When you can’t travel … read (Part 2 of 2)
Reflections on my favourite books of 2021
This is the second of a two-part blog. You can find Part 1 here.
NEUROTRIBES — Steve Silberman
Neurodiversity is a topic that’s gaining attention in the field of Diversity & Inclusion. Essentially, it is about understanding that there are different ways that people are wired which manifests in how they behave, learn, and interact with the world. A world designed for neurotypicals can be frightening and limiting for those whose needs are different.
This book focusses on one branch of neurodiversity — autism. By this point, most of us probably know someone who’s “on the spectrum”. But what does that mean, in layman terms? How and when was the phenomenon named? What do we know about it today and how can this knowledge help with day-to-day care and management? Is it really “spreading” and is there any correlation with vaccines?
This book goes deep into these topics as it traces the history of autism — from the days of Hans Asperger researching this condition in Vienna before World War II through decades of misinformation, missteps, parental trauma and now towards better understanding. Rather than searching for preventive solutions, the book advocates for an acceptance of autism. It has been in our midst all along — but the social stigma caused it be considered as a mental disorder rather than a neurological one, resulting in autistic people getting outcast, institutionalised or worse.
We can change this through empathy, inclusion and practical solutions. A world that considers the needs of neurodivergent people in its design can be a world where there are therapies, schools and office designs that help people on the spectrum participate in society and live life to their full potential. Who knows, some of them may even become the next genius musician, scientist or mathematician if we give them the chance.
Consider also: Turtles All the Way down, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, RainMan (movie)
Tags: #autism #spectrum #neurodiversity #diversity #inclusion #empathy
MUSICOPHILIA — Oliver Sacks
If I had to pick a favourite book of the year, this would probably be it. I only picked it up because Oliver Sacks wrote the foreword of Neurotribes and was cited often in that book. As I looked him up, I realised that he was this giant of a man, being among other things a neurologist and a science writer. He studied a variety of neurodivergent conditions including autism, dementia, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD etc in depth and wrote about them with great powers of empathy and storytelling. Plus, this book was about music and brain science — they sounded like compelling companions and so I couldn’t resist getting a copy. It was totally worth it!
Music is central and unique to the human species-it can make us laugh, cry, dance and transport us into magical worlds. While it doesn’t seem to have served any specific evolutionary purpose, it has played a central role in connecting communities over centuries . A concert experience can stay with us long after it’s finished — we can relive it over and over in our heads.
That’s where the brain comes in. The brain can do amazing things with music — deaf people can “hear” music, blind people can play a keyboard perfectly, people with amnesia can recall whole scores and people with Parkinson’s can move to rhythm. It can trigger seizures and cause musical hallucinations. Some people can see colours when they think of specific notes and others can detect absolute pitch. Dementia patients who can no longer recognise their near and dear ones can have a profound reaction to music and it can even be therapeutic for them.
With fascinating case studies, Oliver Sacks takes us through an in-depth look into the role that music plays in people who are affected by neurological conditions. At times a tad technical but still always breathtakingly beautiful, this is a wonderful read for anyone interested in brain science or music, or both. As affected people lose their faculties due to disease or old age, music may be the last remaining connection with them. We ought to grab on to it.
Consider also: Awakenings (movie), Awakenings (documentary), Phantoms in the Brain
Tags: #money #bias #inclusion
THE GREAT INDIAN NOVEL — Shashi Tharoor
To any Indian, the Mahabharata is, by far, our most favourite story. We can’t seem to get enough of it despite countless retellings. Grandmothers have told this story to their grandkids for centuries sparking their imagination. If you are an aspiring author, it would be a safe bet to repurpose the Mahabharata for your next book. Many people will want to read it.
