Book Reviews

Featuring Authors and books of the world.

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ENDURANCE A year in space, A lifetime of discovery by Scott Kelly #BookReview #FindingTheVoices #Amreading

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Endurance A year in space, a lifetime of discovery

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title: Endurance

Author: Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly is a former militay fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut and a retired US Navy Captain. He lives in Houston, texas and he was a member of the yearlong mission to the International Space Station. I started following Scott Kelly in twitter while he was in space and totally fell in love with the beautiful #EarthArt pictures he took from space. His pictures opened me to such beautiful creations of nature and I looked forward for his new post. Here are some of the pictures from his twitter feed. 

 

 

 

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I tweeted to him couple of times to take a picture of the beautiful hills and valley of Manipur, my birthplace. Well that never did happen but someday someone will take it from space. 

  

I saw Scott Kelly’s book Endurance and I had to read it. He write passionately about his mother and how she was such a good listener and I felt the influence of strength he got from her. His mom was the first police officer in west orange, NJ who taught him the value of goals, plan and hard-work. While he was in space, he was remembering her on her death anniversary and it was touching to see that his girlfriend put flowers on her grave and sent a picture to him. This action made me think on re emphasizing the importance to do things for love which heighten human connections. 

Did you know that his inspiration about becoming an astronaut came from reading a book as an 18 year old boy in a tiny stuffy room enthralled by swirling sentences describing long-dead pilots? Yet another point why reading books can really widen your life and why I really encourage you to read and read more. You can read all about his background, experience of his one year in space and thoughts in this beautiful book Endurance at Amazon. I really enjoyed reading it. 

Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam img_7268crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz #BookReview #FindingTheVoices #Amreading

/ Monica Ingudam / 3 Comments

The Four Agreements 

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title: The Four Agreements

Author: Don Miguel Ruiz

Don Miguel Ruiz is a renowned spiritual teacher and internationally bestselling author of the “Toltec Wisdom Series,” including “The Four Agreements,” “The Mastery of Love,” “The Voice of Knowledge,” “The Four Agreements Companion Book,” “The Circle of Fire,” and “The Fifth Agreement.”

He is the youngest of thirteen children, was born in rural Mexico to parents who were healers and practitioners of ancient Toltec traditions. He had a medical background and practiced practiced neurosurgery. A near-fatal car crash forever changed the direction of his life causing him to leave medicine and to examine the essential truth about life and humanity. With his mother’s help, and through her ancestral teachings, he discovered his own path to awareness and understanding of the universe and the mind. He faced the near death experience again when he had a heart attack and a heart transplant. He is has dedicated his life to sharing his message to promote transformation and ultimately change lives for the better. In his interview with Oprah Winfrey he speaks very candidly about being so prepared of death.

I saw this cute small size book with a colorful cover with the title “The Four Agreements“ and I reached out flipping though the words and read it in one sitting. It’s a small book with simple and yet powerful agreements:

  • Be impeccable with your words: Speak only what you mean. Avoid gossip.
  •  Don’t take anything personally: What others say and do is a projection of their own reality.
  • Don’t make assumptions: Communicate clearly to avoid misunderstandings. It’s better to ask questions and clarify rather than being bogged down by assumptions.
  • Always do your best: No matter what, always do your best. Take the action and create your ideas. I love this agreement and no matter what others may think or judge, it doesn’t really matter as long as I did my best.

The world needs more joy and it’s amazing to find interesting experiences of people who changed their ways of life and purpose after facing death very closely.  I plan to check out his other books too. You can get his books “The Four Agreements,” “The Mastery of Love,” “The Voice of Knowledge,” “The Four Agreements Companion Book,” “The Circle of Fire,” and “The Fifth Agreement.”  at Amazon.

Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam img_7268crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

Shamanic Healing by Itzhak Beery #BookReview #FindingTheVoices #Amreading

/ Monica Ingudam / 4 Comments

Shamanic Healing

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title:Shamanic Healing

Author: Itzhak Beery

Publication: Destiny Books 2017, 240 pages.

Shamans and Shamanism has always caught my interest from childhood seeing many of the rituals, speaking in tongues, different musical instruments for different rituals, offerings in Manipur (India). It’s interesting to see more and more people in the western world learning, practicing and talking about this. You will find many participating in the drum and sunrise ritual in a park right in New York City. I picked up Itzhak Beery’s book Shamanic Healing and flipped the pages with fascination as he shared about the rituals, smokes, candles, herbs, stories of his healing sessions.

