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What LightCastle Has Read in 2024″ highlights the books that have informed our thinking and contributed to our team’s development over the past year. From thought-provoking non-fiction to compelling fiction, these selections reflect our ongoing commitment to continuous learning and a knowledge-driven culture. As we face an increasingly complex world, these books have provided the insights and perspectives needed to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. We invite you to explore the literature that has guided our growth and shaped our approach to problem-solving and innovation
Author: Ali Abdaal
Reviewed by: Omar Farhan Khan, Senior Business Consultant & Project Manager
Productivity in a sustained way; working while enjoying it
“Feel Good Productivity” by Ali Abdaal is an insightful and engaging guide that challenges conventional notions of productivity. Instead of focusing solely on efficiency and output, Abdaal emphasizes the importance of well-being and enjoyment in the pursuit of productivity. Drawing on his experiences as a doctor, YouTuber, and entrepreneur, he combines practical advice with scientific research to present a holistic approach to managing time and tasks.
The book is structured around several key principles that aim to help readers achieve a balance between work and personal life. Abdaal advocates for aligning productivity with personal values and passions, which he argues leads to more sustainable and fulfilling outcomes. He also introduces various techniques and tools for time management, goal setting, and habit formation, all designed to foster a positive and motivating environment.
Abdaal’s writing style is accessible and relatable, filled with anecdotes and examples that make the concepts easy to understand and apply. The inclusion of actionable tips and exercises at the end of each chapter allows readers to actively engage with the material and tailor the advice to their own lives.
Overall, “Feel Good Productivity” is a refreshing take on the productivity genre, offering a compassionate and enjoyable approach to achieving success and happiness. Whether you’re a student, professional, or anyone looking to improve their productivity without sacrificing well-being, this book provides valuable insights and practical guidance.
“Play is our first energiser. Life is stressful. Play makes it fun. If we can integrate the spirit of play into our lives, we’ll feel better – and do more too.”
This quote reflects the book’s central theme of incorporating enjoyment and well-being into productivity practices.
Author: Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
Reviewed by: Bijon Islam, CEO & Co-founder of LightCastle Partners
Focuses on how unconventional education can result in lasting personal impact. Based on experiences of the author herself. The story begins with how Totto-chan a little girl has to shift schools due to non-conformity and her time starts at a new unconventional school where classes take place inside refurbished train cabins. For her interview to making friends to ghost walks to classes during World War II – Totto-chan keeps you hooked.
The memoir brings you back to your early childhood days. I somehow vaguely remembered my first day at school where the classroom was at the corner of a muddy field and playtime with friends. Totto-chan shows without being preachy in any sort of way how education shapes us to the person we are today. While traditional schools frown upon looking out the window but maybe that’s what a child needs to expand her horizon.
A. Education is an experience. It is not about the curriculum but how the environment is set up starting from the classmates, faculty and activities. Looking back just like Totto-chan I remember poetry or essay reading not so much what I actually read.
B. Conformity doesn’t always support growth. Japanese schools didn’t want to teach English because that is the “enemy’s language” but that is what Kobayashi San, Headmaster of Tomoe Gakuen (the school) stressed on. With rapid globalization that is what Japan needed.
C. Formative years in school defines the person we are and experiences like going through World War II leaves a profound impact . So we should never discount experiences during our childhood and encourage a healthy lifestyle for our next generation.
“Come on, hurry, let’s get on this train that’s standing still” – Totto Chan
Author: Daniel Gilbert
Reviewed by: Naziba Ali, Business Analyst
Daniel Gilbert’s “Stumbling on Happiness” delves into the complexities of human happiness, uncovering why our expectations about what will make us happy frequently fail to align with reality. Through a blend of neuroscience and psychology, Gilbert challenges conventional wisdom, highlighting the role of imagination and memory in shaping our pursuit and experience of happiness.
The book is a joy to read despite its sobering content. Every now and then the author presents little game-like tasks to show how our brains work and drive a point home in that way.
Instead of relying on our own instincts and intuitions, we should look to the experiences of others and learn from their successes and failures. By doing so, we can make more informed decisions that are likely to lead to greater satisfaction and well-being. Plus, the concept of “synthetic happiness” caught my attention. It suggests our ability to generate happiness even in challenging situations. The author contends that humans possess a remarkable adaptability, enabling them to find joy regardless of external conditions.
“We treat our future selves as though they were our children, spending most of the hours of most of our days constructing tomorrows that we hope will make them happy.” This basically reflects our tendency to plan and make decisions based on what we believe will benefit our future selves.
Author: Sylvia Plath
Reviewed by: Nuzhat Naoshin, HR Officer
“The bell jar” is a semi autobiographical novel where a young woman named Esther Greenwood wins an internship at a magazine in New York city but soon feels disillusioned by societal expectations. As she grapples with her identity and future, she spirals into a deep depression. The novel explores themes of mental illness, feminism, and the pressures faced by women in the 1950s. It is a poignant look at one woman’s struggle for self-understanding and autonomy.
The memoir brings you back to your early childhood days. I somehow vaguely remembered my first day at school where the classroom was at the corner of a muddy field and playtime with friends. Totto-chan shows without being preachy in any sort of way how education shapes us to the person we are today. While traditional schools frown upon looking out the window but maybe that’s what a child needs to expand her horizon.
A. Education is an experience. It is not about the curriculum but how the environment is set up starting from the classmates, faculty and activities. Looking back just like Totto-chan I remember poetry or essay reading not so much what I actually read.
B. Conformity doesn’t always support growth. Japanese schools didn’t want to teach English because that is the “enemy’s language” but that is what Kobayashi San, Headmaster of Tomoe Gakuen (the school) stressed on. With rapid globalization that is what Japan needed.
C. Formative years in school defines the person we are and experiences like going through World War II leaves a profound impact . So we should never discount experiences during our childhood and encourage a healthy lifestyle for our next generation.
I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.
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