The title of the book caught my attention because it signalled a scientific approach. And somewhere in the book, the author does offer a formula that does seem logical. Somewhere in the book, the author shifts to meaning without a clear explanation. But barring that, it’s a very interesting book that introduced me to new concepts, nuances and ways of framing.
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection is a subject that continues to fascinate me, and that’s largely why I picked up this book. The author does start off well, pitching cephalopods as an independent experiment by nature in the evolution of large brains, and there are some very interesting bits – subjective experience, sentience and consciousness. But the detours on octopus and cuttlefish are likely to put you off unless you’re an ardent fan of the creatures.
Quite a few of the blogs and newsletters I read have made repeated references to this book for a while now. It turned out to be a mixed bag for me. The ‘Life’ section, I enjoyed, though there could be some confirmation bias at play. The ‘Work’ section, though a rendition of the same principles as the earlier section, were reasonably off-putting when applied to a group of people. But it’s still worth a read for insights, framing, and perspectives.
Imagine, in about 4.5 sq km in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, there are around 30 communities! An absolute melting pot of different religions and socio-cultural customs and practices. Communities that can trace their origins from Portugal and Yemen to Kutch and the Indus Valley. I am a little biased because Kochi is my hometown, but even beyond that, it’s a fascinating read.
To paraphrase William Jones, our entire life is a formed from habits, for good and for bad, and they lead us to our destiny. This is a book that can help in all aspects of our lives – from losing weight to building great teams, and at an individual and group level. The narrative style ensures that what could have been a prescriptive book is actually an enlightening and entertaining one!