BOOK: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

 Author: Greg McKeown

Hi. Am Onsando and I normally write  summaries and reviews on books in multiple genres. Today, let's talk Essentialism.

The essence of the whole book can be summarised as 'Saying Yes to many requests without thinking of the consequences.'

It is bizarre, especially in the corporate world, where employees equate the more responsibilities you take with the better you become. This makes them stretch themselves too thin and hence end up doing less and less at best or presenting a shoddy job.

The author goes on to give an example of the character Boxer from George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. Whenever he was given more responsibilities, his response was 'I will try harder'. We all know how that turned out.

''Some people major in minor activities''

What sets the essentialists apart from the non-essentialists is the fact that the essentialists take time to understand, explore, and listen to the problem at hand.

Some attributes the essentialists are good at are; Choosing, playing, and clarifying. For instance, on 'Play', McKeown gives examples of inventors and explorers that came across during 'play', for example, Newton, Colombus, and Watson & Crick 

A Summarized Review of Happy Money, by Ken Honda

Onsando Reads-

Happy Money: The Japanese Way of Making Peace With Your Money

AUTHOR: Ken Honda AMAZON LINK:

Hi, I'm Onsando and I write brief summaries and reviews on books in multiple genres. Today let's talk Happy Money

You should be aware that almost everything you know about money has been passed down to you from your parents, peers, and the schooling system. The good, the bad, and the ugly, all get passed down a line of generations.

In Happy Money, Ken Honda rights these wrongs by explaining how money possesses energy….Yes energy, both positive and negative.

The book takes a Zen-like approach to money and wealth encouraging the reader to live in the present and give gratitude for all that you have and in this case your money.

“If you hate your job and always complain about something in your life, your money is crying or angry in your wallet” Ken Honda

While it is essential to have money knowledge (IQ), Money discipline (EQ) is equally important.

Get a well-rounded and balanced life, have a strong supportive network to surround you and Happy Money will follow.

To get into the flow of Happy Money, Ken Honda suggests a five-step program to get the reader started.

You will also learn:

• What the scarcity mindset is
• The 3 Functions of money
• How to become a Money Magnet

Amazon Link:

Spoiler alert: When you receive and spend, always remember to say Arigato! (Thank-you)

A Summarized Review of The Art of Business Wars, By David Brown

Onsando Reads-

The Art of Business Wars

AUTHOR: David Brown

AMAZON LINK:

Hi, I'm Onsando and I write brief summaries and reviews on books in multiple genres. Today let's talk about The Art of Business Wars

The Art of Business Wars is to businesses what 48 Laws of Power is to politics.

Finding inspiration from the book Art of War by Sun Tsu, the author David Brown does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting two businesses in the same industry. He dives deep into secrets to what made these businesses succeed and some disappear into oblivion.

The skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible -Sun Tzu-

We all are aware of Netflix, Beats by Dre, iPhone and Tinder but you might have a tough time recalling Monster Cables, Blackberry, Blockbuster, and Bumble among others. So, what did these successful businesses do right? Is it a change in leadership? change in technology? being first off the blocks? filling a gap? All?

I recommend this book to anyone who’s in business or would like to get started.

You will learn:

• What to/not to do in the competitive business world.
• How to handle your competition
• Negotiation skills

Amazon link

A Summarized Review of Happy Money, by Ken Honda

Onsando Reads-

Happy Money: The Japanese Way of Making Peace With Your Money

AUTHOR: Ken Honda

AMAZON LINK: Happy Money

Hi, I'm Onsando and I write brief summaries and reviews on books in multiple genres. Today let's talk Happy Money

You should be aware that almost everything you know about money has been passed down to you from your parents, peers, and the schooling system. The good, the bad, and the ugly, all get passed down a line of generations.

In Happy Money, Ken Honda rights these wrongs by explaining how money possesses energy….Yes energy, both positive and negative.

The book takes a Zen-like approach to money and wealth encouraging the reader to live in the present and give gratitude for all that you have and in this case your money.

“If you hate your job and always complain about something in your life, your money is crying or angry in your wallet” Ken Honda

While it is essential to have money knowledge (IQ), Money discipline (EQ) is equally important.

