tuesdays with morrie

AUTHOR : MITCH ALBOM

PRICE : RM 29.95 ( POPULAR BOOK STORE)

 

Summary ( AS WRITTEN ON THE Book’s COVER)

Maybe it was a grandparent, a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and impassioned, helped you to see the world as a more profound place and gave you sound advice to guide your way through it. For Mitch Albom, it was Morrie Schwatrz, the college professor who had taugt him nearly twenty years before.

Perhaps, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as the years passed, the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, to ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, and receive wisdom for your busy life the way you once did when you were younger.

Mitch Albom got that second chance, rediscovering Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. their rekindled relationship turned into one final class : lessons in how to live. Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicles of their time together.

Review

After reading this book, I tried to figure out, who is my Morrie. I tried to trace back my childhood and forced my brain to reopen all those life chapters that I’ve shoved aside for so many years. Was it Cikgu Sabariah? My primary 1 teacher? Was it my kindergarden teacher? University lecturer? After thinking about it so hard, I discover that it was Pn. Zaini- my primary teacher.

It is true, that growing up was not easy- It is a learning process, and quite a difficult one. Struggling with what we want , how we want it and what we actually can do or better off doing, is a complicated process. Mentors, does not necessary come in forms of teachers or for Mitch- a brilliant professor. They could be anyone that inspired us and lead us to the right directions.

This book is a MUST HAVE. It kind of put us back on the gound )

 

What I’m Reading Now

 

Hi folks,

Sorry for being away for quite sometime. Life is pretty hectic lately. And I have little  and little time to read. However, I would like to share with you, that I am currently reading These 2 books, will keep you posted soon.

Protokol Malaysia – Bentuk Panggilan Yang Tepat

Penulis : Datuk Abdullah Ali

Penerbit : Marshall Cavendish

Harga : RM 49.90

RINGKASAN (Sebagaimana yang dinyatakan di kulit buku)

Ini merupakan panduan autoritatif bagi protokol dan bentuk panggilan yang tepat untuk digunakan apabila menyapa orang Malaysia yang bergelar dan tidak bergelar – daripada Seri Paduka baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong hinggalah kepada org kebanyakkan. Panduan ini juga merupakan yang pertama dan satu – satunya panduan lengkap bagi sistem gelaran Malaysia yang kompleks. buku ini menyenaraikan semua darjah dan gelaran yang ada di negara ini, bersama – sama akronim dan gelaran kehormatnya. Berpandukan buku ini, kita boleh mengetahui sumber sesuatu akronim tertentu yang mengiringi nama orang Malaysia, dan cara bagaimana seharusnya kita menyapa pemiliknya.

Penulis juga menunjukkan kod pakain yang sesuai bagi majlis rasmi yang formal dan tidak formal, acara yang dijangka, bagaimana mengundang dan menerima VIP, tingkah laku atau ucapan yang diterima ( dan tidak boleh dimaafkan) ketika RAJA atau anggota Kerajaan atau juga pentadbiran yang berpangkat tinggi turut hadir. Beliau turut memberi panduan untuk struktur kakitangan Kabinet, Perkhidmatan Perundangan dan Kehakiman, pasukanPertahanan, dan Kor Diplomatik dan Konsul Malaysia kerana pengetahuan tentang struktur kerajaan dan pentadbiran penting untuk memahami protokol

Ilustrasi yang terdapat dalam buku ini adalah tentang pemakaian tanda kebesaran yang betul, contoh kad undangan dan majlis VIP serta menghadap raja. Buku ini merupakan rujukan yang tidak termilai bagi ahli perniagaan dan diplomat asing atau Malaysia.

 

ULASAN

Buku ini menyediakan rujukan yang penting, terutamanya ketika mengendalikan sesuatu majlis rasmi. Terutamanya majlis yang melibatkan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di Pertuan Agong. Rujukan lengkap meliputi dari proses pra persediaan sebelum majlis, cara menghantar dan menulis kad jemputan, susun atur tempat duduk serta protokol.

Susunan ayat yang ringkas, padat dan menarik serta mudah difahami. Turut boleh didapati di dalam versi bahasa Inggeris, buku ini adalah sesuatu yang wajib dimiliki oleh semua pegawai kerajaan (terutamanya).

 

SINK OR SWIM – New Job. New Boss. 12 Weeks To Get It Right

Author : Milo Sindell M.S & Thuy Sindell Ph.D

Publisher: Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company

Price : RM 49.90

 

SUMMARY ( as written on the book’s cover)

1 in 4 employees won’t make it through their first year on the job- Will you?

No worries. Sink of Swim shows you how to be a top performer from day one. In today’s job market, getting to “yes” doesn’t mean getting a break. Like most new employees today, you’ll probably get thrown into your position with little or no training. You’ll have to “sink or swim” in the first 90 days – or face termination.

With week by week charts, and straight forward no B.S. information, Sink or Swim enables you to decode the company’s culture, discern what your priorities should be, and survive and thrive in your first 12 weeks – no matter what industry you’re in.

