Total Books I own- Let's see here.. counting all the books I have, subtracting those that I seem to have but I technically don't own, adding those of mine that my friends seem to have, but they technically don't own, adding those that I cannot seem to find, but I technically still own, I would say a few hundred. But if you pressed me for a more accurate number, I'd say about 300!
Last Book that I bought - The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity, written by Amartya Sen. Silicon India promises me that it is currently shipping, so we'll just have to take their word for it. I am looking forward to reading this one.. sounds very interesting. Here is an excerpt from the book review: "The Argumentative Indian brings together an illuminating selection of writings from Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen that outline the need to understand contemporary India in the light of its long argumentative tradition. The understanding and use of this rich argumentative tradition are critically important, Sen argues, for the success of India's democracy, the defence of its secular politics, the removal of inequalities related to class, caste, gender and community, and the pursuit of sub-continental peace. "
Last Book that I read - Winning written by Jack Welch. Liked the book. You should read it. This as well as his other book Straight from the Gut will become CEO manuals soon. I am also currently reading 'Freakonomics' by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. This is a really interesting one, if you don't have more important things like saving the world or something like that to do.
Books that mean a lot to me - Where do I even begin on this one..
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Perhaps my all time favorite book. Embodies my penchant for things that stand outside the ordinary, and resonates with some thoughts that have been echoed in this blog as well as Sougata's.. Never be Mediocre. Other books written by Richard Bach that mean a lot to me include - Illusions - The adventures of a Reluctant Messiah; and A Bridge Across Forever.
- Ishmael - An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit, written by Daniel Quinn. If you have not read this, you are missing out on some really very very original piece of thinking. A completely new angle on civilization and the evolution of man and his space in creation.
- The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
- The Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman
- Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes - Who wouldn't like this one..
- Odyssey - Homer.
- Total Freedom - J. Krishnamurti
- So many of Bertrand Russell's books - too many to just name one or two here
- All of Calvin & Hobbes (That Bill Watterson was an amazing guy!!). Kids say the most profound things..
- All of the Dibert Books (Has an uncany resemlence to many at my work!)
- Snakes and Ladders by Gita Mehta - a nice set of short essays about India
And many many more.. I may continue to update this post for several days to come. Other than these, there are several business books, books on Egyptology, and the old classics (Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte, Doyle...) and the fiction (Jeffery Archer, John Grisham, Micheal Crichton...)
This book tagging thing is indeed unfair. And one other thing.. since I am quite new to the blogging community, I don't really have many folks I can tag in turn. Any thoughts?
4 comments:
I like your accrual-based accounting approach to books :)
I usually follow the cash-based accounting method. I "have" a book only when it is physically sitting on my shelf. When someone, uh ... borrows a book, I treat it as a material expense to be taken immediately :)
But I'll switch to accrual. Makes one feel better :)
How's your group blog coming along?
Oh, BTW, I liked Illusions also. I read it during a particularly introspective period of my life and I thought it was an inspired piece of writing. Even the title is intriguing :)
How does the last line from the Messiah's handbook go? "Everything in this book may be wrong". Ha!
The cash-based accounting method may work if the question was 'How many book do you 'have'?' I believe the question was how many I owned.. so yup the accural method is what feels better :)
Try Dan Quinn.. will make up for a lot of discussions.
Hello,
A few years ago I saw a copy of Ishmael in someone's bag. I had not heard of it but I liked the sound of the title so I read the blurb, and thought the reader must be interesting. She ended up becoming a very special friend of mine. One day I told her about the book incident and asked her if I could borrow it, but it belonged to someone else so she had returned it and she couldn't recall the author. I've not come across the book in form or in mention since- until today, on your site. These days it is much easier to find books so now that you've reminded me of it, I'm going to track it down and read it- thanks!
Glad I could help.. :)
Thanks for visiting.
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