I started looking up on Itzhak Beery as I was midway in the book. I learned that he is from Israel, currently based in New York. He started being a skeptic and yet being very drawn to Shamans and Shamanism. He was initiated by his Quechua teacher in Ecuador and into the healing tradition of his Amazonian Kanamari paje teacher and has been practicing for 2o years now. On a personal note, it’s really sad to learn that he had removed his cancer via a surgery in Nov 2010 but it came back again after 6 years. He shared the emphasis in integrating traditional medicine for cure and shamanism for healing.

I watched videos of his demonstration of a guided drumming shamanic journey using power animal spirit to connect to the different level of energy to the universe. His spiritual work focuses on connecting to nature and helping others of finding life purpose and understand life’s lessons healing them in the process. It’s interesting to read about the transformation and different experiences after the different shamanic journey and techniques.

I see that he also wrote two books The Gift of Shamanism and Shamanic Transformations other than the book Shamanic Healing which I read. I plan to read the others too. You can find them in Amazon.

 

 

Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam img_7268crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

Three Thousand Stiches, Ordinary people, Extraordinary lives by Sudha Murty #BookReview #AmReading #FindingTheVoices

/ Monica Ingudam / 4 Comments

THREE THOUSAND STITCHES BY SUDHA MURTY

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title: Three Thousand Stiches, Ordinary people, Extraordinary lives

Author: Sudha Murty

Publication: Penguin Random House India, 2017, 179 pages.

 

This book is by Sudha Murty, chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. I got to know about this book from Tuleshwori Sapam when she nominated Sudha Murthy at the global level as part of the 1001Thagatchari, gratitude project of FindingTheVoices. Tuleshwori spoke with such passion and inspiration about Sudha Murty that I was inspired to read the book. I ordered the book from amazon and completed reading the book in two evenings.

To me this book is about inspiration, journey of woman’s growth in India and the will of giving back to the community which ties human connections. Amongst many other things here are three things I love about this book:

·        I am so inspired about her Father’s story. His support for her choice of education to pursue engineering, chiming in with a different strategy in her outreach to the devadasi (female sex worker) community when she was ready to give up and his kindness to the young mother empowering her with the alternative choice she can take. It is because of Father’s like him that woman in India are progressing. My deepest respect and salute to him.

·        It is pivotal to share the experience of being the only female engineering student and reading her experience gave me the reflection of the long way women has grown in the society with time and still more to grow.

·        It is such an inspiration to see the strength in elevating lives with her belief and calling. Sudha Murthy has touched and changed many women’s lives through her initiatives of giving an alternative way of life. Reading this book will leave you with the inspiration and will of giving back to the community.

There are many other books she had written with compelling title and I want to read all of them. Her style and content of writing inspires me to write about the stories and people of Manipur, my birthplace. A must read book.  You will surely feel the life of a strong woman in India. You can get the book from amazon.

img_7268Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

 

15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy by Luminita D Saviuc #BookReview #FindingTheVoices #Amreading

/ Monica Ingudam / 2 Comments

15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy by Luminita D. Saviuc

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title:15 Things you should give up to be happy

Author: Luminita D saviuc

Publication: Perigee, 2016, 189 pages.

I had to read this book when the introduction has “… liberated, financially, independent, self-expressed and free to travel the world to enjoy beautiful locations…”. My exact thoughts were printed in this book.  I picked up the small size book which I love with the thought “Who is the author who has exacted my thoughts into words?”. I learnt that the author is Luminita D Saviuc, founder of PurposeFairy.com 

Here are three points I want to share with you today:

  • “Don’t look for faults, look for the lessons in everything that happened to you. Look for the good in the bad, look for the beautiful in the ugly. Being positive and having a grateful attitude will help you cope with life’s challenges in a healthier and more empowering way.”  Though this was not the first time I am introduced with this concept, I guess I was ready to receive this information, so I took some time to pick some scenarios in my life where I saw faults and tried to look for the good. It was hard. How could there be any good when it caused such pain? I looked harder to see the beautiful. It took time, days but slowly I could find the lessons learnt and the beauty in it. This could be a powerful exercise. Try it!
  • “Accept the past the way it is, with both the good and the bad, because only by accepting what happened will you be able to leave it all behind and work on crafting a brand-new life for yourself.” Again not a new thing, right? We have heard many time about accepting the past and moving on but what caught me was the later part on crafting a brand-new you. If you want to change to a new you , you have to let go of the past. Again looks simple, maybe difficult to implement but when you get into the awareness of catching your thoughts in lamenting in the past, get yourself into activities creating the new you, and use the time to create the new you. Try and experience your own transformation with this exercise.
  • “Blaming is a waste of time and energy. It does no good, not to you and not to those you are blaming. And the less time you spend blaming, criticizing and complaining the more time you will have left to heal yourself, your wounds and your life.” It’s all about getting control of your time. Do you want to fill your time with blaming others or you want to utilize it in filling with things that uplifts you. The awareness of catching self in the blame game is a good time to pull back, have some quiet time and get control of your time. It’s a continuous practice but a powerful one in transforming yourself.

