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In 2024, our team at LightCastle turned to a diverse selection of books that sparked new ideas and fueled our development. Whether diving into profound non-fiction or losing ourselves in engaging fiction, these reads have been instrumental in broadening our perspectives. Each book has played a crucial role in shaping our strategies and deepening our understanding as we navigate an ever-evolving landscape. We’re excited to share the literature that has not only guided our growth but also reinforced our commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
Author: Ha-Joon Chang
Reviewed by: Tariqur Rahman, Digital Marketing Manager
23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism” by Ha-Joon Chang is a critical examination of the dominant free market ideology that has shaped economic policies in recent decades. Through a series of concise and accessible essays, Chang challenges many of the widely accepted tenets of capitalism, arguing that the “free market” is a myth and that government intervention is often necessary for economic progress.
I love “23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism” because it challenges the status quo, offering fresh perspectives on economic theories. Chang’s critical analysis of free market ideology and government intervention encourages readers to think critically about the complexities of capitalism. His book is a thought-provoking journey that broadens understanding and stimulates new ideas.
1. There is no such thing as a “free market” – all markets are shaped by government policies and regulations.
2. The washing machine has changed the world more than the internet.
3. Assuming the worst about people’s motivations leads to the worst outcomes.
4. Making rich people richer does not make the rest of us richer.
5. Large and active governments can promote economic dynamism, contrary to the view that government intervention harms the economy.
6. The book offers a critique of the dominant “neoliberal” model of capitalism that has prevailed in recent decades, and advocates for a more regulated, government-involved form of capitalism.
“The washing machine has changed the world more than the internet has.”
Author: Salman Khan
Reviewed by: Ivdad Ahmed Khan Mojlish, Managing Director & Co-founder of LightCastle Partners
In a wold that’s increasingly becoming reliant on the power of AI, the book does a great job at explaining how AI can be used as a force of good to transform education for both students and teachers as opposed to be deemed to be as a tool that rather undermines and threatens the future of it.
For someone who’s curious to learn and work at the intersection of technology and development, I find the book to be a timely reminder that advanced technologies such as AI are suitably placed to increase the learning and literacy rate around the world. Sal tries to explain his cogent points using practical and illustrated examples, bringing the book to life. Drawing on his personal experience of creating Khanmigo, an AI-powered tutor, Sal makes a compelling case that AI-powered technologies will provide every student the kind of personalized learning, support, and guidance that’s historically been out of reach for most kids in most classrooms. In short, I loved it!
1. AI will radically improve both student outcomes and teacher experiences, and help usher in a future where everyone has access to a world-class education.
2. Contrary to popular belief, the experience of learning will become more interactive, engaging and illustrative as AI-powered tools have the capacity to create environments, whereby students will get the opportunity to have more ‘active’ versus ‘passive’ learning moments. A good case to support this is how Khanmigo is facilitating history lessons by incorporating conversations with real-life past figures. For real!
3. Application and knowledge of AI will become necessary—not just a good-to-have tool—to progress in career, and by extension, life.
4. AI will not replace teachers, but rather support and empower them, to enhance learning outcomes for students.
Literature, with its profound ability to illuminate the human condition, has the potential to inspire us to create a more just and sustainable world
Author: Michael Lewis
Reviewed by: Ishrat Ashique ; Marketing and Partnerships Specialist
This book is a fascinating read to me as it revolutionizes the way one looks at sports management. As an analytics graduate, I loved the motivation and power of analytics demonstrated in creating an efficient and smart team with a fraction of the budget. This book shows the endless possibilities of leveraging data and, as someone working in a data-driven industry and pursuing similar academics, I think such books are interesting case studies.
This book is a fascinating read to me as it revolutionizes the way one looks at sports management. As an analytics graduate, I loved the motivation and power of analytics demonstrated in creating an efficient and smart team with a fraction of the budget. This book shows the endless possibilities of leveraging data and, as someone working in a data-driven industry and pursuing similar academics, I think such books are interesting case studies. Michael Lewis brilliantly captures how data and analytics can disrupt traditional practices and achieve extraordinary results.
1. The power of data and analytics in transforming traditional practices.
2. The importance of challenging conventional wisdom and being open to new approaches.
3. How resource constraints can drive innovation and creative problem-solving.
4. The role of leadership and vision in implementing unconventional strategies.
5. The impact of sabermetrics on sports and its broader implications for other fields.
“I made one decision in my life based on money. And I swore I would never do it again.”
Author: Arundhati Roy
Reviewed by: Rafsan Zia, Digital Product Manager and Business Consultant
The book centers around the life of a transgender person. Abandoned by her family and shunned by society, Anjum grows up in a transgender household and longs to become a mother. She eventually moves into a make shift room inside a graveyard where the story converges with other characters whose roles ultimately support Anjum to become a mother.
Parts of the book are written with more complexity than required. However, in order to insert oneself into the life of Anjum and feel her emotions, perhaps the complexities were necessary.
1. If you are not appreciated in a certain environment, you need a change of scenery.
2. Love finds you in the most weirdest of places, even in a graveyard.
3. Only you can fight for your rights.
“How to tell a shattered story? By slowly becoming everybody? No. By slowly becoming everything.” – Arundhati Roy
“In what language does rain fall over tormented cities?” – Pablo Neruda
Author: Matthew Dicks
Reviewed by: Ismat Ara Shimi, Business Analyst
Our daily lives are full of moments that create stories worth telling, and these moments come together to eventually form major, life-altering narratives. This book delves into the craft of effective storytelling, highlighting what makes a story worth telling and compelling for the listener.
In everyday communication, we interact with different people in various settings. Good people management relies heavily on communication, and our success in life hinges on the relationships we build and the value we create for others.
For me, it has been an instrumental read, and I’ve been able to connect with and implement some of the lessons from the book in my personal and professional life. Writing the five-second major story-worthy moment of my day helps me navigate through the various events and identify the most significant one. The book becomes even more effective with the meticulous use of anecdotes and examples from the author’s life.
1. Find the five-second story-worthy moment in everyday life: The author encourages us to summarize and identify the major five-second story-worthy moments from our daily lives. These moments can serve as the beginnings of our stories, highlighting that our best examples are our lived experiences. The beginning should be something so obvious that it introduces momentum and leads to a change by the end of the story. It’s this change that makes stories satisfying.
2. Make it brief: A great story is short and to the point. Mastering brevity takes time and effort, but the results are always worth it. When we speak, we have the audience’s attention, and people want us to be engaging and entertaining. The longer we talk, the harder it is to maintain that momentum. An effective story leverages time to its advantage, and shorter is always sweeter.
3. Storytelling lets you be their family: The more you share, the better your listeners can relate to you. This is the key advantage of being a storyteller. When they can step into your shoes, that’s when the magic happens.
4. Speaking in front of a mirror is a myth: It doesn’t yield the results we hope for. When we address an audience, we face people, not ourselves. It’s about them, not us, and the last thing we should worry about is our appearance. The aim is to convey a message or an idea, not to be self-conscious. Therefore, the key is to practice in front of people, not in front of yourself.
This quote is my favorite because adding humor to my story or speech creates a lot of pressure to find the right words that spark laughter while still being respectful to the audience. “Humor can be an enormous and essential asset to storytelling”.
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