only a microscopic share. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates had their share of unpopular employee stories as well. While Gates registered the copyright for IBM’s DOS, Jobs won the prize money without due credit for his friend Wozniak on creating the single-player version of Pong. Things aren’t that great at Facebook too. An ex-Facebook employee himself, Martinez learned about how women at Facebook were expected to wear non-revealing clothes and the constant battle between managers.

The Psychology of Winning

Dr. Denis Waitley

Maurice Chevalier once said, “If you wait for the perfect moment when all is safe and assured, it may never arrive. Mountains will not be climbed, races won, nor happiness achieved.” In his book, Waitley emphasizes the importance of a winning attitude to lead a positive, happy and a successful life. Most importantly develop winning habits by constantly uplifting your self-image. Our mind has tremendous power and can influence our actions. Neil Armstrong always wanted to do something in the field of aviation since he was a child, and he became the first man on earth to step foot on the moon! Winners have clear goals and are open to feedback. Victor Frank was a psychiatrist who survived the concentration camps. He learned that the men who survived the harsh realities in the camp were the ones who had a clear set of purpose for their existence. When they fall, they focus on the positive aspects of their actions. 

• Winners aren’t genetically winners. They spring out from adversity. They streamline their mental, environmental, and physiological state.
• Remove negative habits like self-criticism, procrastination, smoking, and laziness to develop a positive lifestyle.

The Boy, the mole, the fox, and the Horse

Charlie Mackesy

The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse is a heartfelt book with beautiful hand drawings of the characters. The book speaks to all, the young and the old. The boy and the mole strike up a heartwarming friendship as they tread through the wild supporting each other. Further, they meet the fox caught in a snare. This book is sure to stay close to your heart. Here’s a heartwarming conversation between the horse and the boy when the boy finds it tough to move ahead in the wild. 

Boy: I can’t see a way through.

Horse: Can you see your next?

Boy: Yes.

Horse: Just take that step.

Built To Last

Jim Collins

Tata, Hersheys, Hero, Bosch, Walt Disney, and Marriott Hotels have one thing in common. All of them are visionary companies and they have a lot to teach us. Jim Collins in his book identifies 18 companies around the world that have survived successfully in the tests of the time. Everything begins with a great idea, but visionary companies aren’t just about ideas. They are more about creating an organizational culture that constantly nurtures leaders who are down-to-earth and modest people determined to constantly advance their companies independently of one person or idea. They cultivate a culture of managerial talent within the company so that new and later leaders could be counted on for dealing with challenges in line with the company's ideals. Visionary companies have strong core ideologies to guide them, but they are also driven by the need to continuously experiment and improve their products, business, and organization. The author in his research also finds that the corporate cultures of these companies are often cult-like. There are no compromises on their expectations and standards. Their ideologies are practical and long-term. For example, 3M did not merely say that they need their employees to be innovative. They translated this value by encouraging employees to spend 15 percent of their time on experiments and pet projects and made sure that 30 percent of every division’s sale came from products less than four years old.

Great By Choice

Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen

If you find your business at a standstill or directionless, this book will help you in rethinking strategies and shaping the structure of your business. It focuses on how one can become great in business taking lessons from anecdotes, histories, and true stories. In these unpredictable and ever-changing business environments, Collins and Hansen teaches us that companies that are prepared, thrive at all times. The 10X companies or successful companies that outperform industry average by at least 10 times are successful because they build up their knowledge and provisions that can be useful at any event or any conditions. The authors also introduce us to a concept called empirical creativity where you fire bullets first, and then cannonballs. Apple first bullet-launched their MP3 that were compatible only on Mac computers. When they saw the sales to be promising, they fired another bullet-launch with iTunes, compatible for Mac users again. This was their final or empirical evidence on launching cannonballs - iTunes and iPods for non-Mac users. The success of those sales are history. 

• Identified goals, consistency in action is key to, and empirical creativity and innovation can help your company reach heights. 
• Preparedness can help win any expedition.
• Fear the worst and obsessively prepare for it.

The Art of Reading Minds

Henrik Fexeus

Relationships and social interactions are a major part of human life. The Art of Reading Minds does not teach the techniques of telepathy but it’s a book about non-verbal communication enabling you to recognize a person’s thoughts through their words, tone of voice, body language, and looks and ultimately being able to influence and build rapport with others. Importantly, you should make attempts to learn others’ realities to forge a close relationship. And try to adopt the other person’s style of communication for positive outcomes out of the relationship - say your client wants to keep an informal conversation, adopt it and go with the flow and vice-versa. Lighten the environment and start a conversation with a light joke or a pleasant experience in order to associate yourself with positive emotions when people think of you. They will have lasting first impressions and will remember you with a smile on their faces. 

• Making and cultivating good relationships in life should be our top priority because community and people play a large part in our lives.
• Get the conversation going by getting people to like you by finding ways in which you remind them of themselves.
• Always listen to others rather than frantically wanting to give your opinions.
  

The Mother Tongue

Bill Bryson

You go to a foreign land and spot someone speaking your language, a connection is instantly established. In his book, Bryson takes us through the history of the English language - how it flourished and endured, despite invasions and censorship. Although the world is more globally connected now more than ever, it is not a not new concept. And language is an indicator of global connectedness. For example the word ‘brother’ is ‘bruder’ in German, ‘bratha’ in Sanskrit, and ‘birader’ in Persian. Sir William Jones noticed that classical languages like Sanskrit, Persian, Latin, Celtic, and Greek rooted from a parent language and had striking similarities with European languages, ultimately naming the parent language to be Indo-European. The English language was expanded as the British Isles were conquered and invaded by several tribes from Rome, Germany, and of course the Vikings tribe from Scandinavia. The word ‘window’ originated from Scandinavia, meaning ‘wind eye’ and many places’ names in northern England are of Scandinavian origin. As time passed, new words were added to the English lexicon. Shakespeare coined over a whopping thousand words including ‘leapfrog’, ‘excellent’, ‘lonely’, and ‘majestic’ while Isaac Newton provided more scientific words such as ‘centrifugal’. It is interesting to note that words from one century could be offensive and profane swords words in another.

How We Got To Now

Steven Johnson

In this book, Johnson talks about six remarkable innovations that made modern life easier. Early on in his book, he makes us realize how the world is more interconnected than we thought by citing the beautiful symbiotic relationship between flowers and insects that led to the remarkable evolutionary innovation of the hummingbird’s wings. Innovation inspires the origin of other innovations and often in unexpected ways. Frozen food radically changed the way we eat, and it was in fact an accidental discovery when a naturalist named Clarence Birdseye went fishing. He discovered that the ambient temperature froze the fish almost instantly when he caught fish from a hole in the ice. This conceived the idea of flash freezing and the entire industry of frozen was born. It is interesting to note that even though innovation may not directly be the cause of change, it can foster change. The invention of the mirror led to self portraits. People could look at themselves physically in the mirror, but they also started looking inside of themselves figuratively and allowed a change in thinking that also provided the conditions necessary for Renaissance ideas to flourish!