Book Review #77: The Power of Habit: Why we do, What we do in Life and Business By Charles Duhigg

Title: The Power of Habit – Why we do, what we do in Life and Business

Author: Charles Duhigg

Publishers: Random House

Year: 2012

Genre: Non-Fiction/Human Psychology

Source: Personal Copy

The book which explores the human habits and why it is called a habit after all. The author Charles Duhigg explains with various anecdotes from the scientific background, behavioral aspects and psychological aspects. The human habit is not something which will occur accidently, rather, it is a practiced phenomenon. This book explores this very idea of how the humans forms their habits, and the reason behind it and the inference of those habits.

This is an exceptionally written and researched book. It breaks those age old practices or the beliefs of "You can’t teach an old dog, new tricks”. Habits can be formed at any age and in any time, given, there is an enough room for acquiring the taste for it. This is really an important book and it can be used as a curriculum if you ask me. It has various examples from various cases studied for many years.

This book is mainly organized in to three different sections of habits. The habits of an individual person, the habits of an organization or a company and finally, the habits that propagates in a society that impacts the people on a larger scale. The case studies explained in every case is a testimonial of how the habits can truly become a game changer if we observe it closely. Thanks to the author. He has cleverly observed and recorded some events and cases where people can view a different angle of what the habits, why the habits and how the habits will occur and how to really change it!!

In the individual habits section, author had written an example of a person that was suffering from acute memory loss. This person went on to become famous as per those medical institutes that studied him over many years. This man was subjected to various experiments, practices and tests and recorded the results. A memory loss patient who cannot remember anything more than a minute or so, can truly practice some things repeatedly so that it can become his habits. A more of his case can be studied in the book.

In the organization example, Author had explained the cases of the famous toothpaste company Pepsodent and how this company went on to create a huge market for itself across the world, just by observing some habitual practices of people and changing the way it was marketed. People, who were not so confident about this product, has changed their minds and created a habit of brushing their teeth with Pepsodent. A more about this can be read in the book.

Finally, habits that changes the society. Author had used some of the famous examples from the American history to describe this section of the habits. The case of Montgomery bus boycott event has created a mass appeal among the people and it went on to create an important event in the history of America, drawing political personalities and other popular figures like Martin Luther King Jr. into the scenario. This case was explained brilliantly in the book and makes people to think about the habitual practice a society endorses. More about this can be read in the book.

All three section of habits draws a simple conclusion. The habits are formed in just a three step procedure. The “Cue”, the “Routine” and the “Reward”. Be it any habits like Smoking, Alcohol, Gambling, Marketing, Health care, etc... Etc… is formed in this three cycle of cue, routine and reward. For you to change any habits of yours and finding it difficult to break that cycle, Author had simply put in this amazing three sections to observe and change accordingly. Author has asked people or organization to not to change the Cue or the Reward. But, just change your Routines to achieve the same Reward. This is explained brilliantly in the following diagram.

A must read book for all those science enthusiasts. In fact, this book can be read by anyone who are in a dire need of changing their habits. It actually helps them to look deeply into their habitual routine and offers them to change a bit or two, so that, they can overcome those usual routines and achieve the same reward.

Few quotes from the book which I really liked:

“It is facile to imply that smoking, alcoholism, overeating, or other ingrained patters can be upended without real effort. Genuine change requires work and self-understanding of the cravings driving behaviors.”

“The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can’t extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.”

“…hiding what you know is sometimes as important as knowing it…”

“Rather, to change a habit, you must keep the old cue, and deliver the old reward, but insert a new routine.”

“This is the real power of habit: the insight that your habits are what you choose them to be.”

My Rating:

5/5

Book Review #61: Shadow of the Wraith (NEXUS) By Ross Harrison

Title: Shadow of the Wraith

Author: Ross Harrison

Publishers: Self Published

Genre: Science Fiction/Space Opera

Pages: 404+ pages (EPUB version)

Source: Review Copy from Author

First things first

This is a fantastic story. I have enjoyed thoroughly. The story keeps you hooked till the end and I am not exaggerating to say that, this is the best book I've read it recently under the genre space fiction. Ross Harrison is a brilliant author. He blended space science with every possible substance that includes aliens, humanoids, humans and robots (androids). With a touch of humor, Harrison has managed to write this book fluently.