So, what’s the secret of the enduring allure to this story? For starters, this epic drama has it all — action, romance, tragedy, reincarnations, cliff hangers and much more. Cleverly infused through the story though is a pondering on deep questions of philosophy that were pioneered by ancient Indians. The characters are relateable and flawed, like us, which makes their dilemmas feel similar to ours. What I personally love about the story is the fact that every character is flawed, even the Gods, which means that there’s no singular notion of good and bad. Ultimately, it boils down to circumstances and the choices that people make and we as the audience can make our own judgements about whether we think those choice were right or wrong. If the other team had won the war, the story may just have been told very differently. And so, each time you hear, read or watch a version of this epic, there’s an anticipation of a different outcome. It keeps things exciting and the audiences coming back.
So anyway, what does that have to do with this book? What makes this book compelling is a very clever parallel created between the Mahabharata and the Indian independence movement. Shashi Tharoor weaves a believable plot connecting signature events and characters in the two stories. In parts hilarious and in parts thought-provoking, the story creates context for what happened in India in the decades following Independence. An excellent fresh spin on an old tale.
Btw, do keep a dictionary on hand. It is Shashi Tharoor’s english, after all!
Consider also: The Palace of Illusions, The Difficulty of Being Good.
Tags: #epic #mythology #philosphy #fiction
THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS FOR CHILDREN — Roopa Pai
“Non-children should also enjoy this book” went a quote on the book cover. I bought this book for my 10 year old and ended becoming one of those non-children fans. With her stunning writing style, Roopa Pai opened new realms of formerly unexplored thought streams for me.
Growing up in India, one has heard of the Vedas and the Upanishads, of course. Depending on where you lie on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, you either debunk them totally or follow the prescribed rituals unquestioningly. Either approach tends to be mostly based on one’s upbringing and is rarely a decision one comes to after deep thinking.
In this book, Roopa Pai does a brilliant job creating a simplified, yet profound, summary of the ancient Indian philosophy that is captured within the verses of these scriptures. Going back about 3,500 years, they comprise a whole load of chants, guides and how-to’s in order to live in harmony with the world. But, they also contain deep and highly evolved philosophical explorations on some of the fundamental questions that we ask even today: who am I? What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose on this planet?
These questions still lie beyond the vast zone of knowledge that we, as a species, have accumulated by the 21st century. Imagine then, with what little they had to go on, the sages of those days still managed to ponder, question and develop schools of thought that thrive to this day. Roopa Pai’s triumph in this book is threefold: 1) She makes a complex topic accessible to anyone 2) She puts it into the context of today’s world, drawing parallels and pointing out differences; and 3) She encourages curiosity and a self-led pursuit of knowledge. All apply equally to children and non-children.
I can’t wait to read her other books!
Consider also: The Gita for Children
Tags: #philosophy #meaning #purpose #India #spirituality
THE LAST WORD
So, those were my favourite books this year. Although an unplanned journey, it does feel like one that delivered a sense of coherence — the topics were diverse, but there were common themes across the books too. Put together, they helped build a ton of perspective on a variety on topics. A range of books, for sure and I feel grateful that they found their way to my bookshelf.
Writing this blog also got me thinking about whether there are best practices for reading. Am I reading enough? I know people who read every single day. I know people who set (and reach!) ambitious targets like 50 books a year. I can’t even come close. Ultimately though, as Roopa Pai says, you have to figure out what works best for YOU. Make the pursuit of knowledge your unique journey — read what piques your interest and challenges your thinking. That’s when it’ll be most enriching for you.
Lastly before I forget (pun intended), are you like me and can’t remember what you’ve read? It feels super embarrassing, right? I pondered a bit on this too. Firstly, you can take charge: I’ve tried to adopt some tips from this post. But, lest this become a chore, just make peace with it. Let’s recall books not by their plot but how they made us feel. It’s like the people we meet in our life — we may not remember all the words exchanged or their names or faces, but we will remember how it felt. That’s good enough. Books are our best friends — they’ll forgive us and just be glad that we got to spend some time together.
Wish you a wonderful and restful holiday season. Much hope for 2022!
