Archive for the 'Books' Category

The following are some interesting quotes from a blog that I have been following regularly and is now coming out as a book.

“Good ideas have lonely childhoods.”

“Don’t try to stand out from the crowd, avoid crowds altogether.”

“You are responsible for your own experience.”

“Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.”

“If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.”

Here’s a link to the first chapter of the book Ignore Everybody.

Looking forward to reading your book Hugh.

Procrastination is often said to be the silent killer of creativity and productivity, both for the individual and for society as a whole. We have all heard the saying, ‘Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today’, so why is it so easy to fall into the seductive trap of procrastination?

Looking back into the mists of time, one can learn that mankind has been afflicted with procrastination for at least as long as leprosy and diabetes!

Procrastination even has had martyrs, like Archimedes, one of the world’s most famous inventors who, when his life was threatened by invading Roman soldiers, chose the heroic path of procrastination. Rather than attend to the immediate necessity of escape, the great man delayed this task and told the soldiers to leave him alone until he had finished his calculation! Tragically, the Romans killed him on the spot.

Ironically, it might be argued that it was not barbarian hordes, but rather the spectre of procrastination that finally brought the Roman Empire to its knees. While we are uncertain whether Nero really fiddled (actually played the lyre) in theatre costume, while Rome burned in AD 64, it is well-known that the warning plume of smoke coming from Mount Vesuvius was conveniently ignored by the inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79. Perhaps the inhabitants thought they might leave the city…yes, after the gladiatorial games will be okay…Unfortunately the volcano had other ideas and the cities were destroyed by ash and mud.

Echoing the procrastination of the great Archimedes, Leonardo da Vinci of Renaissance Italy, the most universal genius of the past 500 years confessed on his deathbed to how he had wasted his talents in unfinished projects. It is clear that Leonardo embarked on hundreds of projects, but finished precious few, and some of his greatest masterpieces remain incomplete. It is said that genius is very close to insanity, but is it actually much closer to procrastination?

Would the world of classical music be the treasure it is today without a little procrastination? Who can forget Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony? And why did Mozart and Beethoven leave incomplete works? Was it a joke on future musicians, who still strive to fill in the missing passages, or really just a case of procrastination, when Wolfgang would rather go down to the billiards hall with his pals, or Beethoven was having one of his mood swings and decided ‘postpone’!

in 1936, Sir Winston Churchill leading the battle, not only against the spectre of fascism, but also fighting a second front against the menace of procrastination that threatened to overrun the free world. Churchill warned us that, ‘The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences’. The reality of the decade to come proved to be far more complex.

Our book The Art of Procrastination and Other Time Wasters’ Thoughts does not debate the perils (or otherwise) of procrastination. Rather we say, “Manana!” and revel in the colourful ways in which people procrastinate, discussing peculiar reasons one gives to avoid work and laugh at it.

We invite you to join us on our exploration of this fascinating subject. Please let us know how you procrastinate.

Kris and Ian.

As part of our writing for charity principles, we have committed to donate the entire proceeds of our royalties to a charity. We will update the details soon.

Our new book The Art of Procrastination and Other Time Wasters’ Thoughts will tell you all about it………..….. very soon.

Now who said that procrastination does not pay?

One of the books which we are working on at the moment, an offshoot of our recent book on India, is on Hinduism - India’s main religion. For centuries people in the west have always been fascinated by Hinduism and we thought a guide book explaining Hinduism was long overdue.

My Friend, Ian reckons that the reason for the allure of Hinduism is it’s enduring nature…Surely there must be some reassuring truth in beliefs so old that they are almost timeless, having survived the advent of other religions, like Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. In fact, in India these religions are able to co-exist, and often one religion may influence another, moderating it and creating a very mature belief system.

This tolerance and moderation, though not universal, is one of the greatest strengths of mainstream Hinduism, in which many paths to the same spiritual goal (even through other religions) are regarded as equally valid. This concept of Advaita (or non-dualism) gently nudges the believer in the direction of tolerance.

Perhaps this explains yet another reason why people are drawn to Hinduism. Whilst some other religions have come into conflict with the logic of science, surprisingly Hinduism seems to have always avoided this impasse. In fact philosophical and logical debates between Hindu scholars were commonplace, even in ancient times. Even today around the world many scientists of Indian origin carry out their scientific research, then observe ‘pooja’ (prayer) at a small religious shrine at home, reaffirming their beliefs.

I wonder if this isn’t an attractive choice compared with the one we here in the west feel confronted with - science (which one may feel requires atheism, and a possible lack of spiritual support) or a religion one finds hard to reconcile with the modern world. Perhaps more than anything, the calm and gentle faith of this ancient religion is what attracts people to it.

Whilst I am enjoying having philosophical conversations with people, contemplating, gathering information and learning more about this fascinating religion, I am at the same time, struggling hard to write a book on it according to publisher’s criteria. Hinduism is very complex and a list based religion. For example there are ten ‘avatars’ (incarnations) of God Vishnu, Seven streams of Hindu philosophy, several sects, 108 places of Salvation mentioned by Hindu saints, 12 most sacred sites of God Shiva, thousands of other Gods, several holy books, etc and this is another area where I am having difficulties. Hopefully, we should have this book completed by the year end.

I am sorry that it has been such a long time since the last feature but here it is.

My friend Ian and I had a discussion over the phone last evening about the sad state of Travel Guide book writing in general and the fraud perpetrated by Lonely Planet’s author in particular. The topic came up when we were talking about another writer who has written quite a few Living and Working Guides. We were just wondering on what basis has he been writing the guide books. Has he really lived in all those 25 countries he wrote about or was he just being a fact gatherer?