Review

The entire novel is set in the future, in which the normal human beings has mastered the space travel and learnt possible ways of mending the space ships and making themselves alliances between other space dwellers, bots and humanoids. I must remind the readers here that, though you get reminded of the stories from STAR WARS, STAR TREK and MATRIX on regular intervals, it is in no way a copy of those things. It resembles few scenes here and there, but, that’s ok. It has a great story to the readers and this is the first book in the series of NEXUS as author says.

The protagonist of the novel is Travis Archer, a freelance bounty hunter. He accepts an official assignment of destroying an unmanned ship “The Star Wraith”. This Star Wraith is a powerful ship that appears out of blue and destroys the other space ships. The intentions of it were not known to him and he builds his team with some unusual members to go on an epic journey to hunt and destroy this ship. His team consists of his buddy Miller, Jay, Zak Kirroc, and another freelance bounty hunter from the Kraathan’s Juni Lien. Juni Lien character is the most unusual to say the least. She was actually appointed to kill Travis Archer for a bounty, but, she ended up teaming along with Travis Archer in search of Star Wraith. The detailed introduction of the characters and their origin can be read from the book. It is highly interesting to read about various alliances, groups and their crazy description.

The description about the entire space atmosphere is a marvelous job. You have to be a science fiction lover to slip into the alternate world that Harrison creates in this novel. The detailed explanation of each and every machinery, space ships, plasma guns, armor suits, VI console, etc… is very fascinating.

As the story further progresses further, Travis and his team were able to finally locate and get inside the Star Wraith. There is a slight twist in the tale here, as they were prepared to destroy this ship initially, they were taken by surprise by witnessing some of the relevant man intervention in this ship. So, Travis and his team decide to take control of the ship and succeed in it. So they maneuver this ship to find out the exact intention behind its creation. Travis and his team try to get all possible details regarding its creation. They will discover that, the people from who they got this bounty contract were somehow related to this ship’s creation. Travis decides to get to the bottom of this. He and along with few team members were able to connect the dots slowly and steadily. The more fascinating of this story reveals the shadow of a villain called “Boarshraak” whose goals and intentions remained shrouded in mystery.

Other notable points—although the story starts on a small scale, it eventually escalates from Travis’s dangerous assignment to a potentially devastating interstellar conflict. Race relations between alien civilizations are touched upon—at one point, an official notes that one of Travis’ alien crew members cannot be paid like a human would. It is quite interesting to note that, they get paid in Credits! Also, there is an android called Arkuun-Marl (Became my favorite!!) with the obnoxious tendency to make lame jokes about everything. Though he is a bot (android), he prefers people calling him “HE” instead of “IT”! Arkuun-Marl has an important role in this novel. His character seems like a life saver at most of the times and also a comic relief in a serious space juggernaut.

There is also one important character that must be mentioned without fail. This character is called “Rialen” that appears as a path shower from the second half of the novel. This particular character reminds me the movie MATRIX, where NEO gets his advises every now and then.

There is also a special mention about fireflies and dragons that has a very minimum part in the novel and still plays as a part of the expedition. There is also a part where the true identity of Travis Archer has been revealed that makes him immortal!!?

The entire story runs like a movie. It has no boring aspects. The climax part of the novel is where the astounding information has been kept. Who is “Boarshraak” after all? Was he the main responsible for all these conflicts and wars? Were Travis and his team able to come out with flying colors? The answer lies in the book and I recommend the readers to read this book. This book definitely takes you to an alternate world and leaves you there to savor the moment. The entire story keeps ringing in your mind even after you finished reading it.

The book is organized pretty well. The chapters are divided according to the places that the story takes place. The violence scenes description has been taken care of really well. The grammar is perfect and the reading experience is quite lucid and engaging.

Note: I received this book from the author as a review copy in exchange of an honest review.

