Friday, February 25, 2011

The Emerging Mind

Writer: Vilayanur Ramachandran
Genre: Non Fiction / Science

What would you call a person who sees some numbers colored always? And what about someone who cannot see [although he has perfect vision] anything to his left? What about someone who starts laughing when in pain?
The answer to all the above from a commoner would be - Mad!

After a disastrous fiction book, an absolute wow book that had me hooked. How does our brain work? I am sure each one of us has had that question many a times. That reason alone is enough for people to pick up this book. And yes, not to forget that the writer has written the book in a style that will endear it to readers who may have no background in science. It’s just pure pleasure to understand his explanations even after subtracting the technical aspects.

The writer picks some famous mental disorders like Phantom Limbs, color-graphemic synesthesia(seeing colored numbers) and explains them in a very tactful manner. He uses all the terminologies but yet keeps the explanation easy enough for people who would like to just understand the reason behind the disorder. The book is filled with such disorders and their explanations in a very lucid fashion.

Grab the book; you won't regret even a single page!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Oh Shit Not Again!

Writer: Mandar Kokate
Genre: Fiction

Skip it!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Its Not About The Bike: My journey Back to Life


Writer: Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins
Genre: Autobiography

Do a Google search on Lance Armstrong and you will know why everyone should read this book. Armstrong's determination is so human that you get inspired too.

Winning world famous cycling championships Armstrong was all set for the Grand Slam of cycling races - the Tour De France when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and a brain tumour. He underwent chemo, brain surgery and returned back to win the 1999 Tour De France. The media suggested that his chemo was probably acting as a doping agent in his win. The man however has silenced all his critics because he has won the Tour de France each year from 1999 to 2005, which in itself is a record.
  
The book covers this journey in an extremely inspirational and human way. He has no qualms in accepting his aggressiveness before being diagnosed and neither is he ashamed to admit that he was scared and almost quit cycling. his almost fatherless childhood is stated in a matter-of-fact manner and that’s something that I really liked.

It’s fabulous and an uncomplicated read. Grab a copy whenever you feel down, this book sure motivates you to keep trying harder

Update: Oct 2012
Lance Armstrong has been disqualified from all his results since 1998 after the doping allegations against him were found to be true. He has chosen to not contest the findings.