Book Recommendations

 I love reading books. My motto is - never be without books. I make it a point to read at least 12 books every year, a goal that I have managed to achieve last year and this year as well. I plan to stick to this for the rest of my life. I am the kind of person who carries books everywhere. And I mean everywhere. 

As a kid, I used to read a lot of fiction, starting from the likes of the Sweet Valley series and Harry Potter series to a lot of Jeffery Archer. As of late, I have started reading a lot of non-fiction. This is a fairly recent phenomenon, circa 2018. Most of the books I read are recommendations from my closest friends or cousins. I have built quite a repository of totally kickass books, so I thought I would share some of those here as well. I am going to try to write my review of the books I read much like Bill Gates in gates notes.

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All time highs

Where are the "Friends" now?

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It's been 11 years since Monica and Chandler moved out of the apartment. That was one big moment for the group, after which they all really did grow up. Their lives went into six different directions, but they still try to keep in touch. The keeping in touch does not go very well with their busy lives. But they try to meet at least once a month at the coffee house, and swap stories like old times. This has now become a tradition. Also they always always go to Monica's place for thanksgiving where she cooks them a delicious meal and the kids run around and have fun! Monica and Chandler moved to the suburbs with the twins, who are now 11 years old. Monica is not only a chef at one of the best restaurants in NY but has published two cookbooks as well. Chandler who started on a new career path is now booming in that field, He is working at a great advertising firm, but he prefers to work from home (at least half the time) and stay with the kids. They have a perfect littl
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#10 Something you always think "What if" about

 Hmm, interesting topic. There are a lot of choices we make on a regular basis that defines everything in our lives. When I think about one of my "What if" moments, I can remember one decision I made back in 2013, that I felt myself going back to once in a while for a long time. I used to think about that decision with decreasing frequency over time. I don't do that anymore. Maybe because it has been a long time. The statute of limitations has run out.  Apart from that one thing seven years ago, I can't remember myself going back to any other crossroad I have been in my life, questioning my judgement or wondering what would have happened, let alone daydreaming about it. I mean I have made some very tough choices. Life-changing decisions so to speak, but somehow, I think that was the best thing for me to have done at that point of time. In fact, I will not say best, but the only thing I could have lived with. I know it sounds too serious, but I am someone who needs to
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#9 Post some words of wisdom that speak to you

There are a lot of things that speak to me. Different things at different point of time in my life.  The most recent one being something my brother said to me when I had spent almost full days in bed in complete darkness not talking to anyone, just sulking. I have written about this in one of my previous blogs as well. But since this one has been a roadblock for me for a while, might as write it and move forward.  He said "Aru, we do good work not for recognition or appreciation, not that that's not helpful, neither do we do it for the company or the manager or colleague we might like. We do good work for ourselves. We do so so that we can learn and grow. We do so because not doing so would be ethically wrong. If we are ready to give up the minute we don't see a reward, then our motivation, to begin with, is wrong and corrupt and needs to change. So stick around for as long as you like, but while you are here do keep giving your best for yourself " And that made a lot
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Rain! :)

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What is it about rain that is so different from everything. It magnifies everything around us! With every drop that falls everything around you comes to life. People gather around to talk and enjoy, kids play pranks on each other, couples get romantic and within minutes you can see paper boats sailing towards their unknown destinations.Its like a black and white movie filled with color. The grass is greener, the flowers seems brighter, the children enthusiastic and the women beautiful! (bollywood movies :P ). Our bollywood movies seem to have exploited rains very well! They use it to depict sensuality and romance on one hand and sorrow on the other. The awesome wind that knocks you out and the amazing smell just lures you away from your work. You just can't seem to ignore it. You look up towards the sky full of clouds and without realizing you start seeing shapes everywhere, a dragon, a spoon and what not. It's like the clouds have a story to tell. The best part is just
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Friends or How I met your mother?

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I have always been a huge fan of Friends. I think calling myself a huge fan is an understatement. I know all the dialogues in reverse, that is how well I know friends. Those who know me well know that a friends reference is bound to come up in conversations I have. The fact that whether Ross and Rachel were on a break or when Monica broke up with Richard, had me in sobs. Recently I have been rewatching How I met your mother. I have it before several times and I always thought that it is a derivative of Friends. I found so many similarities between the two. There were episodes with the same basic concept and even the characters seemed a bit derivative. But this time, I had another realization while watching HIMYM. It is much closer to reality than Friends. Some issues are shown so well that you can relate to them so well. For instance, in Friends, Ross and Rachel date and then Joey and Rachel date and after everything ended, the three of them hang out as friends like everything is co
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