Thursday, May 26, 2005

Treachery by Bill Gertz

Treachery : How America’s Friends and foes are secretly arming our Enemies.- By Bill Gertz
Review by ilaxi



Bill Gertz uncovers Chilling Facts and exposes the alarming truth unbelievable that the Iraqi insurgents are killing the US soldiers with weapons provided by France, Germany and Russia. Bill Gertz seems to have made exclusive interviews with senior US officials including the Defense Secretary revealing astounding information on how the US leaders have failed. Arms trade proliferation and war on terror – Gertz has explosive revelation on how US security lapses enabled their enemies to target Americans using their own weapons secret technology. The enemies had fool proof plans to fail the US intelligence and defense and the extent to which the rivals were able to buy or steal advanced military technology from the U.S is alarming that freeze any American reader. The Pakistan nuclear proliferation is getting extensive and the US is trying to draw India into its global strategic plans by asking New Delhi to join the missile defence system. At this point, one wonders, do India and Pakistan need any more hi-tech, exorbitantly priced weapons for each other? Aren’t the nuclear bombs and missiles sufficient? Arms Trade is one revealing info by Bill Gertz in this book. Bill Gertz has also extensively reported the CIA reports on Al Qaeda’s track on its enemies and may have nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The Saddam Hussein's 'oil for food' program has a full story covered by Gertz in the book and how Saddam rebuild Iran's weapons and Missile programs. Although I have not read Bill Gertz other books, this book has been a pick from a local book store and been a thrilling read. Due credits go to amazon reviews and new york times Best seller pick which I do not miss out and Treachery By Bill Gertz explodes facts of America's friends and foes arming the enemies.

Developing the Leader Within You

Developing the Leader Within You by John C.Maxwell
Review by : ilaxi



A leader is always Born and as far as the belief goes 'Leos are Born Leaders' - However, the concept of this Book by John Maxwell is Developing a Leader within. This requires a motivation, a vision and an influence as the writer shares the principles of management through real life anecdotes, charts and graphs. A truly inspiring book that reveals wiz ways to excel and be a Leader. Interesting strips portray Leadership qualities with real life examples and sure, this becomes a quick 'glance read' chirping the zeal in to strife for successive climb. I've always recommended Management Quotes book of Pramod Batra and so is this Book on top of my Charts. Influence always make a big difference and this book implies the influential tricks to scale high to be a leader. Maxwell's techniques prove to be genuine stuff and anyways, the picked topics speak wide :

1. Influence - Defining Leadership qualities
2. Attitude - It really makes a big difference
3. Positive Change - foster integrity and self-discipline
4. Priorities - Defining goals
5. Integrity & People - Developing ties

Becoming a person of Influence is another Book of Maxwell that is thought-provoking and a Leadership technique of 'Influence' pays big dividends in longer run. A worthwhile life lesson to boost up self confidence and keep on high spirits with 'Developing the Leadership qualities' by John Maxwell. A sure fire way to adopt the techniques and surface the best in you.

Manage Your Time

Manage your Time (INSTANT Managers) by Tim Hindle
Review by : ilaxi



How often we hear people shrugging off casually: 'ugh, time is short, we're busy' I think, we all have 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, yielding 168 hours per week. Take away the sleep hours and hours engaged in fetching results we desire! Hence, its wise to work 'smarter' than work 'harder' and this requires efficient 'Time Management' Walt Whitman, the poet, said it best, "The most powerful time is when we are alone, thinking about what we are to do." Daily Planning helps us to focus on what is really crucial and important in our day to come and permits us to identify time to use wasted hours more productively. This has been my experience but when I read this book of Tim, it sure is more to Accomplish 'Managing Time' with his neat tips under various categories like :

1. Understanding Time - Changing Attitude
2. Analyzing use of time - Keeping Time logs,
3. Assessing ability - A quick Quiz
4. Planning for success - Analyzing goals, work, prioritizing
5. Using Time Planners
6. Getting Organized
7. Phone Calls - Managing calls
8. Reading & writing - Dos n Dont's
9. Technology skills
10.Meetings & Travel tips
This and more, the Book is thorough self training and changing Attitude. This book has cool tips of dos n don'ts, analyzing quiz, charts and very good presentation and once you shrugg off the wry look to wring for an extra half hour, think of the wonders a human brain can do - a cool book for every student, business guy, tech buffs and especially those bubbly MBAs who seem to lack time! A great Pick - Get Self Trained, Get More Accomplished with your Time.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Groucho Marx

Groucho : The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx (Vintage)by Stefan Kanfer
Review by: ilaxi

Honestly speaking, I have not read Groucho Marx nor I will! mj picked up this one at an airport and he speaks of the book - On Your Marx

He quips, Groucho Marx is not yet forgotten. He can be found in the back shelves of the modern generation’s favourite intellectual haunt, the DVD library. Julius, using the screen-stage name of Groucho (picked up from a cartoon-spoof on Sherlock Holmes called Sherlocko, the Monk), along with three brothers Chico, Harpo and Gummo, lifted popular comedy from vaudeville and placed it among the classics without losing the ravenous insanity of slapstick. The knockabout was not physical. It was intelligent gymnastics that never made the mistake of becoming intellectual.



As far as I know, Groucho Marx was a depressive clown who mastered the worlds of vaudeville, theater, movies, radio, and television, yet he remained a moody, morose, unfulfilled man. Plagued by nagging financial insecurities, partly realized literary ambitions, and difficult, unsatisfying relations with his wives, lovers, and daughters. He never really had a childhood. This book has been recommended for large public and academic libraries.