Bevin

This book has easily become my favorite book in the past few years. The author is not your regular tech bro who thinks AI is the next big thing. He goes into the evolution of intelligence from the simplest form of life to human intelligence and compares it with how various digital automation and neural networks work.

If you thought this book was about computers, you'd be wrong. This book is about intelligence in mostly biological form and the human attempts to recreate it.

It really reminds me of Daniel Kahneman's “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” The book does a great job showing how our gut feelings can be super useful when we're drowning in info, but also how they can trick us, especially in high-stakes situations or when we've got built-in biases. What really hit home for me was how Gladwell ties this all back to real-world issues like the unfair jailing and wrongful killing of innocent Black men in America. It's eye-opening to see how quick judgments can have such big impacts.

If you find yourself fascinated by a deep analytical and statistical exploration of societal issues, particularly in how differently women and men are treated, this book is an excellent choice.

Even as someone who considers themselves progressive, this book opened my eyes to the complexities and challenges faced by women—a realization that often requires an objective, outside perspective to fully understand.

More than being a doctor and a global health advocate, Lachlan is an honest and kind human. What he has done with his life is something I can only read about and appreciate. I have immense respect for his ability to connect with people and see things from their perspective. I admire the brutal honesty with which he discusses the toll his passion for global health has taken on his mental and physical health.

I read “The upside of stress” and I loved it. Picked this up expecting a similar experience and I wasn't disappointed.

Such a brilliant account of every curiosity led experiment that led us to discovering everything we know about particles, matter and energy. I've struggled to understand why so many of us don't enjoy physics as much as other sciences, but listening to this book made me realise that it's because of the lack of visualisation.

I see biology in plants, I see chemistry in baking soda, but physics seemed very abstract. Visualising all the groundbreaking revelations starting from simple experiments helped understand the simplicity in the thinking behind the complex findings. I'd recommend this for anyone who is curious about the world and how we got here. As Carl Sagan said, “We are a way for the cosmos, to know itself”.

Another honest book from Adam Kay. I wouldn't say it was as funny and enjoyable as ‘This is going to hurt', but you get to see the real Adam in one.

Such an inspiration and a great human.

Adversities break some but make others. Dinesh chose not to give in to his adversities and there is a lot we can learn from him.

Powerful, Poignant and Relatable. Challenging ideas isn't easy, sometimes it comes at a cost of alienating ourselves from people around us, but it is worth a pursuit of freedom and growth. Ayaan Magan is an inspiration for all young women (and men) who are still bound by the shackles of social subjugation and conditions. She shows the importance of free-thinking and how important it is for humanity as a whole.

The world needs more doctors like Ben. He is a doctor who knows how to care and how to tell a story.

When I decided to go back to uni full-time and work part-time I realised that I need to be able to handle stress. I remember Kelly McGonigal's TED talk and decided to give this book a go, and I'm glad I did. Even though I've known on some that stress that was good for self growth, reading this book helped me reframe the narrative of stares in my mind. I've noticed that I'm the happiest when I'm a little stressed and now I know it's because when I'm stressed is when I have something to care about. My work and study stress has given me a purpose and it's only going to make me resilient and stronger.

This little book has some great tips on living a happier life, but some of them are not backed by evidence. It didn't leave an impact on me because of this reason.

The Venn diagram in the introduction led me to believe that the book is about finding purpose and meaning in life. I feel deceived since it covered very little on that topic.

I'm giving it a 3 star because I think the book promised something and delivered something else.

Bill Bryson is one gifted writer who could translate science into something anyone finds interesting to read. We are who we are by random chance, and this book attempts to show the order in it.

I'm glad I picked this book up. It made me realise my passion for health and curiosity for science. I'm now pursuing a career in health, and this book gave me the nudge I needed.

To be honest, I'd rather enjoy Daniel Sloss as a comedian.

