Book Review: Book of Shukr (Awesome)

Just finished this book by Neil Paricha called Book of Awesome. The book lists several things that we should be thankful for or be happy about but we usually fail to notice. For example:

* Peeling a hard boiled egg and getting a big chunk of shell all at once
* Coming home after a long day to the smell of someone cooking dinner

You can find more listings here on his blog.

Anyways, the book reminded me of the islamic injunction to us to be thankful to God (Allah) all the time as there is a lot going for us, alhamdaulillah and he is the source of all that is good (awesome) around us.

Allah Almighty says, "Remember Me – I will remember you. Give thanks to Me and do not be ungrateful," (W2:151; H2:152)

and the Almighty says, "If you are grateful, I will certainty give you increase." (W14:9; H14:7)

The Almighty says, "Say: 'Praise be to Allah,'" (W17:110; H17:111)

and the Almighty says, "The end of their call is: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.'" (10:10)

AWESOME! :)

Book Review: I Shall Not Hate

I just finished an amazing book " I Shall Not Hate" by Dr. Izzeldin Abulaish who lost close family members (including three daughters) during the Gaza War early last year. He talks about why he did not go towards the path of hate and decided to make a difference in other ways after the death of his daughters.

The book also gives details about life in Gaza and how it was tough growing up in a refugee camp. Further he mentions the difficulties faced in crossing over to Israel for many Gazans who need to get there for medical and employment reasons. The strength of the book amongst manyother things is Dr. Abulaish's unique ability to look at the issue as a "people issue"and not merely a political issue. He is in a unique position as he has observed life on both sides of the wall in Gaza/Israel and has friends on both sides.

He has started an organization called Daughters for Life for promoting education health access for girls and women in Gaza and the middle east. Its a must read book for sure as it gives unique perspectives on what is happening on the ground beyond the cameras and the focus of the media.

Book Quotes:A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future

Just finished reading an interesting book called " A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future" by Micheal J. Fox (the actor who got diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in the early 1990s). The following quote from the book probably sums up the most useful points (for me) and point to the islamic concepts of Shukr, Rida and Sabr.:

"Its all about control. Control is illusionist. No matter what university you go to, no matter what degree you hold, if your goal is to become the master of your own destiny, you have more to learn. Parkinson's is a perfect metaphor for lack of control. Every unwanted movement in my hand or arm, every twitch that I cannot anticipate or arrest, is a reminder that even in the domain of my own being, I am not calling the shots. "

and he says at another place:

"Because Parkinson's demanded of me that I be a better man, a better husband, father and citizen. I often refer to it as a gift. With a nod to those who find it hard to believe, especially my fellow patients who are facing great difficulties, its a gift that keeps on taking..but it is a gift"

Book Review: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers is an insightful, thought-provoking and engaging book. It answers questions and dispels myths about success which often boggle our minds.

The book's core theme is that while skill and talent is an important ingredient for success , it is just one among many ingredients. Other important factors for success are things like opportunity, luck (in being placed in circumstances that were just right for success), lineage (!) and hard work.

Gladwell backs his arguments with concrete examples and research which helps one being convinced of what he is saying.

A must read book for sure. Read his interview about the book here in which he says:

"When outliers become outliers it is not just because of their own efforts. It's because of the contributions of lots of different people and lots of different circumstances— and that means that we, as a society, have more control about who succeeds—and how many of us succeed—than we think. That's an amazingly hopeful and uplifting idea."

You can read a book extract here.

As a Muslim, one reads this and really starts believing success is not of one's own doing-it is Allah placing us in the right place at the right time with the right people-though his mercy.

And Allah alone gives success.

Book Review: The Omnivore's Dilemma

Alhamdaulillah, I am glad that I was pointed towards "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan about a year ago. My trips to the grocery store have not been the same since I had started reading this book. I just finished it last week.

Pollan looks at how the "industrialization" of food sources has led to a decline in the quality of food we are getting. In order to simplify the food chain ( and to make profit) , we are losing out on a lot of the benefits of the food and in the process we are being inhumane towards nature ( i.e. animals, land, soil, plants, etc). Pollen also talks about the economics of food processing and how that helps companies profit. He then shows a link between between obesity and profit making! There are a few chapters about the history of the Organic food market and how it has also been comercialized ( i.e. compromised).

A must read book which will change your outlook on food ( or give you "food" for thought anyways)...

Book review: A long way gone

There are books whose contents leave unforgettable imprints in your mind. Ishmael Beah's book "A long way gone" is one of those books. The memoir, a true story reconuts the life of a child soldier who grew up during the Seire Leone civil War.

Ishmael writes with a lot of flow, which along with the interesting contents of the book, makes it very hard to stop reading the book, once you start . First hand accounts of death, seperation from family, rehabilitation and other effects of wars in the book leaves the reader shell shocked. News that one reads , hears and watches about wars can never do justice to the tragedy that war causes to millions on the ground. A must read for sure.


( Watch/read an interview of the writer here)