My Rating:

5/5

Book Review #26: Yana By Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa

For the first time S.L. Bhyrappa tried a science fiction based novel.!!. Published just 2 weeks ago, has attracted thousands of his loyal readers, making this book as one of the bestsellers in Kannada in recent days.  As a first timer to this genre, there are slight mistakes and scientific inaccuracies and there were space to improve in the writing. Nevertheless, this book didn't disappoint me. As a regular reader of SL Bhyrappa's books, what I read is an expected. There is nothing unexpected or extra super stuff that he wrote. He just carried it in a simple but elegant manner.

What it seems to be the most secret phenomenon called Black Hole has been studied in this novel in a somewhat possible way. But, it is beyond a science fiction, it explores the regular SL Bhyrappa's flavor of human relationships, bondage, philosophical aspects, etc..

The story is very simple as it seems to be. Two Astronauts, a female fighter pilot Uttara and a male scientist Sudarshan, who sets out on a epic journey into a far away galaxy leaving our solar system. They set out to travel to the Proxima Centauri which is several light years away from our solar system.

The intention of this journey was kept a top secret by the central space research agency. The mission was supposed to test the human generation growth in a space. These two astronauts were supposed to procreate and their children were supposed to marry (Yes, you are reading it right!!) and should procreate and this cycle must continue forever. As the intention of this experiment is kept top secret, the central space research agency selected fighter pilot Uttara for her right attitude towards serving the country and Scientist Sudarshan who is capable of building modern space shuttles. They were instructed clearly by the space research station that they will never return to earth. So, these two sets out on this journey or YANA leaving behind the earth forever.

As the novel progresses further, Author had done little damage while describing the space and its intricate details. Though he described the space shuttle in somewhat possible way. The space station that has facilities to grow even vegetables. It has been proved in recent times about the facility to grow vegetables in space stations.

As the novel continues, we find that, pilot Uttara had already covered a space travel program of 100 days previously with her pilot husband in a similar journey. When the 2nd time was announced, her husband declined this offer, whereas, Uttara accepts this offer. Hence, their relationship was ended abruptly.

With the clear instructions from the space research agency, these two protagonists, Uttara and Sudarshan were supposed to procreate. But, somehow, Uttara loses her interest in this idea and she starts to avoid by becoming pregnant. And, Sudarshan tries all his might to explain the duty that she was supposed to carry out in this mission. But, he fails. As their journey continues, Sudarshan also loses interest in this mission and he tries to find solace by surrendering to meditation. The ideas and the thoughts that Sudarshan gets while he starts practicing meditation is a treat to read from the book. I will not be explaining those things in my review.

After a while, Uttara changes her mind and approaches Sudarshan. But this time, Sudarshan declines and suggests her to get pregnant with the sperms that was given to them by the space research agency before their travel. Somehow, she gets pregnant and gives birth to two children a boy Akash and a girl Medini. These two children were supposed to get married in few years and carry out this YANA. But this idea itself is somewhat creepy. I know some conservatives/orthodox people will hate this idea of brother marrying his own sister. But this is fiction right, author have every rights to let his imagination go in any direction.

As the novel progresses towards the end, the two children were supposed to marry. But, they starts getting doubt about this marriage. So, they approach their parents with all the questions they have on their mind. By studying their parent's life journey, they comes to a conclusion that, this journey has come a long way and there is no possible way of going back. Hence, they also decides to serve their mission and thereby serving their country. This marks the end of the book. Were they got married ??. Imagination left to the readers.

The writing style of this novel is lucid and it did engage the readers. If you expect a typical SLB writeups in this novel. There are two answers for that, Yes and a No. Yes, because you can read the conventional human-human relationships, whether its an illicit or a time bound relationship doesn't matter, the spiritual thoughts that runs through in the minds of protagonists, the philosophical experience, etc, etc.... And No, because, you get a feeling that, this is not even a science fiction, but a regular book that has a backdrop of space station. THAT's ALL.

Overall, can be read. Not a must read though. Author would've taken a different approach for a science fiction genre than his regular writing style. A new try will always have some loopholes.

My Rating:
4.5/5