Michael Kim

I really want to eat a baobab for some reason - other than that a really warm story layered with metaphors and also quite a cool wake up call about how it's sometimes better to think like a child, and how a child's frame of mind and what they draw emotions towards shouldn't be discounted as less significant than adult problems

Ishiguro's Never Let me Go is an intensely touching story that poses so many interesting questions to the reader. A closely related book to his recent ‘Klara in the sun' Ishiguro explores what it truly means to be human, and what defines the undefinable human soul. Ishiguro is a master of drip feeding the reader with information so that they are always engaged in the book and does an excellent job guiding them through this immensely complex subject matter. The interactions and love shared between Kathy, Tommy and Ruth is truly an expert representation of human relationships and their complexity. I loved this book and it left me feeling deeply sad and deeply happy at times. Would definitely recommend as an entry to Ishiguro.

The story of Kafka feels like a long dream and a poem the length of a book at the same time. Although you lose track of the narrative at times, somehow Murakami makes that OK, and you just enjoy the words on the page.

Drive presents an amazing review of the evidence, stories and applications about what truly motivates us. He discusses the outdated carrot and stick system for motivation and makes a compelling argument for intrinsic motivation. For some this may be old news, but his delivery and choice wording leaves the reader with invaluable lessons at the forefront of their mind regardless. A recommended read for anyone trying to understand what motivation is and how to get more of it for themselves or their close ones and colleagues.

Interesting read, Gladwell makes it clear to us something we may not want to admit, pure hard work or even pure talent does not guarantee our success. We must work hard and we must upskill ourselves, but importantly we must also identify where good opportunities lie. Gladwells message might appear to some as a statement that only those blessed with good opportunities can be outliers in success, but I see it differently. It may be wishful thinking but I hope there is some outlier position in each of our lives we can identify and exploit to truly achieve greatness :)