Serendipity and Learning

 I finished reading Breath by James Nestor and The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick Mckeown. Both absolutely fantastic books that make you think about breathing. In their own way both are thought provoking and even pathbreaking. I have not come across a book that does what these two books have managed to do.  So, grab a copy and read. PS: I did feel very strongly that such a book ought to have been written someone from India who is a yoga practitioner. Thats another topic for another time. For now, I am experimenting with mouth tape. 

Somebody recommended this book somewhere and as I am wont to do, I bought it. I am a sucker for books on creativity. Especially if it is recommended. By someone I know. Or dont. Or on Amazon. Thus it is that I have a collection of books on Creativity.  Helps that somewhere along the way, I self identify as a creative person. And over the years, I have in my own way understood creativity.  Helps also that I conduct creativity workshops and thus have an insight into creativity.  All said and done, I picked up Rick Rubins book -The creative act. I had no idea who Rick Rubin was - I forgot to google- this was an impulse buy remember. Turns out that he is a creative musician (yes, the book has a lot of references to music).  So, done with all the backstory. Lets get to the book. The book is a master piece of writing on the creative process. Hands down the best book I have ever read that captures the creative process (if you call it capturing, because the whole point of th...

 This book has been on my mind for a while. I was a little sceptical about it - thinking that "I know the Mahabharata (as most of us do), so what new thing will I learn". The reason i share this is it is possible that this is the reason many might have to not read this book.  But as I read the book, I was pleasantly surprised. The author has drawn on the Mahabharata to create an elaborate leadership archetype - and there were many aspects I did not know about. In the story of the Mahabharata Arjuna and Bheema have been in the centre, Yudhisthira as well but the role of Nakula and Sahadeva have been minimal - almost like background figures. Duryodhana, Bheeshma, Karna and others also have a lot of space as compared to Nakula and Sahadeva. So that comes in the way of looking at 5 archetypes. And the author ties it all together as leadership archetypes.  The Mahabharata is one of the Indias foremost epics. And it is one of those stories that lend itself to so many retellings...