Giving a 4 star rating just because of the stories and its relevance to the content. I don't expect scientists to write an entertaining book, or be Bill Bryson but some help from a good writer could have made this book a great read (or listen).

This book is packed with a lot of data correlating hormones and behaviour. I had a few aaha moments when it clicked why chasing a dream feels much better than living the dream. I'd recommend this book for anyone who is trying to understand themselves better, because our hormones do make who we are but have some freewill in managing it.

I listened to this book when I realized I wanted to go to university again and learn something new. This time with intention and curiosity, not just to get a job. All I was expecting from this book was to hear how important education is, but instead, I got to know this incredible girl who had the courage to break free of the shackles of radical culture and beliefs and made an admirable woman out of herself. She doesn't accuse but delicately shows us through her lens how debilitating authoritarian parenting and upbringing can be.

My takeaway:
Education is not about learning the truth, education is about learning different narratives of the same truth and finding your own narrative.

Nothing new here. Just a few tips with no evidence. Just because it worked for that author and his nature doesn't mean it has to work for everyone.

This book was left unopened on my shelf until now because someone told me it was a dry read. I HAVE BEEN LIED TO.

This is easily one of the best non-fiction I've ever read and it's a must-read for all homo-sapiens.

I always believed, knowing my history is knowing myself. Knowing my cultural history has helped me understand my social and cultural conditioning and helped me channel it or break out of it. This book does just that for all us humans as a collective. Knowing our collective history helps us zoom out and understand how myths and collective imagination bond us together to this day.

There were so many “how did I not think of that” moments. I can't recommend this book enough.

Some great self-help advice here. Mark Manson has a great way of cutting through bullshit. Again, like any self-help book, take it with a grain of salt. Everyone is unique romantically and sexually. Pick what resonates with you and ignore the rest. I found most of the advice to be relevant for any man who is working to be a confident, fulfilled and complete self.
I don't agree with some of his advice on proceeding towards sex. I found it a bit pushy/rapey, so obviously I'm gonna ignore the advice.

I listened to the audiobook version. I found the story telling of Phil Night engaging and the narration did justice to his writing.

Easily one of my best reads. Andy Weir writes not just for the story but for the love of science. If you think Martian was great, wait until you read this one.

I'm glad it wasn't a pick-up book. Many dating advice targeted towards men ends up being lame pick-up advice that adds no value to personal life or relationships. It's good to hear some self-confidence tips, especially around not being ashamed or apologetic for finding women attractive and acting on it with respect and honesty. But there is nothing new for a reasonably sensible man and the audiobook is poorly narrated in certain areas.

Also, the author sounds more “This is what works” instead of “This worked for me”. Personally, I appreciate advice from a place of humility.

Funny, painful and emotional.

Factual and undeniable!

Made me realise sexism against women and the
underlying bias is much bigger and subtle than I thought it was.

A clearheaded and comprehensive account of what the British did to India.

I remember watching Sashi Tharoor's Oxford speech and going on a YouTube binge of all his interviews relating to the topic. It captivated me because as an Indian I had no idea about India's position in the world before the British Empire. I've had disagreements with fellow Indians who believed India is where it is in the global economy now because the British empire had the mercy to industrialize India. I have British mates who grow up with a heroic sympathy towards Winston Churchill. Sashi Tharoor just clears all these notions and doubts by factual evidences. He makes no mistakes in conveying the history of how a prosperous region was systematically destroyed to rubbles all in the name of trade by the empire.

I was sceptical when I read the title. I was expecting a one-sided story of all the ill done by the British empire from the perspective of an Indian, but I was proved wrong. The quotes from books and speeches by non-Indian historians, writers and economists made it clear that it wasn't just the complaints and rants of the subjugated. Will Durant is my favourite of all such writers mentioned in this book.

It was also reassuring to learn that among the stone-hearted, racist and wealth hungry British elites, there were some rare gem's who saw Indians as equals and genuinely cared for the people. I would recommend this book for every Indian. Knowing our history means knowing ourselves.