A load of crap from an idle brain

As someone who is on an overdrive reading books this year (more than 28 already in the first 9 months of the year), i do get asked as to what kind of books do i read and why do i read the books that i read. These are the few loose set of rules that i follow while selecting a book to read.

It has to be non-fiction. Fiction is a big no-no to me. I cant bring myself to waste time reading fiction. If at all i want to read fiction, i would rather watch a movie that is made on that book. Saves me considerable time considering the fact that iam a slow reader.

Biographies are an instant pick up for me. Doesnt matter the background of the author or the person the book is based on. I have read biographies of Warren Buffett, Lance Amstrong, Louis Gerstner, Andre Agassi, Steve Jobs, Hillary Clinton, Michael Dell, Jack Welch, Kishore Biyani, Richard Branson etc.

Books on finance, investing, stock markets, management, science etc are also my favourites.

Book recommendations in magazines or by successful people like CEOs or other management people who have read books and recommend the same.

Random search on google or amazon after i have read a particular author and liked their writing.

Listening to audio books is my favorite method of reading. Earlier, audio books had someone reading out in a droning voice which could put you to sleep as soon as the books started. Today professional readers pour emotions into their reading with perfect voice modulation which makes listening to a book very much interesting. Sometimes its the author who himself / herself reads out the book. Sometimes its a professional reader and these have made listening to audio books much interesting.

Earlier i used to complain that i had no time to read books till someone nailed it as excuses. I spend at least 2 hours daily commuting to and from work. Mostly the time is spent looking around or listening to some inane radio DJ railing about some crap in between the same songs that you have been hearing for years now. Not to mention the ads that keep popping in between the songs.

I started with one audio book first. It was a bit difficult concentrating on listening to the book. 2-3 books later, you learn to control your mind and concentrate on listening to the book. Honestly today, i hate wasting time listening to songs or radio. I put on an audio book even when i go jogging or ironing clothes at home.

List of books that i have read are here

Above picture courtesy: ArabDetroit

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Over the weekend watched a movie, “Inside Job“.  A movie that tracks the collapse of the Wall Street in 2008 which caused the worldwide recession from which the world is yet to recover.  It tracks and interviews many of those responsible for the financial crash.  Many financial behemoths like Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers collapsed.  Many were taken over by other financial firms like Merrill Lynch bought over by Bank of America, Wachovia by Wells Fargo, Bear Stearns by JP Morgan etc.

The whole collapse was fueled by the excesses of the financial institutions and the professionals who were a part of them.  Technology ensured that that complex financial products like CDOs were sold to institutions, retail investors.  People with no jobs were given loans to buy property, excessive salaries for brokers, heads of major financial companies only made them greedier leading to more and more desperation in inflating sales so that they could take a bigger and fatter pay packet at the end of the month.

Prostitution, fake bills, consuming cocaine and other forms of drugs, splurging on luxury goods, bay-front properties, casinos etc was the order of the day for the bankers, brokers employed in these institutions on Wall Street.

According to this list provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, more than 370 banks have closed down since the beginning of 2008. An estimated $14 trillion was lost because of the crisis.  And that is just a lower estimate.  The true cost of the whole crisis might never be known.  Millions of jobs lost, tens of millions of people pushed back into poverty.

All those responsible for the crime were never brought to justice, nor will they ever be. Some of the ones who violently opposed any form regulation of the financial industry which was the basic cause of this financial crisis are now sitting comfortably in the seats of power.  They are today part of the government.  Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner; everyone contributed their part to the crisis not to mention Dick Fuld (Lehman Brothers), Angelo Mozelo (Countrywide Finance), Hank Paulson (Goldman Sachs & Treasury Secretary in 2006), George Bush, Bill Clinton etc were in some way or the other responsible for the mess we find the world in.

During the boom years of the 2000s, there were lots of people hectoring the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for taking a conservative stance and blaming the RBI for not opening up the financial markets to the so-called reform that the US was doing. Its that same conservatism that shielded India and its banks from getting smashed up by the tsunami created in the US and world financial markets.

