Jul 13, 2009
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Have you every come across a book that was so good that you actually felt like kissing it? And then actually did so? If you are a writer, Page after Page can get you dangerously close to having an affair with it. The subtitle of the book goes, “Discover the confidence & passion you need to start writing and keep writing (no matter what)”. Heather has certainly delivered on her promise. Each time I complete a chapter, I am raring to get back to my desk and write out yet another blog post, an entry in my journal, or anything for that matter. I received a warm, nourishing, nutritious feeling each time I’ve completed a sitting of reading Page After Page. Come to think of it, ‘Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul,’ would have been a more apt title.
Sprinkled with subtle humour, that doesn’t get you laughing out loud, yet leaves you wanting to read just a little for more. The book is divided into 3 parts and 30 chapters. The First Part is to Create a New Writing Self, the Second on How to Maintain Your Commitment to Writing and Final on Finding Your Place in the World of Writing. At the end of every chapter she’s set some amazingly imaginative writing exercises, makes you wish that you were back in school and this be the prescribed textbook. My favourite is exercise #19, where Heather asks you to imagine yourself being the child of your two favourite authors. Who would your Writing Parents be? (My Mum would definitely be Enid Blyton, don’t know who my dad would be). Taking that forward she further asks you to create your Writing Family Tree.
“Choose a writing Aunt, add a few writerly nephews, some neighbours, a whole little town of people who actually do write who are related to you. Goofy as it is, making a collage with these people’s faces (photocopy writer photos at the library) and sticking up inspiring quotes by them really helps…”
I sure it does, Heather. Thanks for the brilliant book!
Jun 25, 2009
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Since Salaam Centre, started the “Quran for All” project in Aug 2008, they have distributed more than 20,000 copies of the Quran on request. If you are in Bangalore, you can get your gift copy of the Quran by calling the number displayed on the hoarding.
You cannot simply read the Qur’an, not if you take it seriously. You either have surrendered to it already or you fight it. It attacks teanciously, directly, personally; it debates, criticizes, shames and challenges. From the outset it draws the line of battle, and I was on the other side.
I was at a severe disadvantage, for it became clear that the Author knew me better than I knew myself. Painters can make the yes of a portrait appear to be following you from one place ot another, but what author can write a scripture that anticipates your daily vicissitudes? The Qur’an was always way ahead of my thinkng; it was erasing barriers I had built years ago and was addressing my queries.
Each night I would formulate questions and objections, and somehow discover the answer the next day as I continues on in the accepted order. It was that the Author was reading my ideas and writing in the appropriate lines in time for my next reading. I had met myself in its pages, and I was afraid of what I saw. I was being led, working my way into corner that contained only one choice. – Jeffery Lang, Struggling to Surrender
Jun 19, 2009
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Your goal in life (or business) should be to never retire, but always have the option to. — William Hazlitt
A brilliant quote. Pretty much sums up how a business should be run according to Michael Gerber’s E-Myth. What’s really spectacular about this quote is that it was written somewhere in between the 17th and 18th century! Did people really have the same stress levels even then?
Jun 13, 2009
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I recently heard President Obama’s famous/infamous speech that he delivered in Egypt. The speech was a welcoming change in attitude from the previous administration! Cheering and Wild applause breaking out every 10 minutes, infact I found myself slapping my thigh in appreciation quite a few times. Ofcourse the real brilliantness of his speech has been that while maintaining the same stand on the various foreign policies, he has won hearts of millions of Muslims all around the world. The greatest take back from his speech that I expect is the slow change in mood of the general American public from being highly suspicious of Muslims going back to an attitude of welcome and openness.
Jun 13, 2009
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Taking a leaf from Michael’s blog, in addition to posting my long winding musings, I will henceforth also post shorter posts which will mostly be reviews on books, podcasts, lectures or sometimes just a quote that I have found moving/inspiring.
Just like Michael’s posts, these will generally be:
- Shorter—usually no more than a paragraph.
- Rated—with a five-star rating system.
- Linked—with the web page you can find the resource or original source.
I am really proud of our resources. Me and Ali have an inquisitiveness for a wide variety of subjects, mostly Spirituality, Personality Development, Productivity and GTD. I truly believe that for the topics that we are interested in, we have got the best material on the planet. We have scraped the depths of the Internet-Ocean to get our hands on the most authoritative, concise, influential and easily implement-able books, lectures, podcasts and videos on these fields. You are guaranteed to get excellent value from these.
Till I post my first few reviews, have a look at the havoc, the rains caused in Bangalore a few days ago. These are pictures from my basement parking lot at home.
