The Curious Cat: dr spencer johnson

Wednesday, 8 August 2018

Book Review - “Yes” or “No” - The Guide to Better Decisions

P@v!tr@ August 08, 2018 0 Comments

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Book - “Yes” or “No” - The Guide to Better Decisions

Author - Spencer Johnson

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I chose to start the Reading Challenge with this book, since making decisions are often the most difficult thing in life. As humans, most of us are confused and take time to decide. This book takes us on the journey of a young man who goes hiking just to get the ultimate mantra —make good decisions in life. He is accompanied by a guide and a few other companions along the way who help him connect the dots.

“Yes” or “No” - The Guide to Better Decisions by Spencer Johnson

Throughout his journey, he meets different people, learns new things and jots them in his diary which he calls ‘The Map’. As he finds out, there are various aspects that need to be considered while taking any decision, be it personal or professional. Here are a few of his learnings –

· To take better decisions, one must first stop proceeding with a poor decision.

· Avoid indecisions and half-decisions based on half-truths.

Use both parts of a reliable system to consistently make better decisions, a cool head and a warm heart.

Then after I listen to myself and others, I make a better decision and act on it.

· When you pursue only the real need, you become more decisive and make better decisions sooner.

Some more practical questions that would help you make better decisions

Apart from these, there are several other important points that the young man learns on this journey. The story is interesting, as the people along the journey, including the guide, share their expertise which helps the young man gain a wealth of knowledge on how to make better choices. I would recommend this book to any person struggling with decision-making and is unable to take the right decision. I have personally penned down the points to practice the same when I face difficulties in making a choice.

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Book Review - Who moved my cheese?

P@v!tr@ July 11, 2018 0 Comments

Book - Who moved my cheese?

Author - Dr. Spencer Johnson

Who moved my cheese?

This book is very simple, yet meaningful. There’s a story inside the other where a group of people meet for a reunion and then one amongst them starts narrating this beautiful story which has four little characters (two mice – Sniff, Scurry and two little people – Hem, Haw) who run through a maze looking for cheese and find one at the end of Cheese Station C.

When the cheese supply is over, Sniff and Scurry right away start looking for new cheese because they didn’t wish to complicate things, while Hem and Haw wait at Station C, cribbing about their bad luck.

Sniff and Scurry’s search for new cheese in the maze finally ends with them finding new cheese, while on the other hand Hem and Haw wait at Station C in hopes of finding their cheese turns unfruitful. After waiting for a few days, Haw finally gathers some courage and realizes that there’s was no point in waiting any further. He persuades Hem to start their search for new cheese but Hem is reluctant to do so and stays back. Haw’s lone search for cheese continues with no success for a few days. At times he feels like giving up t hope and to return but the determination of finding the new cheese keeps him going and he finally finds it.

Which character are you? - Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry

At the end of the story, all the friends reunite and imagine themselves as Hem at many situations where they failed. They realize that the only reason behind it was the resistance to change. That’s what happens in real life, but like Sniff, Scurry and Haw, we too should not give up in order to progress in life. If I had to pick another best part about the book it would have to be the lines that Haw leaves behind for Hem. It contains a lot of learnings that he experiences over his journey which is worth following by each one of us.