Our Feed.

Our Feed, i.e. any source of knowledge, including, but not limited to, Books, Audio Books, TED Talks, Motion Pictures, Insta Stories, YouTube videos, Influencer Blogs, WhatsApp Forwards and, last but not the least, WikiPedia…needs to be consumed with utmost care, with an open and inquisitive mind…for the insight, knowledge and wisdom ‘Your Feed’ can bring to You, is infinite…and the possibilities they can open, are immense.

The books which you see on the shelf (from a cropped Christmas picture), majority I have read, most of them on local library apps, and the specific ones which I have liked, I have been fortunate to be able to add a physical copy to my armor…yes, ‘Armor’.

If the mighty pen can be compared to a sword, books (read Feed) indeed are our shield, and in fact, our foundation - fortunately, this foundation can remain work in progress, as long as we are open to learning.

Some books, I picked from Library sale, which I may not have read, yet, but I have liked their title/intro/prologue, and I look forward to dive into their world.

Here is a list of books, so powerful that they have changed the way I see life now.

1. Tuesdays with Morrie By Mitch Albom

I feel fortunate to have stumbled upon this one several years ago. I loved it, and I still do.

2. 5 Love Languages By Gary Chapman

This is an excellent book to understand and rekindle relationships.

In any relationship between two people, say A and B, they can be playing different roles:

Mother and Child

Father and Child

Brother and Sister

Friend 1 and Friend 2

LivingPartner1 and LivingPartner2

Husband and Wife

Human(s) and Pet(s)

The way two people express love for each other can be (and usually is, different). This book simply explains the 'Who', ‘Why’, ‘What’, 'When', 'Where', and ‘How’ in relationships - an essential building block for everything we (can) do.

3. Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell -

This one explains how circumstances/timing/luck, and last, but not the least, sincere hard work and sheer commitment, can make people stand apart from the rest.

4. The Ride of a Lifetime By Bob Iger

This book is a journey - it had me soaking several paper towels in the very first chapter itself, and by the end of the book, amongst other great lessons, you would learn the importance of not investing in business of Trombone oil.

Choose wisely - what to pursue and where to put yours and your staff’s energy — Time IS Money.

5. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity By Bill Gifford and Peter Attia.

I am still reading this one, but I am SURE that I need not wait to complete it to be able to put this in my ‘Recommended Books’ list.

6. Humor, Seriously By Jennifer Aaker

Now this book will NOT give you lessons on How to be Funny, or share the list of jokes for all occasions…however, it can very subtly help you learn how to appreciate humor.

If you remember this movie, “Good Morning, Vietnam”…it has examples of characters played by people whom you can put in three categories,

A) The one with good Humor (Character played by Mr. Robin Williams),

B) The ones who appreciate it (Majority of colleagues and super boss) and lastly,

C) The ones who don’t. (The first and second level boss).

With the right receptors tuned, this book, hopefully, can help the reader move from the group which does not appreciate humor, to the one which does. ??

7. Who moved my Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson : An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Well, this one is a very short, but an impactful book.

Dare I say, I used to feel that I end up appreciating something new every time I read it.

8. Shiva’s Trilogy - By Amish Tripathi

This book beautifully combines divinity with humanity (read ‘humans’, i put humanity coz it rhymes well with divinity). It is based on the Indian God Shiva, one from The Trinity. In the beginning of the book the author sets the tone, “If the Gods that we worship today, were normal humans, who did extraordinary things that they were respected and worshipped equivalent to something beyond a normal human being can achieve.

On the last line, I must say, there is NOTHING, yes NOTHING which we cannot achieve. If you can imagine something, you surely can bring it to Life.

9. 11/23/63 By Stephen King

It’s a great piece of fiction, it takes you right into the mid-sixties through a magical door - this piece of fiction, is HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS ‘NOT’ TRUE. This was recommended by a good friend of mine (I will tag them after they approve).

Hulu has a series based on it, with a slightly different ending - both this book, and the series are a worth watch. (Do one at a time, I recommend starting with the book).

10. Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book by Mr. Jay Miletsky

This is the book I have always loved reading to my 3 year old at bedtime. It illustrates how a book can make you travel into a whole new world.

11. Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll by Jay Miletsky

This one again is another bedtime story book. It is all about true friendship, love and lots of fun.

12. Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

Another children's book - it is all about friendship, and it is hilarious.

13. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker- Rees

Bedtime book again - it celebrates uniqueness...find your own special music. and yes, it is hilarious as well.

Last, but not the least, read something which can make your mind BELIEVE in powers beyond human imagination. Because, BELIEF and FAITH can, and do, move Mountains.

My favs (based on the movies I saw) are…

Up, Coco, and many others on #DisneyPlus

and most recently,

The Magician's Elephant on Netflix

Credits --

• All the writers I could and could not tag because of conflicting names.
• Arrpitah Mohendrou