The issue with Lonely Planet Colombian Guide is quite different. The author Thomas Kohnstamm in his book “Do Travel Writers Go To Hell?” claims that he plagiarised and made up portions of his guide books. He also claims to have traded in drugs to make up for the meagre salary his publishers were paying him.

For his book on Colombia, Kohnstamm did not even visit the country, but wrote the book from San Francisco, getting substanstial information from his then girlfriend, a Colombian. His main argument justifying his actions was that Lonely Planet does not pay its authors well.

Sadly, it is true. Lonely Planet authors are just writers for hire who can be replaced or sent to another country according to the wishes of the editorial board. Unlike other publishers, Lonely Planet does not pay its authors royalties but a lump sum amount. Not many people know how Lonely Planet calculates the expenses that its authors would incur but I can say by talking to its authors that the amount is measly. An author needs to be extremely frugal with his travel expenses in order to make money from a job.

Sadly, many publishers believe that guidebook writing is a fairly easy profession in which an author can be replaced by another without loss of quality in the final product. A recent New York Times story suggested that travel guide book writers were becoming fact gatherers who could be paid less and whose typescript could be rewritten by editors back home.

I do not think this is true. Best books are written by authors with a passion and a deep love for their subject. And to write a great travel book, you need to actually visit the places you write about and even great imagination cannot supplant what you will learn only by visiting.

Just wanted thank everyone who responded to our recent email campaign and purchased our book. Amazon ranking was at 4001 today and looks like book is doing extremely well in its initial stage.

The book is currently ranked:

#1 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Speciality Travel > Living & Working Abroad
#3 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > India

We just need to keep the momentum going. All proceeds of royalties from this book will be donated to Cancervive, India. We are sure that you will find the book useful to help you and your family settle quickly in India - and to ensure that it is the experience of a lifetime.

Kris and Ian

Final excerpt from the book Living and Working in India.

In recent years there has been a vast increase in the number of people who go to India, not for a holiday, but to live and work in a fascinating country that is emerging as a major world economy. This book is a product of our visit to India in 2001 when we travelled there for work.

The reasons for working in India are manifold and worth reviewing. Although your initial salary may be a little lower than it would be in the West, you can often start work in India at a higher position of responsibility and quickly gain valuable corporate experience. Moreover, while your starting salary may be lower than in a Western company, it might well translate to a higher purchasing power and standard of living. One must also remember that wages in India are increasing, while in some professions in the West, salaries are actually decreasing in real terms. And, while some Indian cities are still developing in terms of amenities, you will frequently find that Indian companies often have better facilities than those you are used to in the West!

On a cultural level, nothing can quite match the vitality and sheer human experience of living in India. India’s cities are lively, colourful and vibrant – although it may take a few weeks to get adjusted. Shops stay open late and there is no shortage of manpower for household services. Because English is widely used in newspapers, books, radio stations and television, your cultural transition may be easier than in other countries.

Indians are a friendly and gregarious people who are more than willing to learn about other nationalities and cultures and so you will never be short of company. If you are interested in history or archaeology, India will provide you a live laboratory. Indian civilization dates back thousands of years, and each empire or conqueror has left a unique historical imprint. This means that ancient Hindu shrines co-exist with Islamic-influenced Mughal architecture, imposing gateway arches from the British Raj and modern buildings. India is also a world leader in terms of music, cinema, literature, mythology and religion, so the depth of your cultural experience is practically limitless.

In addition, the friendships and connections that you form while working in India can make even a short stay there a life-changing experience. In fact, once India gets ‘under your skin’, you will find yourself returning to the subcontinent again and again, or even settling there. The easygoing nature and warmth of the Indian people is as hard to resist as the spicy Indian cuisine, and you may soon find the sedate pace of life in the West hard to re-adjust to. Don’t be surprised if you return home with a wistful longing for India and start to feel confused about which country you really call home!

Living and Working in India will ease the transition between Western and Indian cultures, giving a wealth of advice in terms of language, culture, lifestyle, education, health, housing, working practices and regulations. The guidebook useful for both the preparation of your visit to India and throughout your stay.

Cancervive

We have committed to donate the entire proceeds of royalties from this book to Cancervive, India, a small regional charity based in Mangalore. Cancervive, India provides care and support to children with terminal cancer at hospitals around the Mangalore district.

Just found out that Living and Working in India is 16th most wished for in English books on Amazon Japan-ahead of some top business books.

Strangely ‘Living Abroad in Japan’ is at number 14! I wonder whether the Japanese readership are buying this book as a gift for their friends from abroad, or are they just curious to read how foreigners view their country?

Anyway, here’s the ranking at Amazon Japan

Amazon Canada has discounted Living and Working in India by only a cent. I wonder why? Usually when an online book store offers a discount they are simply cutting their portion of retail margin-usually around 30 to 40%. Do they think that the book is worth so much in Canada that they are not willing to give any further discounts? Or is it some kind of marketing psychology that CDN$ 30.46 cents repels the buyers much more than CDN$ 30.45?

Will this minor difference in price have any major effect on the sales of the book in Canada? We occasionally encountered the bizarre field of numerology in India, and perhaps there is a certain resonance here?

Always thought 0.99p was the most successful price.

On my way back from the ophthalmologist today I decided to stop by at some bookshops in Paddington. I walked in with one book in mind but ended up buying several. Despite my severe eye infection I spent all afternoon browsing new books. I came back home with a huge purchase and was thrilled by the whole book shopping experience.

Here are my purchases:

1. Tom Cruise by Andrew Morton

2. Whatever You Think, think the opposite by Paul Arden

3. Born to Believe by Andrew Newberg and Mark Waldman

4. The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom

5. New Thinking for the New Millennium by Edward de Bono

6. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

Can’t wait for the infection to subside so that I can get round to read them. What are you reading at the moment?