Get a well-rounded and balanced life, have a strong supportive network to surround you and Happy Money will follow.

To get into the flow of Happy Money, Ken Honda suggests a five-step program to get the reader started.

You will also learn:

What the scarcity mindset is

The 3 Functions of money

How to become a Money Magnet

Amazon Link: Happy Money

Spoiler alert: When you receive and spend, always remember to say Arigato! (Thank-you)

Will By Will Smith and Mark Manson

 WILL, By Will Smith and Mark Manson

TITLE: Will

AUTHORS: Will Smith and Mark Manson

Amazon Link: Will by Will Smith

Self-made man to the point of near self-destruction is a sentence that I can use to describe Will Smith in his autobiography.

 

As a kid, Will Smith lived in a world full of fantasy, imagination, and performance which he attributes to his later life as an artiste.

Will takes us on a journey- from growing up in the hood in Philly to living large in Los Angeles. He introduces us to his friends Jazzy Jeff, Charlie Mack and Ready Rock some of whom have stood by him through it all. Even to this date.  

'I've often wondered if it was me…..being Baptist in a Catholic school than being Black in a white world' is statement enough that he lived in two conflicting worlds. Often, his friends will tell him off for being a child of the two worlds.

A lot is revealed in this autobiography: Failed love relationships, a fallout with old friends, run-ins with authorities, joys of having firsts in the entertainment industry, transition from the recording studio to the movie studio, and so many others.

For the lovers of audiobooks, Will does a good job of giving every character a different voice or accent just for your pleasure.

 

'It is impossible to be unhappy when you are grateful' -Gigi- (Will's grandmother)

Amazon Link: Will by Will Smith

THE DAILY LAWS

 TITLE: The DAILY LAWS: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy                 and Human Nature

AUTHOR: Robert Greene

Amazon Link:  The Daily Laws

Recently released (October 2021), 'The Daily Laws' gives day-to-day teachings on different aspects of life; be they in our workplaces, homes, relations et cetera. From 1st January to 31st December, get to learn a lesson every day to be applied in these different life scenarios.

Each teaching (law) contains a summary from his previous works -48 Laws of Power, 33 Strategies of War, Mastery, Art of Seduction, or Laws of Human Nature.

If one has read any of his works, you'll agree that Robert Greene is a prolific researcher of history, with his engaging examples of historical figures both past and current. Unfortunately, with The Daily Laws, it seems he toned down on this (Sad….. my opinion).

Just like all his works, prepare to read it from cover to cover, then put it in the reference section of your library.

-We have learned the rules so well that we can now be the ones to break or rewrite them-

COFFEE CAN INVESTING

Title: COFFEE CAN INVESTING: The Low-Risk Road to Stupendous Wealth

Authors:      Saurabh Mukherjea

                     Rakshit Ranjan

                     Pranab Uniyal

Amazon link:  Coffee Can Investing 

Let us assume you’ve just won a lottery, maybe you’ve received an unexpected inheritance, or just some financial windfall has swept your way….. What do you do with the money? What will be your investment vehicle? Real estate? Commodities? Stocks? Mutual funds?

Well, it all depends on your goal.

Investing your coin can be a daunting issue. As much as it is personal, several books have been authored to try to sell you the 'perfect' investment plan.

Coffee Can Investing is one of the many investment books in the market trying to make sense of the various investment options available.

The authors make a good case for Stocks as a better investment option far from what most people believe to be. Most investors, mainly in India where most of the study was done, would rather go for real estate or commodities such as gold.

Once you are sold to the idea of Stocks, the big question is; For how long should you hold on to the stock? This question is tackled when the authors outline the seven basic mistakes individuals commit at the start of their investments journey.

Downside: Since the book is basically written for the Indian market, one might be confused with terms such as lakh, crore e.t.c This is the Indian numbering system used instead of thousand, hundred thousand, or millions.

The authors assume the reader is well versed with basic economics terms such as B2B, B2C, ROCE, P/E ratio.

Coffee Can Investing is available on Amazon and Audible at  https://amzn.to/3083mKk