There are many things Luminita addressed  in this book in a simple yet wise way. I really enjoyed this book with her style of narration with her own personal journey. You can find this book at Amazon.

Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam img_7268crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani #BookReview #AmReading #FindingTheVoices

/ Monica Ingudam / 7 Comments

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title:The Code of the Extraordinary Mind

Author: Vishen Lakhiani

Publication: Rodale Books 2016, 288 pages.

This book is by Vishen Lakhiani,  a computer engineer and entrepreneur in education technology, he is the founder and CEO of Mindvalley. My deepest gratitude to Vishen Lakhiani and Mindvalley for leading me to new doors of expanding my personal growth and learnings. I found Mindvalley and read this book “The Code of the Extraordinary Mind“ at the time I needed it the most.

Raised in a conflicted state of Manipur in India mostly within the walls of my father’s house and my school, walking in fear and restraint with the survival instinct in the forefront and loosing a little bit of my identity trying to fit in carrying the “Brules” (as Vishen calls it) as I moved around the globe. And yet the strong feeling of being not aligned would keep taking me back to the lingering question of my identity. As I read the book, I felt so much in place, I fit in, I understood and resonated with many of Vishen’s writing and the code of the extraordinary mind. I felt extraordinary and fearless. And I saw these huge options of learnings and more learnings in front of me.

Amongst many things I learnt and am still practicing from this book, here are three I want to share:

  • Rejection: Even if you fail, you won’t take rejection personally because it’s not you. It must be your method or approach or skill or whatever. And you know you can improve and try again. I am more conscious now of taking rejection personally by practicing this code making me turn around to improve on my approach and try again instead of wallowing in self-pity mode.
  • Gratitude: This has been one thing many have written and spoke about in the personal growth domain and I felt the true power of high energy and human connection when I applied it in the 1001Thagatchari a gratitude project for Manipur where participants come up in my weekly talk-show to share their gratitude by nominating one person in their personal space, for Manipur and at the global level. And I strongly believe that this project will spread the positivity elevating the morale connecting the people of Manipur.
  • Intuition: Tapping into the power of intuition. I had felt intuition before but never took it seriously. Now I have this huge interesting learnings in front of me.

There are lots more to learn, and you will have to read the book yourself. I have this book marked with my pencil, post-it and holds a favorite spot in my bedside collection. You can get the book from Amazon.

 

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Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

 

The Letter by Jamuna Devi Advani #BookReview #AmReading #FindingTheVoices

/ Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

The Letter by Jamuna Devi Advani

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title: The Letter

Author: Jamuna Devi Advani

Publication: India, Partridge India, 2014, 197 pages.

This book is a memoir by Jamuna Advani, born in Manipur and presently at San Ramon, California. This book captures her memories of her 1940's childhood days in Jiribam, a remote place in the state of Manipur in North East India and her life in America.

Jamuna Devi Advani, Author of “The Letter”

I had interviewed Mrs. Jamuna Advani during Season 1 of FindingTheVoices way back in 2013 where we spoke about her poetry book “Land of The Dancing Deer”. Her poems depicted a beautiful family history and reflections about her memories, beliefs and stories of her life’s journey. Her writing is an inspiration to me and I remain grateful to her. Her poems heightened my creativity, improved my consciousness to observe and listen to nature more closely.

I started reading this book “The Letter” in a flight back in 2014 during a trip to India. I was very excited to receive a copy from the author herself. Last weekend I was beginning to miss reading so much, I had to read and was browsing through my piles. I picked “The Letter” yet again.

Reading the initial chapters kept me totally engrossed going through the details of a child’s thought when her father brings home a second wife, a grandmother’s belief in rituals to drive away the other woman and a voiceless accepting wife. It dawned to me that I am reading a memoir and it’s a glimpse of the reality of life in Manipur, the reality which many will not talk about. As I read through the pages, I was very intriqued with the stories touching different human relationships.

