Book Review of “The Present”

After reading one more inspirational book of his, titled, “The Present”, I have become a die-hard fan of Dr. Spencer Johnson. As Lord Shri Krishna is for Arjun, so is Dr. Johnson for me. In “The Present”, he revealed the simple truths of life very efficiently and magnificently. What ever has been written is nothing new or unknown to us, but the way, he explained is truly praiseworthy. We deny these things consciously, and never dare to experiment life, though, people like Johnson writes to motivate us.

The Present is also a parable of the present what you give to yourself. It is a story about a young man who discovers what the present is. Since his childhood, he used to observe an old man who was calm, serene, happy and successful. In his mentorship, the young man, becomes wise, learns a lot, and implements the same to become happy and successful. The young man, who was going through terrible troubles in his life, viz., break up with his girlfriend, not getting promoted in his work etc., gets this precious and invaluable gift from the old man. And, in order to unfold the present, the young man takes time out for himself by visiting a mountain place of his friend to rejuvenate and discover what the problem is? When he succeeds in finding a solution, returns back to work and implements what ever he had learnt from his experiences. Dr. Johnson explained each and every part associated with the present excellently by query, what if it happens like that, and what if it does not happen in the way we guess; thus, making the readers stick to the book till the last page, has given a master piece to the society.

It is also a must read book as I told in the case of “Who moved my Cheese?” I gave a very brief summary of the above tiny book, as I don’t want to spoil your joy of reading by explaining in totality in advance. In conclusion, I can only suggest you reading such invaluable books to find the real treasure of literature and apply it for the betterment of life, but it is solely up to you whether you really want to get benefited or not.

Thanks and Regards,
Srikanth Chintakindi
M.Tech (A.I.)

Book review on Who Moved my Cheese?

Can you imagine a book which is as sweet as the title reads and as simple to understand a remarkable message? Yes, you can. Because, a tiny parable which deals about how to change with the changing situations, and how to get adapted to them in a smarter manner, is intelligently explained by Dr. Spencer Johnson, in a minute book titled, “Who moved my cheese?”. Believe me, it has left an inerasable mark on my memory through its pictures-que-description and made me imagine myself in all those four characters he portrayed.
Sniff, Scurry were two mice; Hem and Haw were two tiny little men. The parable is about a Cheese station C (in a maze) where everyday, four of these used to go to earn their daily quota of cheese. Since men were wiser than mice, they found that, cheese will be always there at cheese station C, so, they got habituated to take the same direction in finding their cheese and it became a routine for them. But, mice were always, like running in all possible directions through the maze to reach the cheese station C.
Suddenly one day it happened that cheese station C becomes completely empty. Mice sniff and scurry, had expected it long before, so, they immediately start running all through the maze until they found a new cheese station N where, they had all varieties of cheese. But, little men hem and haw were in a state of shock and cannot digest the fact that, the cheese station is empty now. For days, they used to go the same way to the same old cheese Station C hoping that it might be full one day and dreaming some one will fill the station with cheese again.
But in reality, it never happens and cheese station C is completely empty forever. Haw dares to go searching a new cheese station by running again all through the maze. But, Hem resists change, so, stays back. Haw starts running through the entire maze, and starts writing his experiences learnt on the walls of maze by drawing a cheese (Ultimate goal) as a sign of directions/path he is taking to find the new cheese. One day, he finds some slices of delicious cheese and hoping that, he can find a new cheese station some day very nearby runs back to his friend Hem and ask him to join in finding new cheese station. But, hem is afraid of change and therefore resists sitting back at old cheese station C. Thus, once again, haw starts’ running through the maze all alone and finally reaches the new cheese Station N where he finds his other friends sniff and scurry.
If you ask me, reading this book completely will take an hour time but the impression it leaves is truly relishing. The moral of the story is to be in your comfort zones but should be prepared to accept the change if it occurs.
I would like to advise/suggest/request one and all to read this book as it is a must read. And, I am sure that after reading, this book, you will find a new you in yourself. You will work on the age old mindsets and you will definitely find a positive wave of change that has occurred in you. Believe me; you too will suggest your friends to read this book after you find that you have tremendously set your new goals. It’s much better than I explained above, so, don’t miss the pleasure of reading this.

Thanks and Regards,
Srikanth Chintakindi.