For years, the Wall Street had been my dream place to work.  I loved the whole idea of minting money the way the bankers made.  From the late 90s till the collapse in 2008, i had a rosy idea of these places. In fact, my dream job would have been working with Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch etc.  As i kept reading about the collapse in 2008 and the circumstances that lead to it, it not only crumbled my dreams but also made me think if i could have handled such a life of debauchery & lies that were commonplace in this industry.

Would i be able to mis-sell a product to a retail investor and then go home and sleep peacefully?  The movie raises a lot of questions about morality and your job.  For every parent who wanted their kids to join the financial industry and make tons of money, this movie is an eye opener.  Money is there in abundance, but what we need to realise is if there is the moral compass that can guide us when the excess money flows in.

Are you an investor in real estate, stocks, bonds, mutual funds etc?  Are you planning to make a career in the financial industry?  Do you know someone who works there?  This movie is a must watch and the book “The end of Wall Street” is a must read.  Roger Lowenstein writes a blow by blow account of the last few days of the collapse of the Wall Street.  Its a riveting read.

And yes, if this doesn’t outrage you, nothing will.  Because in the world of finance, there is something called TBTF (Too Big to Fail).  Just become big by hook or by crook and then the government will ensure that you will never fail.  They will always bail you out no matter how big an asshole you have been.

“If you owe the bank $100 that’s your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that’s the bank’s problem.” – J Paul Getty

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From Fullhydblogs to Rediffblogs to WordPress to my own hosted domain here, its been 7 years of blogging. From 2-3 posts per week to one post in 2-3 weeks, the speed of blogging has surely gone down, but the interest hasnt waned. With Facebook, twitter and so many books and other sites fighting for attention, i have been guilty of neglecting attention to this site a bit.

Not that many people visit this site. Hardly gets around 100 hits a day unless some troll decides to brighten up an otherwise dull day. When i was with WordPress, the blog used to have thousands of hits daily. Not to mention that i used to blog much more regularly out there.

With the amount of work, i hardly have time to catch up with friends. Blogging has sort of taken a secondary interest in life. But i still cant believe that i could sustain interest for over 7 years. Meanwhile have finished reading some good books. Most of my updates on the blog have been on the Movies and Reading pages. They are the only ones getting updated constantly. Read a book on Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. Being a history buff, i liked the book. Wish i could find some movie or documentary on the same.

Also finally finished reading “The Warren Buffett Way” which i had been reading on and off while simultaneously reading other books. The other one is the unofficial Dhirubhai Ambani biography “The Polyester Prince” which also have been reading in fits and starts. The only way i seem to be able to finish a book faster is by listening to audio books. E-books and physical books seem to be taking months for me to finish. Its precisely why i have no interest of going in for an iPad or a Kindle. I think i will stick to audio book readers till the time i can improve my reading speed.

Still, have managed to finish about 19 books in the first 6 months of the year which i believe is pretty good enough. The target was to read a book a month. I have far exceeded that target. The next book that iam excited about reading is “Why Men Hate Going To Church – David Murrow“. The title of the book so defines me. My parents tried for more than 30 years and my wife has been trying for the past 3 years. I still cant bring myself to voluntarily go to church on a sunday. Not do do anything with my beliefs. I do pray regularly, but church is one thing that has been unable to keep me hooked. Maybe this book will give me some pointers on this issue.

Have watched some good (Hanna, X-Men, Millenium trilogy of Stieg Larsson) and lots of not so good movies over the past few months. Pyaar Ka Punchnaama as well as Shaitan were good too. As for telugu movies, the lesser said the better.

Time flies. We are almost into the 2nd half of the year. Time for me to take stock of the situation and make some hard choices. Do i still want to continue with what i have been doing all along or take the plunge into the unknown? Maybe the coming few months will give me the answer. Meanwhile what i need desperately is a holiday.

Above picture courtesy: Lifeconnectionchurch

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The last post has been about 2 weeks earlier.  Meanwhile work has been heavy and persistent.  Not to mention grown up people with their child like minds causing more problems than necessary and increasing the temperatures in the team. Sigh…. Am a serious believer that when people join an organisation, they should be put through people handling skills before they are let into the actual fire.  Most can cope.  Its the minority few with no people skills, no idea of how to talk to people and take up every issue as an assault to their king-size ego, who cause all the mayhem and frustration in the workplace.