She has touched upon many aspects of life and articulated her dreams, fears, insecurities, love, courage, adventure and human relationships. And in her narration, she wrote very well about sensitive topics in a delicate manner and yet portraying her heartfelt feelings. I love the narration style of the book giving me a feeling of time travel, way back to the nineteen forties, with a mix of letters, poems, historical events and photographs. I love the details and in depth description in the book (E.g. Elders using Hookah/”Hidakphu”, the art of making tea, walking barefoot, ways of courting, traveling by foot, boat, bus etc.) giving an opportunity to understand a different time and ways of life. And truly, I felt the book as a gift to learn about origin, ancestors and learn a bit about the ways of life within the Meitei community.

I wish the size and resolution of the photographs in the book are higher and the recent photograph are in colors. My fascination on the stories left me wanting for more photographs of the earlier times at Jiribam. I wanted to know more about “mother” and her silent feelings.

To me, this book is about the strength, courage and growth of a woman keeping up with the fast changing time and place experiencing life’s journey from the east to the west. It’s about coming in terms with past events of life, accepting the people the way they are. It’s about healing and letting go of resentments accumulated. It’s about questioning the unspoken accepted norms set for woman in Manipur. It’s about rising through education and openness to adapt and change with the pace of time and place.

I would definitely recommend you to read this book. You will get a glimpse of the life of women in Manipur, the unspoken and accepted polygamy system, caste/hierarchical system which comes out strongly during matchmaking, the choice and length people go for a male heir within the “Meitei” community that might change your perception of woman’s status in Manipur. And you will surely feel the high spirit and strength of a woman following her heart. You can get the book from Amazon.

 

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Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.

 

My Journey by Dr. Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei #BookReview #AmReading #FindingTheVoices

/ Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

My Journey by Dr. Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei

A book review by Monica Ingudam

Book Title: My Journey

Author: Dr. Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei

Publisher: International Meeteis Forum, Yaiskul, Moirangthem, Imphal West, Manipur 795001

 

My Journey is the autobiography of Dr. Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei, Mr World 2013 in bodybuilding INBA, born in Manipur and presently teaching as an English Professor at Taiwan. This book captures his journey of his life starting from Manipur to Delhi and his migration to Taiwan.

Dr. Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei, author of the book “My Journey”

Mr.Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei had mentioned about his book when I took his interview during Season 1 of FindingTheVoices and I really wanted to read it. I contacted International Meeteis Forum to get a copy of this book during one of my previous trip in Imphal, Manipur. And to my surprise, I received a complimentary copy from Mr. A. Anilkumar, advisor of IMF and I bought another copy.

This book was lying in my ever increasing “To Read” pile and finally last week I picked it up. I started reading it and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages.

Reading the first 3 chapters which covers his childhood and growing up, I felt such love and remembrance for his mother. He wrote in simple English with a good story telling flow and I could feel the little boy’s voice as the book progressed. So much hunger and poverty for a young little boy filled with dreams bringing tears as I read. No one should be as hungry as he had experienced.

He has touched upon many aspects of life and articulated his dreams, love, adventure, poverty, education, family relations and racism very well. And in his narration, I could feel the honesty where he balanced and mentioned both his low and high points of his journey. I love the photographs added in the book that aided the narration very well. It’s interesting to read the chapter covering about meeting his wife and his thoughts on love at first sight versus learning to love. He shared his comparison of infrastructure and system of Manipur and Taiwan. He shared about the intense support system amongst family members, and also shared about the complexities, fall out and family dynamics of relationship amongst family members after marriage.

The book could use some editing in correcting some of the spelling mistakes. I don’t think it’s fair to generalize as a culture that wives in Manipur control the money matters of the family (page 97). Also I differ to agree on his opinion on classifying individuals opting trends of same-sex, no marriage, no children to be individuals who don’t care much about society or the future (page 288).

To me, this book is about love and attachment to your mother and motherland, chasing your dream, being adventurous, having an open mind to face life and never giving up. This book is also about hard work, struggles, pains, frustrations, disappointments before tasting success and winning.

I would definitely recommend you to read this book to both Manipuri and Non Manipuri readers.

Non Manipuri readers will get a glimpse on the background, adjustments and homesickness the students and people coming out of Manipur go through, staying in other parts of India, their fears and insecurity giving you a different perspective on how some of the words and incidents however trivial it may sound gets into the psyche of a person.

 

 

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Book reviews by Monica Ingudam

Born in Manipur (India), based in Maryland (USA) patent holder for identifying Caller ID, with Computer Science Engineering background, you will find Monica Ingudam crunching numbers and data as an Analyst.  During the weekends you will find her hosting FindingTheVoices talk-show featuring authors, artists and people who inspire, empower, educate and entertain with the vision to connect and spread positivity. You will find her reading, writing and painting in her quiet time.