 

REVIEW

No matter if you are a fresh graduates or experience profesionals, this book provides guidelines on how to adapt to your new working environments. With week by week charts, readers would be able to record their progress within 12 weeks. 

Simple english and informative, this book is the kind that you should not necessary have, but would definately be a great help should you own one.

 

p/s: but peeps, at the end, good PR and Networking skills are the Master Solutions to lots of problems in this world

MALAYSIA’S FOREIGN POLICY – Continuity & Change

Edited by : Abdul Razak Baginda

Publisher : Marshall Cavendish

Price : RM 55.00

 

Summary (as written on the book’s cover)

Despite malaysia’s active role in the global arena, there is not much work written on the subject. This book may help to fill the large gaps in the literature of Malaysia/s ties with the world and specifically, of Malaysia’s foreign policy. It was edited by Abdul Razak Baginda, Executive Director of the Malaysian Strategic Research Center (MSRC), an independant non-profit organization whose primary mission is to promote knowledge on Malaysia and the region, covering areas such as political development, economic, national and regional security as well as social issues.

Abdul Razak Baginda invited well known writers to contribute to this book. As a result, its collection of articles touch on various aspects of Malaysia’s relations with the world, including the economic factor in Malaysia Foreign Policy, its relations with ASEAN, Europe and Africa as well as its role in the United Nations. In today’s world, economic and trade issues have come to dominate international relations. As a result, Malaysia continues to place its well-being at the core of its foreign policy and there are no indications that this will ever alter, as the country is very much part of the global system.

 

REVIEW

The contributors to this book are Dr.Hassan Ali, Dr.Pamela Sodhy, Dr. Tang Siew Mun, Dr.Mohd Azhari Karim, Dr.Ruhanas Harun, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad and Dr. Hamidin Hamid.

Articles in the book described the evolution of Malaysia’s Foreign Policy from pre-independent until now. It covers Malaysia’s bilateral and multilateral relations and how those relations were influenced by current political situation internal and external.

Easy to understand , the book is a good reference for understanding more about Malaysia Foreign Policy.

 p/s; another book for PTK!!!

 

Dr Mahathir’s – Selected Letters to World Leaders

Author : Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohamad

Publisher : Marshal Cavendish

Price : RM 49.90

Summary : (as written on the book’s cover)

The 71 letters by Dr. Mahathir, Bush, Chirac, Blair, Thatcher and Prince Charles ( among others) are unique as they argue their contrasting positions on terrorism, globalisation, economic and diplomatic relations, as well as war and conflicts. The correspondence presents a less-than-ideal world for the reader to inhabit.

The correspondence were transparent, solid, informative and sometimes robust. The memories they and their words leave behind are always startling.

Dr. Mahathir writes directly, in his own recognisable voice and style, an extremely unique correspondence by a very remarkable Malaysian Prime Minister. An excellent book to be enjoyed on many different levels, by all who love politics, diplomacy and international relations.

None of these letters has been published before the most obvious feature for English language students (in Malaysia and Asia) is that the style of explanations on various complex issues written in ordinary English sentences. Readers, teachers, students and politicians will welcome this book, as the publisher and editor do. reading this book inspires us to love and serve politics even more.

 

Review :

I grew up during Mahathir’s years. In fact I shall say that he was the only prime minister that i knew before the current premier. Thus, during those days, I was inspired by his visions and missions for Malaysia , our beloved nation.

To be able to read the letters that he sent to the leaders of world super power is really an amazing experience. Prince Charles letter was the one that amaze me the most. Prince Charles wrote to Tun Mahathir to express his feeling about Islam and congratulate the previous premier to promote Islam in a very excellent way. 

In conclusion, this book worth every single cent of my money because, it is not fiction. It is actual letters to and from world leaders, and it helps me to understand about what has been going on in this world for the past few years,as far as Malaysia is concern.

P/s: Guys, this one can use to asnwer PTK oso )

 

 

 

Confessions of an Old Boy – The Dato’ Hamid Adventures

 

Author : Kam Raslan

Publisher : Marshall Cavendish

Price : RM 32.00

 

Summary as printed on the back of the book)

Dato’ Hamid- the Old Boy and civil servant who’s been everywhere and seen it all (even though he never wanted to). Here he ’spills the beans’ of his adventures dating back to nthe 1940’s, from Kuala Lumpur to Monte Carlo, Los Angelas to Algiers, London to Temerloh Rest House and much more. Along the way, Dato’ Hamid tussles with a beautiful seductress-cum-diamond thief; is corrupted by a ruthlessly ambitious banker; and helps solve the murder of a billionaire businessman. And all the time he wishes he were back at home tending his orchids and nursing his favourite cognac.

Shameless, exciting and funny, Dato’ Hamid’s life and adventures chart the financial, political and amorous relationships that have made Malaysia what it is today. 

Review :  

It’s a serious comedy kind of materials. Like commented by Patrick Teoh, I also almost believed that Dato’ Hamid really exist. Kam Raslan has a brilliant story telling skills. It is a fun book, yet very critical. The book has managed in a way described Malaysia’s evolution since the post colonial years.

Would I recommend it to others? ABSOLUTELY!!