Anyways, once out of the workplace, i try to shut myself off and turn to my other interests.  Reading and music.  Finished reading the Andre Agassi biopic.  Its simply an awesome read.  A flawed genius with no genuine interest in the game, Agassi with his talent and hardwork became the true legend of the game.  Forced into a game he hated, by his father and sent early on in life to the Nick Bollettieri academy which Agassi describes more as a prison than a place for kids to enjoy the sport, he rebels.  Against the system, against his father, against Nick, against the sport, against media and against himself.

On his path to self-destruction he meets people like Gill (his trainer), Brad Gilbert (his coach) who pull him out of the morass he keeps digging himself into.  Not to mention his friends like Perry, JP and his own brother who form a protective cocoon around him to try shield him against the pressures.

The book is a magnificent read.  Agassi doesn’t yield, nor does he stop from pulling his punches.  I cant believe that a sportsman can write in such beautiful way so as to completely arrest you to the description of events in his life.

Love tennis, hate tennis, one thing is for sure that the book is not a put down.  Some of the games that he describes is sure to transport you to the minds of the person that is Agassi.  His sudden self doubts on his ability, his inability to finish off games, his on court rivalry with Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and numerous other players, the book is a riveting read.

I have read quite a few biographies till now.  Lance Armstrong, Louis Gerstner, Jack Welch, Warren Buffett etc…but this one sure is one among the best i have read.

I have always been a Sampras, Becker, Stefan Edberg fan, but never had any kind thoughts towards Agassi because of his constant threat to my favourite Sampras.  Reading this book has completely changed my opinion of the man.  Ya, he might be a flawed genius…but yes, he is a genius still.

The only other enthusiasm that i share with Agassi is Steffi Graf.  The only female tennis player i have ever idolised. Two champions and their offsprings are sure to be prodigies themselves, but then both Agassi and Graf decide that their kids will never be forced to take up the sport that both despised so much.

Now, that is what i call…perfect parents.  Not trying to see your dreams being realised through your kids, but to appreciate your kids own talent and let them bloom in whichever career they want to.

Open: An Autobiography
Author – Andre Agassi
Pages – 400
Publisher – Knopf

My rating: * * * * *

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Attending the ISMS Lead Auditor course from today.  Course will run till Monday.  On the last day is the certification exam.  Hope i can pass.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Work is too hectic.  Been more than a week into the new position.  Lots of responsibilities and lots to learn.  Challenging no doubt, but happy that Iam learning a lot.  Been stuck in the rut for some time now.  Took this leap of faith and till now, its been pretty satisfying.

The markets have been on a roller coaster.  Up one day and down the next 2 days.  Havent had time to look at my portfolio which has been red when i saw last week.  Not thinking much about it.  Bought some good companies (i believe) on the dips and i will now wait for the market to go up.  There are indications that it might go down further.  No worries.  Will wait for it to go up.

Meanwhile, the cricket world cup is in full flow.  India is now on the top of the table, but had just one challenging match (against England).  The match against South Africa this weekend will be the one to watch out for.

Meanwhile reading a lot of finance / investment books.   Am in the process of making changes to my career and life in general.  As and when significant changes happen, i will update here.  Till  then, let things drift.

There was a time when i had trouble reading one book.  Today, am simultaneously reading 4 books, 2 magazines and books related to the course iam attending.  Not to mention technical documents related to work.   I cant believe that i have time to do all that.  Wifey hasnt had any complaints that iam not spending time with her.  In the past few months, have gone to the Zoo, Bird Park, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Science Center and a few other places with her.  More places here in Singapore to explore.  Wanted to go overseas for a holiday, but am waiting for some time for me to get settled into the new job responsibilities.

Time isnt a hindrance if one plans properly.  Earlier, i was too lethargic. This year of the rabbit has been too good for me already.  Hope the luck stays.  I need it.  Have a lot to achieve this year.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost

A big thank you and wishes to all the women who have touched me in some way and been a part of my life.  Thanks a million.  Wishing the best on the centenary celebrations of the International Womens Day – 2011.

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