Book Reviews "What the Best College Students Do" and "Mastery"

Two Book Reviews in one - "What the Best College Students Do" authored by Ken Bain and "Mastery" authored by Robert Green - both reviewed by Chris Garrah on January 8, 2013

These two books tended to merge in my mind. as books that guide anyone and everyone on how to pursue studies and mastery of those studies with curiosity and extra effort.    I was impressed by Robert Green's statement that if someone, anyone pursues an activity of interest that that person can become a master of that interest in 10,000 hours.   The brain becomes transformed.  The neural connections change.

Similarly in the book "What the Best College Students Do'  author Ken Bain suggests that intelligence can grow with study.   Ken Bain shows that the motivation of students may differ - and that if students motivation is grades or status they may get good grades but they may learn superficially.   But for those students who want a deep understanding - they are the ones that actually come to understand  the material.   

In this way, both books suggest you pursue your studies with a passion and pursue interests over a lifetime. 

College Students also offers specific techniques that will help students get a deeper understanding of  course  material. 

LIFE LONG LEARNING   

I hope these books support each other in the idea of gaining mastery of subkects over a life-time. 

The 10,000 hours mentioned in Mastery could for example take about 1 hour a day for 30 years of time dedicated to study..

I encourage readers to read the books  for ideas that appeal to the individual.   The case is made in "What the best College Students Do" that all of us are individuals with unique histories and talents and therefore we will have a unique slant on how we relate to the world. 

Embracing Failure and Examples of Mastery and Success

Both  books present examples of successful people that  have studied and succeeded in life - and both books present the idea of persevering through hardship and present ideas or traits that can cause people to give up.   Mastery  presents studies of great figures through the centuries while College Students presents more current biographies.

Mastery .is also about total life experience so it also showcases how to adapt to social environments at work and how to improve your odds with mentorships. but the book also shows how to succeed without a mentor by showcasing the great inventor Thomas Edison.. Thomas Edison had NO mentor yet still succeeded.

Happy reading!  .... and of course feedback is welcome.

Book # 15 Review - "Running with the Mind of Meditation"

Book # 15 - Review of  "Running with the Mind of Meditation - a book by Sakyong Mipham"   reviewed by Chris Garrah

December 9, 2012

Running With the Mind of Meditation - Lessons for Training Body and Mind by Sakyong Mipham

This is an uplifting book that could inspire someone to run marathons as well as giving a practical, easy to understand grasp of calming the mind with the how-to's of  meditation.  The author is a super-fit marathon runner but also a master of Eastern meditation. Unlike other meditation books that I have read which tend to be a little abstract and difficult to grasp, Sakyong writes in easy to understand and engaging, uplifting style.

The Leader of Shambhala -

 - the author Sakyong Mipham shares his anecdotes from running in beautiful, remote locations with a variety of running partners.   He shares the mental aspect of running as well as how to develop a "base" or level of running as well as sharing the intricacies of meditation which pares down to concentrating on your breathing .   This concentration on ones breath helps the mediator stay in a state of  mindfulness..

Lessons for Training Body and Mind 

is the subtitle of the book. It is a practical book that I recommend.  The author is also the author of the best selling book Turning the book into an ally.   For more teachings from the author go to the Sakyong website.

This is the best meditation book I have read so far and it stands on its own.  By pairing meditation and marathon running the author has created an outstanding book.  This book deserves to stand on your bookshelf. What a gem of a book!

True Belonging Overcoming Loneliness Book Review

True Belonging - Mindful Practices to Help You Overcome Loneliness, Connect With Others & Cultivate Happiness  - A Book Review by Chris Garrah   November 29, 2012

I was directed to this book because I was reading a meditation book and I did not get the concept "mindfulness".

Even after reading the book once the concepts did not settle in because I assume I was reading the book without absorbing it.   And the tone seemed different.   But upon re-reading it - browsing it again it started to make some sense.

The central idea is that troubling emotions from the past influence your present - I mean you have some bad thoughts in your head or bad concepts about yourself.   This book will hopefully help you fix yourself. (if you pick it up from time to time and try to fix yourself) .

About the Mindfulness Book

The book jacket notes that there are over thirty reflective practices improve yourself.  It says that you will build stronger relations with others.

The authors of the reflective practices 

Jeffrey Brantley MD is a consulting associate in the Duke Department of Psychiatrry.   He is also a director of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program.   The second author is Wendy Millstine who in addition to being an author is a certified holistic  nutrition consultant.  

The book itself is a small pocketbook of 158 pages so it is easy to carry around with you.   Each reflective practice is only two or three pages.   So in a matter of 10 or 15 minutes perhaps you can strive to rid yourself of negative emotions and thoughts and make deeper connections with others.

Let me know what works! 

Book Review 50 - In The Shadow Of the Dragon

Book Review 50  -  "In the Shadow Of the Dragon - The Global Expansion of Chinese Companies - and How It Will Change Business Forever by Winter Nie and William Dowell with Abraham Lu   reviewed by Chris Garrah on November 26, 2012

Overview of the book about Chinese Companies

This book is an in depth look at some of the larger companies that have developed in China.  

The successes are measured from recent history - the 1980's and 1990's  - because previous to this,  private enterprises were illegal.  Individuals prior to this who sold goods on the street could be arrested.

Some insights from the book

The book's perspective is from China business's perspective as opposed to a Western outlook.  

There is extreme competition within China for market share within the China market   and the overseas market can be even more difficult.  For example selling electronics to the US military is very difficult because the US is very suspicious of China's  intentions.

Its not just about low cost manufacturing

In the news,  people here in North America,  hear about China stealing technology or copying it.

But China is also gaining access to the inner workings of technologies by making it a condition that the technological secrets be revealed for goods that are manufactured for the China market.  For example ,Japanese trains and the Chevrolet Volt manufacturers were both asked for their trade secret technology in exchange  for those products to be made and sold in China.

Because China engineers outnumber the US engineers graduates per year by 280,000 to 40,0000 (from the book) , there is no shortage of skill in actually improving on the designs.   For example, the book relates how the Japanese train was designed to go faster in China..

Suitability of the book for a reader

The case studies could be of interest to anyone who is interested in Chinese companies and the Chinese government.   There is a depth of information in the book - 290 pages in the book I read.   But it reads like an academic book. But if you want to learn about some of the history of the business people and their companies in China you may not find the book too dry.