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Siddharta (1922) | Herman Hesse

It tells the story of Siddharta, a young man born out of a rich caste, who then decides to be an ascetic, and then meets briefly, Gotama. After which, he goes his way and meets Kamala; whom he perishes under the pleasures of the flesh; and Kawamasmi, where he learns the ways of rich. After realization that he had become what he didn’t sought out to be, he finds himself lost and disillusioned. After passing out by a river; he finds himself back, enlightened. He then spends time with the ferryman by the river, and he meets Kamala again with their son. Only to be left right away, as she is bit a black snake. He then soon finds out that his son is not accustomed with his current ways and they drift apart. He watches as the ferryman succumbs to death and his son leaves him. He then meets his old friend, Govinda, where they speak about the thoughts they have come to learn through out the time. It is one linear story spanning years and decades. I had thought of reading this as som...
what am I doing. are we going down this path again?

Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade (2016) | Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini first released a book titled,   Influence , in 1984. Thirty years later, he releases this one,   Pre-Suasion .   Influence   is probably one of the most quoted books by other authors in the same industry. After some time, I bet his work will continue to be quoted and used in marketing programs, sales presentations, business meetings and conferences around the world. While Influence tackled on the tools employed by compliance professionals, Pre-Suasion takes on the moment before the actual weapons are deployed. It's stated very early on that messages, concepts, made or presented just before a request is made has an impact to the likelihood of the how the message will be received and acted upon. Then it goes on to dissect how and why those factors affect the outcome.

When Atlruism Transcends Race | Chiune Sugihara

Today I learned of a Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews out of Nazi occupation, Chiune Sugihara.  Fascinating human being. Much like Oskar Schindler, He did this being in direct disobedience to his in-group, with all the consequences increasingly salient; with all the risks involved. I came to the story through Robert Cialdini's Pre-Suasion, in one chapter which includes Unity. After having researched, and read more and more about the guy, it's clear how awesome the guy is. At the time, Japan had a wartime relationship with Nazi Germany. Knowing this, it would be clear that aiding Jews would be a crime. Even after being rejected by his superiors in issuing Japanese Travel Visa's, he made the necessary documents anyway for refugees. Some sources say he worked 18 hours for days on end, signing documents. Even before closing the consul/embassy, and minutes before his train departed, he was still making documents. and finally, bowing apologetic to the peo...

On Travel

A video has gone, as the term goes, "viral" recently about travel. The creator cites what probably most travel enthusiasts' nerves got hit on; Work now travel later.  Sure enough, the comments came crashing down and it's a torrent of millennial angst.  It's easy to imagine the backlash with all of people's different interpretations and outlook about travelling. I think it's about intention. It's irresponsible to travel if you're in back-to-back credit card debts, or leave while your sons and daughters are unguided. To travel n eedlessly because of the attention, and the likes and follows, something's not quite right there. So travel, get away, set on your wanderlust but don't forget this is heightened. It's a peak experience.  You still have to find meaning in the daily grind, the day-in and day-out. Not only on the days you're away. You're going to spend more time in the routinary and the non-peak experiences. If you do...

Love: a different metaphor

Love is a collaborative work of art Love is an aesthetic experience Love is unpredictable Love is creative It requires communication and discipline It's frustrating and emotionally demanding It involves both joy and pain Each experience of love is different -Mandy Len Catron A bit from Mandy Len Catron's ted talk. I like this version of a metaphor. It implies that love is something you create. It doesn't just happen to you. Contrary to the romantic view of "falling" in love. It will not draw, paint, or sing itself. It's an active decision. One that requires a specific kind of awareness of your own intentions.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (1984) | Robert Cialdini

When you see a source get quoted over and over again, you get a reaction of "I have to see this." Social Proof. And It has stood beatings of time, having been published 33 years ago. That was what happened. The way its presented is like a self-defense kind of a book. In this case, the black arts of influence and compliance professionals. (That was exaggerating it a bit but) the same way gunpowder can be misused as fireworks or bullets; Influence can be used for good and terrible purposes. Cialdini described key principles or weapons of Influence.