The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I have been waiting for a long time to buy this book. I saw this book (with its nice cover) in Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur. But I never try to flip through the pages. In fact, at first, I thought this is a novel. Actually this is a book that I categorized as motivational and inspiring, kind of books that I love to read.

‘The Secret’ tell us the secret of life. How to be happy and successful in life by changing our thought. It sounds so easy, but only the true believers in this book can get the message.

It’s like when you are in real trouble, the best thing you need to do is to change your thought and focus on the good things. And the universe will conspire to solve your problem. Is it that simple?

When you are broke, think that you have more than enough. You live in abundance. And the money will come to you in many unexpected ways.

When you want something, think that you already have it. You can feel it, you can touch it. And you will send the signal to the Universe, and the Universe will send the thing that you want real soon.

These concepts can be hard to grasp. Especially for those who always live in misery and trouble.

I do believe in what the author said. Now, I realized that I already practice few tips which I read in books. Now it is the time to grasp new ideas and concept, and strengthen the one that I already know.

The Secret to Money

“Whatever the mind…can conceive it can achieve”

- W. Clement Stone (1902-2002)

I grew up on, “ You have to work hard for money”. So I replaced that with, “ Money comes easily and frequently”. Now in the beginning it feels like a lie, right? There is a part of your brain that will say, “Oh you liar, it’s hard.” So you have to know it’s this little tennis match that will go on for a while.

- Loral Langemeier, Financial Strategist, Speaker and Personal and Corporate Coach

“The good news is that the moment you decide that what you know is more important than what you have been taught to believe, you will have shifted gears in your quest for abundance. Success comes from within, not from without”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Secret Summaries

- To attract money, focus on wealth. It is impossible to bring more money into your life when you focus on the lack of it.

- It is helpful to use your imagination and make-believe you already have the money you want. Play games of having wealth and you will feel better about money; as you feel better about it, more will flow into your life.

- Feeling happy now is the fastest way to bring money into your life.

- Make it your intention to look at everything you like and say to yourself, “ I can afford that. I can buy that.” You will shift your thinking and begin to feel better about money.

- Give money in order to bring more of it into your life. When you are generous with money and feel good about sharing it, you are saying, “I have plenty”.

- Visualize checks in the mail.

- Tip the balance of your thoughts to wealth. Think wealt

The Kite Runner : The Movie

"Do you want me to run that kite for you? For you a thousand times over"

I am looking forward to watch the movie adapted from the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Watch the thriller here.

The Kite Runner by Khaleed Hosseini

This is a story by a truly gifted story teller, Khaleed Hosseini. It is about a friendship of two boys, or more like ‘master and servant’ relationship. And at the end, the secret was revealed which force Amir (the master) to return to Kabul, Afghanistan to look for treasure left by his half brother.

Indeed, blood is a powerful thing. Blood binds people even if they used to be enemy before.

Excerpt from the pages;

“He let out a chuff of laughter, revealed missing lower incisors. It was the most tired laughter I’d ever heard. “I see America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great. That’s very good. We’re a melancholic people, we Afghans, aren’t we? Often, we wallow too much in ghamkhori and self-pity. We give in to loss, to suffering, accept it as a fact of life, even see it as necessary. Zendagi migzara, we say life goes on. But I am not surrendering to fate here, I am being pragmatic. I have seen several good doctors and they have given the same answer. I trust them and believe them. There is such a thing as God’s will”

Replied Rahim Khan after Amir advicing him to get back to America to get better treatment.

On page 17 ….

“Good” Baba said. But his eyes wondered. “ Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that?”

“No. Baba Jan”

“When you kill a man, you steal a life” Baba said. “ You steal his wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?”

“There is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir”. Baba said. “ A man takes what’s not his to take, be it a life or a loaf of naan… I spit on such a man. And if I ever cross paths with him, God help him. Do you understand?”

A Note on the Author

Khaleed Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and moved to United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in thirty-four countries. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was a number one bestseller and was published in May 2007. In 2006, he was named a goodwill envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in northern California.

Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea

One Man’s Extraordinary Journey to Promote Peace … One School at a Time

“Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin”

Three Cups of Tea

‘Here we drink three cups of tea to do business: the first you are stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything – even die’

Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan

This is one amazing story of an American in a foreign land. In 1993, Greg Mortensen arrived in Pakistan on his attempt to conquer the world’s second highest mountain, K2.

He failed to complete his disastrous attempt, and was drifted in cold into an impoverished Pakistan Village in the mountains. Haji Ali, the village leader offered his kindness, food and shelter to Greg. Moved by the inhabitant’s kindness, he promised to return and build a school for a remote village of Korphe.

A decade later, Greg managed to build not only one but fifty five schools across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This man shows us the power of the humanitarian spirit within himself. Despite having no cash and home, he struggle to save and raise every penny for children in Pakistan.

‘An inspiring chronicle… This is one protagonist who clearly deserves to be called a hero’ – People

P/s – I read this book within a week, averaging two hours a day on my way to my training centre. I am in Abu Dhabi undergoing work training provided by my employer for two months. I make use of the two hours commuting time on the bus while others are trying to get a decent sleep. Something that most people are craving these days, including me. A good quality sleep.

One interesting thing about this book, is that on page 337, it is written:

“If Three Cups of Tea inspires you to do more, here are suggestions for how to help:

1. Visit www.threecupsoftea.com website…….Every purchase online, 7% will go towards a girls’ education scholarship fund in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2. Suggest Three Cups of Tea to a friend……church, synagogue, mosque, university, high school class….
3. Check if Three Cups of Tea is in your local library. If not, either donate or suggest the library to add the book to their collection.
4. Encourage your local independent or chain bookstore to carry this book.
5. Write a Three Cups of Tea book review for Amazon.com, …….., or a blog..

6. …….

7……

And the list goes on. This is the first book that I read with a list of honest and thoughtful suggestions. I am amazed on how an American (an infidel, as described in the book) decided to open his heart to Muslim children. To be able to care and provide them with light of education more than a government can do. My sincere thanks to Mr. Greg Mortenson.

Book Review : Banker to the Poor

Banker to the Poor

The Author: Muhammad Yunus was born in Chittagong, a seaport in Bangladesh. He was educated at Dhaka University and was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972, he became head of economics department at Chittagong University. he is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank. He is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

What it is all about: This is a great book! It teaches me to believe that majority of the world population are hardworking and honest. At first Yunus loaned $27 from his pocket to 42 stool makers living in a tiny village. He then went to local bank but failed to persuade the manager to provide small loan to the poor.The bank did not believe in two things. First, the loan would not change the life of the poorest family in the region. Second, the poor would not be able to pay back the loan in time.

As a result, Yunus founded Grameen Bank and helped these villagers to come out of the poverty cycle by providing micro lending scheme. the result was impressive! The loan repayment rate was almost 100% !!

This is one of my favourite book. Poor people is among the most honest person in this world.

How Much? : RM67 from Kinokuniya (273 pages)

Check the website here.